A Change of Address is the process of notifying USPS that you are moving from one address to another.
USPS then updates your mailing information and forwards your mail from your old address to your new one
for a specific period, helping you continue to receive letters, bills, notices, and other important mail.

There are two official ways to complete a Change of Address with USPS:

A. In Person at a USPS Post Office (Free)

• Visit any USPS post office.
• Ask for PS Form 3575 (Change of Address form).
• Fill it out clearly in the lobby.
• Return it to the clerk for processing.
• Watch for your confirmation letter in the mail.

B. Online on the USPS Website (Small Fee)

• Go to the official USPS Change of Address page.
• Fill out the online form with your move details.
• Pay the identity-verification fee.
• Check your email for confirmation.
• Forwarding will begin after processing and verification.

Identity verification helps prevent fraud and protects you from someone else redirecting your mail without
permission. It ensures the person requesting the Change of Address is actually the resident and that mail
is not sent to the wrong person or location.

USPS may verify identity through:

• A valid, unexpired government ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport).
• Proof that you live at the new address (lease, bill, bank statement, etc.).
• A barcode or code sent to you after submitting information.
• Online identity checks on the USPS website.

You may be asked for:

Valid ID (one of the following):

• Driver’s license
• State ID
• Passport

Proof of address (one of the following):

• Lease or rental agreement
• Mortgage statement
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Insurance or government letter

Printed or original documents are recommended; screenshots may not always be accepted.

Forwarding usually begins within about 2–5 business days after USPS processes your request and verifies
your identity. It may take a little longer during busy seasons or holidays. If forwarding hasn’t started
after 7–10 days, contact or visit your local post office.

• First-Class Mail and Priority Mail: up to 12 months.
• Magazines and Periodicals: generally up to 60 days.
• Packages: depends on the service and carrier; not all packages are forwarded.

Examples of mail that may not be forwarded:

• Packages shipped via UPS, FedEx, DHL, or some private carriers.
• Certain credit cards, IDs, and secure documents.
• Some large parcels or restricted items.
• Mail marked “Do Not Forward.”
• Many presorted advertising and marketing pieces.

Common mistakes include:

• Leaving off an apartment, unit, or suite number.
• Entering the wrong ZIP code by one digit.
• Using a nickname instead of a legal name that matches the ID.
• Submitting one form for people with different last names when separate forms are needed.
• Entering a new-construction address that is not fully in the USPS system yet.
• Assuming the process is finished without completing identity verification.
• Not updating banks, DMV, IRS, and other institutions directly.

If you entered incorrect information (such as a wrong ZIP code, spelling error, or missing apartment),
you should:

• Contact or visit your local post office.
• Ask them to check the status of your Change of Address.
• Submit a correction, new request, or updated form if needed.

Possible reasons include:

• Forwarding has not started yet.
• Your Change of Address has not been fully processed or verified.
• The apartment or unit number is missing or incorrect.
• Some senders have not updated your address yet.
• Certain types of mail are not eligible for forwarding.

If the problem continues beyond about 10 days after your start date, visit the post office with your ID
and addresses to ask for assistance.

If you never received a confirmation letter, your request may not have been completed, may have an address
error, or may not have been fully processed. Check your old and new mailboxes and then contact or visit
your local post office so they can look up your Change-of-Address status.

Yes. USPS allows temporary forwarding for seasonal or short-term moves. You select a start date and end
date so your mail forwards only during that period, and then returns to the original address afterward.

Yes. Businesses should file a Business Change of Address rather than a residential one.
Forwarding rules and requirements are slightly different for business mail.

It’s best to submit your Change of Address at least 7–10 days before you move. You can choose a future
start date so forwarding begins as close as possible to your moving day.

Yes. You can modify or cancel a Change of Address using the confirmation code from your USPS letter or by
visiting your local post office with a valid ID. A clerk can help you update dates or correct addresses.

No. USPS forwarding does not automatically update your address with government offices or private
companies. You must directly update your address with:

• DMV
• IRS and tax authorities
• Banks and credit card companies
• Insurance providers
• Employers
• Online shopping accounts and subscriptions

USPS helps protect against unauthorized changes by sending a Move Validation Letter to your old address and
requiring identity verification. If you did not request the change and receive such a letter, contact USPS
immediately to stop or reverse it.

Standard First-Class forwarding is up to 12 months. After that, you may need to look into additional or
premium forwarding options, or ensure all important senders have updated your new address directly.

USPS does not provide free standard international forwarding. Options may include:

• Paid international forwarding services offered by USPS.
• Updating your address directly with all important companies and agencies.
• Using a mail-forwarding or virtual mailbox service based in the U.S.

Each time you move, you should submit a new Change of Address. USPS will follow the most recent request,
so a newer COA overrides any previous forwarding instructions.

USPS requires a complete, deliverable address to activate forwarding. If your new address is not final
yet, wait until it is confirmed before submitting your Change of Address.

You can forward mail to a P.O. Box. Once forwarding is active, mail that qualifies for forwarding will be
sent to your assigned P.O. Box at the post office.

USPS needs a proper mailbox or delivery point to deliver your mail. If your new home does not yet have a
mailbox, install one as soon as possible or consider using a P.O. Box temporarily.

Not always. Only packages handled by USPS carriers will follow USPS forwarding instructions. Packages
delivered by UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other private carriers usually do not forward through USPS and may be
returned to sender instead.

Yes. If the original mail had tracking, it typically continues to show tracking updates after forwarding.
However, forwarding can add time to the delivery, and tracking updates may sometimes be delayed.

Common reasons include:

• The package was too large or restricted for forwarding.
• The forwarding period expired.
• The sender or service used “Do Not Forward” rules.
• The original carrier was not USPS.

Yes. A business can forward mail by filing a Business Change of Address. The form and rules differ slightly
from a residential change.

If safety is a concern, speak directly with a USPS supervisor at your local post office. Many states also
have an Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) that can help protect your address and mail.

Many government letters and checks do forward, but it’s strongly recommended that you also update your
address directly with the IRS and other agencies to avoid delays or compliance issues.

No. A USPS Change of Address does not update your voter registration. You must update your address with
your state or local election office separately.

If you receive mail for people who no longer live at your address, you can write “Return to Sender – Not at
This Address” on the envelope and place it back in the mailbox. Do not open mail that is not addressed to
you.

You can place a note in your mailbox stating that the person no longer lives at that address and ask your
carrier to stop delivering their mail. If it continues, speak directly with your local post office or the
route supervisor.

If your name on the form does not match your ID, USPS may have difficulty verifying your identity. You may
need to file a corrected Change of Address or visit the post office to fix the error.

Yes. You can forward mail to temporary locations like hotels, Airbnbs, and seasonal rentals. Make sure you
include any room, unit, or building number needed for delivery.

Yes. Each person in a shared house or roommate situation can file their own Change of Address, even if they
are not the property owner.

This may happen if there was a typo, a mismatched name, or an incorrect Change of Address request submitted.
Visit your post office immediately with your ID and explain the situation so they can correct or cancel the
incorrect forwarding.

A trusted person may submit a Change of Address for you only with your permission. Submitting a COA without
authorization can be considered mail fraud. USPS may request additional identity verification if they
suspect unauthorized activity.

Yes. An authorized person (such as an executor or close family member) can submit a Change of Address for a
deceased individual. Documentation, such as proof of authority or a death certificate, may be required in
some situations.

If everyone in the household has the same last name, one Change of Address can often cover all of them. If
people have different last names, each person may need to submit their own form.

Many legal documents do forward, but some court notices may be marked “Do Not Forward” and could be returned
to the sender. Always update your address directly with courts, attorneys, and legal agencies.

USPS does not provide free ongoing international forwarding for regular mail. You may need to arrange paid
international forwarding, use a U.S. mail-forwarding service, or update your address directly with all senders
to a new international address.

A Move Validation Letter is sent to confirm that a Change of Address request is legitimate. If you receive
one but did not submit a request, it may mean someone entered your address by mistake or attempted to change
your address without permission. Contact USPS immediately to report it.

A Customer Notification Letter is sent to your new address after USPS processes your Change of Address. It
confirms that forwarding has started and provides important details about your request.

Yes. When you submit your Change of Address, you can select a future start date. USPS will aim to begin
forwarding on or shortly after that date.

If your start date has passed and mail is still going to your old address, there may have been a delay,
processing error, or verification issue. Visit your local post office with your ID and ask them to check the
status of your Change of Address.

Some signature-required packages may forward, but rules depend on the service level and sender restrictions.
In some cases, the package may be held for pickup or returned to the sender instead of being forwarded.

Each person can submit an individual Change of Address. The names listed on a COA will have mail forwarded;
names not listed will continue to receive mail at the original address.

After standard forwarding expires, eligible mail will no longer be forwarded. It may be returned to sender,
delivered to your old address (if still occupied and deliverable), or discarded in some cases. Be sure to
update your address with all important senders before your forwarding term ends.

Yes. USPS can cancel or deny a Change-of-Address request if identity cannot be verified, the address is
invalid, fraud is suspected, or conflicting requests are submitted. In such cases, you may need to provide
additional proof or submit a new request at the post office with proper ID.