Poste restante
Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Lang (Template:IPA, "waiting mail"), also known as general delivery in North American English, is a service where the post office holds the mail until the recipient calls for it. It is a common destination for mail for people who are visiting a particular location and have no need, or no way, of having mail delivered directly to their place of residence at that time.
By country
Argentina
The Poste Restante service is run by the national postal company, Correo Argentino.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Letter or parcels can be addressed with either the recipient's full name or their ID card number:
- [Recipient's full name or Recipient's ID number]
- Poste Restante
- [Post Office's Postal Code] Template:Lang [Office name] [(City)]
There is no specified time period for the recipient to pick up the letter. Upon retiring, the recipient must provide proof of identity and pay a charge equivalent to a simple mail service.
Australia
Template:Lang (Counter Delivery) is a long-established service within Australia run by the national postal service, Australia Post, which allows one's post to be sent to a city-centre holding place. It will be held for up to 1 month and can be collected by providing proof of identity, such as a passport.
For example, for the Adelaide GPO (General Post Office, i.e. the main post office in the city of Adelaide) one would address a letter or parcel thus:
- Recipient's Full Name
- CARE OF POST OFFICE GPO Adelaide
- SA 5001
- Australia
The recipient would then need to go to the Adelaide GPO at 10 Franklin St to collect it when it was due to arrive or shortly afterwards. The approved abbreviation is "CARE PO". For outward bound international mail, the form "POSTE RESTANTE" is recognised. Mail that is not addressed in the approved form may be delayed for hand sorting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Austria
In Austria, Template:Lang can be used with a name or an agreed passphrase under which the envelope can be collected, followed by the indication Template:Lang (in capitals). A tax of €1 is collected from the addressee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Belgium
Bpost uses the term Template:Lang (French), Template:Lang (Dutch) or Template:Lang (German) which needs to be indicated on the post together with the name, optionally the first name, full name of the post office, postal code and city. The recipient has one month to collect the post, after which it will be sent back to the sender. A special tax applies valued at the price of one stamp of value 2; Template:As of this price is €1.74. This tax is usually paid by the recipient but can also be paid by the sender.
- Name of the recipient
- Poste Restante
- Full name of the post office
- B-1234 City
- Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, mail is addressed to Template:Lang, which is written after the full name of the recipient as shown in their ID document or passport.
- Name of recipient
- POSTE RESTANTE
- 12345 City
Cambodia
In Cambodia, mail is addressed to Template:Lang, which is written after the full name of the recipient. Parcels and letters should contain a phone number, but recipients are more likely to get notified by phone for a parcel.
- Name of recipient
- POSTE RESTANTE
- City
- Postcode #####
- Province Name
- Cambodia
- Tel +855 ### ### ###
Canada
Canada Post uses the term general delivery in English, and Template:Lang in French. Travellers may use the service for up to four months, and it is also used in circumstances where other methods of delivery (such as post office boxes) are not available.
Canada Post guidelines for addressing of letter mail stipulate that general delivery mail should be addressed in the following fashion:
- MR JOHN JONES
- GD STN A
- FREDERICTON NB E3B 1A1
where GD is the abbreviation for general delivery (alternatively "PR" for Template:Lang in French), and STN A is the station or post office (in this case, Station A). When the mail is to be delivered to a retail postal outlet, then the abbreviation RPO is used, and in French the station is indicated by SUCC for Template:Lang, or retail postal outlet by "CSP" for Template:Lang. In the above example, the French version of the address would use "PR SUCC A" for the second line.
Croatia
In Croatia, mail is addressed to Template:Lang, which is written after the full name of the recipient (as appears on the identification to be presented ID document or a passport, if abroad).
- Name of recipient
- POSTE RESTANTE
- 12345 City
In Croatia letters received to Template:Lang address are kept in post office for 30 calendar days.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, mail can be addressed to the post office if Template:Lang and the full name of the recipient is included. To retrieve the mail, the recipient has to have a valid ID, passport, or a driving licence. The mail will be retained for only 15 days.
- Name of the recipient
- Details (such as – summer camp etc.), or leave blank
- POSTE RESTANTE
- 12345 City
Denmark
Mail is held for 14 days.<ref>Poste Restante, from PostNord</ref>
Finland
Template:Lang<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is offered widely throughout Finland in 425 post office addresses Template:As of<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Finland, letters received to Template:Lang address are kept in post office for 14 days after arrival.<ref>http://posti.fi/english/thepostsservices/faq/#qu10 . Template:Webarchive [Frequently asked questions]</ref>
Before 1 April 2013, it was possible to use a nickname instead of real name and without providing an ID.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, picking up mail from Template:Lang was to become paid service, but the planned fee was cancelled.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
France
In France, Template:Lang offers the service for letters at an additional cost to be paid by the receiver<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Letters are kept for 15 days. The service is offered at any post office. The only requirement is to add Template:Lang after the recipient's name and before the full address of the post office.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
For the post office of Paris Louvre the address would be :
- Recipient's Name
- Poste Restante
- 50 rue du Louvre
- 75001 PARIS
| Type of shipment | Cost |
|---|---|
| Letters (under 3 cm of height) | €1.49 |
| Printed press | €0.72 |
| Parcels | 5.44 |
Germany
Template:Lang offer the service for all mail items under the Template:Lang<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (General Delivery) service. Domestic items may make use of a passphrase instead of the recipients name if preferred. As of 2022, the item should be addressed to the Template:Lang (main post office) of the location or certain other post offices designated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as offering this service; smaller post offices and post agencies (contractor outlets) do not accept poste restante and may return the item.
