What is the purpose of Track & Trace?

Track & Trace provides information about the current status of your consignment and enables you to track your consignment.

You can find out where your consignment is and whether the addressee has received it.

Which consignments can be tracked?

When are the first data available for my consignment?

How often are the data updated?

The data on current consignment status are constantly updated. The frequency of the updates depends on the type of mail:

Exception for deliveries involving items delivered via the “Special delivery” service, the delivery will be visible by no later than 10 a.m. the following day.

Updating data means that Track & Trace searches for new incidents created during the transport process. However it does not mean that a new incident will appear every 15 minutes for each consignment.

How long do the data remain available?

Questions about the consignment number

What are consignment numbers used for?

Swiss Post uses consignment numbers to identify each individual item and to track it as it travels to its destination. The consignment number is allocated automatically.

What is the typical format for a consignment number?

Swiss Post consignment numbers are made up as follows:

What is the correct way to enter the consignment number on the data entry screen?

Enter the consignment number with or without full stops, but always without spaces. Both of the following examples are possible:99.42.123456.12345678 or 994212345612345678

Explanation of status messages - in alphabetical order

A - E

• Arrival at border point of destination country: The item is at the border point of the destination country and is being prepared for delivery. The item may have to be handed over to the customs authorities before delivery.
• Arrival at border point of origin country: The item has arrived at the border point of the origin country and is being prepared for forwarding to the destination country.
• Arrival at pick-up/delivery point: Indicates as of what time the consignment is ready for collection at the post office or when a consignment was prepared for bulk delivery.
• Arrived in transit country: The item has arrived in a transit country.
• Collected from customer: The consignment was collected directly from the customer by Swiss Post.
• Completion of postal customs clearance: Postal customs clearance has been completed.
• Delivered by: The item has been delivered.
• Delivered to counter: The item has been delivered via a counter (post office counter, PickPost collection point, etc..
• Delivered to letterbox: The item was placed in the recipient's letterbox (mail compartment).
• Delivered via P.O. box: The item was delivered to the P.O. box.
• Delivery attempt: A delivery attempt was made.
• Delivery attempt – incorrect address: A delivery attempt was made, but the address is incorrect.
• Delivery attempt – invalid address: A delivery attempt was made but the address was invalid.
• Delivery attempt – prohibited items: A delivery attempt was made, but the item is prohibited.
• Delivery attempt – recipient unknown: A delivery attempt was made, but the recipient is unknown.
• Delivery attempt – undeliverable item: A delivery attempt was made. However, the item is undeliverable.
• Delivery failed: A delivery may fail for a number of reasons. Depending on the case, the item will be held for several days at the post office before it is returned to the sender (see "Return"). The possible reasons can also be viewed under "Return".
• Delivery refused: The recipient has refused delivery.
• Departed transit country: The consignment has left the transit country.
• Departure from border point of origin country: The item has left the origin country and is en route to the destination country.
• Departure from CH: departure of export consignments from border point.

F - P

• Forwarding order: The consignment has been forwarded on the basis of a forwarding order.
• Handling of damaged item: A parcel is deemed to be damaged if the wrapping is defective, if there are reasons to suspect that the contents have been damaged or if the address is no longer visible. These consignments are handled by units of Swiss Post and prepared again for transport. The recipient of the item must usually evaluate the damage to the content.
• Item held for seven days – sender notified: The recipient was notified that the item is ready for collection (see "Registered for collection"). The recipient has neither collected the item during the following seven days nor extended the collection period. The sender has been informed of the circumstances.
• Item poste restante in: The item was addressed as poste restante and is awaiting collection at the post office.
• Late arrival: The item is late in arriving.
• Later delivery as per recipient's instructions: The item will be delivered later, in accordance with the recipient's instructions.
• Mailing: This status shows when your shipment was mailed. It also shows the post office from which it was mailed.
• Misdirected: Consignments may be misdirected if, for instance, the postcode is incorrect. Consignments are forwarded to the correct destination. This does not necessarily result in a delay but may do so.
• Notified in P.O. box: Notification of a consignment with P.O. box delivery, which can be handed out against a signature or in person only, was placed in the recipient's P.O. box for collection at the counter.
• Passed to field post office: The item has been handed to the field post office.
• Postal customs clearance process under way: The consignment is being cleared through customs.

R - Z

• Registered for collection: A delivery attempt has been made but the recipient was not present. The item was reported to the recipient, in accordance with the collection instructions.
• Released by customs: The postal customs clearance process in Switzerland is complete, and the consignment will be handed over for domestic delivery.
• Retained as per recipient's order/received outside of business hours: If you will not be at home for a lengthy period you can have your mail held at your post office.
• Returned in accordance with instructions: The item was returned by means of the service specified by the sender.
• Returned item: Because the item could not be delivered (e.g. letterbox not labelled) or was undeliverable, it was returned. The following reasons may apply to an item being returned:
  • Company no longer in business: The company to which the item is addressed no longer exists.
  • Damaged: The item is returned on account of damage.
  • Deceased: The addressee is deceased.
  • Delivery refused: The recipient has refused to accept the item.
  • Direct return as per sender’s instructions: The sender stated that the item should be returned immediately if delivery is unsuccessful.
  • Moved, forwarding period expired: The recipient has moved, and his/her forwarding instructions have expired (usually the case after one year)
  • Not collected: Notification was left with the recipient to collect the item from the post office, but he/she had not done so by the time the deadline expired.
  • Recipient not found at address provided: The recipient's address is unknown or the addressed person could not be found at the address provided.
• Sorted for delivery: The item has been sorted at a centre for forwarding to the destination.
• Sorting/forwarding: The item has been sorted at a centre for forwarding to another centre.
• Transfer to customs: The item had to be handed over to customs for inspection at the border point. The item can only be delievered once it has been released by customs.
• Transport leg within Switzerland: The item has crossed through Switzerland (transit item).
• Unsuccessful collection attempt: A note was left advising the recipient to collect the item. However, the postal carrier was unable to accept the item as instructed.

Any more questions? Please contact us

We are happy to provide further information. You can contact us by e-mail or telephone: