While many of us receive our bills online these days, we can’t avoid physical mail altogether. So, what do you do with letters and parcels if you travel (around New Zealand or Australia) for more than just a few weeks? How do you provide proof of residential address if you live a nomadic lifestyle and have no fixed abode? If these are burning questions, today’s article will give you the answers.
Options for letters
Enlisting friends or relatives
Do you keep your home while travelling long-term? You could continue receiving physical mail in your letterbox and occasionally have a neighbour, friend, or family member empty it. If your home is tenanted while you’re away, ask yourself: Would you be happy for your mail to be mixed with your tenants?
If your answer is no, or if you’re embracing full-time travel without a permanent address, I encourage you to contact trusted friends or family about the possibility of using their home address! You’d need to notify anyone you might still get physical mail from, but once that’s done, you only need to provide your friends or relatives with instructions on what to do when mail arrives. Enlisting them doesn’t cost you anything, apart from a gesture of appreciation occasionally.
You could get your mail sent to (and opened by) close friends or relatives | Photo by Jac Alexandru on Unsplash
A word on Post Office boxes
You might ask, What about Post Office boxes? You could use a Post Office box to receive your mail for a fee, but you still need someone to collect your mail occasionally unless your travels take you past your Post Office box occasionally.
Post Office boxes (and Locked Bags) are also less helpful when you no longer have a fixed abode: Institutions worldwide must know their customers (KYC) to combat money laundering and terrorism financing activities. To comply with their KYC obligations, many institutions require (proof of) residential address to access their services. And for obvious reasons, you can’t use a Post Office box (or Locked Bag) to prove your residential address.
For obvious reasons, you can't use a PO box to prove your residential address | Photo by Brian Wangenheim on Unsplash
Using mail scanning and forwarding services
If Post Office boxes are not the way to go, and you don’t want to impose on friends or relatives, you could use the services of a professional mail scanning and forwarding company. No idea what we’re talking about? Well, it’s pretty simple: instead of asking friends or family to handle your mail in your absence, you use a company – at a cost.
Mail scanning and forwarding companies usually offer some or all of the following:
- A street address
- Physical mail scanning and access to scanned mail via email or online
- Mail storage
- Mail forwarding
- Online mail management.
Many mail scanning and forwarding companies provide a street address | Image courtesy of Kirsty TG on Unsplash
Mail scanning and forwarding services are everywhere
For this article, we reviewed businesses in New Zealand and Australia fitting the above description (to some degree). If you are looking for services in other countries, here are a few of the better-known ones to get you started:
Mail scanning and forwarding services in New Zealand
Only two companies in New Zealand fit the above description (to at least some degree). Several others have started up in the last few years but are no longer in business.
| Feature | New Zealand Post (Hold/Redirect) | Private Box |
|---|---|---|
| Provides street address | No | Yes |
| Mail scanning and online access or emailing | No | Yes |
| Mail forwarding (to any address) | Via Redirect: one address at a time | Yes |
| Mail storage | Via Hold | Yes |
| Online mail management | No | Yes |
Let’s have a look at both services in detail:
| Company Name | New Zealand Post Limited |
| Established | 1987 |
| Business type | State-owned enterprise |
| Website | www.nzpost.co.nz |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
New Zealand Post may be your provider of choice if you need someone to hold your mail while you’re away or want it redirected to another address (in New Zealand or internationally) for a period of time.
You can only redirect (from your home address) to one address at a time. If you take a Tiki tour around the country and plan to stay with friends or family for a few weeks at a time, you could set up a redirect to their address and change it whenever you move on. If that sounds cumbersome (and costly): IT IS. There is a silver lining for senior citizens, though (pun intended): The holding service is free for up to four weeks, and the redirect for up to two months (within New Zealand).
Another thing to note: New Zealand Post does not open/scan your mail. If this is important, New Zealand Post’s Hold/Redirect services are not for you. If you don’t have a fixed abode but need a residential address in New Zealand for proof of ID, New Zealand Post’s Hold/Redirect services won’t be able to help you.
For further information, go to the New Zealand Post Hold mail and Redirect mail pages.
| Company Name | Private Box Limited |
| Established | 2005 |
| Business type | Private limited liability company |
| Website | www.privatebox.co.nz |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
Private Box provides a street address that most institutions accept as a residential address. You can’t use it only when you register on the electoral roll.
