Proof & return receipts
Green card or electronic return receipt: which should I use?
Updated · By the Certified Letter Online team
Both versions of the USPS Return Receipt give you the same proof: the recipient's signature and the delivery date. The green card (PS Form 3811) is a physical card mailed back to you, while the electronic return receipt is emailed as a PDF, usually costs less and can't get lost in the mail. Electronic receipts aren't available for APO/FPO/DPO addresses or some U.S. territories.
When you send certified mail online, the electronic return receipt is the normal option, because there is no paper card to attach. USPS Domestic Mail Manual section 503.6 treats both as Return Receipt service.
| Green card (PS Form 3811) | Electronic return receipt | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Signed card mailed back to your return address | PDF with the signature and delivery details, by email |
| Proves who signed and when | Yes | Yes |
| Can be lost on the way back | Yes | No, and you can save copies |
| APO/FPO/DPO and some territories | Available | Not available (USPS DMM 503.6.1.1) |
| Price | Higher fee, see Notice 123 | Lower fee, see Notice 123 |
| Can be bought online | Needs a paper card attached at mailing | Yes, the standard choice for online certified mail |
Does a court or agency care which one you used?
Most laws that mention a return receipt say "return receipt requested" without naming the paper card. USPS sells both as the same service, so an electronic return receipt is a USPS return receipt. If a rule or form you are following specifically asks for the green card itself (some court clerks still do), check with that office before you mail.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, a legal aid office or a licensed attorney in your state can tell you what applies.
How to get an electronic return receipt without the post office
- Write or upload your letter on our send page.
- Choose Certified + return receipt. We buy the Certified Mail and electronic Return Receipt services from USPS for you.
- We print and mail the letter and email you the tracking number.
- When USPS records the delivery signature, we email you the return receipt PDF. Save it with a copy of your letter.
Quick answers
How do I get a return receipt for certified mail online?
Choose a service that buys the electronic Return Receipt with the Certified Mail label. With us that's the Certified + return receipt option for $17.99, postage and printing included.
Is an electronic return receipt legally the same as the green card?
USPS treats both as its Return Receipt service and both show the signature and delivery date. A few offices still ask for the physical card; if your instructions name PS Form 3811, ask that office first.
What if the return receipt never comes back?
You can ask USPS for the delivery record with PS Form 3811-A within 90 days of purchase. See what to do if your return receipt never came back.
What to do next
Send your letter Certified with electronic return receipt for $17.99. We print, mail and email you the signed receipt PDF.
Send with return receiptSources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 503: Extra Services (Certified Mail, Return Receipt, Certificate of Mailing)
- USPS: Insurance & Extra Services
- USPS Notice 123: current prices
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.