Letters from the authorities (RSa/RSb) for business clients
Only public authorities may send official letters with advice of receipt (RSa/RsB). These letters have to meet the specifications of the Austrian Delivery Act and the Delivery Form Regulation. For the design and production of official letters with advice of receipt (machine-processable letters with advice of receipt, hybrid letters with advice of receipt), please see Österreichische Post's production specifications (see download area below).
There are two different options:
- Letters with advice of receipt delivered to the addressee only (RSa letters, blue letters)
These items may be delivered to the addressee only or to a person who holds an authorisation to receive mail. To exclude even authorised persons, the information "Nicht an Postbevollmächtigte/do not deliver to persons authorised to receive mail" can be added. - Letters with advice of receipt (RSb letters, white letters)
These items may be delivered to alternate recipients (household members, addressee's employer or employees).
What is the hybrid letter with advice of receipt and how does the shipping process work?
For the hybrid letter with advice of receipt, you will send us electronic preliminary data. As the delivery process moves along, you will receive electronic proof of delivery as well as ongoing status information.

Benefits of hybrid letters with advice of receipt:
- Low production costs
- Inexpensive postage thanks to machine-processable envelopes
- Automated data processing in your systems available
- Cost reduction
- Standardised envelope for RSa and RSb items
- Electronically traceable delivery process
- Digital certificate of posting*: senders receive an electronic notification stating that and expecially when their item has been processed in one of our distribution centres.
- Delivery process with handheld device: all processes for the delivery person and the recipient's signature are done on a handheld device, making the delivery process easier and safer. The delivery status along with the delivery confirmation and any required additional information (e.g., relationship to person receiving the item) will be transferred electronically.
*Unfortunately, this is only available for items that can be processed by our distribution machines.
Are you interested? Information for new clients
Direct connection
The interface to Austrian Post will be programmed by you or your IT service provider (for technical requirements, please see the download area). For detailed information, please contact your customer advisor or call our hotline at 0800 212 212.
Austrian Post shipping module
This is a simple web service-based interface for the connection to existing ELAK systems. For detailed information, please contact your customer advisor or call our hotline at 0800 212 212.
Shipping portal for hybrid letters with advice of receipt:
No programming required; available for immediate use, just sign up at hybridversand.post.at to activate this service
What is the machine processable letter with advice of receipt and how does the posting process work?
For the machine processable letter with advice of receipt, we have integrated the advice of receipt into the envelope or affixed it to the envelope with a special adhesive label. All sender and recipient information is printed directly on the advice of receipt, the envelope or the adhesive label.
Envelopes and advices of receipt have been optimised for machine processability.

Please note the production specifications for envelopes and information regarding item design.
Procedure for machine processable items with advice of receipt
- No separate agreement is required.
- Please follow our production specifications for producing and designing your items. You can have your material printed by any renowned service provider.
- Items can be posted along with a posting list as usual.
Overview, letters with advice of receipt for public authorities | |
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HYBRID letter with advice of receipt (RSa / RSb hybrid) |
Additional fee: (in addition to postage) RSb: EUR 2.50 RSa: EUR 4.60 Discounts on postage are available. For detailed information, please click here. |
Machine-processable letter with advice of receipt |
Additional fee:
RSb: EUR 3.10 Discounts on postage are available. For detailed information, please click here. |
Non machine-processable letter with advice of receipt |
Additional fee: RSb: EUR 3.70 |
All relevant information is available under "Product and rate overview - letters from the authorities with advice of receipt".
General
Product brochure, letters with advice of receipt (available in German only)
pdf
Terms of use, hybrid advice of receipt (available in German only)
pdf
Terms of use, hybrid facilities (available in German only)
zip
Production specifications, card envelopes, June 2016 (available in German only)
pdf
Production specifications, adhesive labels, June 2016 (available in German only)
pdf
Status (master) xsd file (available in German only)
xsd
Posting lists
Posting list, preparatory services, machine processable letters from the authorities (available in German only)
xlsx
Posting list, preparatory srvices, hybid letters from the authorities (available in German only)
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Posting list, letters from the authorities, advice of receipt, machine processable (available in German only)(available in German only)
xlsx
Posting list, letters from the authorities, advice of receipt, non machine processable (available in German only)(available in German only)
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Posting list, hybrid letters from the authorities, advice of receipt (available in German only)
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Consolidated posting list postal branch authorities (available in German only)
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