Polish Post tracking

What is Poczta Polska?

Poczta Polska is the national postal operator of Poland, a centuries-old institution that holds a central place in the country's logistics and postal landscape. Officially founded in 1558 under the reign of King Sigismond I the Old, the Polish Post is among Europe's oldest postal services. This public enterprise, headquartered in Warsaw, the Polish capital, currently employs over 63,000 employees across the entire country, making it the second-largest employer in the nation.

Over the centuries, Poczta Polska has evolved and adapted to technological and economic changes while maintaining its fundamental mission of universal postal service. Today, the company is far more than a simple mail carrier: it is a truly multifaceted group offering express messaging services through its Pocztex brand, complete logistics solutions for businesses, financial services through its subsidiary Poczta Polska Finanse, as well as e-commerce platforms. This strategic diversification allows it to meet contemporary needs while maintaining an essential presence in rural areas and the most isolated regions of the country.

• Founding date: 1558, under the reign of King Sigismond I the Old, initially to serve the communication needs of the royal court and government
• Headquarters: Warsaw, Poland
• Workforce: Approximately 63,000 to 64,000 employees, making Poczta Polska the country's second-largest employer
• Network: More than 7,600 post offices, branches and service points distributed across Polish territory
• Collection points: More than 17,000 pickup points including post offices, partner locations and parcel lockers
• Legal status: Designated universal service provider (USP) under the 2012 Polish Postal Law

The history of Poczta Polska is intimately linked to that of Poland itself. Despite the turbulent periods the country experienced, including territorial partitions in the 18th and 19th centuries, two world wars and the communist era, the postal service always maintained its operations. A particularly symbolic episode remains the heroic defense of the Polish Post building in Gdańsk in September 1939, where postal employees resisted the Nazi invasion, becoming a symbol of Polish resistance. After regaining independence in 1918, postwar reconstruction, and the post-communist transition of the 1990s, Poczta Polska continuously reinvented itself to remain relevant in a constantly changing environment.

Under the direction of Sebastian Mikosz, the company launched a major transformation plan aimed at modernizing its operations in the face of persistent financial losses and increasing competition in the logistics and parcel sectors. This plan includes notably a restructuring of messaging, financial services, IT, logistics and commercial networks. Initial results show significant improvement in service quality with over 99% of parcels delivered on schedule.

Which countries does Poczta Polska deliver to?

Poczta Polska ensures exceptionally extensive geographic coverage, both on Polish territory and at the international level. In Poland, the carrier serves all 16 voivodeships, from major cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Wrocław and Gdańsk to the most remote villages in rural regions. This universal presence stems from its status as a universal service provider, which requires it to ensure mail and parcel distribution in every corner of national territory, including low-density areas where no private operator would be economically viable.

Internationally, Poczta Polska serves over 170 countries worldwide through agreements concluded under the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and partnerships established with national postal operators in each destination country. This worldwide coverage enables Polish individuals and businesses to send their parcels to Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. Depending on the destination, shipments are handled by local national posts for final distribution, ensuring a complete logistics chain from point of origin to final recipient.

• Poland: Full coverage of all 16 voivodeships, including all urban and rural municipalities, with over 7,600 contact points
• European Union: Delivery to all EU member states without customs formalities for shipments between individuals, with delays typically between 3 and 6 working days
• Europe outside EU: Service to countries such as Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey, with simplified customs procedures
• North America: United States and Canada served by international parcel and express EMS services
• Asia-Pacific: Delivery to China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and many other countries in the region
• Rest of world: Coverage of over 170 countries in total, including Latin America, Africa and the Middle East

For international shipments, Poczta Polska relies on different partners depending on destinations. Parcels shipped to the United States are for example handled by USPS (United States Postal Service) for final distribution, while shipments to the United Kingdom are routed through Royal Mail. This international collaboration ensures continuous traceability of shipments, with tracking information shared between the different postal operators involved in the delivery chain.

The EMS (Express Mail Service), Poczta Polska's fastest international shipping solution, is currently available to a selection of priority countries including Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Georgia, Netherlands, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Hungary and the United Kingdom. For these destinations, delivery times are guaranteed and considerably reduced compared to standard postal services.

What are Poczta Polska's services and delivery times?