When you enlist with Private Box, you must notify anyone from whom you might get physical mail. But once that’s done, all your mail goes to your Private Box suite. Mail that requires signing will be signed on your behalf. You are notified via email who sent you mail and how heavy it is and can then decide what should happen with your item:
- Open and scan your mail, and receive a PDF copy via email or access your scanned mail securely online.
- Physically store (30 days free of charge) or forward your mail to any nominated address anywhere in the world – including any participating New Zealand Post Shop or Parcel Collect location – for personal pick-up.
Managing your mail is easy via the Private Box online mail management system. Most orders are processed on the same day. Any physical mail you don’t want is destroyed safely and free of charge, and all waste is 100% recycled.
Whatever you do, you won't want your letter-box spill over when you are away from home | Image courtesy of Samuel Zeller on Unsplash
Mail scanning and forwarding services in Australia
There are (at least) nine service providers in Australia fitting the above description (to some degree). All of them provide services to individuals and businesses. We have come across others in our research, but the lack of information available would not make us trust them with our mail (hence they don’t get a mention here).
| AusFF | Aussie Mailman | Australia Post (Hold/ Redirect) | Hotsnail | Keeping You Posted | Landbase Australia | Mail Boxes, Etc | PostScan Mail | SOS Mail Solutions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provides street address | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mail scanning and online access or emailing | Via Digital Plan | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Letter forwarding (to any address) | Via Non-Digital Plan | Yes | Via Redirect | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parcel forwarding (to any address) | Overseas customers only | Yes | Via Redirect | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mail storage (time limits and/or storage fees may apply) | Yes | Yes | Via Hold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online mail management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Suitability for long-term/ full-time travelers | Limited | High | Limited | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | High | Medium |
There are at least nine mail scanning and forwarding companies in Australia | Image courtesy of Srikant Sahoo on Unsplash
Want to know a little more? Simply click on the tab of the provider that interests you:
| Company Name | AusFF |
| Established | 2005 |
| Business type | Private limited liability company |
| Website | www.ausff.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
While AusFF offers mail scanning and letter forwarding, it is primarily a package forwarding company catering for international shoppers who buy from Australian online retailers (including shipment consolidation).
| Company Name | Aussie Mailman |
| Established | 2010 |
| Business type | Unknown |
| Website | www.aussiemailman.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
AussieMailman’s services are suitable for long-term/full-time travellers and include
- mail scanning (pending plan chosen, envelop only or envelop and content);
- secure online access to your scanned mail and
- mail forwarding (in Australia and internationally).
You can choose between different plans, with monthly subscriptions or pay-per-use. Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia members receive a 10% discount on non-discount services.
| Company Name | Australia Post Limited |
| Established | 1809 |
| Business type | Government owned corporation |
| Website | www.auspost.com.au/ |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
Australia Post is suitable only if
- you are looking for someone to hold your mail while you’re away or
- want your mail to be redirected to another address (in Australia or internationally) for some time, as you can only redirect (from your home address) to one address at a time.
Australia Post does not open or scan mail. Its services are also less suitable if you don’t have a fixed abode and a residential address is essential to you.
| Company Name | Digital Blitz Pty Ltd trading as HotSnail |
| Established | 2010 |
| Business type | Private limited liability company |
| Website | www.hotsnail.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
HotSnail’s services are suitable for long-term/full-time travellers and include
- mail scanning (pending plan chosen, scan everything or selectively based on the scanned envelope)
- secure online access to your scanned mail and
- mail forwarding (in Australia and internationally).
You can choose between different plans, with monthly subscriptions or pay-per-use. There are no minimum contract terms.
| Company Name | Emma Jane Smith trading as Keeping You Posted |
| Established | Unknown |
| Business type | Sole trader |
| Website | www.keepingyouposted.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
Keeping You Posted’s services are suitable for long-term/full-time travellers and include
- mail scanning (pending plan chosen, scan everything or selectively based on the scanned envelope);
- secure online access to your scanned mail and
- mail forwarding (in Australia and internationally).
Mail is received at Keeping You Posted’s PO box. Therefore, the company’s services are less suitable if you don’t have a fixed abode and a residential address is essential to you.
You can choose between different membership options, with 1 to 12-month subscriptions. Your contract starts when you receive the first piece of mail. Upon request, Keeping You Posted provides a dummy user account so you can check out the members’ area before you buy.
| Company Name | Jennifer Fountain trading as Landbase Australia |
| Established | 1996 |
| Business type | Sole trader |
| Website | www.landbase.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
Landbase Australia offers a tailored service that processes your mail according to your instructions (from scanning to forwarding within Australia and overseas). You can register for three, six, or twelve months, and a special offer is available for First-Time Users.
