What is a virtual mailbox? How it works, uses and limits

A virtual mailbox is a real street address at a mail center that receives your letters and packages for you. Staff log each item, photograph the envelope and post it to your online account. You then choose what happens next: open and scan, forward, pickup or shred, from anywhere.

Virtual mailbox at a mail center: private mailboxes and scanned mail shown on a tablet

What is a virtual mailbox?

It is a private mailbox (PMB) at a mail center, managed online. You get the mail center's street address plus "PMB" or "#" and your box number. Mail and packages addressed to you arrive there, and you decide what to do with each item from a web or mobile account.

In the United States, a business that receives mail for customers is a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) registered with the United States Postal Service (USPS). In Canada, the same service is offered by local mail centers and pack-and-ship stores.

YogoMailbox is a virtual mailbox platform that gives you a real street address at a local mail center in Canada or the United States, with mail scanning and forwarding.

What happens when a letter or package arrives?

The mail center receives it. The carrier delivers to the street address, like any business.
Staff log it. They record the item and photograph the outside of the envelope or the package label.
You get a notification. The image appears in your online account.
You choose an action. You ask for the item to be opened and scanned, forwarded, kept for pickup, shredded or recycled.

Our page on how YogoMailbox works shows each step in the app.

What can you do with each piece of mail?

Action	What the mail center does	When it helps
Open and scan	Opens the envelope and scans the pages	You need to read a letter now
Forward	Ships the item to the address you choose; the shipping cost is shown before you confirm	You want the original, or a package
Pickup	Holds the item until you visit	You live near the mail center
Shred	Destroys the document securely	Sensitive mail you no longer need
Recycle	Disposes of junk mail	Flyers and advertising

How many actions are included each month depends on the plan and the mail center.

Who uses this kind of mailbox?

Travelers, snowbirds and digital nomads, who are away for weeks or months and still need to read their mail.
Expats, who keep an address in their home country for banks, tax letters and government mail.
Canadians who shop in the United States, who need a US street address for packages. See our guide to a US address for Canadians.
Small businesses and freelancers, who do not want to publish a home address. Our guide to the virtual business address explains where a business can use it.
Families and couples, who add authorized recipients to the same box.

How does it compare with a PO box or a home address?

	Home address	PO box	Virtual mailbox (PMB)
Type of address	Street address	"PO Box" + number at a post office	Street address of a mail center + PMB or #
Packages from UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon	Yes	Only where USPS offers Street Addressing	Yes
See your mail while away	No	No	Yes, online
Changes if you move	Yes	Only if you change post office	No, the address stays with the mail center
Identity check	None	Post office application	PS Form 1583 and two IDs in the United States; identity check by the mail center in Canada

Is a virtual mailbox legal and safe?

Yes, when the mail center follows the postal rules. In the United States, USPS states that a customer who applies for a PMB at a CMRA fills out PS Form 1583 and presents two forms of ID, one with a photo. Under the CMRA rules revised on 1/7/2023, the CMRA owner or manager, an authorized employee or a notary public must witness the signature on the form. The CMRA must deny the application if the information does not match the ID, and spouses each file their own form.

In Canada, there is no Form 1583. On YogoMailbox, the mail center checks a photo ID, a proof of address and a selfie holding the ID before it activates the box.

Security also depends on how scans are stored. Our help page explains how we keep your mail safe: encryption in transit and at rest, and staff who only see the mail of their own location.

What can't a virtual mailbox do?

It is not a registered agent. States such as Delaware require a registered agent with a physical address in the state, present during business hours. A mailbox does not fill that role.
It is not a virtual office. YogoMailbox does not sell meeting rooms, reception or phone services.
It does not qualify for a Google Business Profile. Google's guidelines say that a business that rents a mailing address without operating from it is not eligible, and that mailboxes at remote locations are not accepted.

How do you get one?

Choose a location in the city or country where you need the address.
Pick a plan. Compare included scans, forwards and recipients. Prices vary by mail center.
Verify your identity. In the United States, complete PS Form 1583 with two IDs. In Canada, upload a photo ID, a proof of address and a selfie.
Update your address with your bank, employers, stores and subscriptions.

FAQ

Can a virtual mailbox receive packages?

Yes. The mail center has a street address, so UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon and the postal service can all deliver there. You then forward the package or pick it up.

Do I keep the same address if I move?

Yes. The address belongs to the mail center. As long as you keep the box, your address stays the same, wherever you live.

Can my family receive mail at the same box?

Yes, if your plan allows authorized recipients. For a box in the United States, each adult recipient files their own PS Form 1583, spouses included.

Do I need Form 1583 for a box in Canada?

No. PS Form 1583 is a USPS form for mail centers in the United States. A box in Canada still needs an identity check by the mail center.

Get your street address

Choose a mail center and a plan on the YogoMailbox pricing page, then sign up online in a few steps.

Related guides

Sources

Last updated: 3/11/2026