You ordered something from an Italian online shop. Or a friend in Rome sent you a package. A few days later you have a tracking number in your inbox and you want to know exactly where your parcel is right now.
Track Your Order
Tracking a Poste Italiane shipment is straightforward once you know where to look. The challenge is that their website is in Italian, the tracking number formats are not always obvious, and the status messages can be confusing if you are not reading them in your own language.
This guide solves all of that. You will find the exact steps to track any Italian Post shipment, a full translation of every tracking status, guidance on international tracking once the package leaves Italy, and clear advice on what to do when something goes wrong.
What Is Poste Italiane?
Poste Italiane is Italy’s national postal service, founded in 1862 and headquartered in Rome. It is one of the oldest postal operators in Europe and now serves more than 35 million customers.
For most people, Poste Italiane means the post office on the high street. In reality it is a much larger organisation. It operates over 12,800 post offices, manages parcel logistics through its subsidiary SDA Express Courier, and runs one of Italy’s largest banking networks through BancoPosta.
On the shipping side, Poste Italiane is the default carrier for e-commerce orders sent from Italy, registered letters, insured parcels, judicial documents, and international mail. If you ordered something from an Italian retailer, the chances are high it shipped through Poste Italiane or SDA.
How to Track Your Poste Italiane Shipment: All Methods
Method 1: The Official Poste Italiane Website
This is the most accurate source because it pulls directly from Poste Italiane’s own systems with no intermediary.
- Open poste.it in your browser.
- On the homepage, find the search bar labeled Cerca la tua spedizione (Find your shipment).
- Enter your tracking number exactly as it appears. No spaces, no dashes, no extra characters.
- Click the magnifying glass or press Enter.
- Your full shipment history loads, showing every scan event from acceptance to the current location.
The website is in Italian. Use your browser’s built-in translation feature to read it in English. In Chrome, right-click anywhere on the page and choose Translate to English.
Method 2: The Poste Italiane Mobile App
The free official app is available for iOS and Android. It provides the same tracking data as the website and sends push notifications when your shipment status changes.
- Open the app and tap the shipment search icon on the home screen.
- Type in your tracking number, or tap the camera icon to scan the barcode on your receipt directly.
- Your current status appears immediately.
The barcode scanner is genuinely useful if you have a physical receipt in front of you. It eliminates the risk of mistyping a long tracking code.
Method 3: Third-Party Tracking Platforms
These are particularly useful if you are outside Italy, want an English-language interface, or need to track packages from multiple carriers in one dashboard.
| Platform | Best For | Address |
| 17TRACK | Bulk tracking, multiple carriers | 17track.net |
| AfterShip | E-commerce, branded tracking | aftership.com/track |
| Parcel Monitor | Email alerts, Gmail integration | parcelmonitor.com |
| Parcels App | Mobile-first, push notifications | parcelsapp.com |
| TrackingMore | Developer API, 1,500+ carriers | trackingmore.com |
| Ship24 | International forwarding | ship24.com |
These platforms show the same data as poste.it. They are a more convenient interface, not a different data source.
Method 4: Phone and In-Person Support
| Phone Support
Call 803.160 from within Italy. This is a free number, active Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM. From outside Italy, dial +39 06 4526 3160. Follow the automated prompts and enter your tracking code when asked. Stay on the line after the recorded update plays if you need to speak with an agent. |
| At a Post Office
Visit any Ufficio Postale with your tracking number and valid ID. Counter staff can access internal shipment records that are more detailed than the public portal. Use the branch locator at poste.it to find the nearest office. |
Poste Italiane Tracking Numbers: Formats Explained
The tracking number format changes with the service type. If you enter the wrong format in the search field, you get no results, which makes it look like your parcel is untraceable when it is actually fine.
| Format | Service | Example |
| Rx123456789IT | Registered small packages up to 2 kg | RA123456789IT |
| Cx123456789IT | Parcels between 2 kg and 20 kg | CA123456789IT |
| Ex123456789IT | EMS (Express Mail Service) | EA123456789IT |
| Zx123456789IT | Insured international items | ZA123456789IT |
| 13-digit numeric | Domestic express and parcel services | 0009200182745 |
| JJD or SD prefix | SDA Express Courier (Poste Italiane group) | JJDXXXXXXX |
The first letter of the code indicates the shipment type. R means Registered (Raccomandato). C means Parcel (Collo). E means Express. Z is usually insured or value-declared. The two letters at the end are the country of origin. IT means Italy.
