How does digital post work?

Digital post works by receiving your physical mail at a real address and making it available to you online. When a letter arrives at that address, it is scanned and uploaded to a secure portal you can access from anywhere. You do not need to be there in person. The address stays stable and accessible whether or not anything arrives.

Quick verdict

  • Digital post = real physical address + online inbox. Mail arrives at a real street address, gets scanned by a local Partner, and appears in your secure online inbox. The address is always physical, not virtual.
  • TDPB provides addresses at staffed Partner locations in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, France, the UK, and Belgium (as of May 2026), plus Dubai as a PO Box with a real location reference. Austria and Netherlands are next on the expansion list. Accepted by most banks, insurers, and government bodies; always verify the specific requirements of the institution you are dealing to be 100% sure. One Digital PO Box number covers multiple addresses across locations and countries from a single account and inbox.
  • TDPB costs from € 7,50/month for the address on the yearly plan, or € 15/month on the monthly plan.
  • Handles letters and official correspondence only. Parcels and company registration are out of scope by design, so the service stays focused on keeping your address stable and your post accessible.

The difference between a physical address and your inbox

Most people assume digital post means something entirely virtual, but that is not quite right. Your address is always physical. Letters, documents and official correspondence are sent to a real location. What changes is what happens after they arrive.

With a traditional setup, mail sits in a letterbox until you collect it. With a digital post system, the item is received at the Partner location, scanned, and uploaded to your account, and you are notified. From there, you can view it on your phone, laptop or tablet.

The address is the fixed point. The digital part is how you access what arrives there.

Step by step: what actually happens

  • You get a real address. When you sign up for The Digital PO Box (TDPB), you are assigned a real address at one of the Partner locations: a physical street address in Europe, or in Dubai, a PO Box address with a real location reference managed by a local Partner. This is not a virtual reference. It is an actual address you can use with most banks, government bodies, insurers, and on your website and invoices.
  • Mail is received on your behalf. Any post sent to that address is accepted by the Partner location. This applies to letters and official correspondence, though not to parcels.
  • Items are scanned and uploaded. When something arrives, it is scanned and placed in your secure online inbox. You receive a notification.
  • You decide what happens next. You can read the document digitally, request that it be forwarded to you, or have the original destroyed. The address is active and working whether or not anything arrives. When something does, it is already there waiting in your inbox.

Who actually uses this, and why

The people who use digital post services are rarely expecting large volumes of mail. Most receive very little. The value is not in the scanning, it is in the address itself.

A digital nomad needs a stable correspondence address that does not change every time they move to a new country. An expat may need an address in their home country that can still receive official letters while they are living abroad. A second home owner in Spain may want any post that arrives at their property to be accessible without waiting until their next visit.

In all of these situations, the address does the work even when no mail arrives. Every time they register somewhere, open an account, or fill in a form, they use the same address. That consistency across institutions and across years is what the service actually provides.

Best for

A digital postal address works best for:

  • Expats and cross-border professionals who need an address that stays consistent across moves
  • Digital nomads and remote workers whose home address changes or doesn't really exist
  • Second-home owners managing mail across two countries
  • Freelancers who don't want their home address on every invoice and on their website
  • Privacy-conscious individuals who want separation between their private life and their administrative obligations

What to look for in a digital post service

Not all providers work the same way. A few things are worth checking before you sign up.

Is the address real? Some services offer virtual references that are not accepted by banks or government agencies. Look for a real street address at a physical Partner location.

What is the pricing model? Some services charge all-in subscriptions which can get expensive. Others, like TDPB, charge a flat address fee with scan credits on top. This way you only pay for what you use. See the table below for TDPB pricing:

Plan Price
Address only from € 7,50/month on the yearly plan, or € 15/month on the monthly plan
Pay per scan € 0,90 per scan
Unlimited scanning € 7,50/month per address
Full service (scan + 2 forwardings/month) € 27,50/month per address


Is it secure? Mail contains sensitive information. Look for services with formal privacy and security certifications. TDPB holds both ISO 27001 (information security) and ISO 27701 (privacy management) certification (verified as of May 2026).

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A few common questions

  • No. A virtual address is often a reference number or database entry with no physical location behind it. A Digital PO Box, as provided by The Digital PO Box, is a real street address at an actual staffed Partner location. Most banks and government agencies accept it because it is a genuine address, not a virtual one. Always verify the specific requirements of the institution you are dealing with.

  • Most items are scanned either the same day or within 24 business hours and uploaded to your inbox, and you receive a notification. For the full handling flow, see how it works.

  • Yes. One Digital PO Box number covers addresses across multiple TDPB Partner locations from a single account and inbox, so you can hold an address in Spain and Germany, for example, without managing two separate accounts. See active locations.