Address Format:
- Recipient Name
- Kennwort: [passphrase] (optional)
- Postlagernd
- Post Office address
- Post Office postcode/town
The phrase Template:Lang (Password) in front of the passphrase requires the consignee to specify the passphrase at time of collection. Items may be collected from the designated post office upon production of valid identification (e.g. Passport) and the passphrase.
It is important to use the term Template:Lang in preference to, or in conjunction with, Template:Lang to prevent returned mail.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Gibraltar
Royal Gibraltar Post Office allows letters and parcels to be received. ID is required for collection.
The address format is:
- Name of recipient
- Poste Restante
- General Post Office
- Gibraltar
Greece
In Greece you can send small parcels under 2 kg to the Greece post office.
Address Format:
- POSTE RESTANTE
- Recipient's Name
- Post office address
- Post office zip code
- Town
- Greece
To collect your mail if it is addressed and stamped to you by bring your passport and ID with you.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, Hongkong Post is responsible for handling the mail and mail can be sent to General Post Office only.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the address side, mark the mail with Template:Lang or Template:Lang in bold.
The address format is like this:
- Name of recipient
- Name of post office (optional)
- Hong Kong
The name of recipient must be real and in full. No initial or figure is allowed.
Hungary
Hungarian post requires Template:Lang (Template:Lang) delivery to be addressed to specific post offices.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, the postal service provides a "pick-up" service for web-based businesses where a business can ship to a pick-up point.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
India
India Post offers a Poste Restante service of up to two months at various post offices throughout the country. Mail is addressed thus:
- Mr./Mrs. SURNAME First name
- Poste Restante
- C/O POSTMASTER
- GPO [for General Post Office]
- City name
- State name
- India
Carry a passport or some other form of national identification to pick it up.
In India, letters are said to be held for around a month, up to two in larger GPOs, before being returned; so senders should add their return address, or use the recipient's home address as a return destination.
Ireland
In Ireland, Template:Lang's "Address Point" service is ″a fixed address for those without a fixed home.″<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Lang also offer Template:Lang, as a free service which allows visitors to a town to have their mail addressed to the local Post Office, where it will be held for collection.
Italy
In Italy, writing Template:Lang together with the full name of the addressee and postal code will activate general delivery at the relevant post office. Letter post is retained for 30 days;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> parcel post is normally retained for 15 days, with an exceptional period of 1 month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Japan
In Japan, the term Template:Nihongo indicates a Template:Lang mail.
The Japan Post Service guidelines for addressing stipulate that general delivery domestic mail should be addressed in the following fashion:
- 163-8799
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- (TEL 090-xxxx-xxxx)
For international mail,
- Mr. Taro Yamada
- Shinjuku-Yuubinkyoku-dome
- Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 163–8799 JAPAN
- (TEL 090-xxxx-xxxx)
where "163-8799" is the postcode of the post office, "Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to" is the address of the post office, "Shinjuku-Yuubinkyoku" is the name of the post office, and "-dome" means "keep it there".
A Template:Lang mail will be kept in the post office for 10 days, identification is required for pickup.
Lithuania
In Lithuania, the words Template:Lang or Template:Lang (used locally in Lithuania) should be made bold.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
For local mail:
- Name of recipient (in dative case)
- Template:Lang
- Name of post office
- 12345 City
- Mob. tel.: 86xxxxxxx and/or (optional mobile number for notifying with SMS message about received registered mail)
- email@address.com (optional e-mail address for notifying about received registered mail)
Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Post has discontinued the service and Template:Lang is not possible anymore.
Macau
CTT (Macau) offers Poste Restante service (Posta Restante) to Macau's visitors or those who do not have a fixed residence in Macau. Upon collection, the addressee needs to pay MOP 6.50 as the administration fee (additional charges may apply). The recipient's address must include the words Template:Lang (in Chinese) or Template:Lang (in Portuguese). The addressee's name must be real name, in conformity to his/her name shown on an identity card or passport. The address format is as follows:
- Name of addressee
- POSTA RESTANTE
- Name of post office or branch office
- Locality (e.g. Macau, Taipa, etc.)
