Yes, you can open a US mailbox while living outside the United States. You upload the same documents as everyone else: a photo ID, a proof of address, a selfie holding your ID and USPS Form 1583, signed and notarized. The difference is which IDs you can use.
How many IDs do you need?
Two. The United States Postal Service (USPS) requires a primary ID with a clear photo and a secondary ID. Every ID must be current.
Which primary IDs work if you live abroad?
- A foreign passport
- A NEXUS card (Canada)
- A US passport or US passport card, if you have one
- A Matricula Consular issued by the Government of Mexico
Which secondary IDs work?
- A second primary ID from the list above, or
- A current non-photo document: a lease, a mortgage or deed of trust, a voter or vehicle registration card, a home or vehicle insurance policy, or Form I-94 (Arrival and Departure Record)
Can I use my foreign driver's license?
No. The USPS list only accepts driver's licenses issued by a US state, territory or tribe. A foreign driver's license is not on the list, so pair your passport with another accepted document instead.
Which documents are refused?
Social Security cards, birth certificates and credit cards.
Does my information have to match?
Yes. If the information on Form 1583 does not match your IDs, the mail center must deny the application. Check your name and address on every document before you sign.
How do I get the form notarized?
See how to notarize Form 1583 online. New to the form? Start with what is USPS Form 1583.
What happens next?
You upload your documents from your YogoMailbox account. The mail center that runs your mailbox reviews them. Your mailbox becomes active once every required document is approved. The full list is in documents needed to open a virtual mailbox.
Sources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 608.10, forms of identification
- USPS Postal Bulletin 22624, Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies
Last updated: 27/10/2026