Frequently Asked Questions about La Poste

• What is the Format of La Poste International Tracking Numbers?

  Most international parcels and registered letters sent through La Poste or Colissimo have a tracking number made up of 13 characters. It usually starts with two letters, followed by nine digits, and ends with "FR", which marks France as the country of origin, for example: XX 000000000 FR.

  The opening letters show which service was used:

  • R - registered mail or tracked letters;
  • C - standard international parcels (Colissimo);
  • E - EMS / express service (Chronopost);
  • L - tracked e-commerce packets.

  Depending on the service, your tracking updates may appear first on the La Poste or Colissimo website and later in the tracking system of the destination country. If you prefer to see all events on one page, you can enter the number on our Parcel Tracker, which combines available scans from both operators into a single timeline.

• What's the Difference Between La Poste, Colissimo, and Chronopost?

  All three brands belong to the same group, the La Poste Group, but each one focuses on a different type of delivery.

  • La Poste is the national postal network of France. It handles regular letters, small parcels, and tracked mail both inside France and abroad. If you're sending a postcard or a light registered letter, that is usually handled by La Poste;
  • Colissimo is La Poste's parcel division. It is designed for e-commerce, everyday parcels, and standard shipments weighing up to around 30 kg. Parcels sent with Colissimo usually include online tracking and delivery confirmation;
  • Chronopost is the express service, also owned by La Poste Group. It is used for faster, time-sensitive deliveries, both domestically and internationally, and competes with private couriers such as DHL Express and FedEx.

• How can I Contact La Poste About a Missing or Delayed International Parcel?

  If your La Poste or Colissimo parcel is delayed, damaged, or hasn't arrived, you can contact La Poste directly through their official support page.

  When submitting a request, you'll need:

  • Your tracking number;
  • The date of posting;
  • The sender's and recipient's details;
  • A short description of the issue (for example, "no updates for 10 days" or "item marked as delivered but not received").

  For international shipments, La Poste can only investigate while the parcel is still within France. Once it has left the country, further tracking or claims are usually handled by the destination country's postal service or by the sender who posted the package.

  If you want to check the latest tracking information before opening a case, enter your number on the Parcel Tracking Service. You'll see both La Poste and destination-country events in one place.

• How can I get Help From La Poste in English?

  La Poste's main customer service operates primarily in French, but you can still contact their team for assistance.

  If you're calling from France:

  • Dial 3631 for individual customers;
  • Dial 3634 for business or professional inquiries.

  If you're calling from outside France:

  • Dial +33 810 821 821 (standard international call rates apply).

  Customer service is available Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings. English support is not always guaranteed, but many agents can provide basic assistance or forward your request to the relevant department.

  If you only need to view your tracking information in English, there is an easier way: use Parcel Manager. Our tracker automatically translates La Poste and Colissimo tracking updates into English and supports more than 80 languages.