How to Forward Your Mail With USPS After Moving to a New Address

How do you forward your mail after moving?

Submit a USPS Change of Address (COA) request to have eligible mail sent from your old address to your new address.

You can complete the process online through the official USPS Standard Forward Mail service or visit a Post Office and request PS Form 3575 from the free Mover's Guide packet.

Online applications require identity verification and a $1.25 fee. The standard in-person request is free. USPS advises allowing at least 7–10 business days for an approved request to take effect.

Before submitting, decide whether the move is permanent or temporary and whether the request should cover one individual, an entire family with the same last name, or a business.

Should you choose permanent or temporary forwarding?

USPS offers different forwarding arrangements depending on whether you are moving permanently or temporarily staying elsewhere.

Permanent Change of Address

Choose a permanent move when your new address replaces your previous residence or business location.

USPS forwards eligible First-Class Mail for 12 months and periodicals for 60 days. Some mail classes and sender instructions can prevent forwarding.

USPS also offers optional paid Extended Mail Forwarding after a permanent move. The extension is not necessary for ordinary standard forwarding.

Temporary Change of Address

Choose temporary forwarding when you are relocating for a limited period, such as a seasonal stay or an extended visit.

USPS requires a minimum temporary forwarding period of 15 days.

Its detailed rules describe an initial temporary forwarding period of up to 185 days, with a further request potentially extending the arrangement by up to 179 days. The total cannot exceed 364 days.

When the temporary forwarding arrangement ends, delivery resumes to the original address.

If you are away for only 3–30 days and do not need mail delivered elsewhere, USPS Hold Mail may be more appropriate than a Change of Address request.

Which USPS move type should you select?

The move type determines whose mail USPS attempts to forward.

Do not select Family if someone with the same last name will remain at the old address. USPS explains that an incorrectly filed family request must be canceled and replaced with the appropriate individual requests.

For example, if two roommates with different last names move together, each should submit an individual Change of Address request rather than a single family request.

How to change your mailing address online

For an eligible domestic move, use the USPS forwarding page and follow its link to the official Change of Address application.

1. Select the individual, family, or business move category.
2. Choose permanent or temporary forwarding.
3. Enter your previous and new mailing addresses.
4. Enter the requested forwarding start date.
5. Complete the identity verification process, including the required mobile verification method.
6. Pay the $1.25 online identity verification fee using an eligible payment card.
7. Review and submit the request.
8. Save the USPS confirmation code sent after successful verification.

USPS states that the payment card's billing address must match either the old or new address for online verification.

If online identity verification fails, USPS provides instructions for completing verification at a Post Office with acceptable identification.

Why does the online USPS address change cost $1.25?

The $1.25 charge is an identity verification fee for the official online Change of Address process.

It is not a subscription or a payment to a commercial forwarding company.

USPS warns that third-party websites may charge substantially more for submitting an address change. Use the official USPS website rather than a paid intermediary.

How to forward your mail in person

You can complete a standard Change of Address request without paying the online verification fee.

1. Visit a local Post Office with acceptable photo identification.
2. Ask for the free Mover's Guide packet.
3. Complete the enclosed PS Form 3575, Change of Address Order.
4. Give the completed form to the postal retail associate.
5. Complete the required identity verification and retain the confirmation information.

USPS states that PS Form 3575 is obtained from a Post Office and can no longer be printed at home.

Use the USPS official forwarding instructions for the current identification requirements and Post Office locator.

What identification do you need?

USPS requires identity verification before completing a Change of Address request.

For online applications, USPS uses a verification process involving your payment card and a mobile verification code or link.

For in-person applications, bring an acceptable primary photo identification document. Additional documents may be necessary when acting for another person or a business.

Can you change someone else's mailing address?

An authorized representative must generally submit the request in person at a Post Office.

USPS identifies additional documentation requirements for situations such as:

• A minor child: a birth certificate or document establishing custody or guardianship.
• A person unable to act independently: power of attorney or guardianship documentation.
• A deceased person: executor or court-appointed representative documentation.
• A business: documentation establishing authority to act for the organization.

A death certificate alone does not establish authority to redirect a deceased person's mail.

If you are administering an estate and need supporting records, see how to obtain a certified death certificate. USPS may still require separate executor or administrator documentation.

How early should you request mail forwarding?

USPS allows a Change of Address request to be submitted up to 90 days before the effective move date and up to 30 days after the move date.

Plan ahead rather than waiting until moving day.

USPS advises allowing at least 7–10 business days for an approved request to take effect. Its guidance also states that mail generally begins arriving at the new address within 7–10 postal business days of the forwarding start date.

These are operational estimates, not guaranteed delivery dates for individual letters or packages.

During the transition, mail may be inaccessible while it is being rerouted.

What mail will USPS forward?

A Change of Address request does not cover every item sent to your old address.