- Macau Special Administrative Region
Malta
MaltaPost offers Template:Lang service from a post office in the capital Valletta for up to three months, after which mail is returned to sender. Prior to using the service, the person must inform MaltaPost via email, and a means of identification needs to be provided when picking up the mail. Mail should be addressed as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Name of recipient
- Poste Restante
- Valletta Boxes
- 75, Old Bakery Str
- IL-BELT VALLETTA
- VLT 1000
- MALTA
Netherlands
PostNL offers Template:Lang service for up to one month, after which the mail will be returned to the original sender (if provided). This service is provided by all Dutch post offices. Mail should be addressed thus:<ref>Post NL.</ref>
- Last name of recipient
- First name of recipient
- Poste Restante
- Name and address of post office
- The Netherlands
New Zealand
New Zealand Post offers a Template:Lang service of up to two months at various post offices throughout the country. Mail is addressed thus:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Name of Recipient
- Poste Restante
- Name of post office
- Post office's address
- Town and postcode
Norway
In Norway, Norway Post provides the Template:Lang service in all post offices. Ordinary mail is returned to sender three weeks after arrival. Parcels and registered letters are returned to sender after two weeks. Valid foreign identification for obtaining mail is limited to passports and European Identity cards. Mail is addressed according to the following format:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Name of recipient
- POSTE RESTANTE
- Name of post office
- Post office's address
- Post office's postcode and place
Poland
Mail should be addressed according to the following format:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Name of recipient
- Poste Restante
- 12-345 City 6
where 12-345 represents the postal code of the post office and 6 represents post office number within given city. (In Poland every post office is uniquely identified by city and number, e.g. "Warszawa 1" or "Kraków 35". These numbers are used only when the post office itself is the point of delivery, e.g. mailboxes or Template:Lang). There is no address of a recipient on the envelope, and if no sender address is provided, mail is considered undeliverable after 14 days. Every Template:Lang office is valid target for Template:Lang delivery and the service is provided with no additional cost. All types of mail, e.g. letters, parcels and money orders, can be sent to Template:Lang.
Portugal
In Portugal, CTT provides the Template:Lang service (Template:Langx) in all post offices. The mail will be kept in the post office until the last day of the following month after it was received. Mail is addressed according to the following format:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Name of recipient
- Posta Restante Loja XXXXXXX (name of the post office)
- Address of Post Office
- Postcode and place
The recipient pays a levy to collect the mail.
Russia
The most widely available Russian mail delivery (state-run) company, Russian Post, provides Template:Lang services.
In order to collect a parcel, the individual is required to provide an ID document (usually a passport) that matches the indicated receiver's information. Alternatively, an electronic signature (SMS code) may be used if the package's tracking number is known. The parcel is stored for up to 30 days, depending on the type of mail. As of 2019, the packages delivered by courier may be stored up to 15 days and letters – up to 30.<ref name="russian_post_rules">Template:Cite web</ref>
The information on parcels should be as following (as per Russian Post) in order for the parcel to be stored:Template:R
- Name of recipient
- Address of destination (optional, may be omitted): city, street, building, entry (if any), apartment number
- Postal code
- DO VOSTREBOVANIYA / Poste restante
The Russian phrase Template:Lang may be used instead of Template:Lang. The phrase is a phonetic transliteration and indicates that the parcel has to be stored in a postal office (Template:Langx) until the receiver collects it. The storage time is calculated from the moment when the parcel was received by the office. Parcels with such marks are not delivered to the mail boxes.
Russian Post advises outgoing international packages be marked with Template:Lang in the same wayTemplate:R.
For incoming parcels, a certain fee must be paid if the package's cost or weight exceeds the duty-free limits. Until early 2022, the limits were €200 and 31 kg (approx. 68 lbs) per package (regardless of the number of packages received over a time period). After Russian imports had been sanctioned following the invasion of Ukraine, the cost limit was temporarily increased to €1,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Serbia
In Serbia, mail is addressed to Template:Lang or Template:Lang, which is written after the full name of the recipient (as appears on the identification to be presented ID document or a passport, if abroad).
The example of address is as follows :
- John Richmond
- POST-RESTANT or POSTE RESTANTE
- Sremčica
- 11253
- Srbija
Upon arrival in the post-residual parcel section of the destination post office, the parcel is stored for 30 days, from the day of arrival.
Singapore
This service is only for the convenience of travelers to Singapore. The words Template:Lang or To Be Called For must appear next to the recipient's full name on a postal article.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Slovakia
In Slovakia, the post office will hold mail sent to an address containing words Template:Lang, even when the full address is specified.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The post office will not notify the recipient about the delivery, and will hold the mail for 18 days, unless told otherwise by the sender. After that, the mail is returned to the sender.
To pick up the mail, the recipient needs to show their ID card or passport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also may have to provide a tracking number.
