The Postal Service® requires customers to provide acceptable and current proof of identity to receive specific products or apply for some services. Not all primary forms of photo identification are accepted for USPS products and services. For example, when an acceptable primary form of identification for a change of address submission does not contain acceptable address identification, the Postal Service may require an acceptable secondary form of identification. Digital or electronic forms of identification in any form are not accepted.
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Acceptable Primary Forms of Photo Identification
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Acceptable Secondary Forms of Identification
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Unacceptable Forms of Identification
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- U.S. Government ID:
- U.S. government-issued U.S. Access card, including a USAccess card or Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card
- Tribal identification card
- U.S. certificate of citizenship or naturalization
- U.S. permanent resident or other identification card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Uniformed Service ID card
- U.S. Department of Defense Common Access card (CAC)
- State, territory, or tribal non-driver’s identification card
- State-, territory-, or tribal-issued driver’s license
- Passport
- Matricula Consular (Mexico)
- NEXUS (Canada)
- U.S. Corporate Identification (Limited Cases)
- U.S. University Identification (Limited Cases)
| Primary forms of identification must include a clear photograph of the individual bearer. Additional information can be found at Domestic Mail Manual 608.3.10.3. |
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- A lease, mortgage, or deed of trust
- Voter or vehicle registration card
- Home or vehicle insurance policy
- Form I-94, Arrival and Departure Record
An acceptable secondary form of identification, traceable to the bearer, is required to verify the validity of the address provided when you apply or request certain products and services.
You may also provide an additional acceptable primary form of identification as your acceptable secondary form of identification (except for PO Boxes and Commercial Mail Receiving Agency). |
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- Social Security cards
- Birth certificates
- Credit cards
- Other similar items
- Digital or electronic forms of identification in any form are not accepted
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Products and Services Requiring Acceptable Identification
The table below lists products and services that require an acceptable primary form of identification. It also lists which primary forms of identification the Postal Service will accept for that product or service. Additional information is provided on which products and services also require an acceptable secondary form of identification.
Acceptable Identification for Mail Pick-Up and Other Services|
Products / Services
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U.S. State or Federal Government ID
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U.S. or Foreign Passports
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Matricula Consular
(Mexico)
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NEXUS
(Canada)
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U.S. University or College ID
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U.S. Corporate ID
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|---|
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Caller Service
Requires a Secondary ID to show physical address for establishing services
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
|
✔
|
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Certified Mail® Services
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
|
|
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Change-of-Address (COA)
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✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
|
Collect on Delivery (COD)
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
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Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)
Requires a Secondary ID to show physical address for establishing services
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✔
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✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
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Firm Holdout
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✔
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✔
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✔
|
✔
|
|
✔
|
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Hold For Pickup
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
|
Hold Mail
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✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
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Insured Mail Services
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✔
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✔
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✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
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Money Orders (Purchase $3,000 or more)
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
|
|
|
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Money Orders (Cashing more than $10,000)
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
| | |
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Notice Left (PS Form 3849)
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
| |
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Parcel Return Service
|
✔
|
✔
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✔
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✔
|
|
✔
|
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Post Office Box™ (PO Box™) Service
Requires a Secondary ID to show physical address for establishing services
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✔
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✔
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✔
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✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
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Premium Forwarding Service®
Requires a Secondary ID to show physical address for establishing services
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✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
|
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Priority Mail Express® and Accountable Mail
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
|
Registered Mail® Services
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
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USPS Signature® Services*
|
✔
|
✔
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✔
|
✔
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✔
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(*) Signature Services: Adult Signature 18 and 21 requires identification reflecting date of birth; University ID may not apply.
Do you need more detailed information? Go to the Domestic Mail Manual section on "Forms of Identification".