Where to Find Your Tracking Number
- In the shipping confirmation email from the retailer or sender.
- On your post office receipt, printed below the barcode on the label.
- In your retailer account under order history or shipment details.
- In an SMS or email sent directly by Poste Italiane after acceptance.
If you are the recipient and the sender cannot provide the number, contact Poste Italiane with your full name, delivery address, and the approximate posting date.
Poste Italiane Tracking Status Meanings in English
The tracking portal shows updates in Italian. Here is a full translation with plain-language explanations.
| Italian Status | English | What It Means |
| Presa in carico | Accepted | Poste Italiane has registered your item. It will enter the processing cycle shortly. |
| In lavorazione | Being processed | Your item is at a sorting centre being prepared for the next transit stage. |
| In transito | In transit | Your parcel is moving between operational centres. This can show for several days. |
| In consegna | Out for delivery | The postman or courier has your item and will attempt delivery today. |
| Consegnato | Delivered | Delivery confirmed. If you did not receive it, check with housemates or neighbours. |
| Tentativo di consegna fallito | Failed delivery attempt | Nobody was home. A collection notice should have been left. |
| Giacente / In giacenza | Held at post office | After a failed attempt your item is being held. Collect it within the notice period. |
| Presso Punto Poste | At collection point | After two failed attempts your parcel moved to a local Punto Poste. Check your notice. |
| Fermo in dogana | Held at customs | Customs inspection is under way. You may need to pay duties or provide documents. |
| Sdoganamento in corso | Customs clearance in progress | Your item is being processed through customs. Usually resolves within a few hours. |
| Partita dal Centro di Scambi Int. | Left Italy | Your item has crossed the Italian border. Tracking now transfers to the destination country. |
| Presso il Centro di Lavorazione Int. | At exchange centre | Your outbound item is being processed for export. |
| In reso al mittente | Being returned | Delivery failed and the item is going back to the sender. |
| Reso al mittente | Returned to sender | The return is complete. Contact the sender to arrange a resend. |
International Tracking: What Happens After the Package Leaves Italy
When your tracking shows ‘Partita dal Centro di Scambi Internazionali’ (Departed from the International Exchange Centre), your parcel has physically left Italy. Poste Italiane is no longer responsible for updates. The tracking baton passes to the destination country’s postal operator.
How to Continue Tracking Abroad
- Enter the same tracking number on the destination country’s postal website. Most national operators are part of the Universal Postal Union and share a common tracking data standard.
- United States: usps.com
- United Kingdom: royalmail.com
- Germany: dhl.de or deutschepost.de
- France: laposte.fr
- Australia: auspost.com.au
- Alternatively use 17TRACK or AfterShip, which detect the destination carrier automatically and continue showing updates after the handoff.
Important: Poste Delivery International Standard only tracks as far as the Italian International Exchange Centre. Once the parcel crosses the border, updates stop. If you need end-to-end visibility, choose Poste Delivery International Express or EMS, both of which maintain tracking throughout the journey.
Delivery Times by Service
| Service | Italy | EU | Worldwide |
| Poste Delivery Express | 1-4 business days | N/A | N/A |
| Poste Delivery Standard | 3-5 business days | N/A | N/A |
| Poste Delivery Int. Express | N/A | 2-4 business days | 3-7 business days |
| Poste Delivery Int. Standard | N/A | 10-15 business days | 10-25 business days |
| EMS (Express Mail Service) | N/A | 3-5 business days | 3-7 business days |
| Postapriority | N/A | 3-7 business days | 7-14 business days |
| Posta1 / Posta4 | 1-3 / 3-6 days | N/A | N/A |
These are estimates. Customs delays, Italian public holidays, and seasonal peaks like Christmas regularly extend these times.
