Instructions for mailing letters

Good to know before sending

If you're sending money, valuables or securities, send them as an insured item.
The easiest way to send standard letters is to drop them off in a mailbox. See the locations of mailboxes.
Always drop off trackable letters at a service point that offers all of Posti's services, including Letter Services. They cannot be dropped off in a mailbox or at a service point that only handles parcel services. See Posti's service points
If you want the recipient to receive your letter against a fee, choose the additional service Cash on Delivery (COD).
Do you want to keep track of when the letter is delivered? Send a trackable letter.
Sending goods abroad in a letter? See further instructions.

What am I allowed and not allowed to send in a letter?

Your item must not contain dangerous goods or objects or other forbidden substances. Many ordinary products, such as nail polishes and perfumes, are highly flammable. They should not be sent by mail.

Cash, securities, such as housing stock certificates, and other valuables should always be sent as insured items. This means that they undergo a special security process.

Always check the country-specific bans and restrictions before sending items abroad.

Can I send small goods in a letter?

You can send well-packaged small goods in a letter. Wrap the item in cardboard, bubble wrap or other suitable material for protection. Pack the item carefully so that the envelope and the contents do not fall apart when dropped off in a mailbox or during mechanical mail handling. Do send sharp objects, such as keys, in a regular envelope without wrapping or packaging. The envelope may break. Make sure that the contents are not dangerous or harmful. Always include sender information on the envelope. This allows the letter to be returned to the sender if the recipient cannot be reached for any reason.

Address information

Clearly mark all address details on the envelope. The address information is read by a machine at Posti. Therefore, it must be clearly written and in the right place. This helps us deliver the letter without delays.

Clearly write the name and address of the recipient in the bottom right-hand corner.
Write the sender’s information in the top left-hand corner. You can check the spelling and ZIP codes of street addresses in the ZIP code search.
Place the stamp on the top right-hand corner of the letter or postcard. Learn more about stamps here.

Sending items abroad?

Write the address according to the common practice in the destination country. However, always write the name of the country IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

See more detailed instructions here. Select the recipient’s country from the menu under Postal addressing systems in member countries and/or territories.

Instructions for the visually impaired

Items containing Braille are accepted for transportation free of charge to all countries if the sender is a visually impaired private individual.

Follow these steps:

Leave the item containing Braille open for delivery.
Please note that the item must not weigh more than 7 kg.
Attach the printable indication on an item intended for visually impaired persons to the address side of the item.
Alternatively, in Finland, you can mark the item with the word "sokeainlähetys" or "cécogramme".
If you would like the indication printed on a label, please contact our customer service.

Print out the indication, 4 pieces per sheet Print out the indication, 9 pieces per sheet

Return envelope accompanying a visa application

Get a return envelope to accompany your visa application or other application

Once the application has been processed, the embassy or other party can mail the documents back to you conveniently in a ready-made envelope with the correct address information and postage fees already marked.

Return envelope as a registered letter (picked up at a Posti service point)

Buy a registered letter to be sent online. Estimate and select the actual total weight of the item to be returned. For example, one passport weighs close to 50 g, which means that the postage fee for the return envelope usually requires the fee for the next weight class, i.e. letter, maximum 250 g.
Fill in the necessary information. Enter your own information for both the recipient and the sender information. It’s important that the sender information includes your phone number and email address, so that you get the necessary documents, tracking information and a notice of arrival for yourself. You’ll also receive an address label for the return envelope to the email address you provided.
Print the address label and prepare the return envelope. After payment, you’ll receive an address label for the return envelope to your email as an attachment to the receipt. Print the address label and attach it to the letter according to the instructions. Attach the completed return envelope to your application. Please note! Don’t use a Helposti code, as its validity period is limited.
Track the item to be returned in the OmaPosti application. When the embassy or other party eventually mails the return envelope, you’ll be notified of it immediately, as your phone number is in both the recipient and the sender information. You can track the progress of the Posti Return Item in Omaposti or by using the item ID in Posti’s Item Tracking service.

