USPS change of address and mail forwarding
Submit a United States Postal Service (USPS) change of address to forward eligible mail after a move. Use the USPS online form or the in-person Mover’s Guide process. The change affects postal forwarding; it does not automatically update your address with government agencies, banks, or other senders.
Can I change my USPS address online?
Use moversguide.usps.com and choose the move type: individual, family, or business. Enter the old and new addresses and the intended start date. Choose a permanent move or a temporary forwarding request that fits the absence.
The online process includes identity verification and payment. Check the addresses before confirming: a forwarding order is different from correcting a single package that has already entered the mailstream.
How do I verify the change of address?
Follow the online mobile verification instructions. The billing address on the payment card must match the old or new address. If online verification fails, USPS sends instructions and a barcode for an in-person visit.
Bring the requested email and acceptable photo ID to the Post Office when directed. An order that has not passed identity verification is not ready to begin forwarding simply because you entered the new address.
Why is there a USPS change-of-address charge?
The current USPS online identity-verification fee is $1.25. Older references to $1.10 do not describe the amount on the current guidance page. Read the charge at the USPS form before completing payment.
The in-person Mover’s Guide packet is free. Request it at a Post Office and complete PS Form 3575 with the required identity review. A separately sold forwarding product or a third-party service is a different purchase.
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QR Code GeneratorWhen must I change the address in person?
Use a Post Office visit when moving outside the United States, acting as an authorized agent for someone else, or unable to verify identity online. Bring the required ID and any evidence showing authority to act.
For an ordinary move you can handle online, compare that route with an office visit based on whether you can complete verification and provide the necessary information. Completing an online draft does not eliminate a required in-person step.
Will USPS forward all of my mail?
Some eligible classes are forwarded without an additional forwarding-postage charge. Periodicals have a shorter forwarding period, and Media Mail can require postage. Marketing Mail is generally not forwarded unless the sender paid for that service.
Sensitive documents may be marked against forwarding. Contact the sender directly about identity documents, financial information, and other important correspondence. Submit direct address updates rather than relying on a forwarding order to change every account record.
What is the confirmation code used for?
Keep the confirmation code after the request. USPS uses it to identify an order when you need to modify or cancel it. Check both the confirmation and the requested start date.
After approval, allow at least seven to ten business days for the change to take effect. Forwarded pieces arrive as they are rerouted. If you are only pausing delivery for a short absence, USPS Hold Mail is a different service from moving mail to a new address.
FAQ
Does changing my USPS address update other government records?
No. Notify the agencies and other senders directly.
Do all people at an address use one family request?
The family option applies when the moving family members share the same last name. Use the move type appropriate to the people actually moving.