Canada Post tracking

What is Canada Post?

Canada Post, also known as Postes Canada in French, is Canada's national postal operator. This federal Crown corporation is the primary provider of postal and parcel delivery services in the country, connecting Canadian communities from coast to coast. With a history dating back to Canadian Confederation in 1867, Canada Post occupies a central place in the national logistics infrastructure and remains an essential pillar of Canadian public service.

Canada Post's origins trace back to the British colonial period, with a formal postal service existing as early as 1775. However, it was truly with the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867 that a national postal institution was born. The Canadian government established the Post Office Department, one of the first federal ministries of the new country. The postal service thus constituted began its official operations in April 1868, ensuring mail delivery to citizens of a rapidly expanding territory. Over the decades, the postal network developed and modernized considerably, notably introducing airmail delivery in 1928 to serve the most remote regions.

The major transformation of the organization occurred on October 16, 1981, when a Parliament act abolished the traditional Post Office Department to create the Canada Post Corporation as it is known today. This change in status gave Canada Post greater financial and administrative autonomy, while enshrining in legislation the fundamental right of every Canadian to receive mail, regardless of where they live on the vast national territory. This universal service obligation remains at the heart of the company's mission.

• Date of establishment: 1867 for the original Post Office Department, 1981 for the Canada Post Corporation in its current form
• Legal status: Federal Crown corporation with the Government of Canada as sole shareholder
• Head office: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Workforce: Approximately 55,000 employees across the country, including more than 25,000 postal carriers and delivery agents
• Network: More than 6,200 post offices serving over 16 million active addresses in Canada
• Principal subsidiaries: Purolator (approximately 91% ownership), Innovapost (IT services)

Canada Post is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, while operating with financial autonomy through its own revenues. Unlike some public agencies, the postal corporation has historically operated without direct subsidies and must balance its accounts with profits from its operations. However, facing recent financial challenges, the Government of Canada has made available repayable financing of potentially over one billion dollars to support the company's transformation.

The company faces considerable challenges related to changing consumer behaviors. The continued decline in traditional mail volume, dropping from 5.5 billion letters per year to approximately 2.2 billion over the past two decades, compels Canada Post to diversify its activities toward parcel and e-commerce sectors. Today, the average Canadian household receives only two letters per week, compared to seven in the mid-2000s. This profound shift in the postal market is pushing the organization to continually rethink its business model and services.

In which countries does Canada Post deliver?

Canada Post ensures exceptionally extensive geographical coverage, both across the national territory and internationally. In Canada, the carrier serves all provinces and territories, from major cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to the most isolated communities in the Far North. This universal service mission constitutes a legal obligation enshrined in the Canada Post Corporation Act, guaranteeing every Canadian the right to receive mail wherever they live.

Canada Post's national network represents one of the largest in the world in terms of area covered. The company serves over 16 million active addresses spread across nearly 10 million square kilometers, making it a logistical challenge comparable only to that of a few other countries such as Russia or Australia. To reach remote regions lacking permanent road access, Canada Post uses adapted transportation methods including aircraft, boats, and even snowmobiles in Arctic zones.

• Metropolitan Canada: Complete coverage of ten provinces, daily delivery in urban and suburban areas
• Northern Territories: Full service to Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, including communities accessible only by air
• United States: Dedicated services with optimized timeframes and rates to Canada's primary commercial partner
• International: Delivery to over 190 countries and territories worldwide through Universal Postal Union agreements

Internationally, Canada Post is a member of the Universal Postal Union, which integrates it into a global network of over 190 postal administrations. This membership allows the company to deliver mail and parcels anywhere in the world by relying on mutual cooperation between national postal services. Thus, a parcel shipped from Canada to the United States will be handled by USPS for final delivery, while a shipment to the United Kingdom will transit through Royal Mail, and so on for each destination.

Incoming and outgoing international shipments are handled through three strategically located international exchange centers in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. These specialized facilities have integrated customs areas where parcels transiting between Canada and abroad are processed in coordination with the Canada Border Services Agency. This infrastructure ensures efficient customs processing while maintaining competitive delivery timeframes.