SDA Express Courier and Poste Italiane: How They Connect
SDA Express Courier has been part of the Poste Italiane Group since 1988. It handles time-sensitive B2B deliveries and a large share of Italian e-commerce.
If your tracking number changes from a standard Poste Italiane code to one beginning with JJD or SD, your shipment has been transferred to SDA for final delivery. This is normal and does not indicate a problem.
Track SDA codes directly at sda.it, through the Poste Italiane portal, or via 17TRACK and AfterShip, which recognise both formats automatically.
Also Read : RXO Tracking: How to Track Your RXO Shipment in Real Time
Tracking Not Updating? A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Step 1: Rule Out Simple Errors
- Copy and paste the tracking number directly from the original email rather than retyping it. One wrong character returns no results.
- Remove any spaces, dashes, or brackets. Enter the number as one continuous string.
- If your code ends in IT, make sure those two letters are included.
Step 2: Allow for Normal Update Gaps
- After posting, allow up to 48 hours before the first tracking event appears. The number is assigned before the item is physically scanned.
- Tracking only updates at scan points. A parcel can show the same ‘In transito’ status for several days during transit between distant centres.
- Italian public holidays (of which there are 11 national ones) pause all scanning activity. Check the Italian public holiday calendar if your update seems unexpectedly frozen.
- International shipments routinely show no update for 7 to 10 days after leaving Italy. The destination country’s system picks up the trail once it arrives.
Step 3: Know When to Escalate
- Domestic shipments: Contact Poste Italiane if there is no update for more than 5 business days past the expected delivery window.
- International shipments: If neither poste.it nor the destination country’s postal site shows movement for more than 15 business days, file an enquiry.
- Customs holds: If tracking shows ‘Fermo in dogana’ for more than 15 days, call 803.160. A payment or documentation requirement is almost certainly the cause.
How to File an Official Claim
| Claim Time Limits
Loss: File within 3 months from the shipment date. Claims after this deadline are inadmissible.
Damage: File within 15 days of delivery. Keep all original packaging and damaged contents as evidence.
Poste Italiane must respond to a submitted claim within 45 business days. |
When filing, have ready: the original post office receipt with tracking number, photographs of any damage, and proof of the item’s value such as an invoice. Submit via poste.it, at a post office counter, or by calling 803.160.
Customs Delays: What to Expect and How to Resolve Them
Customs is the single most common cause of extended delays on international shipments into and out of Italy.
When a parcel arrives in Italy from a non-EU country, it passes through Italian Customs (Agenzia delle Dogane). If duties or VAT are owed, you receive a written notice or a notification linked to your tracking number. Payment must be made within 15 days or the package is returned to the sender.
If your tracking shows ‘Fermo in dogana’ or ‘Sdoganamento in corso’ for more than three days, call 803.160. They can confirm whether a payment is outstanding and explain the clearance process.
For shipments leaving Italy to non-EU countries, customs is handled by the destination country. Poste Italiane has no authority to intervene once the package has crossed the border. Contact that country’s customs authority or postal service directly.
Practical Tips for Smoother Tracking
- Save your tracking number immediately. Numbers expire from the online system over time and become harder to retrieve retrospectively.
- Sign up for SMS or email alerts. On the poste.it tracking results page, scroll to the bottom and enter your contact details to receive automatic status updates.
- If tracking appears frozen for an international shipment, always try the destination country’s postal site with the same number before concluding there is a problem.
- Choose express services for high-value or time-sensitive items. Poste Delivery International Standard loses tracking visibility once the parcel leaves Italy. Express maintains it throughout.
- Be available on delivery day. After two failed attempts, your parcel transfers to a Punto Poste collection point, typically held for 10 days before return to sender.
