Correos tracking

Universal postal service throughout Spanish territory

Correos is the designated postal operator in Spain. Its central mission is to ensure the universal postal service throughout the territory, including low-density areas and island environments. The company manages the collection, processing, and distribution of letters, registered items, and parcels, as well as various logistics services related to e-commerce. Activities cover domestic and international traffic, with interconnection to foreign postal networks for the routing of cross-border shipments.

Beyond its role as a historical operator, Correos has structured itself as a logistics services group. The distribution of traditional mail coexists with parcel transport, e-commerce logistics, express distribution, and digital tracking solutions. The whole relies on an extensive network of territorial establishments and standardized industrial processes to ensure service continuity, regularity, and reliability.

Organization of the Correos group

The businesses are organized by major complementary lines of activity. The postal entity handles mail, registered items, and some standard parcels. An entity dedicated to express transport operates higher priority flows, with specific routes, messaging centers, and tighter deadlines. Another entity manages the production and sending of large-volume documents for businesses, as well as addressed communication and marketing solutions. Depending on the nature of the shipment, operations are either fully handled by the operator or carried out in a collaborative model with specialized partners on certain segments.

The group's governance remains aligned with the requirements of the universal service, the security of shipments, and regulatory compliance. The standardization of processes, the auditability of flows, and the protection of tracking data are common priorities across all operational units.

Correos operational network

Correos relies on a multi-level network of establishments. Post offices welcome individuals and businesses for the deposit and delivery of shipments. Mechanized processing centers ensure mass sorting and direct it to the right transport links. Logistics platforms, structured by regions and routing corridors, manage parcel flows and organize the supply of local distribution units.

Transport circuits integrate regular road links, intermodal solutions, and, for island or distant connections, air segments. Last-mile delivery is carried out by domiciled rounds, mailbox deliveries, presentations with delivery against signature, or pickups at reception points. An automated locker network completes the reception offer for compatible shipments.

Correos postal and logistics services

The offer covers the sending of letters and documents, parcel shipping, secure delivery by registered mail, express transport, and return logistics. For international shipments, Correos interconnects with foreign operators under multilateral postal agreements and relevant bilateral conventions. The combination of services allows for adapting the level of priority, delivery methods, and tracking extent.

• Mail and documents: collection and distribution of letters, documents, printed matter, and publications, with tracked and registered variants according to the need for proof.
• Domestic parcels: standard solutions for shipments throughout the territory, with home delivery or collection point delivery according to the format and recipient's preferences.
• International parcels: handling to most countries, with processing in international logistics centers, customs management, and interoperable tracking when available.
• Express: priority routing on dedicated networks, with enhanced traceability and tighter delivery slots.
• Returns: return labels or codes for eligible goods, deposit at the office, collection point, or via agreed pickup.

National routing process at Correos

A domestic shipment follows a sequenced operational chain. Upon deposit, the item is accepted and identified. It then enters a sorting circuit where the addressing code and format guide the routing. Passage through a mechanized processing center allows the separation of flows by destination and type of service. Transport carries the shipment to the local unit responsible for distribution.

Upon arrival at the delivery unit, the shipment is prepared for the round. Deliveries are made either to the mailbox when the product allows, in person against signature, or at the agreed reception point. In case of delivery impossibility, a notice is generated, and the shipment is held for pickup or rescheduling. Tracking events reflect these successive steps and constitute an audit trail of the journey.

International flows with Correos

International shipments are consolidated to logistics centers equipped with facilities and controls adapted to cross-border flows. Preparation includes sorting by country and grouping into transport units. International connections carry the shipments to the entry point of the destination country, where the partner operator takes over for final routing according to its own processing and distribution standards.

Cross-border traceability relies on standardized data exchanges. When destination networks publish compatible information, foreign events are reflected in the initial tracking tool, allowing the customer to observe progress even once the shipment has left Spanish territory. Customs-related statuses intersperse at the time of export and upon arrival in the importing country.