Canada Post also collaborates with numerous logistics partners to extend its reach. Within Canada itself, many post offices are operated in partnership with local retailers such as pharmacies and grocery stores, in the form of franchised postal outlets. This hybrid model allows maintaining the country's most extensive network of service points while benefiting from the established presence of private partners in local communities.

What are Canada Post's delivery services and timeframes?

Canada Post offers a complete range of shipping services adapted to the different needs of individuals and businesses. Whether it's an urgent shipment requiring next-day delivery or an economical parcel with no time constraints, the carrier offers varied options to find the best balance between speed and cost. Each service has specific characteristics in terms of timeframes, tracking, and guarantees.

Xpresspost Priority represents Canada Post's fastest and most secure option. Designed for time-sensitive documents and parcels, it guarantees delivery by next business day to most Canadian destinations, with mandatory signature upon receipt. This premium service includes priority handling at each shipping stage, detailed real-time tracking, and a guarantee of reimbursement in case of delay. Signature collection and pickup on demand are available at no extra charge for business shippers.

• Priority: Guaranteed delivery in 1 business day with signature, fastest service for urgent and sensitive shipments
• Xpresspost: Fast delivery in 1 to 2 business days depending on destination, with full tracking and guaranteed timeframes
• Expedited Parcel: Intermediate option with local delivery in 1 to 2 days, regional up to 4 days, and national up to 7 days
• Regular Parcel: Most economical service for non-urgent shipments, transportation via carbon-neutral ground service

Xpresspost is the preferred choice for shipments requiring speed and reliability at a more accessible rate than Priority. With delivery timeframes of 1 to 2 business days depending on distance, this service offers an excellent balance between performance and economy. All Xpresspost items benefit from full tracking allowing online verification of delivery status, and timeframes are guaranteed with potential reimbursement in case of non-compliance.

For less urgent shipments, Expedited Parcel offers an intermediate solution particularly suited to common needs. Timeframes vary by geographic area: 1 to 2 days for local deliveries within the same region, up to 4 days for regional shipments, and up to 7 business days for nationwide delivery. This service also includes parcel tracking and a guarantee on stated timeframes.

Regular Parcel represents the most economical option in the service portfolio. Ideal for non-urgent items or low-value articles, this service ensures ground transportation with variable timeframes depending on distance. One of its distinctive advantages lies in its carbon-neutral nature, with Canada Post offsetting the carbon emissions associated with transport. Despite its economical positioning, Regular Parcel service includes tracking allowing online consultation of delivery stages.

Canada Post's delivery standards represent the expected transit time in business days from the deposit date to final delivery. A business day is any day other than Saturday, Sunday, a statutory holiday, or any day observed as a holiday by Canada Post. These standards apply to items shipped between major urban centers and remain approximate, with actual delivery times varying depending on origin point, destination, weather conditions, and other operational factors.

What are Canada Post's rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Canada Post's rates vary according to several factors including the type of service chosen, parcel weight, dimensions, and destination. The company regularly publishes updated rate schedules. These rates reflect the carrier's operational costs and are adjusted periodically to account for inflation and market changes.

For individuals, Canada Post offers prepaid solutions facilitating shipping without needing to calculate postage precisely. Prepaid Priority and Xpresspost envelopes, as well as prepaid Xpresspost bubble mailers, allow sending documents and small items at a fixed rate known in advance. Flat-rate boxes are another practical option: available at post offices for a maximum weight of 5 kg, they allow shipping merchandise at a predetermined price regardless of Canadian destination.

• General maximum weight: 30 kg for parcels shipped to Canada and the United States
• International maximum weight: 20 to 30 kg depending on destination country
• Mandatory marking: Items over 22.7 kg must bear a "Heavy" label
• Flat-rate boxes: Maximum weight of 5 kg, available only at post offices

The maximum dimensions accepted by Canada Post depend on the type of packaging used. For standard rectangular parcels, dimension limits are established to allow automated processing in sorting centers while offering sufficient flexibility for most shipping needs. Shipping tubes benefit from specifications adapted to their particular shape, allowing the sending of posters, plans, or rolled documents via Priority, Xpresspost, Expedited Parcel, and Regular Parcel services.

