How it works
- Mail hold ensures your business letters and parcels are stored by Australia Post. Applications take 3 business days. When your service ends, your mail is delivered as addressed on the next business day or as soon as possible.
- Choose a timeframe from 1 week to 12 months for your letters and parcels to be held.
- Include up to 6 names on your application, including your business name(s)1, your own name, any name variations, and the names of those you work with (if anyone receives mail to the business where the business name is not listed)1.
- Extend, alter or cancel your existing service at a Post Office.
- Available for companies, clubs or associations, partnerships or sole traders, government bodies or instrumentality and home office. See proof of eligibility for further information.
Business
Apply at the Post Office only with the required proof of eligibility and proof of identity.
| Applicant | Flat monthly fee |
|---|---|
| Business | $150 |
Home office
If you operate a business, trust or Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) from home, you may be eligible for a reduced fee on your business mail hold service.
| Applicant | Flat monthly fee |
|---|---|
| Home office | $75 |
Proof of eligibility
If you're not an authorised person (like a Managing Partner, Company Secretary, Director, Trustee or office holder), you’ll need a letter of authorisation to act on behalf of the business.
When you go to the Post Office, you'll need to provide proof of identity and:
- Written authorisation to act on behalf of the business or organisation: this must be on official letterhead and include the full name and residential address of the person submitting the form and be signed by an authorised person of the business or organisation
- For a business, sole trader or parternship: an original or certified copy of the Business Registration Certificate
- For a club or association: certified minutes of the Annual General Meeting appointing the office-holders
- Government body or instrumentality: a certified copy of the relevant authorisation. If your organisation has a Certificate of Registration of a Company, you can apply online as a company.
Proof of identity
To apply, you’ll need to provide photo ID such as a driver licence, passport, Keypass or Digital iD™ (student cards and credit cards are not accepted).
Alternatively, you can provide one of each of the following:
- a document with your name and Australian residential address, such as a bank statement, rates notice or residential lease, and
- a document that shows your signature, such as a debit/credit card, student card or Statutory Declaration.
Online applications
To apply online, you'll need to provide photo ID and upload a photo (in JPG format) of you holding your verified photo ID.
If you're not an authorised person (like a Managing Partner, Company Secretary, Director, Trustee or office holder), you'll need a letter of authorisation to act on behalf of the business.
What to include in your letter of authorisation
Your letter of authorisation needs to be printed on your official company letterhead and must include the following:
- your full name
- your residential address
- your signature and the date
- authorised person’s full name
- authorised person’s title / position in the business
- authorised person’s email address
- authorised person’s phone number
- authorised person’s signature and the date
- business name (legal entity name)
Note: Ensure that the names you list on the business mail redirection form match exactly with the name variations stated in your letter of authorisation. i.e.
- Provide all variations of the business name (if applicable), including any abbreviations, acronyms or alternative spellings.
- List all variations of the individual's name requiring redirection, such as full name, initials, nicknames or aliases.
You may like to use our letter of authorisation template (PDF 93kB).
Online applications
To apply online, you'll need to upload your letter of authorisation in JPG format.
Not a business customer?
Proof of identity
We may not be able to process your Mail Hold service application if mail to be held is difficult to separate from other mail going to the same address. This may be the case for addresses such as large businesses, caravan parks, hotels and nursing homes.
Learn how to change, extend or cancel your existing mail redirection or hold service, and what to do if there's a problem with it.
If you’re currently in self-isolation or quarantine and can’t get to a Post Office to cancel your service, chat to us now for help.
You can keep your mail secure and prevent a build-up of items in your letterbox while you're away with our Mail Hold service. On the next delivery day after your nominated return date, we will deliver all your held mail items.
You can either apply online (available for personal mail only) or complete an application to hold mail form (PDF 3.6MB) in person at any Post Office.
The online application process to redirect or hold your mail typically takes around 5 minutes to complete.
Once you have submitted your application, please allow up to 3 business days for the service to commence.
Any mail you have placed on hold will be delivered the next business day after the end date you nominated on your original application.
To collect your mail earlier than expected, please fill out an Alter or Cancel form (PDF 512kB) and lodge it in person at any Post Office along with suitable proof of identity. This is to ensure the security of your mail. Please allow three business days for any requested service changes to come into effect.
When cancelling your service, you may be eligible for a refund, or cancellation fees may apply. See refund tables under alterations or cancellations.