Poczta Polska offers a complete range of shipping services adapted to different customer needs, from individuals to businesses. This diversified offering allows you to choose the most appropriate service based on the urgency of the shipment, its nature and your budget. The Pocztex brand, a subsidiary dedicated to express messaging services, complements the traditional parcel post offering by proposing particularly effective rapid delivery solutions.

Delivery times vary considerably depending on the type of service chosen and the destination. For domestic shipments, Poczta Polska displays remarkable performance, with over 99% of parcels delivered on schedule. This significant improvement results from modernization and process optimization efforts undertaken as part of the company's transformation plan. The flagship Pocztex service handles an average of over one million parcels per week, with over 95% arriving at destination the day after shipment.

• Paczka Pocztowa Ekonomiczna (Economy parcel): Basic service for non-urgent shipments with delivery within 3 working days after the day of shipment. Ideal option for shipments where timing is not a priority
• Paczka Pocztowa Priorytetowa (Priority parcel): Accelerated service with delivery planned for the next working day after shipment. Recommended for shipments requiring fast distribution at controlled cost
• Pocztex Kurier: Express messaging service guaranteeing delivery the next working day (D+1). The courier collects the parcel directly from the shipper and delivers it to the specified address
• Pocztex Ekspres 24: Express service with guaranteed delivery within 48 hours, provided the parcel is collected by the courier before 15:00. Intermediate solution between standard and ultra-express
• Pocztex Na Dziś (Same-day delivery): Premium service offering same-day delivery. Available on selected routes in major Polish urban areas
• EMS (Express Mail Service): The fastest international service offered by Poczta Polska with guaranteed delivery within 1 to 3 working days to major European and worldwide destinations
• Registered mail: Service with proof of shipment, delivery confirmation and online tracking capability. Suitable for important documents and shipments requiring complete traceability

For the Pocztex Na Dziś (same-day delivery) service, specific conditions apply: shipments in voivodeship cities must be deposited before 17:00, those made on urban agglomeration routes before 16:00. This premium service meets the needs of businesses and individuals for whom every hour counts. International deliveries via the Pocztex24 service guarantee distribution within 1 to 3 working days for most European destinations, with delays potentially reducing to just one working day for major German cities.

Regarding weekend delivery, Poczta Polska has gradually expanded this service to many Polish cities. Pocztex couriers now deliver on Saturdays in major urban areas including Warsaw, Krakow, Poznań, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Katowice, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Białystok and Rzeszów. In Warsaw and Piaseczno, deliveries are even provided on Sundays. To benefit from Saturday delivery, the parcel must be shipped by Thursday at 15:00 at the latest, and additional fees may apply depending on location.

What are Poczta Polska's rates and maximum dimensions?

Poczta Polska applies a structured pricing grid based on weight, dimensions and the type of service chosen. All universal services are exempt from VAT in accordance with Polish tax legislation. The prices displayed therefore correspond to final amounts to be paid, with no surprises at payment time.

For domestic postal parcels (Paczka Pocztowa), the pricing system distinguishes two size categories called formats (Format A and Format B) and four weight brackets up to a maximum of 10 kg. Format A corresponds to standard-sized parcels where no dimension exceeds defined limits, while Format B includes larger parcels exceeding at least one of these limits. This classification allows optimizing costs for small shipments while offering solutions for bulkier parcels.

• Maximum weight Paczka Pocztowa: 10 kg for standard parcel service, divided into four brackets: up to 1 kg, 1 to 2 kg, 2 to 5 kg, and 5 to 10 kg
• Maximum weight Pocztex: Up to 20 kg for XL format and up to 30 kg for 2XL format, allowing shipment of bulky and heavy parcels
• Maximum weight international: 20 kg for international postal parcels sent abroad
• Format A dimensions: Minimum address face 90 x 140 mm; maximum dimensions of 600 mm length, 500 mm width and 300 mm height
• Format B dimensions: Parcels exceeding at least one of Format A dimensions; the sum of three dimensions cannot exceed 3000 mm and the largest dimension cannot exceed 1500 mm
• Pocztex XL dimensions: Parcels up to 60 x 60 x 70 cm with a maximum weight of 20 kg
• Pocztex 2XL dimensions: Sum of dimensions (length + width + height) up to 250 cm with a maximum weight of 30 kg

The rates for domestic postal parcels vary according to format and weight. For an economy parcel of Format A up to 1 kg, the rate is 15 zlotys (approximately 3.50 euros), while the same parcel in priority version costs 16.20 zlotys. For larger Format B parcels weighing between 5 and 10 kg, prices reach 28.20 zlotys in economy and 29.50 zlotys in priority respectively. These rates position Poczta Polska as a highly competitive option in the Polish parcel delivery market.