Mail is delivered to Landbase Australia via Locked Bag. Therefore, the company’s services are less suitable if a residential address in Australia is essential to you (for example, to open bank accounts, register with the ATO, etc).
Landbase Australia may be your provider of choice after a personal, hands-on service, as the provider communicates via SMS and email rather than operating an online self-service model.
| Company Name | Mail Boxes Etc. (Australia) Pty Limited |
| Established | 2000 |
| Business type | Private Limited Liability Company and associated francisees |
| Website | www.mbe.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
MBE’s services may suit long-term/full-time travellers who
- do not have a fixed abode but require a residential address
- and only require mail storage/forwarding services (as the company does not offer mail scanning).
Customers receive SMS or email notifications when mail is received.
MBE’s services are primarily tailored to small businesses. They include graphic design, printing, mailbox and courier services, and virtual office services.
| Company Name | Certifix, Inc trading as PostScan Mail |
| Established | 2012 |
| Business type | Private limited liability company (registered in California/USA) |
| Website | www.postscanmail.com |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
PostScan Mail’s services are suitable for long-term/full-time travellers and include
- Mail scanning and secure online access to your scanned mail
- Mail storage (up to 7/30 days free of charge for letters/packages)
- Mail item consolidation and forwarding.
Free local mail and package pickup is also available. Customers receive email notifications when mail is received.
PostScan Mail will suit people who do not have a fixed abode and require a residential address as mail is received at a (Melbourne) street address.
Customers can choose between three service plans with varying inclusions and monthly or annual subscriptions.
| Company Name | The trustee for SOS Business Trust trading as SOS Mail Solutions |
| Established | 2006 |
| Business type | Private Limited Liability Company and associated francisees |
| Website | www.sosmail.com.au |
Suitability for long-term/full-time travellers
SOS Mail Solutions’ services are suitable for long-term/full-time travellers and include
- mail scanning and secure online access to your scanned mail
- mail storage (for an unlimited time); and
- mail forwarding (in Australia and internationally).
Mail is received at SOS Mail Solutions’ PO box. Therefore, the company’s services are less suitable if you don’t have a fixed abode and a residential address is essential to you.
Customers can choose between two service options and register for 3 or 12 months. For small businesses, the company offers a business service option and additional services, such as graphic design, printing and administrative services.
All companies reviewed offer mail forwarding to an international address | Image courtesy of Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash
Options for parcels
Whether you enlist friends, family or professional help, forwarding mail costs money and forwarding parcels won’t come cheap.
If you need to receive parcels while travelling around New Zealand or Australia, the quickest, cheapest and most convenient way would be to use the Parcel Collect or Parcel Pod/Locker services provided in both countries.
New Zealand Post Parcel Services
- With Parcel Collect, you can have your parcel delivered free of charge to any participating New Zealand Post Retailer, Countdown, or Z Service Station.
- Parcel Pod delivers your parcel to a locker at one of five locations (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch) – for a fee.
Australia Post Parcel Services
- With Parcel Collect, you can get your parcel delivered to any participating post office. You are notified via email and SMS when your item has arrived and have up to 10 business days to pick it up.
- Parcel Locker delivers your parcel to a locker at a participating post office, train station, petrol station, or supermarket. You are notified via email and SMS when your item arrives and have 48 hours to pick it up.
In Australia, both services are free.
With all services above, you can receive parcels from overseas if the sending parcel service uses New Zealand or Australian postal services once the parcel has arrived in the respective country.
Using Parcel Collect or Parcel Pod/Locker services is the cheapest and most convenient way to receive parcels in New Zealand or Australia | Photo on Wikimedia Commons
What we do
With our company incorporated in New Zealand and based on their service features, we initially chose Private Box for our mail management needs. In 2024, we switched from a Business Plan to a Personal Plan due to rising costs and a reduction in physical business mail. This plan provides us with individual mail addresses for Sandra and me (with the option to include one other), a suite number at a street address, 1x free courier per month, and 10x free auto-scans. We’ve been using Private Box since 2016 and remain extremely happy with their service.
How do you handle your mail while travelling full-time or long-term?
Living a nomadic lifestyle comes with unique challenges, and managing physical mail is one of them. Have you found a reliable mail scanning or forwarding service that works for you? Your experience could help others simplify their journey and stay connected, no matter where they are.
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