An AliExpress order stuck at customs is almost always just waiting in a queue, not held for a specific problem. Every international package entering a country passes through a customs authority, and customs processes thousands of packages daily. Most pass through in 3 to 14 days without any intervention required from you. The confusing part is that tracking stops updating during this time, which makes a normal queue feel like something is wrong. This page explains what each tracking phrase actually means, how long is genuinely too long in each country, and exactly when and how to open an AliExpress dispute to protect yourself.
What Does “Stuck at Customs” Actually Mean?
When your AliExpress tracking shows a customs-related status and then goes silent, your package is sitting in a government facility waiting for one of two things: routine processing clearance that releases it automatically, or a flagged review that may require inspection or documentation.
The customs authority in your country, whether that is CBP in the US, HMRC in the UK, the ABF in Australia, or the CBSA in Canada, processes every international package that enters. Most packages are cleared electronically with no physical handling. A smaller number are pulled for physical inspection, usually selected randomly or because something in the manifest triggers a review.
“Stuck” is rarely accurate. The package is not stuck. It is in a queue that customs processes in order of arrival. Tracking simply does not update during queue time, which makes a normal 7-day wait look alarming.
Tracking Phrases Explained: Every Status You Will See
AliExpress Customs Tracking: Full Status Guide
| Tracking Phrase | What It Means | Normal Duration | Action Needed? |
| In transit to customs | Package is being transported to the customs facility | 1-2 days | No |
| Awaiting customs clearance | In the queue, not yet assessed | 1-7 days | No |
| Customs clearance in progress | Actively being reviewed by the customs officer | 1-5 business days | No |
| Clearance event | Customs has logged an activity such as an inspection or assessment | 3-14 days | No |
| Customs inspection | Physical inspection underway | 3-10 days | No |
| Held by customs | Specific issue flagged with this package | Varies | Monitor daily, act after 7 days |
| Detained by customs | Serious hold, documentation may be required | Varies | Check email for notice immediately |
| Awaiting payment of duties | Duty assessed, your payment required before release | Pay within carrier’s deadline | Yes, pay via carrier notice |
| Released by customs / Customs released | Cleared, handed to domestic carrier | 0-1 day | No, delivery imminent |
“Clearance event” is the most frequently misunderstood. It sounds alarming but is simply the customs system logging that something happened. It could mean the package was scanned, moved, inspected, or assessed. It is not a hold or a problem unless no further update follows after 14 days.
Normal Wait Times at Customs by Country
Wait times vary significantly by country because customs authorities have different volumes, staffing levels, and inspection regimes.
United States: 3 to 10 business days for most AliExpress packages from China in the current tariff environment. In 2025, increased scrutiny of Chinese goods has extended average clearance times compared to prior years.
United Kingdom: 2 to 7 business days for most packages. Packages above the £135 threshold requiring manual duty assessment can take longer, up to 14 days.
Australia: 2 to 7 business days for routine customs clearance. Biosecurity screening by DAFF is separate and can add 5 to 21 days for packages flagged for biological inspection.
Canada: 3 to 10 business days. Higher-value shipments assessed by CBSA for customs duty take longer, sometimes up to 14 business days.
EU countries: 3 to 10 business days varies by country. Germany, France, and the Netherlands have well-resourced customs operations. Smaller EU countries may take longer during peak periods.
Peak periods add time everywhere. Chinese New Year in January-February and the 11.11 sale in November produce large waves of international packages that strain customs processing capacity globally.
When to Actually Worry: The 21-Day Rule
Most customs delays resolve on their own. Here is how to read the timeline:
Days 1 to 14: Wait. This is normal processing time in almost every country. Checking the carrier tracking directly (AusPost, Canada Post, Royal Mail, USPS) often shows more recent updates than the AliExpress feed does.
Days 14 to 21: Check carrier tracking daily and verify your email for any customs notice. Some countries send duty assessment notices that expire if not acted on within a set period. Missing one of these notices is the most common way a resolvable hold becomes a complicated one.
