How to submit your USPS change of address
File your USPS change of address at usps.com/move, pay the $1.25 identity check, and allow at least 7 to 10 business days to take effect. You can also file in person at a post office using PS Form 3575. Standard forwarding lasts 12 months, and some sensitive mail won't be forwarded at all.
What a USPS change of address does
A change of address tells USPS to reroute mail for a person or household from your old address to your new one. It doesn't update anyone's records. USPS says plainly that you are responsible for telling agencies, companies and other senders yourself.
You'll choose one of three types: Individual, Family or Business. A Family request only works for people who share a last name, so anyone with a different surname files separately. You'll also pick permanent or temporary. Buying a house is permanent. Temporary is for stays of 15 days to one year.
How long a change of address takes and when to file
File about two weeks before your move. USPS says to allow at least 7 to 10 business days after approval, so a request sent on moving day can leave a gap. Choose a start date of the day you'll stop getting mail at the old place. If your closing date moves, update the request so mail doesn't leave the old address too soon.
What USPS mail forwarding covers and for how long
| Mail type | What happens with standard forwarding |
|---|---|
| First-Class, Priority, Priority Express, Ground Advantage | Forwarded free for 12 months |
| Magazines and newspapers | Forwarded free for 60 days if the sender fully prepaid |
| Media Mail | Forwarded, but you pay shipping from your local post office |
| USPS Marketing Mail | Not forwarded unless the sender paid for it |
| Licenses, voter documents, credit cards, bank and medical mail | Senders may block forwarding, so update them directly |
If 12 months isn't enough, you can buy extended forwarding in blocks of 6, 12 or 18 months, up to 18 months in total. It can't be canceled or refunded, and USPS lists the price in its FAQs.
The $1.25 is an identity check, not a mailing fee. Third-party sites can charge much more. The Better Business Bureau has reported charges of up to $80 on sites that look official.
How to change address with USPS online
- Pick your date
Use the first day you'll want mail to go to the new address. Allow at least 7 to 10 business days.
- Go straight to the real site
Type usps.com/move into your browser. Check the address before you enter any details.
- Choose the right request
Pick Individual or Family. Anyone with a different last name needs a separate Individual request.
- Verify your identity
Pay the $1.25 with a card billed to your old or new address, or opt in to a code sent to your mobile phone if offered.
- Use a post office if you can't file online
Ask for a free Mover's Guide packet, complete PS Form 3575 and show photo ID. This is also required if you're filing for someone else.
- Save your confirmation
Keep the code in case you need to change or cancel the request.
- Test it
After two weeks, check that forwarded mail is arriving. Update each sender you see with a yellow forwarding label.
USPS change of address rules by state
USPS is federal, so the process and price are the same in every state. What changes by state is everything else on your moving list. Your driver's license, car registration and voter registration have their own deadlines, and those are short in some states. Forwarding doesn't handle any of them, so update them separately.
USPS change of address scams to avoid
- Search ads. Type usps.com/move or moversguide.usps.com directly instead of clicking the top result.
- Debit cards on unfamiliar sites. The BBB notes that charges can be harder to dispute than on a credit card.
- Fine print. If a site doesn't state the price up front, leave it.
- A failed identity check. The card's billing address must match your old or new address. If online verification fails, USPS emails a barcode to bring to a post office with photo ID.
What homeowners say about USPS mail forwarding
Go to the post office in person and check that the previous owner hasn't left a hold-mail request on the address. Introduce yourself to your carrier too. One owner's carrier started filtering out the previous owner's mail. Put your name inside the mailbox. (Reddit)
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery so you see scans of letters before they arrive. That helps you catch the loan-transfer and tax mail you can't afford to miss. A 'return to sender, no longer at this address' stamp saves time on the last owner's mail. (Reddit)
USPS change of address cost and other questions
How much does it cost to change your address with USPS?
The online identity check is $1.25. USPS doesn't list a fee for filing in person with PS Form 3575, and it hands out the Mover's Guide packet for free.
How long does USPS mail forwarding last?
Standard forwarding lasts 12 months. Periodicals forward for 60 days. You can pay for extended forwarding of up to 18 more months.
How long does a change of address take?
USPS says to allow at least 7 to 10 business days after your request is approved. File about two weeks ahead to avoid a gap.
Sources: USPS, carsonnow.org
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.