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How to Change Your Mailing Address With USPS

Use the USPS Mover’s Guide online or file PS Form 3575 at a Post Office. Here’s how to choose a request, verify your identity, and understand forwarding limits.
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Submit a USPS Change of Address (COA) request through the official USPS Mover’s Guide online, or file paper PS Form 3575 at a Post Office. USPS accepts requests from 90 days before the effective date through 30 days after the move. For online filing, USPS lists a $1.25 identity-authentication fee. Use USPS.com rather than a third-party address-change site.

Choose the right kind of change-of-address request

USPS offers individual, family, and business requests, as well as temporary and permanent forwarding. Decide which describes your move before filing; selecting the wrong request can leave household members or business mail uncovered.

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Individual, family, or business

  • Individual: Use this when one person is moving. People with different last names who move to the same address generally need separate requests.
  • Family: Use one family request only when everyone moving has the same last name and is going to the same new address.
  • Business: Use a business request for a business move. USPS notes restrictions for some moves from a business address, so check the official Change of Address FAQ if filing online is unavailable for your situation.

Online filing also has restrictions for some individual or family moves to a foreign country. Check USPS guidance for your circumstances rather than assuming every move can be submitted online.

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Temporary or permanent

Choose temporary forwarding if you will return to your original address. USPS says a temporary request must last at least 15 days and is limited to a total of 364 days. A permanent request is for a lasting move; it is not the same as Premium Forwarding Service, which is a separate paid service. USPS describes temporary extensions in the Domestic Mail Manual.

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Submit your USPS change of address

  1. Confirm the destination. Check the full address, including apartment or suite, directional, city, state, and ZIP Code. Choose the effective date for the forwarding request.
  2. File online or on paper. For online filing, use the USPS Mover’s Guide. For paper filing, get PS Form 3575 at a Post Office; USPS says it cannot be printed from a home computer.
  3. Complete identity verification. USPS lists a $1.25 identity-authentication fee for online requests. If online verification fails—or you file a paper form without authentication—USPS may direct you to complete identity proofing online or in person. See USPS’s Change of Address FAQ and Standard Forward Mail page for current instructions.
  4. Save the confirmation code. Keep the confirmation code and the new ZIP Code. USPS says both are used to modify or cancel a request online. If you lose the code, USPS directs you to a Post Office.

USPS recommends using USPS.com for all change-of-address activity. It warns that third-party sites may charge $40 or more, are not affiliated with USPS, and are not eligible for USPS refunds.

Know when forwarded mail should arrive

USPS says mail should begin arriving at the new address within 7–10 postal business days of the COA start date. This is an expected start-of-arrival window, not a delivery guarantee for every piece. During the transition, forwarded mail may be temporarily inaccessible, and USPS does not provide an estimated delivery time for an individual forwarded item.

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What USPS forwards—and for how long

Forwarding depends on the mail class and the sender’s instructions. USPS’s Change of Address FAQ lists these standard periods for specified classes:

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Mail class Forwarding period listed by USPS
First-Class Mail 12 months
USPS Ground Advantage 12 months
Priority Mail 12 months
Periodicals 60 days

Other classes have different forwarding rules, and some pieces may not be forwarded. For example, a mailer may instruct USPS to return an item if it cannot be delivered as addressed; other items may be forwarded only under specified conditions or incur postage due. Consult USPS’s Mail Forwarding Options for class-specific details.

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Extend forwarding after a permanent move

If you need additional forwarding beyond the initial period, USPS offers Extended Mail Forwarding for permanent domestic COAs. The USPS FAQ currently lists these fees and durations:

Extension USPS-listed price
6 months $26
12 months $39
18 months $52

USPS says extensions are available in 6-, 12-, or 18-month increments, up to 18 months beyond initial forwarding. Fees can change; check the Extended Mail Forwarding FAQ before purchasing.

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Update senders directly, too

A USPS COA redirects eligible mail; it does not change your address on every sender’s records. USPS recommends notifying mail senders of your new address and move date, ideally at least two weeks before moving. Update important accounts directly so statements, replacement cards, bills, and other time-sensitive mail do not depend on forwarding.

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If something goes wrong

  • You cannot complete online verification: Follow the proofing directions USPS gives you, which may require online identity proofing or an in-person visit.
  • You need to change or cancel the request: Use the confirmation code and new ZIP Code online. If the code is lost, go to a Post Office.
  • You receive a Change of Address Validation Letter but did not request a move: USPS says to dispute the letter and flag the order for investigation through its official process.
  • A particular piece has not arrived: The 7–10 postal-business-day window describes when mail starts arriving after the COA start date; USPS does not give an estimated delivery date for an individual forwarded piece. Check the request status and contact the sender if the item is urgent.

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