The fastest way to change your address

You can change your address with the U.S. Postal Service online at usps.com, by mail, or in person at your local post office. The online method is fastest — it takes about 10 minutes and costs $1.10. You will need a valid credit or debit card, and the address change takes effect within three to five business days.

If you do not have internet access or prefer to handle it in person, you can fill out a form at your post office. The form is called PS Form 3575 (Change of Address). It costs $1.10 the same way, and you can also mail the form to your old address if that works better for your situation.

The post office will forward your mail to your new address for 12 months. After that, mail addressed to your old location will be returned to the sender. If you think you will need forwarding longer than a year, you can renew it before the 12 months end.

Key Takeaways

  • The online method at usps.com is the fastest option and takes effect in three to five business days for a $1.10 fee.
  • You will need a valid credit or debit card to pay online, or you can pay in person or by mail with a check or money order.
  • Mail forwarding lasts 12 months, and you can renew it before the year ends if you need it to continue.
  • The post office forwards mail to your new address but does not automatically notify banks, employers, or subscriptions — you must contact them separately.
  • If you are moving out of the country, you cannot use the standard address change; you must visit your post office in person.

Changing your address online at USPS.com

Go to usps.com and click "Mail & Packages" at the top of the page. Select "Change of Address" from the menu. You will be asked to enter your current address and your new address, plus your name and date of birth.

The system will ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions based on your credit history. This is a standard check to prevent fraud. Once you pass verification, you will see the $1.10 charge and can pay with a credit or debit card. You will receive a confirmation email with a reference number.

The change takes effect within three to five business days. During that time, mail may still arrive at your old address — the post office needs time to update its systems. Once the change is active, mail will be forwarded automatically.

Changing your address in person at the post office

Walk into your local post office with a valid ID and ask for form PS Form 3575. The clerk will hand you the form and a pen. You fill in your current address, new address, name, and signature. The form takes about five minutes to complete.

Hand the form back to the clerk with $1.10 in cash, check, or card. They will give you a receipt with a confirmation number. The address change takes effect within three to five business days, the same as online.

If you are moving out of the country, you must do this in person — the online system will not accept international addresses. Bring your ID and be ready to show proof of your new address if the post office asks.

Changing your address by mail

You can print form PS Form 3575 from usps.com or pick one up at your post office and mail it to your current address. Fill in all the blanks, sign it, and include $1.10 as a check or money order made out to "USPS".

Mail the form to your local post office. The address is on the form itself. Processing takes longer this way — expect 10 to 14 days from the time the post office receives it, plus mail delivery time. This method is useful if you are already away from your old address and cannot visit in person.

What the post office will and will not do

The post office forwards mail only. It does not notify your bank, insurance company, employer, subscription services, government agencies, or anyone else that you have moved. You must contact each of them separately with your new address.

Start with the most important: your bank, credit card companies, and insurance. Then contact your employer, doctor's office, and any subscriptions you pay for. Government agencies like the IRS, Social Security, and your state's DMV need your new address too — you can update these online on their websites or by mail.

If you have packages on the way to your old address, contact the sender or the shipping company directly. The post office forwarding service covers regular mail but not packages that require a signature or have special handling instructions.

Renewing or canceling your address change

Your forwarding order lasts 12 months from the date it takes effect. If you want it to continue after that, you can renew it online at usps.com or in person at your post office before the 12 months end. Renewal costs another $1.10.

If you move again before the 12 months are up, you can change your forwarding address to the new location. You do not have to wait for the first order to expire. Go back to usps.com or your post office and submit a new change of address form.

If you want to cancel forwarding before the 12 months end, you can do that online or in person as well. This is useful if you realize you do not need it or if you want to stop mail from being sent to a temporary address.

Common reasons the address change might not work

If you enter your address in the wrong format, the system may reject it or the post office may not be able to match it to a delivery route. Write your address exactly as it appears on your mail — include the apartment number, suite number, or unit number if you have one. Do not abbreviate street names or use symbols.

If you are moving to a rural area or a new development, the post office may not have the address in its system yet. Call your local post office before you move and ask if they deliver to your new address. If they do not, ask what address format they use or whether you need to set up a PO box instead.

If your identity verification fails online, the system will ask you to visit a post office in person. Bring your ID and the form. This usually happens if you have a very common name or if your credit history does not match the post office's records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my address before I move?

Yes. You can submit the address change up to 30 days before your move date. The post office will not set up the forwarding until the date you specify, so mail will still go to your old address until then. This is useful if you want to get everything set up ahead of time.

What happens to mail that arrives after the 12 months of forwarding end?

Mail addressed to your old address will be returned to the sender marked "No Longer at This Address." The post office stops forwarding after 12 months. If you need forwarding to continue, renew it before the year ends.

Do I need to change my address with the post office if I move within the same city?

Yes. Even a move across the street may put you in a different delivery route. Submit the address change so mail goes to the right place. The cost and process are the same as any other move.

Can someone else change my address for me?

No. The post office requires the person whose name is on the mail to submit the change. If you are unable to go in person, you can do it online with your ID information, or you can mail the form yourself.

What if I do not know my new address yet?

You cannot submit an address change without a complete new address. If you are moving to a temporary location first, you can submit a change to that address and then submit another change to your permanent address later. Each change costs $1.10.