GLOSSARY
General Delivery
By Justin Winter · Updated August 28, 2026
A USPS service that holds mail addressed to a post office itself, for pickup by someone with no permanent address or who is traveling, rather than delivering it to a street address.
General Delivery mail is addressed to the recipient's name, "General Delivery," and the ZIP code of a specific post office, which holds it for pickup with valid photo ID rather than delivering it. Most offices hold it for up to 30 days.
It is a longstanding option for travelers, people between addresses, and anyone without a stable mailing address, and is unrelated to USPS Hold Mail, which pauses delivery to an address someone already has.
See also
- Change of address — The USPS request that forwards mail from an old address to a new one for a limited period after a move.
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