An item is considered non-compliant if it exceeds the maximum permitted dimensions or weight. In such cases, a surcharge will be applied and the item may be refused or returned to the sender. Delivery of non-compliant items remains entirely at Canada Post's discretion and additional fees may apply. For irregularly shaped or non-rectangular items, measurements are taken at the widest points of the object.

Commercial rates intended for businesses operate according to a tariff code system based on origin and destination points. To use these schedules, the professional shipper consults the tariff code table, identifies the code corresponding to their shipment, then refers to the grid of the desired service by matching the weight or volumetric equivalent to the appropriate tariff code. Parcel pickup is offered free to business customers making shipping service purchases worth $15,000 Canadian dollars or more per pickup location, or for $7.50 Canadian dollars per week for lower volumes.

Canada Post provides an online tool allowing precise rate calculation based on the specific characteristics of each shipment. By entering the origin postal code, destination postal code, weight, and parcel dimensions, customers instantly obtain applicable rates for all available services, facilitating comparison and selection of the shipping method best suited to their needs and budget.

What are Canada Post's delivery options?

Canada Post offers several delivery options allowing recipients to receive their parcels in the way that suits them best. Whether at home, at a post office, or via the innovative FlexDelivery service, the carrier strives to provide flexibility and convenience to its customers in a context where active lifestyles sometimes make receiving parcels during work hours difficult.

Home delivery constitutes the standard distribution method for the majority of shipments. The postal carrier or delivery agent arrives at the indicated address and delivers the parcel directly to the recipient. For items requiring a signature, the carrier attempts personal delivery. If the recipient has a community mailbox equipped with a parcel compartment, the carrier may deposit small packages there and leave the compartment key in the recipient's personal mailbox.

• Home delivery: Direct distribution to the recipient's address by the postal carrier or delivery agent
• Post office delivery: Option allowing parcels to be delivered to one of over 6,000 participating post offices
• FlexDelivery: Free service allowing creation of a personalized address to receive parcels at the post office of choice
• Parcel lockers: Secure deposit in community mailbox compartments for small packages

FlexDelivery represents a major innovation by Canada Post to meet the needs of active consumers. Entirely free, this service allows customers to register online and choose from approximately 5,900 participating post offices to create a personalized FlexDelivery address. When shopping online, users can then provide this address as the delivery location instead of their home. When the parcel arrives, Canada Post sends a notification by email or through the mobile app, and the customer can pick up their shipment at the counter upon presentation of photo identification.

For shipping businesses, the "Delivery to Post Office" service offers a turnkey solution allowing integration of this flexible delivery option directly into the online ordering process. Studies show that 21% of online shoppers complete their purchase when flexible delivery and pickup options are offered at checkout. Items entrusted to this service are held for 15 days, and high-value or temperature-sensitive products are stored securely in postal facilities.

If the recipient is absent during a home delivery attempt for a parcel requiring a signature or too large to be left safely, Canada Post makes a single attempt then redirects the parcel to a pickup point. The carrier then deposits a Notice of Delivery card indicating the post office address where the parcel can be retrieved, typically by the end of the same day or the next day. The recipient then has approximately 15 days to pick up their shipment.

Notifications play a central role in the Canada Post delivery experience. Customers can register to receive alerts by email or via the mobile app at each key stage of their parcel's journey: acceptance, transit, arrival at local distribution center, and final delivery. These proactive notifications allow recipients to plan their availability and not miss receiving their important shipments.

What should I do if my Canada Post parcel is lost or damaged?

When a parcel shipped via Canada Post is lost or arrives damaged, a specific claims procedure allows customers to request compensation. It is important to note that only the shipper can officially file a claim and request an investigation to be opened with Canada Post. The recipient who discovers a problem should therefore contact the merchant or person who sent the parcel so that they undertake the necessary steps.

The timeframes for submitting a claim vary depending on the type of shipment. For parcels shipped within Canada, the investigation must be opened within 90 days following the shipping date. For international or U.S. shipments, this timeframe is extended to 6 months following the shipping date. It is therefore essential to act quickly as soon as a problem is discovered to preserve compensation rights.

