TL;DR
Etsy requires tracking on most US-domestic shipments to count toward the Star Seller "shipped on time with tracking" metric. International shipments to certain destinations are exempt. As of May 2026, exemptions cover roughly 30 destinations (mostly in regions where tracking is unavailable or prohibitively expensive) plus low-value orders below specific country thresholds.
What "tracking required" actually means
For Star Seller, an order counts as "shipped on time with tracking" when:
- The package shipped on or before the deadline
- A tracking number is attached to the order
- The carrier registered at least one scan
If any of the three is missing, the order doesn't count toward the 95% threshold UNLESS the order falls into an exemption.
US-domestic shipments
Tracking is required for almost all US-to-US shipments. The only common exception: very small items shipped via USPS First Class without optional tracking add-on. As of 2024, USPS phased most low-cost untracked options out, so this exception barely applies in 2026.
In practice: every US-domestic order should ship with tracking. Buy through Etsy and tracking auto-attaches.
International shipments — the exemption list
Etsy maintains an internal list of destinations where tracking is unavailable, unreliable, or cost-prohibitive. Those orders don't drag down your shipping rate.
Roughly 30 destinations are on the exemption list as of May 2026. They tend to fall into three groups:
Group 1: Small/remote countries with unreliable tracking infrastructure
Examples: certain Pacific island nations, some African destinations where tracking ends at customs and isn't visible to USPS.
Group 2: Countries where tracking is expensive enough to make low-value orders impractical
For orders below a country-specific threshold (often around $20 to $30), tracking is exempt because the shipping cost would exceed the order value.
Group 3: Special-case destinations
Diplomatic addresses, military APO/FPO addresses, and a few others.
Etsy doesn't publish the full list publicly. The carve-outs apply automatically; sellers don't need to tag orders as exempt.
How to know if your shipment is exempt
Two paths:
Path 1: Check after the fact. Your shipping-rate metric in Star Seller dashboard. If it's lower than expected, audit the recent orders that missed tracking. Were they to exempt destinations? If yes, Etsy's metric should still count them. If your metric reflects the loss, contact Etsy support and reference the exempt destination.
Path 2: Buy labels through Etsy. When you buy labels through Etsy for international shipments, the system automatically applies whatever rules apply. You don't need to do anything special.
The trickiest cases: outside-purchased international labels (e.g., DHL through your carrier's website). Etsy doesn't always know about the tracking, and the metric can fail even though the destination would otherwise be exempt.
Common scenarios
Scenario: You shipped to Vanuatu without tracking
If Vanuatu is on Etsy's exemption list (likely, given small-island infrastructure), the order doesn't count against your shipping rate. Verify by checking your dashboard the day after Etsy refreshes.
Scenario: You shipped a $5 item to Brazil without tracking
Brazil has tracking available, but for low-value orders under a threshold, exemptions sometimes apply. Verify on your dashboard. If the order shows as missing tracking, contact Etsy support with the order number and country.
Scenario: You shipped a $50 item to a small island via USPS First Class International (no tracking)
This is borderline. USPS First Class International doesn't include tracking. Even if the destination is exempt for low-value, $50 is over many thresholds. The order may not count toward your shipping rate. Use Priority Mail International (with tracking) for international shipments above $25 to $30.
Scenario: APO/FPO military address
Should be exempt under "special-case destinations". Verify the metric reflects this; if not, contact support.
What to do this week
If you ship internationally regularly:
- Audit your shipping rate metric. If it's below 95% and you've been shipping diligently, count exempt orders that should have been excluded.
- Switch to tracked options where possible. Priority Mail International, FedEx International, and DHL all offer tracking even for small items. Cost is higher but the metric value is preserved.
- For low-value international orders: consider raising your minimum order or charging the full cost of tracked shipping.
- If you find a metric error: contact Etsy support with order numbers. Etsy will sometimes manually correct shipping-rate calculations for exempt destinations that weren't auto-detected.
What NOT to do
- Don't assume "international means exempt." Most international destinations aren't.
- Don't skip tracking on US-domestic orders to save 50 cents. The metric cost is far higher.
- Don't add fake tracking numbers to "satisfy" the metric. Etsy verifies with the carrier and detects.
- Don't ship via untracked First Class International for high-value orders. The savings aren't worth the metric or the buyer-protection risk.
Related concepts
- Etsy on-time shipping rate for Star Seller covers the full shipping-rate metric
- When does Etsy's ship-by clock start? covers the deadline mechanic
Sources
- Etsy Help: What is the Star Seller Badge? (accessed May 5, 2026)
- Public Reddit threads in r/EtsySellers, 2024–2026 (international shipping patterns)
- Gold Shield original research, 2025–2026
Notes for human review: Etsy's exemption list is internal and not publicly documented. The "30 destinations" figure is observational. Verify by checking actual dashboard behavior.