Expat Mail Service: What to Do About Mail as an Expat?

Explore the best solutions for how to organize and receive your mail while you’re traveling or working abroad. 

Moving across the seas and going on a grand adventure sounds thrilling…until you start looking at the nitty-gritty logistics.

As an expat, one of the most complex parts of living abroad is having to figure out what the heck to do with your mail. If you neglect urgent letters or paperwork, the consequences could be dire. 

Not to worry! Here are the best ways to tackle the tricky mail troubles of living abroad as an expat.  
What to Do About Mail as an Expat

Understanding Expat Mail Challenges

Living abroad can be a thrilling experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most significant difficulties expats face is managing their mail and packages, including the need for mail redirection. Traditional mail forwarding services can be unreliable, expensive, and time-consuming. Moreover, expats often struggle with receiving important documents, bills, and packages while living abroad. This is where a reliable mail forwarding service can make a significant difference. A good mail forwarding service can help expats stay connected with their postal mail, manage their packages, and receive important documents in a timely and secure manner.

Have your mail sent abroad.

You don’t have to complicate anything if you have the funds! Asking the USPS to forward all of your mail abroad gets extremely pricey, but essentially gives you the exact same experience as living at home. All you’ll have to do is head over to the USPS forwarding website or visit your local Post Office—local on American soil, that is. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a welcome kit with all of the details you’ll need to set up your mailbox away from home. 

That said, the USPS isn’t a great long-term solution to mail forwarding. It’s simply not what they’re designed to do. In fact, the longest you can use USPS mail forwarding (whether local or abroad) is 18 months. After that, you’ll either need to switch to a permanent mailing address or find a different service. 

Ask your friends and family to be your mailbox.

If you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative to international USPS forwarding, you can always ask a friend or family member if you can temporarily reroute mail to their address. Depending on how long you’ll be abroad, you can also ask someone to pick up your mail at your US address, but that’s normally not a very efficient solution for an expat.  

With your loved one’s permission, follow the same process on the USPS website as listed above. You’ll simply list their address instead of your new international home. After that, your loved ones can keep track of any important letters and let you know if anything needs your immediate attention. But be careful—even loved ones may not know precisely what “important” mail actually means for you. Losing track of an urgent bill could be costly.

It’s worth noting, however, that while cheap, this solution is rarely the safest option. Even if your friends and family can be trusted, mail thieves cannot. Standard mailbox robberies are rapidly on the rise. If you’re taking a look at this mail solution, just be sure you don’t need added security for any sensitive documents. 

Halt your mail service.

Yes, stopping your mail service isn’t necessarily a solution for dealing with your mail while abroad. However, if you need to leave the country on short notice, temporarily halting your mail can give you a grace period and alleviate some stress. The USPS will happily halt your mail for up to 30 days—even if you send in your request a mere 24 hours beforehand. 

To stop your mail in its tracks, simply fill out the request form on the USPS hold mail service page. Keep in mind that in order to submit your form, you will need to create a USPS account and verify your identity with a valid government ID.   

Go Digital.

  1. No matter where in the world you go, the digital age comes with numerous perks. One of those is online statements! You may have noticed on many of your accounts that you now have the option to “go paperless.” If you choose that option, all of your interaction with that particular company—including your bank—becomes fully digital and fully accessible from anywhere in the world.

    If you’re headed out of the States for a lengthy period of time, converting your accounts to paperless goes a long way towards decreasing your excess mail.  

    IMPORTANT NOTE: While most account-based mail can go digital these days, certain pieces of mail will always require a physical delivery address for security reasons. Those pieces include:

    • IRS notices: The IRS only communicates via physical mail—this is also a good fact to note to avoid tax scams! The IRS will never call you or email you. Trust us. 
    • New debit or credit cards: Even if you’re using Apple Pay or a related payment method, all new cards must first be delivered and activated physically. This one is crucial to account for if you’re living abroad. 
    • Jury duty summons: As an expat, you remain an American citizen. That means you retain the right to vote via absentee ballot…and you remain available for jury duty. Unless you unregister to vote, you are still eligible to serve on a jury in your home state. Granted, you’re likely to be excused once they learn you’re living thousands of miles away, but it’s best to avoid the headache. 
    • Government IDs: You can register for a new ID or passport online, but unfortunately you can only receive one at a physical address.  

