Mailforwarding

Mailforwarding is a service that receives mail on behalf of an individual or organization at one address and forwards it to another address. It can refer to physical mail handled by postal or private services or to electronic mail forwarded from one inbox to another. Providers may operate as standalone services, as part of a virtual mailbox system, or within a business address solution.

Physical mail forwarding typically involves receiving letters and parcels at a designated address and then sending the items to the recipient’s new address by postal carrier or courier. Services may offer add-ons such as mail scanning, digitization of contents, hold or re-routing of mail, consolidation of multiple items, and options for permanent, temporary, or international forwarding.

Electronic mail forwarding is the digital equivalent, where messages addressed to an account or alias are automatically delivered to another inbox. This can be achieved by configuring forwarding rules in an email service, using domain-level forwarding, or employing third-party services that aggregate messages from multiple accounts or provide a mailbox with forwarding capabilities.

Common uses include maintaining contactability while relocating, managing multiple residences or offices, protecting privacy by limiting exposure of a permanent address, and ensuring continuity of subscriptions and services. Important considerations include compliance with postal terms and privacy laws, security and confidentiality of forwarded contents, potential delays or item loss, and any applicable fees or geographic restrictions. For physical mail, some forwarders offer scanning or redaction of sensitive items; for email, forwarding may be subject to spam controls and data protection requirements. Related topics include post office boxes, virtual mailboxes, and email aliases.