Day 21 and beyond with no movement: Time to act. The package may be in a genuinely problematic hold, or it may have been returned to the sender without notification. Do not wait further.
Regardless of days elapsed, act immediately if: your AliExpress buyer protection window is closing within 5 days. The protection window is calculated from the estimated delivery date, not the order date. Check your AliExpress order page for the exact deadline. Opening a dispute before this date is the only way to preserve your right to a refund if the package never arrives.
How to Check Customs Status in Your Country
USA: Check USPS tracking at usps.com using the AliExpress tracking number. If the package is being assessed by CBP, USPS tracking shows “In Customs” with a date. For a customs duty notice, USPS will contact you by email if you are signed up for Informed Delivery at informeddelivery.usps.com.
UK: Check Royal Mail tracking at royalmail.com. If a customs notice has been issued, you will receive a card through the letterbox or an email if you have registered your tracking with Royal Mail. Payment can be made at royalmail.com using the reference from the notice.
Australia: AusPost tracking at auspost.com.au shows customs stages clearly. For biosecurity holds managed by DAFF, you may receive a separate email from the Department of Agriculture. Their contact number appears on the DAFF website at agriculture.gov.au.
Canada: Canada Post tracking at canadapost.ca shows customs status. If CBSA has issued an assessment, Canada Post holds the package at a post office and contacts you by email or card.
EU countries: Check the tracking number directly with the domestic carrier in your country (Deutsche Post for Germany, La Poste for France, PostNL for the Netherlands). Their tracking systems often show customs stages that do not appear in the AliExpress feed.
What Documents Customs May Request From You
In most cases, customs processes your package without contacting you. Physical inspection does not require buyer participation. However, certain situations prompt a documentation request:
Proof of purchase. Customs may request an invoice or receipt showing the actual price you paid for the goods. Your AliExpress order confirmation email and the invoice available through the AliExpress app both work. The document should clearly show the item description, quantity, and total paid.
Product description and HS code. If the package is assessed for duty, customs needs to categorize the goods. A detailed description of what the item is helps. For high-value or unusual items, knowing the HS (Harmonized System) code for your product speeds resolution. You can look up HS codes using your country’s tariff database.
Personal use declaration. Some countries require a statement that imported goods are for personal use rather than commercial resale, particularly if the order contains multiples of the same item.
If customs sends you a request, respond before their stated deadline. Missed deadlines result in the package being abandoned or returned to the sender.
How to Open an AliExpress Dispute Before Your Protection Window Closes
This is the most important action you can take when a customs delay extends toward the protection window deadline.
Step 1. Go to your AliExpress account and tap My Orders. Find the affected order and note the buyer protection deadline date. It is displayed on the order page.
Step 2. If the deadline is within 5 days or has already passed 21 days since the estimated delivery date, tap Open Dispute.
Step 3. Select “Order not received.” In the reason field, explain that the package is held at customs beyond the protection window and the carrier tracking shows no recent movement.
Step 4. Set the solution you want. For a package genuinely delayed at customs, you have two options: request an extended delivery timeline (which pauses the protection clock while you wait for customs to release it) or request a refund. Choose the extended timeline first if you still believe the package may clear.
Step 5. AliExpress reviews the dispute. For customs-related delays, they typically grant a timeline extension if the tracking shows the package entered the destination country. If the extension expires and the package still has not moved, escalate the dispute to a refund request.
Opening a dispute does not abandon your package. The package continues through customs regardless. The dispute simply preserves your right to a refund if it never arrives.
Takeaway
An AliExpress package stuck at customs is almost always a queue issue rather than a problem with your order. Three to 14 days is the normal range. Check your carrier’s own tracking feed directly, keep an eye on your email for duty or biosecurity notices, and open a dispute through AliExpress buyer protection before the protection deadline if the wait stretches past 21 days with no movement. The protection window is the one thing you must not let expire while waiting for customs to act.
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