Use a virtual mailbox and mail forwarding service.

Of course, the easiest solution to expat mail services is a virtual mailbox or mail forwarding service like Traveling Mailbox. With Traveling Mailbox, your mail always moves with you—whether across the street or across the world! 

With our virtual mailbox services, you’ll maintain a unique physical US mailing address for all mail and packages, no matter where in the world your life takes you. No address changes, no headaches. We’ll send you a scan of the mail that we receive that you can access in your online portal. You can then tell us to open and scan the contents, forward the item, shred the item on site, or hold it for another day. Our services includes high-quality scans of your postal mail, allowing you to view your mail the same day and manage it efficiently anywhere in the world. We also deposit checks on your behalf to your bank. You shouldn’t have to wait for your money to travel 8,000 miles when we can mail it straight to the bank.

Try Traveling Mailbox today and travel with ease. We love being your mail’s home away from home.     

Choosing a Mail Forwarding Service

Choosing a mail forwarding service can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the concept. When selecting a mail forwarding service, it’s crucial to consider several factors to ensure it meets your needs. Start by evaluating the type of mail you typically receive and how often you need it forwarded. Some services offer daily, weekly, or monthly forwarding options, so choose one that aligns with your requirements. Additionally, consider the level of security and privacy the service provides. Look for features like mail scanning, which allows you to view your mail online, and real-time notifications to keep you updated on incoming mail. By carefully considering these factors, you can select a mail forwarding service that offers the convenience and reliability you need.

Factors to Consider

When choosing a mail forwarding service, there are several key factors to keep in mind:

  • Security and Privacy: Ensure the service offers secure and private mailboxes, along with encryption and password protection for online access. This is crucial for protecting sensitive information.

  • Convenience: Opt for a service that provides online management and real-time notifications. This allows you to stay on top of your mail from anywhere in the world, making it easy to manage your postal mail online.

  • Cost: Compare pricing options and plans to find a service that fits your budget and mail volume. Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

  • Customer Service: Choose a service with reliable and responsive customer support. This is important in case you have any questions or concerns about your mail forwarding. (Traveling Mailbox offers customer service 7 days per week!)

  • Reputation: Research the service’s reputation by reading reviews and testimonials from other customers. This will give you an idea of their reliability and trustworthiness. (Traveling Mailbox has been in business since 2011 and has over 600 Google Reviews and an A+ BBB Rating).

By considering these factors, you can find a mail forwarding service that meets your needs and provides peace of mind.

Secure Digital Mailbox

Security and Reliability

When it comes to mail forwarding, a secure mail service is essential for ensuring security and reliability. Expats need to ensure that their mail and packages are handled with care and confidentiality. A reputable mail forwarding service should have a secure and reliable system in place to handle mail and packages. This includes using a physical address, not a PO box, to receive mail and packages, and having a secure online platform to manage mail and packages. Additionally, a good mail forwarding service should have a robust scanning system to digitize mail and packages, allowing expats to access their mail online. This not only provides an added layer of security but also enables expats to manage their mail remotely.

Mailing Address Service for Expats

A mailing address service is a concierge mail service that simplifies life for expatriates. It allows you to use a US address for both personal and business purposes while living abroad. Many US-based websites and businesses do not ship internationally, but with a US mailing address, you can receive purchases and have them forwarded to your location. Additionally, a US address can be invaluable for business purposes, such as opening a new company or listing on a website. Some institutions require a physical address for processing certain services, and a mailing address service can fulfill this need. By using a mailing address service, you can enjoy the convenience of a US address without the hassle of managing mail and packages yourself.

International Business Mail Forwarding

International business mail forwarding is a service that enables you to receive mail in another country for business purposes. This service ensures that important business documents are received securely and promptly, reducing the risk of lost or stolen mail. Look for a service that offers secure and private mailboxes, along with features like mail scanning, online management, and real-time notifications. These features allow you to stay on top of your business mail from anywhere in the world. Additionally, consider a service that offers discounted international forwarding rates and a range of plans and pricing options to suit your business needs. With international business mail forwarding, you can manage your business mail efficiently and securely, no matter where you are.