For shipments with declared value, allowing content to be insured in case of loss or damage, a surcharge of 2 zlotys is added to the standard rate, plus 1 additional zloty per 50 zlotys of declared value. Insurance can cover contents up to 70,000 zlotys (approximately 16,000 euros), which proves particularly useful for sending valuable items, electronic equipment or important documents requiring financial protection in case of incident.

International rates depend on the destination zone and the type of service chosen. Shipments to European Union countries generally benefit from more favorable rates than those destined for third countries. The express EMS service, while more expensive than standard options, offers guaranteed timelines and included insurance. Poczta Polska regularly publishes its updated pricing schedules on its official website (cennik.poczta-polska.pl), allowing customers to accurately calculate their shipment costs before dispatch.

What are Poczta Polska's delivery options?

Poczta Polska has significantly diversified its delivery options in recent years to adapt to new consumption habits linked to the growth of e-commerce. The carrier now offers a complete ecosystem of solutions allowing recipients to receive their parcels according to their preferences and personal constraints. With over 17,000 pickup points spread across Polish territory, half of which are open on weekends, Poczta Polska offers remarkable flexibility to its customers.

Poczta Polska's pickup point network consists of several complementary location types. Traditional post offices, numbering over 7,600, form the historical foundation of this territorial coverage. Added to these are approximately 13,000 partner points located in local shops such as Żabka, ABC, Lewiatan, Delikatesy Centrum, Groszek, Arhelan, Duży Ben or Euro Shop. This presence in stores open extended hours allows recipients to pick up their parcels even outside traditional post office opening hours.

• Home delivery (Pocztex KURIER): The courier delivers the parcel directly to the recipient's address. Deliveries are made on working days between 08:30 and 17:30, with Saturday delivery possible in major cities
• Parcel locker delivery (Pocztex PUNKT): The parcel is placed in one of the 17,000 partner points where the recipient can collect it. Storage period of 6 working days at partner points
• Post office delivery: Classic option allowing parcel collection at one of the 7,600 post offices. Storage period of 7 working days
• Parcel lockers (Pocztex AUTOMAT): Automated lockers accessible 24/7 allowing parcel collection at any time. Storage period of 2 days after notification
• Weekend delivery: Service available on Saturdays in many major cities (Warsaw, Krakow, Poznań, Wrocław, etc.) and even on Sundays in Warsaw and Piaseczno
• Cash on delivery: Option allowing the recipient to pay for their order upon delivery, with the amount subsequently returned to the shipper

Pocztex AUTOMAT parcel lockers represent a particularly convenient solution for people with atypical schedules or who do not wish to wait for a courier at home. Poczta Polska operates this network in partnership with SwipBox, an infrastructure also used by other carriers such as DHL Parcel and DPD Poland. Access to lockers is via a unique code received by SMS or email, ensuring secure pickup. The 24/7 availability of these lockers allows recipients to collect their parcels at their convenience, whether early morning, late evening or during the weekend.

The management of notifications and delivery preferences is handled in a modern and intuitive manner. Recipients receive alerts by SMS and email at each key stage of parcel delivery: pickup, arrival at sorting center, out for delivery, availability at pickup point. These notifications allow serene planning of parcel receipt and avoid unsuccessful delivery attempts. In case of absence during the first home delivery attempt, the recipient can generally reschedule delivery or opt for pickup at a parcel locker or post office.

What should I do if my Poczta Polska parcel is lost or damaged?

In case of a problem with a Poczta Polska parcel, whether it is lost, damaged or significantly delayed, it is important to know the procedures to follow to assert your rights and obtain possible compensation. The Polish Post has a dedicated service for handling complaints, accessible through several contact channels. Quick reporting of the problem is essential to maximize the chances of obtaining satisfaction.

For damaged parcels, the recommended procedure is to report the problem immediately upon delivery or pickup. If the parcel shows obvious signs of deterioration when handed over by the courier, it is advisable to refuse delivery or, if you accept the parcel, to note visible damage on the outside of the packaging in the presence of the delivery person. This precaution greatly facilitates subsequent complaint processing by establishing a joint record of damages.

