AliExpress tracking shows over twenty distinct status messages between payment and delivery. Most of them are straightforward. A handful are confusing because they sound alarming when they are actually normal, and a few are genuinely worth acting on. This page translates every status you are likely to see, explains the two phases where tracking silence is completely normal, and tells you which statuses require you to do something.
The Complete AliExpress Tracking Status Reference
AliExpress Tracking: Full Status Guide
| Status | Meaning | Normal Duration | Action? |
| Order information received by logistics | Tracking number created; package not yet collected | 1-3 days | None |
| Awaiting pickup by carrier | Package ready and waiting at collection point | 0-2 days | None |
| Shipment accepted / Order collected | Carrier physically has the package | 0-1 day | None |
| Departed from facility | Left the local hub or warehouse in China | 1-3 days | None |
| Arrived at transit hub | At a Chinese sorting and distribution hub | 1-2 days | None |
| Exported from origin country | Cleared Chinese export customs; on international transport | Tracking may pause | None |
| In transit | Moving internationally; no scans on planes or ships | 5-15 days | None |
| Arrived at Linehaul Office | In AliExpress’s own freight network hub | 3-10 days | None |
| En route via Linehaul to next hub | Moving between Linehaul hubs | 3-7 days | None |
| Arrived at destination country | In your country, heading to customs | 1-2 days | None |
| Customs clearance in progress | Being assessed by customs authority | 3-14 days | None |
| Clearance event | Customs logged an activity (scan, inspection, or assessment) | 1-7 days | None |
| Released by customs / Customs cleared | Package cleared; handed to local carrier | 0-1 day | None |
| Arrived at local facility | With domestic carrier, being sorted for delivery | 1-3 days | None |
| Out for delivery | With the delivery driver today | Same or next day | Be available |
| Delivery attempted | Tried to deliver; no one home or package could not be left | 1-2 days | Check carrier for redelivery instructions |
| Available for collection | At a post office or parcel shop awaiting pickup | Until deadline | Collect before carrier returns to sender |
| Delivered | Carrier marked as delivered | Check immediately | Open dispute if not received after 7 days |
| Held by customs | Specific issue flagged with this package | Varies | Monitor daily; act after 7 days |
| Return in progress / Returned to sender | Being or has been returned to China | Varies | Open dispute immediately |
Pre-Shipment Statuses: What Happens Before the Package Moves
“Order information received by logistics” is the status most buyers see first after a seller inputs a tracking number. It means the tracking system has been notified a package is coming, but the carrier has not physically collected it yet. This status can sit for 1 to 3 days before the next update appears. If it stays for more than 3 days without advancing to “Shipment accepted,” the seller may have created the tracking number but not yet dispatched the package.
“Awaiting pickup by carrier” is a short-lived status that confirms the package is ready and the carrier is scheduled to collect. It typically advances to “Shipment accepted” within 24 hours.
In Transit: The Silent Phase and Why It Is Normal
The longest and most anxiety-inducing phase in AliExpress tracking is international transit. Between “Exported from origin country” and “Arrived at destination country,” your package is on a cargo plane or a container ship. Neither mode of transport scans packages in transit. Tracking simply does not update for the duration of the flight or voyage.
Depending on the route and shipping method, this silent phase can last 5 to 15 days. Nothing is wrong. The package is moving. The silence is a function of how air and sea freight works, not a sign the package has been lost.
If your order shows “Arrived at Linehaul Office” status updates, your package is moving through AliExpress’s own Linehaul freight network. This is AliExpress’s internal logistics system that consolidates packages and moves them in bulk between international hubs. Updates appear at each hub handoff but go quiet during the transport legs between hubs. The full linehaul process from China to your destination country typically takes 10 to 25 days.
Customs and Destination Country Statuses
“Customs clearance in progress” is the status that most triggers buyer anxiety. It means your package has arrived in your country and customs is processing it. Most packages clear in 3 to 14 days. A 10-day wait at customs is annoying but normal. A wait under 14 days needs no action from you.
“Clearance event” is AliExpress’s label for any logged activity at customs: a physical inspection, a scan, an assessment, or a data update in the customs system. It sounds more significant than it is. A clearance event is simply customs acknowledging the package exists in their system. It does not mean the package is held or has a problem.
“Released by customs” is the status you want to see. It means your package cleared, is no longer in government hands, and has been handed to your local carrier.
Last-Mile Statuses: Delivery, Attempts, and the “Delivered” Problem
“Arrived at local facility” means your package is now with the domestic postal carrier in your country: AusPost, Royal Mail, USPS, Canada Post, Deutsche Post, or whoever delivers to your address. At this point, carrier tracking on the carrier’s own website often shows more current information than the AliExpress feed does.
“Out for delivery” means the package is with a driver and should reach your address today. Once this status appears, check the carrier’s own tracking app for an estimated delivery window if one is available.
“Delivery attempted” appears when the driver tried to deliver but could not complete it, either no one was home or the package could not be safely left. The carrier will typically send a separate notification with redelivery instructions. Check your carrier’s app or website rather than waiting for AliExpress to update.
“Delivered” does not always mean the package is at your door. Carriers mark packages as delivered when they go to parcel lockers, safe drop spots, or post offices for collection. Check your carrier’s detailed tracking note before assuming the package is missing. If 7 business days pass since the delivered status and the package is genuinely not accessible, open an AliExpress dispute through the order page.
When Tracking Is Not Updating: Normal vs Problem
Normal silence (wait it out): International transit: 5 to 15 days with no updates between “Exported from origin country” and “Arrived at destination country.” Your package is on a plane or ship.
Customs: 3 to 14 days at “Customs clearance in progress” with no sub-updates. The customs authority is processing in order of arrival.
Silence that needs attention: “Order information received” for more than 3 days without advancing: contact the seller. They may not have shipped.
No tracking update of any kind for more than 20 days when the package should be in transit: check with the carrier directly using the tracking number at 17track.net, which aggregates multiple carrier feeds simultaneously.
Any status unchanged for more than 10 business days when the protection window is closing: open a dispute to preserve your rights regardless of what the tracking shows. The buyer protection window is calculated from the estimated delivery date and cannot be recovered once it passes.
Takeaway
Most AliExpress tracking statuses mean one thing: wait. The two phases where silence is completely normal are international transit and customs clearance, and together they can account for 20 or more days of a 30-day delivery window. The statuses that actually need action are “Held by customs” beyond 7 days, “Delivery attempted” without a redelivery notice, and any status where the buyer protection window is about to close. For customs-specific delays and how long is too long, see the full customs guide.
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