What does my international shipment status mean?

Depending on whether your shipment is an import (coming from abroad into Germany) or an export (sent from Germany to another country), the customs clearance process takes place either in Germany or abroad.

Your shipment has arrived at the responsible customs clearance location operated by Deutsche Post DHL (for imports) or at the delivery partner in the destination country (for exports). The customs clearance process has now started. This process may take several business days depending on the completeness of the required documents and data.

Important: Please do not contact German Customs for information about the status of your shipment. In most cases, the shipment is not physically located within the responsibility of German Customs.

Depending on whether your shipment is an import or export, customs clearance takes place either in Germany or abroad.

Your shipment is currently undergoing the clearance process at Deutsche Post DHL (imports) or at the customs authority in the destination country (exports).

The process may be delayed for several reasons, including:

• Waiting for additional documents from the sender (e.g. missing invoice, incomplete customs declaration)
• Missing or incomplete electronic data
• Manual inspection of the shipment

Important: Please do not contact German Customs for status inquiries. The shipment is generally not physically within German Customs' responsibility.

Your shipment has successfully cleared customs and is now being handed over to the import processing unit of Deutsche Post DHL (imports) or to the delivery partner in the destination country (exports).

Please refer to DHL tracking or the tracking of the destination carrier for further updates. Your shipment should arrive soon.

The shipment cannot be delivered and is typically returned to the sender.
Possible reasons include:

• The parcel was notified for pickup but not collected within the storage period
• Customs clearance was not possible due to missing or insufficient documentation (e.g. customs declaration in the wrong language, missing commercial invoice)
• Import duties were not paid by the recipient
• The contents include prohibited or restricted goods
• Missing electronic customs data that the sender did not provide
• Other reasons, such as non‑compliance with destination country shipping requirements (e.g. size restrictions) or an invalid tracking number from the origin country

The return cannot be stopped for operational or liability reasons.

If you are registered as a self‑declarant ("Selbstverzoller"), the shipment will be forwarded to the customs office responsible for your delivery address.

A PÜB number (Post Transfer Form number) will be assigned and sent to you in a notification letter. The letter contains all necessary information for collecting your shipment at the customs office.
Please allow two business days for the letter to arrive.
If you have not received it by the third business day, please contact our customer service.

Due to safety regulations (e.g. aviation security, dangerous goods), shipments may be subject to additional inspection in the country of origin. This process takes at least two business days. We kindly ask for your patience.

The security check (e.g. aviation security/dangerous goods) was successfully completed without any issues. Your shipment will now continue its journey to the destination country/region.

The shipment cannot be forwarded and is being returned to the sender. Reasons may include:

• Dangerous goods in the shipment (e.g. batteries, liquids)
• Incomplete or incorrect customs documents required by the destination country
   

Your shipment is being prepared for secure onward transport and assigned to a transport container.
Next, the container will be booked onto a transport (e.g. flight) toward the destination country/region.

The transport container with your shipment has been assigned to a specific transport (e.g. a flight). For air transport, the next step is the departure of that flight.
In rare cases, the airline may cancel the booking, in which case the shipment is assigned to the next available transport.
Transport mode (airplane, ship, train) depends on the destination and available capacity.
Shipments may travel directly or via stopover.

The initially planned transport was cancelled (e.g. due to insufficient capacity). The container with your shipment is now assigned to the next available transport.

International transport has begun, and your shipment is en route to its destination. The displayed code refers to the carrier and transport number.
 

Example: LH 400 = Lufthansa flight 400.

The transport vehicle carrying your shipment has arrived at the airport, port, or train station. If the destination country has been reached, the shipment will be handed over to the local delivery partner. If not, onward transport is arranged.

The container with your shipment has been taken over by the delivery partner or local postal operator.
Individual items will be scanned and processed next.

Please check DHL tracking or the destination carrier’s tracking for further updates.

Your shipment will arrive soon.

If the delivery agent could not deliver the parcel and no neighbor or family member was available to accept it, the shipment is placed in a nearby post office, parcel shop, or parcel locker.

It remains there for 7 to 14 business days, depending on the destination country.
Pickup details (location, hours, storage period) are shown in the destination carrier’s tracking system.
If contact details are available, the recipient may also receive an email/SMS notification.
More information on pickup locations and storage periods is available on the destination country information pages.

A delivery attempt was made, but unsuccessful.
Depending on the country, the shipment will either be forwarded to a pickup location or another delivery attempt will follow.

Due to embargo-related inspections, shipments from Russia are currently experiencing delays in the customs clearance process of up to 20 weeks. As a result, the current shipment status may temporarily not be available for technical reasons.

Once the customs clearance process is completed, the shipment status will be updated again.
If your shipment is eligible for import, it will then be delivered as usual.