What happens to the photo of my proof of identity taken during the delivery of registered mail?

We understand how it could be irritating to have to show your ID card every time you receive registered mail. However, under the postal law (see Royal Decree of 14 March 2022 – Chapter 2 Article 9. § 1) our delivery and counter staff have an obligation to check your identity and to take a photo of an official document confirming your identity. That is because registered mail has legal value. We therefore need to check your proof of identity to verify your identity, so we can be certain that the mail has been handed to the right person. Valid documents other than your ID card You can have the delivery person take a photo of another official proof of identity rather than your ID card.  Have registered mail delivered straight to your letterbox You can also have your registered mail delivered straight to your letterbox without having to sign for it. You can activate this option in the My bpost app (as a delivery preference) or at a Post Office or Post Point – upon presentation of your ID card. You authorise bpost to deliver registered mail straight to your letterbox and you will no longer need to show your ID card or even be home at the time of delivery.

Registered mail will only be handed over to you upon presentation of your ID card, and you will have to sign for it. This is required by law, as the document in the mail has legal value. We therefore have to check that you are the rightful addressee.Delivery preferences for registered mailYou can set your preferences for how your registered mail item is delivered in the My bpost app. These are the options:

• Delivered to your letterbox: we won’t ring your bell, we’ll simply put the mail straight through your letterbox.
• Proxy: in the app you authorise someone else to take receipt of your registered mail. More details about proxies.
• Postpone delivery to your home by one working day.
• Immediate delivery at a Post Office or Post Point.

The last two options are only available for registered mail for which you have received advanced notification. In that case, you’ll get an email or an app notification stating the delivery date and location.

There are alternatives if you do not want a photo to be taken of your ID card during the delivery of registered mail.

• You can also have a photo taken of something else that proves who you are. It must always be issued by an official body or agency and it must include your full name and a photo that is clearly recognisable as you. Examples are a passport, a driving licence or a train or bus pass.
• You can also ask the person delivering to note down your full name and ID card number on the missed delivery notice and take a photo of that.
• Or ask him or her to hand your registered mail in at the post office of post point. When you go there to pick it up, you will again be asked to allow a photo to be taken of your ID card. You can then ask the person at the counter to note down your full name and ID card number and take a photo of that instead.
• You can also set up a last-minute mandate in the My bpost app under ‘delivery preferences’. You will receive a QR code you or someone else can use to take receipt of the registered mail item.