How to Get a Mailing Address

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Establishing a place where you can receive and send mail—PO boxes and more

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: October 26, 2024 References

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• New Construction Address
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• PO Box
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• Third-Party Virtual Address
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• Changing a Mailing Address

|Show more |Show less

How you get a new mailing address is highly dependent upon where you live. In general, you’ll be able to get a mailing address for a new construction by applying for an address once you receive your building and zoning permits. Contact your local government to find the specific government institution in charge of assigning address where you live and submit the necessary paperwork before the site visit. You can also get a mailing address by opening a PO box at your local post office or shipping center. In the event that you move, you’ll need to change your address by submitting an application at the post office, visiting the DMV to get a new license or ID, and contacting your bank and utility companies.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

New Construction Address

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1. 1
   Apply for an address immediately after getting permission to build. You may not be given an address immediately after you get the necessary zoning and building permits, but in some countries and states, you can. To see if you qualify for an address before building begins, contact your local city’s government and request to be directed to the appropriate government body. You may be put in touch with your municipal postmaster, the planning and zoning department, or the state government where you live.

   • You will need the land deed in order to apply for a new address.
   • You may be told that you have to wait until the building’s entrances are constructed. If this is the case, simply wait until the frame of your building is up to apply. This is common because local governments like to know where an entrance is visually located before assigning it a number.
   • You’ll likely need to wait for the address to be approved before you can register a business there. Depending on where you live, you may be able to temporarily register your business out of your home. Otherwise, you may need to use a virtual address service.
2. 2
   Compile the documents needed to prove you own a building. You’ll need the land deed, multiple forms of identification, contractor receipts, approved architectural plans, and anything containing information regarding your property. Include any forms that list the geographic location of your building (especially if it lists the longitude and latitude). Make high-quality copies of all of the necessary documents to prove that the building exists and you own it so that you don’t risk losing the originals.

   • Usually, only the property owner can actually apply for a street address. You cannot apply on behalf of someone else.
   • To register your business out of the property, submit your approved business license to the local, state, and federal government along with your land deed or mortgage proving you that the address is legally yours.

   Tip: If you’re applying for an address on behalf of a company or developer, make sure that you print any letters on your company letterhead.

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3. 3
   Fill out an application and mail copies of your documents. In some states and countries, you simply mail copies of your documents with a letter explaining you want a street address. In others, you’ll need to fill out an application alongside the copies of your documents. In either case, complete the necessary letter or application and mail your documents to the necessary government office.

   • There is usually a fee for this service. It’s often somewhere between $50-500 depending on where you live and what kind of building you’re registering.
   • Hire a courier service or bike messenger if you really want to make sure that your documents end up in the right hands.
4. 4
   Comply with the site visit to get your new address confirmed. Your local or state government will process your application and either accept it, request more information, or schedule their site visit. For the site visit, a government surveyor will simply show up, inspect your building, and make sure that all of your information checks out. If all goes well with the site visit, you can expect your address to be approved within a week or two.

   • In some states and countries, you will simply receive a letter informing you that your requested address has been approved and added to the official database where you live.
   • Once your business license is approved for a location, you’ll have a second site visit completed by a business inspector to ensure that the building is up to code for the specific type of business that you’re operating.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

PO Box

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1. 1
   Get a PO box as an alternative to a mailing address. A PO box is essentially a mailbox that you rent at the post office. Once you pay for one, you’ll be able to receive mail and packages at the PO box address like it’s a home address. However, you cannot use a PO box as your official personal address, so it can’t go on your driver’s license and you can’t use it to for tax purposes.

   • PO is simply short for “Post Office.”
   • If you’re running a business or public service and want people to be able to mail you things, a PO box is a good option if you don’t have a storefront and don’t want to publish your personal address.
   • You can normally operate an LLC under a PO box address. Depending on where you live, you probably can’t register a business out of a PO box though.

   Warning: One of the downsides of a PO box is that you’ll only be able to access your mail during the post office’s business hours. This makes it a bad choice if you work nights or live really far from the post office.
2. 2
   Obtain a PO Box at a local post office or shipping center. Regardless of where you live, your country’s post office likely offers PO boxes. Private shipping centers, like UPS or MBE, often offer PO boxes as well. Go to the post office or shipping center that is most convenient for you and ask the clerk about opening a new PO box.

   • Only one person can apply for a PO box, so if you’re opening a PO box for a business, have the primary owner of the business apply. Other people will be able to pick up mail if they’re listed as secondary users on the application.
3. 3
   Fill out an application for a PO box and pay the fee. You don’t necessarily need a primary address to open a PO box, but you do need several forms of identification, so bring your passport, driver’s license, state ID, and birth certificate with you to be safe. Fill out the necessary forms and pay the necessary fees to submit your application.