Return envelope as an express letter (delivered to mailbox)

Buy an express letter to be sent online. Estimate the actual total weight of the item to be returned and select the correct weight class, either maximum 250 g or 2,000 g.
Fill in the necessary information. Enter your own information for both the recipient and the sender information, so that you get the necessary documents, tracking information and notifications for yourself. You’ll also receive an address label for the return envelope to the email address you provided.
Print the address label and prepare the return envelope. After payment, you’ll receive an address label for the return envelope to your email as an attachment to the receipt. Print the address label and attach it to the letter according to the instructions. Attach the completed return envelope to your application. Please note: Don’t use a Helposti code, as its validity period is limited.
Track the item to be returned in the OmaPosti application. Once the embassy or other party is able to mail the return envelope, you’ll be notified immediately, as your phone number is in both the recipient and the sender information. You can track the progress of the Posti Return Item in Omaposti or by using the item ID in Posti’s Item Tracking service.

Do you need a return envelope to be mailed from abroad?

Finnish address labels or postage stamps can’t be used for mailing in other countries; they are only valid for postage fees in Finland. For this reason, please don’t attach address labels or stamps for domestic items to the return envelope.

International reply coupons sent along with the application can be used to pay postage fees in other countries. They can be purchased from Posti’s online shop or at service points that offer all of Posti's services.
Send a sufficient number of coupons along with the return envelope. One coupon is worth one international stamp (of the lightest weight class) in any country.
Check if it’s possible to buy delivery or an address label on the destination country’s postal website.

Frequently asked questions about mailing

You can drop off standard letters sent to Finnish addresses and international Priority and Economy letters in a mailbox. If an international Maxi letter does not fit in a mailbox, bring it to a service point that offers all of Posti's services, including Letter Services. See Posti's service points

The following items must always be dropped off at a service point instead of a mailbox:

Express letter (including Exprès)
Registered letter
Cash on Delivery Letter
Letter with advice of delivery
Insured Letter or item

Use domestic no-value indicator stamps on cards and letters to be delivered to Finnish addresses. You can recognize the stamp from the map of Finland symbol. Old 1st and 2nd class no-value indicator stamps are also still valid. Their value is the same as the value of a domestic no-value indicator stamp.

You can also use stamps of other values, as long as the letter or postcard has enough postage. The prices of no-value indicator stamps and different items are in the currently effective price list.

Sending items abroad? See the instructions for sending items abroad. 

In certain areas, you can. If you live in a sparsely populated area and the distance between your home and the nearest post town or mailbox is over three kilometres, you have the right to the so-called pickup sign service. That means you can mail letters and small parcels (up to 3 cm thick) using the Helposti code from your own mailbox. In that case, you will need a special pickup sign.

How the pickup sign service works

Contact Posti Customer Service to check if the pickup sign service is available in your area of residence.
After setting up the pickup sign service, the pickup sign and the instructions are sent to you by mail. Place the sign in a visible place on your mailbox.
Leave your outgoing mail for the deliverer or in your own mailbox for pickup.
Prepaid letters, cards and parcels paid through the web service will be picked up for delivery when incoming mail is delivered to the mailbox.

Please note that outgoing mail will only be picked up from the box when incoming mail is delivered to the box.

You need one domestic no-value indicator stamp to send one standard letter or postcard that weighs under 50 g within Finland. If your letter or card is heavier, you will need more stamps.

Number of no-value indicator stamps required by weight in Finland:

0–50 g: 1 no-value indicator stamp
51–250 g: 2 no-value indicator stamps
251–1,000 g: 4 no-value indicator stamps
1,001–2,000 g: 6 no-value indicator stamps

See the detailed price list or use our price calculator. Sending items abroad? Use the price calculator or see the instructions for sending items abroad.