- Use the Punto Poste locator on poste.it to find nearby collection points if you receive a failed delivery card. Many are in tobacconists and supermarkets with extended hours.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Tracking Confusion
- Entering spaces or dashes in the tracking number. The search requires a clean continuous string. ‘RR 123456789 IT’ fails where ‘RR123456789IT’ succeeds.
- Checking only poste.it for international shipments that have already left Italy. Switch to the destination country’s postal site or use 17TRACK for continued visibility.
- Expecting daily updates. Tracking events only appear when the parcel is scanned at a facility. Long gaps between updates do not mean the package is lost.
- Filing a claim too soon. Poste Italiane considers a domestic parcel officially late only after 30 days. Earlier claims are often automatically rejected.
- Not accounting for Italian public holidays. There are 11 national holidays plus regional ones. Deliveries and system scans do not happen on these days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I track a Poste Italiane package from outside Italy?
Use poste.it from any country. The site is globally accessible. For an English-language interface, enter the same tracking number on 17TRACK or AfterShip. Both support Poste Italiane and display results in English without needing translation.
Why does my Poste Italiane tracking number not work?
The most common causes are a typo in the number, spaces or dashes included in the entry, the tracking not yet active (allow 48 hours after posting), or using an untracked service. Not all Poste Italiane services generate trackable codes. Standard unregistered mail has no tracking. If the number is correct and still returns nothing after 48 hours, call 803.160.
What does ‘In transito’ mean on Poste Italiane tracking?
It means your parcel is actively moving between Poste Italiane sorting or operational centres. It is on its way toward the destination. This status can persist for several days on long-distance domestic or international routes. No action is needed.
How long does Poste Italiane take to deliver internationally?
Standard service within the EU takes 10 to 15 business days. Worldwide standard takes 10 to 25 days. International Express delivers to major EU destinations in 2 to 4 business days and to most global destinations in 3 to 7. EMS matches the express timeline. All estimates exclude customs delays, which are unpredictable.
What is a Punto Poste and how do I collect my parcel there?
Punto Poste are local shops, tobacconists, pharmacies, and supermarkets authorised by Poste Italiane as collection points. After two failed home delivery attempts, your parcel transfers to the nearest Punto Poste. You have 10 days to collect it. Bring a valid photo ID and the delivery notice left by the postman. Find the nearest location at poste.it using the branch or Punto Poste locator.
Can I change my delivery address after sending?
Address changes after acceptance are not guaranteed. Call 803.160 as early as possible with your tracking number and the new address. Changes are only possible before the parcel reaches the local delivery depot. Once it shows ‘In consegna’ the address cannot be changed for that delivery attempt.
What is SDA and why does my tracking show a JJD code?
SDA Express Courier is a Poste Italiane subsidiary handling express and e-commerce deliveries. When a parcel switches from a standard Poste Italiane code to a JJD or SD prefix, it means final delivery has been handed to SDA. Track JJD codes at sda.it or through the Poste Italiane portal, which recognises both formats.
My tracking says ‘Consegnato’ but I never received the package. What do I do?
First check with housemates, neighbours, and any building concierge. Italian postmen sometimes leave parcels with a neighbour and note it on the delivery receipt. If you genuinely did not receive the item, call 803.160 immediately with your tracking number. They can access the specific postman’s delivery log to confirm who signed for it or where it was left. If unresolved, file a formal complaint at poste.it.
Does Poste Italiane deliver on Saturdays?
Standard domestic deliveries run Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM, excluding public holidays. Saturday delivery is available with some express services and in certain urban areas but is not the default. Poste Italiane does not deliver on Sundays.
How do I file a claim for a lost or damaged parcel?
File online at poste.it, at any post office counter, or by calling 803.160. For loss, you have 3 months from the shipment date. For damage, 15 days from delivery and you must retain the original packaging. Provide the posting receipt, a description of the issue, photographs if applicable, and proof of the item’s value. Poste Italiane has 45 business days to respond.
