A virtual mailbox is a service that receives physical mail on behalf of the addressee and usually scans the outside of the mail.^[1] Some providers also scan the inside contents of the mail as well. These scans may be photos, PDFs, or text-searchable PDFs. Reasons for using virtual mailboxes may include accepting mail from couriers, accessing mail while traveling, and keeping a home address private.

Virtual mailboxes are different from P.O. boxes, which some delivery services will not deliver to, because they tend to offer a real street address and additional services.^[2] Services offered may include: mail forwarding, scanning, check depositing,^[3] and recycling.^[4] In the United States, virtual mailbox providers are classified as commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRA). Almost every popular virtual mailbox service provides customers with both a web version and a mobile application.^[5]

In the United States, virtual mailbox providers are classified as commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRA). Commercial mail receiving agencies are allowed to receive, access, and open third-party mail only when someone completes a USPS 1583 and has it notarized.^[6]

Once this form is complete, a virtual mailbox address can be used as the official business mailing address in most states.^[7]

• Digital nomad
• Poste restante
• Mail forwarding