• Complaint deadline for loss: A lost parcel must be reported within a reasonable time after the scheduled delivery time has passed. The faster the complaint, the higher the chances of finding the parcel
• Complaint deadline for damage: Damages must be reported as quickly as possible, ideally at delivery or within 48 hours of parcel receipt
• Documents to provide: Shipment tracking number, proof of shipment, photos of damages (packaging and contents), justifications of the value of damaged or lost items
• Complaint channels: Online form on Poczta Polska's official website, telephone contact at +48 43 842 06 00, or visit to a post office
• Support email address: [email protected] for written requests and complaint tracking

Compensation in case of loss or damage depends on the type of service used and options subscribed to at the time of shipment. For standard parcels without declared value, compensation is limited to a flat amount based on parcel weight. To benefit from compensation equal to the actual value of the contents, it is necessary to have subscribed to the declared value option when shipping. This option allows covering contents up to 70,000 zlotys, subject to a tariff supplement proportional to the declared value.

In case of unsatisfactory response or lack of response within a reasonable timeframe, customers have additional remedies available. It is possible to contact the Polish Office of Electronic Communications (UKE - Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej), the regulatory authority for the postal sector in Poland, to report an unresolved dispute. For international shipments involving cross-border claims, Universal Postal Union agreements provide coordination mechanisms between national postal operators to handle complaints concerning parcels lost or damaged during international transit.

Does Poczta Polska handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Poczta Polska offers a complete range of international shipping services allowing you to send mail and parcels to over 170 countries worldwide. As a national postal operator and member of the Universal Postal Union, the Polish Post benefits from reciprocity agreements with postal services in all signatory countries, guaranteeing delivery of shipments to their final destination. Handling of customs formalities is an integral part of the services offered, with different levels of support depending on the value and nature of shipments.

For shipments to European Union countries, formalities are considerably simplified thanks to the single market. No customs declaration is required for parcels exchanged between individuals within the EU. The shipper need only confirm by signature that the parcel contains no dangerous or prohibited items under postal regulations. This absence of intra-European customs barriers allows reduced delivery times and controlled costs for shipments to the other 26 member states.

• Shipments to EU: No customs declaration required; simple attestation that the parcel contains no prohibited or dangerous items
• Shipments to third countries: Mandatory customs declaration via CP 72 forms (content description) and CN 23 (customs declaration), to be completed accurately
• Accompanying documents: Possibility of attaching commercial invoices, certificates of origin, export or import permits, health certificates depending on the nature of goods
• Shipments up to 150 euros: For incoming parcels of this value, Poczta Polska automatically manages customs declaration without action required from the recipient
• Shipments from 150 to 1000 euros: Simplified declaration possible with power of attorney to Poczta Polska; processing fee of 11.50 zlotys plus applicable VAT
• Shipments over 1000 euros: Full customs declaration required, which can be completed by the recipient themselves, by Poczta Polska or by a customs agent of their choice

Customs declaration constitutes a crucial element for shipments outside the EU. It must be completed legibly and exhaustively, detailing precisely the parcel's contents, its value and its origin. An inaccurate or ambiguous declaration can cause significant delays, customs penalties, or even seizure of the parcel by destination country authorities. Poczta Polska provides its customers with the necessary forms as well as practical guides to correctly complete these administrative documents.

For goods subject to specific regulations (food products, cosmetics, electronic devices, etc.), additional documents may be required by the destination country's customs authorities. These supporting documents, such as compliance certificates or import permits, must be placed in a self-adhesive transparent envelope fixed to the parcel. Poczta Polska strongly advises shippers to check the customs regulations of the destination country before any shipment, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises and customs blockages.

Customs fees and import taxes generally remain the responsibility of the recipient. For commercial shipments, some sellers opt for DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) formulas including prepayment of customs duties, but this option is not offered by default on standard postal services. Delivery times to third countries may be extended several days due to customs clearance procedures, a factor to consider when choosing the shipping method for urgent international shipments.

Understanding tracking statuses

When you track a Poczta Polska parcel online, different statuses may appear to inform you of your shipment's progress. The Polish Post's tracking system is accessible via the eMonitoring portal on the company's official website. Each stage of delivery generates a status update, allowing shippers and recipients to know in real time the position and condition of their parcel. Here are the main statuses and their meaning: