Our shipping guide covers how long delivery takes. This one's about the specific status messages that show up along the way — what they actually mean, and which ones are worth worrying about.
In this guide
The statuses, decoded
A few show up constantly and confuse people because the wording varies:
- "Import customs clearance started" — your package has reached your country and is being processed for compliance and any duty owed. This can appear the moment the package is handed to customs, not necessarily when active review actually begins, so seeing it doesn't mean anything is happening right this second.
- "Customs clearance complete" / "Released from customs" / "Customs cleared" — these are the same thing worded differently depending on which system is displaying it. Your package passed customs and is moving toward your local courier for final delivery.
- "Received by local delivery company" — the handoff point. Cainiao's own updates typically stop here, and your local postal service or courier's own tracking takes over from this point on.
Why tracking goes quiet
A multi-day gap with no update is common, especially around major sale events when volume spikes across the whole system (see our sales calendar for when those are). The usual causes: a backed-up customs facility, an extra inspection on your specific shipment, unpaid duty holding things up, or just a missed scan that doesn't reflect where the package actually is. None of these mean the package is lost — they mean the tracking system is behind the physical package, which is normal for international shipping.
Better tracking tools
AliExpress's default tracker runs on Cainiao, which doesn't always show the most current scan. Third-party aggregators like 17Track or Parcelsapp often surface a more up-to-date status, especially once your package changes hands to a local carrier — worth checking if the AliExpress app itself hasn't moved in a while.
When to actually worry
Not every stall is fine — see our buying guide for how buyer protection deadlines work. As a rule: a few days of silence during clearance is normal; no movement at all past your listed delivery window is when it's worth opening a dispute rather than continuing to wait.
Frequently asked questions
What does "import customs clearance started" mean on AliExpress?
Your package has reached your country and is being processed for compliance and any import duty owed. It doesn't necessarily mean active processing has begun that moment — this status can appear as soon as the package is handed to customs, even if it's sitting in a queue.
Why has my AliExpress tracking not updated in days?
Usually one of: a backed-up customs facility, an additional inspection, unpaid duty holding the package, or simply a missed scan that doesn't reflect the package's actual location. During peak periods like major sale events, multi-day gaps in tracking are common and not automatically a sign something's wrong.
Should I use a third-party tracking site instead of AliExpress's own tracker?
It can help. AliExpress's default Cainiao tracking doesn't always reflect the latest scan — third-party aggregators like 17Track or Parcelsapp sometimes show more current status by pulling directly from the local carrier once the package changes hands.
If the parcel you're refreshing is your first order, this waiting pattern is the normal one — and for the next order, our under-$15 finds keep the stakes low enough that a slow tracking page is boring instead of stressful.