• Claim timeframe (Canada): 90 days following the shipping date
• Claim timeframe (international/U.S.): 6 months following the shipping date
• Who can claim: Only the parcel shipper
• Required documents: Proof of payment, proof of item value, verification of insurance purchased

In case of a damaged parcel, several precautions are essential to facilitate claim processing. The recipient must absolutely retain the items in their original packaging, including the shipping container, all packing materials, and invoices or bills. Photos documenting the damage must be taken immediately to support the claim. Canada Post may request that damaged items be shipped for inspection as part of the investigation.

For missing parcels, the first step is to verify whether the expected delivery date has truly passed using Canada Post's online tracking tool. It sometimes happens that parcels are temporarily held in transit or awaiting customs clearance without constituting an actual loss. If the expected timeframe has passed and tracking shows no recent updates, the shipper can then request an investigation be opened.

Opening an investigation is done by creating a service ticket with Canada Post. This can be done online, with or without creating a customer account. However, logging in or registering before creating the ticket allows tracking the investigation's progress online. During the investigation, Canada Post may request additional information such as proof of item payment, proof of its market value, or verification of insurance purchased at the time of shipment.

For domestic parcels and those destined for the United States, an expected resolution date is communicated when the service ticket is opened, and the investigation should be completed by that date. For international shipments other than the United States, processing timeframes are longer as Canada Post must gather information from the foreign postal administrations involved in the shipment. If the claim is found to be justified after investigation, the shipper may be eligible for compensation covering the parcel's insured value as well as the value of postage fees, in accordance with Canada Post policies.

Does Canada Post handle international shipments and customs procedures?

Canada Post offers a complete range of services for international shipments, allowing mail and parcels to be sent to over 190 countries and territories around the world. Through its membership in the Universal Postal Union and partnerships established with foreign postal administrations, the Canadian carrier ensures reliable routing of shipments to their final destination, regardless of the continent.

Any shipment to the United States or an international destination containing goods must mandatory be accompanied by a properly completed customs declaration form. This declaration is an integral part of Canada Post's shipping label and includes essential information concerning the shipper, recipient, and parcel contents. It is the shipper's responsibility to provide all required customs documents, precise information on item contents, and any certificates related to shipped merchandise.

• Customs declaration: Mandatory for all international shipments containing goods
• Language of documents: French or English mandatory, optional translation in destination country language
• Required information: Detailed description of each item, value, reason for shipment, complete recipient contact information
• International exchange centers: Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal for processing international shipments

The information contained in the customs form must be written in French or English. A translation into the destination country's language can be attached as a supplement, but French or English remains mandatory. The form must include the recipient's full name, telephone number, and complete address, including postal code. The telephone number is particularly important as it allows customs authorities or the destination postal service to contact the recipient in case of customs duties and taxes to be paid.

Canada Post provides an International Destinations List allowing verification of restrictions in effect in each country. This resource details prohibited items and those subject to restrictions depending on destination, documents necessary for customs clearance, as well as weight and dimension limitations specific to each country. It is the shipper's responsibility to ensure that shipped items comply with the laws and regulations of the destination country.

When an international parcel arrives in Canada, it is presented to the Canada Border Services Agency for customs inspection at one of the three international exchange centers. Tracking then shows that the parcel has been presented for customs examination. Most shipments clear customs within a few hours before being released to continue routing to the recipient. If customs duties, GST, HST, or other import taxes are assessed, these fees are generally the recipient's responsibility.

Canada Post collects customs fees at the time of delivery or when picking up at the post office, releasing the parcel against payment of the amount indicated on the E14 customs form. Recipients can now pay these fees in advance online through Canada Post tools, which facilitates and expedites delivery. If an international parcel is refused at customs for prohibited content, missing or incomplete documents, or if the recipient refuses to pay the required fees, the shipment is returned to the shipper in accordance with international postal conventions.

It is essential to provide detailed and precise descriptions of parcel contents on customs declarations. Generic descriptions such as "miscellaneous goods" or "gifts" are not accepted and may result in delays, non-delivery, fines, or even item seizure by customs. A complete description must indicate the exact nature of each item, its quantity, unit weight, and market value, allowing customs officers to properly evaluate applicable duties and taxes.

Understanding tracking statuses

When tracking a Canada Post parcel online, different statuses may appear throughout its routing. Each barcode scan at a key stage of the journey generates a timestamped update viewable through Canada Post's website or mobile app. Here are the main statuses and their meanings: