A USPS change of address takes about five minutes to file online, or one short visit to any Post Office. The Postal Service will then forward your mail from the old address to the new one for up to 12 months at no charge. Filing online costs $1.25 for identity verification; filing in person is free. USPS recommends submitting the request at least two weeks before you move so forwarding is active the day your mail starts arriving at the new place.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
Decide a Few Things Before You File
Every request is one of three types: Individual (just you), Family (everyone at the address who shares a last name), or Business. If two adults at the same address have different last names, each files a separate Individual request.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
You also choose between temporary and permanent. A temporary change covers relocations of 15 days to one year, such as a seasonal stay or a work assignment. A permanent change is for a move where you don’t plan to return.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
Have this ready before you start:
- Full legal names of everyone whose mail should follow
- Complete old mailing address
- Complete new mailing address
- The date you want forwarding to begin
Forwarding can activate within three business days, but the two-week buffer keeps mail from bouncing between addresses during the transition.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
Filing Online
Go to usps.com/manage/forward.htm and choose your move type. Enter your old address, new address, move date, and the names of everyone covered. At checkout, pay the $1.25 identity verification fee with a credit or debit card. The billing address on that card must match either your old or new address, which is how USPS confirms your identity.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
Once the request goes through, USPS emails a confirmation code. Save it. You will need that code to modify or cancel the request later.
The $1.25 charge is strictly for authentication. The forwarding itself is free. If the card verification fails and you cannot verify another way, USPS will not activate the request.
Filing In Person
Walk into any Post Office and ask for a Mover’s Guide packet. Inside is PS Form 3575. Fill in the same information you would enter online, then hand the form to a retail clerk.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
There is no fee, but you must show valid photo identification. A state driver’s license or U.S. passport works. If your primary ID doesn’t show your current physical address, the clerk may ask for a secondary document such as a lease, mortgage statement, voter registration card, or vehicle insurance policy. Social Security cards, birth certificates, and credit cards are not accepted as secondary ID.2USPS. Acceptable Forms of Identification
In-person filing is the only option in certain cases, including forwarding mail for someone who has died and moves to an address outside the United States.
What Gets Forwarded, and for How Long
Not everything follows you, and the differences matter. Under a permanent change of address:
- First-Class Mail (personal letters, bills, bank statements) is forwarded for 12 months.
- Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and USPS Ground Advantage are forwarded for 12 months.
- Periodicals (magazines and newsletters) are forwarded for only 60 days, then returned to the publisher.
- USPS Marketing Mail (catalogs, coupon mailers, bulk advertising) is not forwarded at all.
- Anything marked “Do Not Forward” goes back to the sender regardless of class.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
After the 12-month window closes, remaining mail is returned to the sender with your new address printed on the envelope. That prompts senders to update their records, but it also means anything you haven’t personally updated by then stops reaching you.
Extended Mail Forwarding
If a year isn’t enough, USPS sells Extended Mail Forwarding in six-month blocks for up to 18 additional months.3Federal Register. Extended Mail Forwarding Service Recent published pricing:
- 6 additional months: $24.50
- 12 additional months: $36.50
- 18 additional months: $48.50
You purchase it by editing your original request online with your confirmation code. Prices are adjusted periodically through the USPS Notice 123 price list, so check current rates before you buy. Treat the extension as a safety net rather than a permanent solution. The reliable fix is updating your address directly with each sender.
Confirmation Letters, Canceling, and Fixing Mistakes
USPS sends two letters to confirm your request. A Move Validation Letter arrives at your old address roughly five business days before forwarding begins. A Customer Notification Letter, which repeats your confirmation code, arrives at your new address.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address If you receive one you did not initiate, treat it as a fraud alert and follow the steps at the end of this article.
To modify or cancel an online request, use the confirmation code from your email. Common reasons include a move date that shifted, a typo in the new address, or a move that fell through. If you filed in person or lost the code, go back to your local Post Office with photo ID to make the change.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address Act quickly. Once forwarding is live, mail is already being rerouted.
Filing for a Deceased Person
To redirect mail for someone who has died, file in person at a Post Office. You must show that you are the appointed executor or administrator of the estate. A death certificate alone is not enough; bring the court-issued letters testamentary or letters of administration along with your own photo ID.4USPS. How to Stop or Forward Mail for the Deceased
What a USPS Change of Address Does Not Update
The forwarding service only redirects physical mail. It does not change your address with government agencies, financial institutions, or anyone else. Several of these updates carry their own deadlines.
Internal Revenue Service
USPS shares change of address data with the IRS through its National Change of Address database, but the IRS warns the transfer isn’t always reliable and that not all post offices forward government checks. Notify the IRS directly by filing Form 8822, entering your new address on your next return, sending a signed written statement with your name, SSN, and both addresses, or calling. Processing takes four to six weeks.5Internal Revenue Service. Address Changes
Social Security Administration
If you receive Social Security or SSI, report the new address no later than the tenth day of the month after you move. Missing that deadline can lead to inaccurate payments. Update it through your online SSA account, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office.6Social Security Administration. Report Changes to Your Situation While on SSI
Voter Registration
A USPS change of address does not update your voter registration.1USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address If you moved to a new county or state, you generally need to re-register. Deadlines vary; some states allow same-day registration, others cut off as much as 30 days before an election. Check with your state or county election office well ahead of any vote.
Driver’s License and Vehicle Registration
Most states require you to update your driver’s license address within 10 to 30 days of moving. The exact deadline, process, and any card-issuance fee vary by state, so check your state DMV. An outdated license address can cause friction during traffic stops, insurance claims, and identity checks.
Banks, Cards, and Insurance
Banks, credit card issuers, investment accounts, and insurance carriers all need the new address, and most allow online updates. Insurance deserves particular attention: some homeowner’s and auto policies require prompt notice of an address change, and a lapse can complicate a later claim.
If You Get a Confirmation Letter You Didn’t Send
Filing a change of address for someone else without authorization is a federal crime. Redirecting another person’s mail through a fraudulent request falls under the federal mail fraud statute, which carries up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1341 – Frauds and Swindles Stealing or obtaining mail through fraud or deception is a separate offense punishable by up to five years.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1708 – Theft or Receipt of Stolen Mail Matter Generally
The identity verification requirement and the two confirmation letters exist to catch these attempts early. If a Move Validation Letter or Customer Notification Letter arrives for a move you did not authorize, call USPS at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) and report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Someone may be trying to divert your mail.