Post offices and other mail service providers typically offer a mail forwarding service, commonly known as hybrid mail

Hybrid mail

Hybrid mail is mail that is delivered using a combination of electronic and physical delivery. Usually, it involves digital data being transformed into physical letter items at distributed print centres located as close as possible to the final delivery addresses...

 or virtual post office box services, to redirect mail destined for one location to another – usually for a given period of time. In the case of the United States Postal Service

United States Postal Service

The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...

's First Class Mail it is generally for a period of one year. British Royal Mail provides a service called Mail Redirection, enabling redirection for up to two years. Customers of such a service usually, but not exclusively, use mail-forwarding when they change addresses.

The mail forwarding service offered by postal authorities should be distinguished from private mail forwarding services. Private mail forwarding services tend to offer additional services and needs that might not be provided by governmental services, such as mail scanning services, online mailbox management and a selection of domestic and international delivery options.

United Kingdom

Since 1 October 2007, Councils in London are able to require local private mail forwarding services to register with them. Registered services have to obtain evidence of identity from their customers and retain copies of these documents. They also have to keep records of the customer's name and address/registered office and addresses to which mail is sent.