Some senders instruct USPS not to forward particular items. Government identification documents, financial documents, and other sensitive correspondence may be returned to the sender instead.

USPS also explains that certain mail classes may incur additional forwarding postage.

Will USPS forward a driver's license or bank statement?

Not necessarily. USPS states that some government agencies and financial institutions use mailing instructions that prevent sensitive documents from being forwarded.

Examples can include driver's licenses, voter registration documents, credit cards, and certain bank or insurance correspondence.

Contact the issuing organization directly to provide your new address and ask about its delivery rules.

Can you edit or cancel USPS mail forwarding?

Yes. USPS provides procedures for modifying or canceling a Change of Address order.

Keep the confirmation code supplied after submission. It is used to manage the request together with other identifying information.

USPS allows certain changes, including:

• Changing the forwarding start date.
• Changing the end date of a temporary request.
• Correcting certain old or new address details.
• Changing from a family request to an individual request.
• Changing a temporary request to permanent forwarding.
• Canceling the request.

Not every modification is permitted. For example, USPS does not allow every move-type change to be made directly; canceling and submitting the correct request may be necessary.

Use the USPS Change of Address FAQ to confirm the available correction method.

Can you extend forwarding beyond 12 months?

USPS offers an optional paid Extended Mail Forwarding service for eligible permanent domestic Change of Address requests.

The service can add 6, 12, or 18 months beyond the initial standard forwarding period.

USPS states that Extended Mail Forwarding purchases are not refundable or cancelable.

Review the USPS Extended Mail Forwarding guidance before buying the optional service.

Even with extended forwarding, you should update senders directly rather than treating forwarding as a permanent replacement for an accurate mailing address.

What if you are moving overseas or using a commercial mailbox?

International moves

USPS requires people moving outside the United States to submit their Change of Address request in person before leaving the country.

International moves cannot be submitted through the ordinary online Change of Address route.

Visit a Post Office with acceptable identification and complete the required PS Form 3575 process.

If you have already moved abroad without completing the request, USPS advises contacting senders directly or arranging an authorized representative where permitted.

Commercial mailbox services

USPS generally does not accept a Change of Address request to forward mail from a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) address.

The commercial mailbox provider is responsible for forwarding under the applicable arrangements and postal rules.

A new address at a CMRA may be permitted, but forwarding from an existing CMRA address is subject to different restrictions.

Business and military address exceptions

USPS generally does not permit an individual to submit a personal Change of Address request for mail addressed to them through an employer or organization. The organization is responsible for redirecting such correspondence.

Military address changes also have special procedures. USPS advises military personnel to work with their command and follow the applicable military relocation process.

Does a USPS Change of Address update the IRS, Social Security, or DMV?

No. USPS forwarding changes how eligible postal mail is routed. It does not automatically update your legal, tax, benefits, vehicle registration, or identification records with other agencies.

USAGov specifically advises people who move to notify the relevant federal and state government services separately.

Important organizations to contact include:

• The Internal Revenue Service for federal tax correspondence.
• The Social Security Administration if you receive benefits or need to update relevant records.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs if you receive VA benefits.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when an immigration-related address reporting requirement applies.
• Your state driver licensing and vehicle registration agency.
• Your state or local election office for voter registration.
• Banks, insurers, employers, schools, and other important senders.

If you need to change your federal tax mailing address, see how to notify the IRS using Form 8822.

Noncitizens subject to USCIS address reporting requirements should review how to report a change of address to USCIS.

If you move to another state, you may also need to update your vehicle registration.

Use USAGov's address-change guidance to identify additional agencies you may need to notify.

Why might your mail not be forwarded?

Mail forwarding problems can occur for several reasons:

• Incorrect move category: A family request may be inappropriate when only some household members move.
• Incomplete address: Missing apartment numbers or incorrect ZIP Codes can affect delivery.
• Identity verification incomplete: USPS will not complete the request without successful verification.
• Forwarding has not started: Allow the stated processing period after approval.
• Sender restrictions: Some mailpieces are marked for return rather than forwarding.
• Mail class restrictions: Marketing Mail and certain packages may not qualify for ordinary forwarding.
• Expired forwarding period: Standard forwarding is time-limited.
• Special address restrictions: Commercial mailbox, business, military, and international moves may require another procedure.

If you believe your Change of Address request was not processed correctly, review your confirmation information and contact USPS.

The official Change of Address FAQ explains common exceptions and available corrections.

Official resources for mail forwarding

Use these official resources rather than commercial address-change websites:

• USPS Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address.
• USPS Change of Address - The Basics.
• USPS Mail Forwarding Options.
• USPS Extended Mail Forwarding.
• USAGov - How to Change Your Address.

For most domestic moves, the correct first action is to submit an official USPS Change of Address request, complete identity verification, and then notify important senders directly.