USPS Form 1583 from abroad: what expats actually need
Short answer: you can open a US virtual mailbox from overseas, but the paperwork has three hard rules. Your photo ID has to be a passport, your second ID has to prove your real home address (a utility bill usually won’t do), and the signature has to be witnessed live by the mailbox company or by a US-commissioned notary. A notary in Auckland, London or Lisbon doesn’t count. Budget about $20–$25 for an online notary on top of the first month’s rent.
The three rules that trip up non-US applicants
- Photo ID: bring your passport. USPS accepts US or foreign passports for a CMRA (commercial mail receiving agency) box. Proof, the online notary iPostal1 and Anytime Mailbox send you to, says a foreign passport is the only non-US ID it accepts; foreign driver’s licences and national ID cards are refused. iPostal1 and Anytime Mailbox add that customers without a US Social Security Number must notarize online and use a passport.
- Address ID: must match the home address you write on the form. The accepted list is a lease, mortgage or deed, voter or vehicle registration, or a home or vehicle insurance policy. Proof explicitly rejects utility bills and bank statements. PostScan and Anytime Mailbox want documents in English or translated. If you rent, a current lease with your name and dates is usually the easiest one to find.
- Signature: live and US-based. Since May 2024 the form says you must sign in the physical or live-video presence of the mailbox company (or its staff), or acknowledge it before a notary commissioned in a US state, territory or DC. A local notary in your country does not meet that rule.
How each provider handles it from overseas
| Provider | Remote route | Published fee | Who sends the form back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traveling Mailbox | Video call with staff They verify ID and e-sign with you, 5–10 min, no notary. | No notary fee listed | Done in the call. Their older terms of service still mention an embassy or online notary, so ask if the call isn’t offered. |
| PostScan Mail | Online notary partner Webcam or phone. | $20 | Submitted automatically after notarization. |
| iPostal1 | Online notary (Proof) Required if you have no US address. | $25, discount on extra forms in one session | You do Email the form and both IDs to iPostal1 afterwards. |
| Anytime Mailbox | Online notary partner Click “Use Online Notary” in the dashboard. | $25 on the Proof partner page | Anytime’s FAQ says it’s sent automatically; Proof’s page says upload it to your dashboard. Check after the call. |
| PhysicalAddress | Online notary link Emailed after signup; supports international clients. | Not published on the pages we read | Not stated on the pages we read. |
Not checked tonight: US embassy or consulate notarial fees and appointment waits. They’re a fallback, not the easy path, and fees change; check the embassy page for your country.
The walkthrough, start to finish
- Find your address ID first. Before you pay for a mailbox, make sure you have a lease, insurance policy or registration in your name, at your current home, in English. This is the step that stalls most overseas signups.
- Sign up and download the pre-filled form. Every provider above generates it for you. Check that your name and home address match your IDs exactly; Proof says the form can’t be edited during the notary call.
- Add every name that will get mail. Each person, and the business if mail comes to your LLC, needs to be on a 1583. Extra signers cost extra at online notaries.
- Do the live verification. Video call with staff (Traveling Mailbox) or the provider’s online notary. Have the physical passport and address document in hand; photocopies and digital IDs are refused.
- Confirm the form landed. At iPostal1 you send it yourself. Elsewhere, check your dashboard shows the account as verified before you give the address to a bank or the IRS.
Which one to pick if you live abroad
- Lowest setup cost — Traveling Mailbox, because the staff video call has no separate notary fee. Basic is $15/month on our main comparison (checked Fri 23 Oct 2026, NZDT).
- Cheapest online notary — PostScan Mail at $20, and it files the form for you.
- Cheapest monthly bill after setup — see our cost-per-scan page; the $20–$25 notary fee is a one-off, so it matters less than scan and forwarding fees over a year.
Sources
- USPS PS Form 1583 (PDF) and Postal Bulletin: US-commissioned notary clarification (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- USPS: acceptable forms of identification (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- Proof: acceptable IDs for Form 1583 (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- iPostal1 FAQ and Proof iPostal1 page (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- Anytime Mailbox Form 1583 guide and Proof Anytime Mailbox page (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- PostScan Mail FAQ (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- Traveling Mailbox: Form 1583 and terms of service (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
- PhysicalAddress: what is the USPS 1583 (checked 28 Oct 2026, NZDT)
Related
Quick answers
Can a notary in my own country notarize USPS Form 1583?
No. Since May 2024 the form must be signed in the live presence of the mailbox company or its staff, or before a notary commissioned in a US state, territory or DC.
Does a utility bill count as address ID for Form 1583?
Proof, the online notary used by iPostal1 and Anytime Mailbox, explicitly rejects utility bills and bank statements. Use a lease, mortgage or deed, voter or vehicle registration, or a home or vehicle insurance policy.
What photo ID should a non-US applicant use?
A passport. Proof says a foreign passport is the only non-US ID it accepts; foreign driver's licences and national ID cards are refused.
How much does online notarization cost for Form 1583?
PostScan Mail $20, iPostal1 $25 and Anytime Mailbox $25 (checked 28 Oct 2026). Traveling Mailbox verifies you on a free staff video call instead.