Private Mailbags and Poste Restante Explained

Not every address maps to a door. Several services exist so that mail can be sent to a person without a street address, by holding it for collection. The names vary, but the idea is the same.

Poste restante and general delivery

Poste restante (also called general delivery in some places) is a service in which a post office holds mail for a named person who will collect it in person. It is useful for travellers, people without a fixed address and anyone in transit.

Typical use:

1. The sender writes the recipient's name, then "Poste Restante" (or the local equivalent).
2. The address continues with the post office's town and country.
3. The recipient collects the item at the counter, usually with ID.

Items are usually held for a limited time, after which they may be returned. The time limit varies.

Private mailbags

A private mailbag (or private bag) is a locked bag or box assigned to an organisation or individual, usually collected from or delivered to a postal facility. Businesses use them where a street delivery would be less convenient. Addresses are written with the bag number and the facility's locality.

How they differ from PO boxes

Service	Who collects	Typical user
PO box	Holder, using a key	Individuals and businesses
Private mailbag	Holder or courier from the facility	Organisations
Poste restante	Named person at the counter	Travellers, people in transit

For the first of these, see PO boxes explained.

Practical tips

• Check with the destination post office that it offers the service before sending.
• Spell the recipient's name exactly as on their ID.
• Do not use these for courier parcels unless the carrier says it accepts them.
• Allow time: held items are not delivered to a door.

Summary

Collection-based services solve the problem of having no address, but they require the recipient to go and collect. For doorstep delivery you will still need a physical address, which can be strengthened by coordinates alongside addresses.