- Full legal name of the recipient
- Poste restante
- PSČ City
Slovenia
In Slovenia mail is addressed to Template:Lang, written after the full name of the recipient as it appears on the personal ID card or passport, which is to be presented when the letter is collected.
- Name of recipient
- POŠTNO LEŽEČE
- 1234 City
- Country (for international post)
In Slovenia letters received for a Template:Lang address are kept by the post office for 15 calendar days.
Spain
Mail can also be received at Spanish post offices.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There is normally no charge for the service. Template:Lang letters should be addressed Template:Lang, followed by the address of the post office (including the postcode, town and province). Put the recipient's surname in capitals. An example Template:Lang address is:
- John SMITH
- Lista de Correos
- Pl. Rosa dels Vents 9
- 46730 Gandia
- Valencia
- Spain
To find the address of the Template:Lang nearest to you, check at www.correos.es. Click on the Template:Lang link for the Template:Lang.
When collecting mail from the post office recipients will need to show some form of identification such as a passport or photo driving license. They will need to specify that they are collecting a Template:Lang item as these are stored separately from the other stored mail. The Template:Lang mail is filed alphabetically and it may be worth asking them to check if an expected package was filed under your first name if they cannot find it under your surname. Post offices vary in how long they will hold your mail.
When addressing mail for Spain, always ensure that there is a return address on the parcel or packet.
Sweden
Not all post offices offer Template:Lang. The address is entered using the following format:
- Name of recipient
- Poste Restante
- 123 45 City
Here, 123 45 represents the postal number of the post office. Post offices providing Template:Lang services can be located by searching for Template:Lang as "street address" in a given city (giving a postal number) and then searching for post offices with that postal number.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Switzerland
In Switzerland, all post offices offer Template:Lang for free for up to one month for letters only, no parcels. Addressing takes the following format:
- Name of recipient
- Poste restante
- [street/n° of the preferred post office]
- 1234 City
Here, 1234 represents the postal number of the post office. The correct street address can be found online.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Thailand
In Thailand, only a destination post office with a storage facility for Template:Lang will offer this service. Senders should write Poste restante at ______ Post Office (Template:Langx or Template:Lang) or Poste restante at a destination Post Office (the second instance will place the mail at the distributional post office nearest to the recipient's address) after the name of the recipient. For example.
- Mr. Meedee Khonthai (Name of recipient must match Official ID or Passport)
- Poste restante at Phasi Charoen Post Office, 10160
- +66xx-xxx-xxxx
or
- Mr. Meedee Khonthai (Name of recipient must match Official ID or Passport)
- Poste restante at a destination Post Office,
- Bang Khae Nuea, Bang Khae
- Bangkok, Thailand 10160
- +66xx-xxx-xxxx
or in the Thai language:
- Template:Lang (Name of recipient must match Official ID or Passport)
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- +66xx-xxx-xxxx
There is a small amount of storage fee (1–2 Thai baht) when picking up the mail or parcel. The recipient must track the delivery status themselves via the tracking number provided. Accordingly, it is recommended to deliver using registered mail or EMS as the regular mail delivery service does not provide a tracking number.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed
Turkey
For Istanbul, the main parcel and Template:Lang office is in Sirkeci, a few minutes walk from the Sirkeci tram stop.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Name of recipient as appears on Passport or Official ID
- Post Restante (in large and clear letters)
- PTT Baş Müdürlüğü,
- Hobyar Mahallesi,
- Yeni Postane Caddesi No.25,
- Sirkeci, Istanbul
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, mail is addressed to Template:Lang, which is written after the full name of the recipient), then the name and full address of the destination post office, thus:
- Mr. John Smith
- POSTE RESTANTE
- Islington Post Office
- 160-161 Upper Street
- London N1 1US
If only addressed to a town name, for example "POSTE RESTANTE, LONDON", mail will go to the closest main post office branch (there being more than a hundred "crown offices" – directly managed post office branches – in London).<ref name="parliament">Template:Cite web</ref> Some small branches do not offer the poste restante service.
The sender should also include their return address. In the United Kingdom, the Royal Mail will hold mail posted from within the UK for 18 days, whereas mail posted from abroad is held for 21 days. Mail uncollected after these timescales is treated as undeliverable.<ref name="postoffice.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref>
United States
In the United States, the U.S. Postal Service uses the term General Delivery. Mail for general delivery to recipients in the United States is addressed in the following fashion:<ref name="261format">Template:Cite web</ref>
- JOHN DOE
- GENERAL DELIVERY
- WASHINGTON DC 20090-9999
General delivery is normally available at only one facility under the administration of a post office with multiple facilities. Post offices that hold mail for general delivery may hold such mail for up to 30 days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When sending to general delivery, the optional ZIP+4 add-on code is -9999.<ref name="261format" />