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Simple Guide: How to Get a Free UK Postbox Address and Forward Mail to China

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UK Postbox is a UK-based company providing online mailing and address services. This service allows users to have a postal address in the UK, after which UK Postbox will scan or forward the user's letters and packages to any location specified by the user.

UK Postbox

Services Provided by UK Postbox

  • PO Box and Street Address: This service is for those who need a UK address, whether for business registration or to receive mail and packages in the UK.
  • Mail Scanning: When mail arrives at your UK Postbox address, it can be scanned into an electronic format and sent to your online account. This allows you to read your mail from anywhere, regardless of whether you are in the UK.
  • Mail and Package Forwarding: If you need to forward received mail or packages to another address, UK Postbox can provide this service. They can send mail or packages to any location you specify, whether in the UK or internationally.
  • Mail Storage: If you do not need your mail or packages immediately, UK Postbox can store them for you. This is useful for those traveling long-term or living abroad.
  • Online Mail Management: UK Postbox has an online platform where you can manage your mail and packages. You can decide what you want done—whether to request scanning, forwarding, or destruction.

This article mainly shares how to use the address provided by UK Postbox to receive UK letters and then forward them to China.

Registering for UK Postbox

Before registering, you need to prepare:

  • Passport (Mainland China passports are supported): Used for identity verification.
  • PayPal: Used to top up your account.

Registration Address: https://client.ipostalmail.net/Signup?Referrer=REF122192

During registration, you will be asked to select a plan. Generally, the free plan is sufficient. You will also need to select a UK delivery address; you can choose any address (as shown below).

UK Postbox Address

Next, you will be asked to fill in your personal information. Please note the following:

  1. Enter your name in Pinyin as it appears on your passport.
  2. The address field does not support Chinese; you can use ChatGPT to translate your domestic address into English.
  3. You will be required to upload your passport for verification. This usually takes a few minutes, but in rare cases, it may trigger manual review.
  4. Ensure your domestic postal code is accurate.

Using Your UK Postbox Address

After successful registration, you can view two delivery addresses under "Backend - Settings - Address Details." We generally use the first address for receiving cards or letters (the second address has not been used by me).

Delivery Address

Mail Inbound

For first-time use, it is recommended to top up your account with 5 GBP via PayPal to avoid delays. Once UK Postbox receives the letter, they will send you an email notification about the inbound mail. The inbound fee is 1.2 GBP.

Note: If your account balance is insufficient, you can see the letter in the backend, but it will not be processed for inbound. You must top up your balance before it can be processed.

Forwarding Mail to China

Once the mail is successfully processed for inbound, you can forward it to China. Click "Forward" to proceed, then select the corresponding logistics service. For ordinary letters (under 100g), we recommend choosing the tracked option (priced under 10 GBP). Untracked mail may get lost.

Select Logistics

Then, select the delivery address and document type as shown below.

Select Delivery Address and Document Type

Note: It is recommended to write your phone number in the name field or address field, as UK Postbox will not print the phone number on the shipping label.

Steps 4, 5, and 6 should be filled out according to the prompts.

Fill Information

Step 6 requires a signature; a simple scribble is sufficient.

Signature

Tracking Logistics Information

After submitting the forwarding request, UK Postbox will not ship immediately. Their efficiency is relatively low, and it usually takes 2-3 days to ship. Once shipped, you can see the Royal Mail tracking number in the backend.

Tracking Number

You can use this tracking number to:

Royal Mail hands over the mail to domestic EMS upon arrival in China, so you can also track the logistics using the EMS number. After the mail arrives in China, it must go through customs clearance before reaching you, which typically takes about 2 weeks.

Timeline for my WISE White Card via UK Postbox:

  1. 2023.05.20: Applied for the WISE White Card; arrived at UK Postbox on 05.25.
  2. 2023.06.06: UK Postbox processed the shipment to China (I waited until my ZEN card arrived before applying for forwarding).
  3. 2023.06.19: Received the card.

Summary

  1. Registering for UK Postbox requires passport verification.
  2. The address field does not support Chinese; use Pinyin or English translation.
  3. It is best to include your phone number in the address or name field, as it will not be printed on the shipping label.
  4. The simplest way to top up is via PayPal, with a minimum of 5 GBP.
  5. It is best to choose tracked logistics for forwarding.

If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment.