About

What is Hold Mail service?

Hold Mail is a convenient way to suspend mail delivery while you’re away from your home or business.

Why hold your mail?

• Secure — Ensure confidential mail is not left for extended periods in your mailbox.
• Protected — Avoid damage to mail from inclement weather.
• Convenient — Submit a request online anytime or at any Post Office.
• Trustworthy — No need to rely on friends and neighbours to bring in your mail.

Features

• Include up to 4 individuals in one residential request.
• Include up to 2 businesses and 2 individuals in one business request.
• We’ll deliver your held mail to you once you return.

Who can apply

Who can submit a Hold Mail request?

• Individuals and families can submit a hold mail request
• Business and combination of business and residential (home based businesses) can submit a request.

The business rate applies where there is a combination of a residential and a commercial hold mail service request on a single application.

Who is not eligible?

You cannot apply online or in person if you receive mail through:

• An institution (e.g. a business, hotel, motel, rooming house, nursing home, hospital, school)
• A shared postal address, such as:
  • When several businesses share an identical address.
  • You receive your mail through a privately administered mailbox such as at a UPS store.
  • When an employee or a division of an organization relocates to a new address.

Rates & prices

Rates & prices

Note: Weekdays include statutory holidays.
The business rate applies where there is a combination of a residential and a commercial hold mail service request on a single application.

How to apply

To hold your mail online:

• Submit your residential request at least 3 business days prior to desired Hold Mail start date and for business requests at least 10 business days prior to desired Hold Mail start date.
• You will need a Canadian credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), a valid email address, and authority to act on behalf of those listed on your request.
• Keep the reference number you receive in your confirmation email and use it to amend, extend or cancel your service online later on.

We value and protect the privacy and security of you and your business; the information you provide is only used to confirm your identity and is not retained by Canada Post.

Request Hold Mail at a Post Office

Residential Hold Mail request:

• Complete a Hold Mail form at any Post Office at least 3 business days prior to the desired Hold Mail start date.
• To prevent fraud and ID theft, you will need to bring government-issued photo identification with you when you sign up for this service. Read about identification requirements.

Business Hold Mail request:

• Complete a Hold Mail form at any Post Office at least 3 business days prior to the desired Hold Mail start date.
• To prevent fraud and ID theft, you will need to bring government-issued photo identification and supporting documentation proving that you can act on behalf of the business/institution. Read about requirements for identification and supporting documents.

Important Note! When a Hold Mail service is purchased at the post office, and the email address is provided, your service details will be automatically emailed to you, including your reference number. You can use the provided information to extend, amend or cancel your service online.

Extend your service

Extend your Hold Mail service

• You must request an extension before your service expires to avoid set-up fees.
• You must complete a new Hold Mail request if your service has already expired.

Extend online

To extend, amend, or cancel your service, you will need your reference number and password (Your reference number was included in the email confirmation you received when you first purchased the service). Sign in now.

Extend at a Post Office

Please bring your government-issued ID and one of the following:

• The Hold Mail form you received when you purchased your service
• Your receipt
• Your notification card

Privacy

You may be asked to answer some questions based on your credit history to authenticate your identity.

Please note:

• To protect your security, Equifax (Canadian credit bureau) will match your responses to your profile using your date of birth, name, address and a government issued ID you have provided.
• You will be requested to provide your credit card information. Please note that your card will only be charged if you are successfully authenticated.
• At no time will Canada Post have access to your credit information or the questions asked.
• Once you have passed the online authentication you will receive confirmation of your transaction, allowing you to modify or extend your service.
• If you are unable or you do not wish to provide government-issued identification (driver’s licence or SIN) online, please submit a Change of Address in person at your local Post Office using alternative forms of identification.

Our Privacy Commitment

At Canada Post, one of our highest priorities is to respect the privacy and safeguard the personal information of individuals who entrust us with their information. This commitment is fundamental to our business and central to the trust Canadians have in our brand. To obtain information on Canada Post’s privacy policies, please visit the privacy section of our website.