Tracking, refunds, and returns

For tracking information, see Tracking a DNA Kit. For refund amounts and eligibility information, see our Renewal and Cancellation Terms. 

Shipping to another country

AncestryDNA kits cannot currently be purchased in one country and shipped to another country. The billing address can be in any country. 

Shipping in hot or cold weather

The sample can be placed directly into the mail, even in extreme temperatures. Shipping the DNA kit back in extremely hot or cold temperatures should be fine, but if your test fails at the laboratory for any reason, we will provide a free replacement kit.

Standard shipping

From inside the U.S.

Standard shipping costs $9.95 for the first kit and $4.95 for each additional kit. This amount covers delivery to the recipient, return shipping, and any shipping related to the provision of the DNA testing service; no additional postage is necessary. Kits ship via USPS and usually arrive within 10 business days (about 2 weeks, excluding holidays) of the order date. If a kit hasn't arrived within 15 business days, please contact us for a replacement kit.

From outside the U.S.

Shipping costs, carriers, and delivery times vary by location.  Local pricing and delivery estimates will be shown on-screen during checkout.  Once your order ships, you’ll receive an email with tracking information and carrier details. Most DNA kits are delivered within 14 business days of the order date. If a kit hasn't arrived within 20 business days, please contact us for a replacement kit.

Expedited shipping

From inside the U.S.

Expedited shipping costs $24.95 for the first kit and $12.95 for each additional kit. This amount covers delivery to the recipient, return shipping, and any shipping related to the provision of the DNA testing service; no additional postage is necessary. Expedited kits ship via USPS Priority mail and usually arrive within 3 business days of the order date. If an expedited kit hasn't arrived within 5 business days, please contact us for a replacement kit. 

From outside the U.S.

Expedited shipping availability, costs, carriers, and delivery times vary by location. Local pricing and delivery estimates will be shown on-screen during checkout. Once your order ships, you’ll receive an email with tracking information and carrier details. Most expedited DNA kits are delivered within 4 business days of the order date. If an expedited DNA kit hasn't arrived within 10 business days, please contact us for a replacement kit.

Shipping to a P.O. box

A maximum of 2 DNA kits can be shipped to a P.O. box in a single order, due to the size constraints of P.O. boxes. When purchasing 3 or more DNA kits, we recommend providing a street address or submitting multiple orders. 

Shipping the sample back

From inside the U.S.

1. Before returning your DNA sample, register your kit.
2. Once your kit has been registered, package your sample.
   • Place your saliva sample inside the collection bag.
   • Put the collection bag inside the small prepaid mailing box labeled with our return address included with the DNA kit.
3. Place the packaged DNA sample directly into the mail. No additional postage is necessary.

From outside the U.S.

1. Before returning your DNA sample, register your kit.
2. Create and print a prepaid shipping label. 
   • On the registration confirmation page, click the Return DNA sample button or shipping label link. Or, in the registration confirmation email we sent, choose "Click here."
     Not getting emails?
   • If asked, choose a shipping service.
   • Fill out the required information on the form provided
3. Package your sample.
   • Place your saliva sample inside the collection bag.
   • Put the collection bag inside the box.
   • Attach the prepaid shipping label to the box. 
4. Return your DNA sample using the shipping service you selected. If you didn't choose one, use your local postal service. 

If you've registered your kit, in most cases, you should receive results within 6 weeks from the date we receive your sample.

Troubleshooting

Address change
To change the shipping address for your order, follow the steps in Updating the Shipping Address for AncestryDNA.

Not getting Ancestry emails
If you're having trouble receiving our emails, like the registration confirmation email, see Not Getting Ancestry Emails or contact us.

Lost or damaged kit

• From inside the U.S.
  If you don't receive your kit within 15 business days for standard shipping or 5 business days for expedited shipping, please contact us for a free replacement kit.
   
• From outside the U.S.
  If you don't receive your kit within 20 business days for standard shipping or 10 business days for expedited shipping, please contact us for a free replacement kit.

Lost plastic bag
If the resealable plastic bag is damaged or misplaced, put the sample tube into a Ziploc-type bag before placing it into the return shipping box. 

Don't have a printer
If you don't have a printer, create your return shipping label, save the file, and bring it to your local mail facility or chosen shipping service for help. 

Lost return mailing box

• From inside the U.S.
  If you've misplaced the return mailing box, you can ship the sample back using packaging you provide.
   
  • If the pre-printed shipping label is undamaged, try removing it from the original box and reattaching it to the packaging you provide. 
  • If the pre-printed shipping label is misplaced or damaged, you can mail the kit to the following return address (at your own expense):
    
    Ancestry
    1226 S 630 E, Ste 1
    American Fork, Utah 84003
    United States of America
  
   
• From inside Canada
  Please refer to our dedicated support article about  AncestryDNA Shipping in Canada.
   
• From outside the U.S. and Canada
  If you've misplaced the return mailing box, you can ship the sample back using packaging you provide. If you use your own shipping materials, you'll need to pay for return shipping when you mail it. You can mail the kit to the following return address (at your own expense):

Lost sample
When we receive the sample, we'll send an email notification that it was received. If you're the owner of the account on which the DNA test was registered and you don't receive a notification email within 20 business days of the date you returned a sample to us, the kit was likely lost in the mail; in that case, please contact us for a free replacement kit.