   • PO boxes come in different sizes, ranging usually from 3 by 5.5 in (7.6 by 14.0 cm) to 12 by 22.52 in (30.5 by 57.2 cm). Smaller boxes can hold 10-20 envelopes, while larger boxes can hold small packages and dozens of letters. Choose a size based on your anticipated needs.
   • Larger PO boxes cost more money to rent than smaller boxes.
   • You can usually pay up to a year in advance for a PO box. The cost of renting a PO box is usually between $10-25 a month.
   • You do need to have a primary address if you live in the United States.
4. 4
   Use your PO box the same way that you would use a mailbox. Whenever you want to check your mail or pick up packages, go to the post office or shipping center where you’ve opened your PO box. Use your key or combination lock to open your PO box. Depending on your post office’s rules, you may need to sign in and show ID before you’re given access to your PO box.

   • Some merchants and businesses will refuse to ship to PO boxes.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Third-Party Virtual Address

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1. 1
   Opt for a virtual address if you have a business or need a temporary address. Third-party services rent out addresses that you’ll be able to legally use to receive and send mail. The service will give you a verified address that you can ship to and receive packages from. You may need to use a third-party service to get a virtual address to get a vendor to ship goods overseas or to temporarily register your business at a verifiable address.

   • This is a great option if you’re traveling a lot and need a temporary address to collect your mail.
   • Essentially, your new address is a warehouse operated by the virtual address company. You can have goods shipped to that address, which will be forwarded to your real address. You can also send mail to the address to be forwarded to somewhere else.
   • This is a good option for freelancers that are legally required to register their income source from an address other than their home.

   Warning: While these virtual addresses are usually legal to use in the United State, you may be violating certain international laws if you’re shipping goods illegally overseas. You’ll also be committing a crime if you’re using a virtual address to dodge taxes or avoid business fees.
2. 2
   Select a third-party service based on the location of the address. The main difference between the services offered by these virtual address companies is where the virtual address will be located. Look online and select a company based on where they provide addresses based on your personal needs.

   • Certain companies will put your address in major cities, while other companies will give you an address in the middle of an unpopulated rural area.
   • Select a nearby address if you want to be able to physically visit the site. Some of these companies operate storefronts, although most of them are only online.
   • Popular virtual address companies include Alliance (https://www.alliancevirtualoffices.com/), DaVinci (https://www.davincivirtual.com/loc/united-states/), and USA2Me (https://www.usa2me.com/site/Mail_Services_Virtual_Office.aspx).
3. 3
   Choose a service and pay the subscription fee for your new address. Once you’ve selected a service, choose the address that you want to use. Pay the monthly subscription fee to activate your new address. Depending on where the address is, you may need to pay $50-250 a month for your address.

   • You may be able to pay up to a year in advance.
   • If you’re given options, you’ll need to pay a higher price for addresses in unique or popular locations, like Beverly Hills or Manhattan.
   • Delaware addresses often fetch a premium since they’re an incredibly popular state to register a business out of.
4. 4
   Use the virtual address as if it were your real address. Once you have your address, go ahead and use it as you would a standard address. If you have goods and letters shipped to your virtual address, they will be automatically forwarded to your real location. When addressing mail, place the virtual address on the lines where you’d normally put your return address.

   • While you may be able to register a business out of a virtual address, it may be illegal depending on where you live.
   • Once you stop using an address, it may be incredibly difficult to get it back if the company has given it to someone else.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Changing a Mailing Address

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1. 1
   Go to your government’s post office or visit them online to apply for an address change. You can change your address at your government post office, but you may be able to do it online depending on where you live. Either visit the official post office website for your country or go to the post office in person and request a change of address. You will need paperwork proving that you live at the new address, so bring a copy of your lease or mortgage with you to refer to it.

   • There is usually a small fee for changing your address. In the United States, it is $1.
   • If you live in the United States, you can change your address online at https://moversguide.usps.com/mgo/.
   • Changing your address ensures that your mail will be forwarded from your previous address to your new address. Any pieces of mail that will be addressed to your old home will be automatically forwarded to your new location after the database has been updated.
2. 2
   Visit the DMV with your lease or mortgage paperwork to update your driver’s license or ID. Once you’ve verified your new address with the post office, go to your local DMV or government ID office. Bring a copy of your new lease or property title, your old ID, and any other necessary identification like a birth certificate or a social security card. Take a number when you arrive and let the staff at the DMV or ID office know that you need a new license or ID with your updated address.

   • Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a new driver’s license or government ID mailed to you.

   Tip: The DMV or ID office can take a notoriously long time to get to you. If you want this done quickly, go early in the day.
3. 3
   Update your personal information for your credit cards, accounts, and subscriptions. Once you’ve updated your mailing address and received a new license or ID with your updated address, contact your credit card companies, banks, and utility companies to inform them of your address change. You may need to provide a photocopy of your new driver’s license or ID to prove that you live at your new address.

   • Inform any other subscription services of your address change to avoid missing out on any important deliveries.
   • You may need to provide a copy of your lease or mortgage to your utility companies.
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