You requested verification, Google said it would mail a postcard with a code, and now you're checking the mailbox every day with nothing to show for it. Postcard verification is slower and more fragile than the other methods, and a missing code stalls your whole listing. Here's what's normal, what's actually wrong, and how to get unstuck without making it worse.
A verification postcard typically arrives within about two weeks. So if it's only been a few days, the answer is simply to wait — it's almost certainly still in transit. The mistake many owners make is assuming something's broken at day three and taking actions that actually sabotage the code that's on its way to them.
This is the most important rule. If you request another code, Google invalidates the one already in the mail — so the postcard you eventually receive won't work, and you've reset the clock. Likewise, editing your business name, address, or category while a code is in transit invalidates it. While you wait, leave everything alone.
If it's been longer than about two weeks with no postcard, then it's reasonable to act. Before anything else, double-check that the address on your profile is exactly correct — a wrong suite number, a typo, or a formatting issue is the most common reason a postcard never arrives. Confirm the address is one that actually receives mail, too.
Only once you've confirmed the address is right should you request a new code through your dashboard. Requesting it before you've fixed an address problem just sends another postcard to the wrong place.
When a postcard genuinely never arrives, the cause is usually a small address error on the profile — a wrong suite number, a typo, or an address that doesn't reliably receive mail. Fix the address first; otherwise every new code you request just gets mailed to the same wrong place, and you stay stuck in the same loop.
Verification codes don't last forever — they generally expire after about a month. So if a postcard arrives but you've been sitting on it, enter the code promptly. An expired code means starting the request over.
When your code does arrive, treat it like a password. Google will never ask you for it, and you shouldn't share it with anyone — not even someone helping manage your profile through unofficial channels. A code in the wrong hands can let someone else claim control of your listing.
Worth knowing: postcard verification has become less common, especially for service-area businesses, as Google has leaned heavily on video instead. If your dashboard is now offering video rather than mail — or switches you to it — that's expected, and our video verification guide covers how to handle it. Don't keep waiting on a postcard if Google has moved you to a different method.
If your address is correct, you've waited well past two weeks, and a re-requested code still doesn't arrive, contact Google Business Profile support and explain the situation. Persistent postcard failures sometimes point to an underlying address or eligibility issue that support can help identify — and which you'll need to resolve regardless, as we cover in why verification keeps getting rejected.
However you get verified, the goal is to be visible and stay ahead of your competition. RivalMappd tracks whether you're showing up and how you compare to rivals, month over month. See the plans and get your first competitor report.
RivalMappd tracks your local presence and your competitors' every month, so once you're verified you know whether you're actually showing up and where you stand. Click through to see how it works.
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