Customs and compliance of Correos international shipments

Customs compliance governs shipments containing goods. Usual documents include content and value declarations, and the sending of advance electronic data when required. Correos transmits the necessary information to the competent authorities and presents the shipments to customs authorities at export and import. Depending on the destination country's rules, duties or taxes may be due, as well as additional supporting documents.

Customs-related tracking statuses indicate key steps: presentation, control, release, possible duty collection, and handover from the postal service to final distribution. In case of an incomplete file, the process mentions waiting for documents or instructions, or even return if regularization is not possible.

Numbering and tracking of Correos shipments

Tracked shipments use standardized identifiers. For international flows, a universal-type format is common: a combination of letters and numbers specific to the shipment, associated with the country of origin. Domestic offers may use specific identifiers depending on the service and distribution channel. The tracking number allows access to events recorded at key milestones of the journey: induction, sorting, transport, delivery attempt, availability at the collection point, and closure by delivery or return.

The granularity of information varies depending on the nature of the product and whether the shipment circulates entirely within the group's network or transits with partners. However, a coherent event thread is maintained, ensuring visibility on significant actions and the recording date of each step.

Delivery, pickup, and reception solutions at Correos

Several reception methods are offered. Home delivery is the most common form for shipments compatible with the mailbox or for deliveries against signature. Pickups at the post office are an alternative when a presentation has not succeeded or when the sender opts from the outset for delivery at a reception point. Automated lockers offer extended pickup time for eligible formats.

After a notice, the shipment is made available for a defined period and may be subject to a new presentation or redirection to a collection point if the service allows. In the absence of instructions within the deadlines, the shipment is directed to the return procedure. Traceability accounts for these options under statuses indicating availability, planned new attempt, or waiting for instructions.

Service quality, security, and compliance at Correos

Correos processes integrate quality and safety controls. Processing centers apply identification, separation, and internal transport procedures in accordance with industry standards. The security of deliveries against signature is ensured by signing and identity verification when required. The control of sensitive flows follows specific protocols. The company implements loss prevention and investigation measures in case of detected anomalies.

Information systems record tracking events in a timely manner and ensure consistency between different technical environments, including when a transport partner temporarily takes over. Traceability forms proof of the journey useful for handling claims and attestation requests.

Transport responsibility and exception management at Correos

Responsibility varies according to the product category and applicable regulations. Acceptance conditions define prohibited or restricted contents, format limits, and packaging rules. Typical incidents cover delivery impossibility, incomplete or incorrect address, non-presentation of the recipient, absence of customs documents, and reception refusals. For each case, tracking statuses inform about the actions taken: notice left, pending, waiting for instructions, redirection, reshipment, or return.

Exceptional situations that may affect transport, such as infrastructure disruptions or temporary restrictions, are handled by continuity plans that prioritize safety and protection of shipments. Tracking updates account for these specific treatments when the service provides for it.

Logistics innovation and sustainability at Correos

Industrial operations are evolving towards increased automation of sorting, better use of data, and optimization of distribution rounds. Automated lockers and collection points enrich delivery methods, complementing traditional channels. Environmentally, the gradual deployment of low-emission vehicles and route optimization contribute to reducing the carbon footprint associated with postal and parcel flows.

Continuous improvement translates into investments in center ergonomics, information system reliability, and supply chain security. Standardization and simplification of customer journeys enhance the readability of statuses and the perceived quality of distribution.

Reading Correos tracking events

Recorded events reflect the actual progress of the shipment. They are written to make the logistical position or the next planned action immediately understandable. Acceptance and integration events confirm entry into the network. Center events specify the sorting stage. Transport events indicate movements between facilities. Delivery events reflect presentation, availability, or effective delivery. Customs events mark documentary compliance and release. At the end of the journey, closure mentions completed delivery or finished return.

The table below groups common tracking labels associated with Correos operations and their meaning in simple terms. Labels may vary depending on the product, the original language of the message, and the partner country in case of international routing. The formulations presented below are harmonized in French to facilitate understanding.

Correos tracking status table