Key Takeaways
- USPS forwards mail for exactly 12 months, then stops—you must renew before expiration if you still need forwarding.
- You can renew your change of address online, by mail, or in person at a post office, and renewal takes effect when ready.
- Temporary forwarding (30 days) is available if you are moving for a short time and do not want a full year of forwarding.
- Mail sent to your old address after the 12 months ends will be marked "return to sender" unless you renew before that date.
- Canceling early is free and can be done online or at the post office if your situation changes.
The 12-Month Window and What Happens After
When you file a change of address with USPS, the forwarding order is active for exactly one year from the submission date. During this time, mail carriers will redirect any pieces addressed to your old address to your new one. The post office does not send you a reminder when the 12 months are about to end—you are responsible for tracking the expiration date yourself.
Once the 12 months pass, USPS stops forwarding mail automatically. Any mail arriving at your old address after that date will be treated as if no forwarding order exists. The postal carrier will mark it "return to sender" and send it back to whoever mailed it. This can cause you to miss important documents, bills, or packages if you have not notified all your contacts of your new address.
Renewing Before Your Forwarding Expires
You can renew your change of address at any time during the 12-month period, and the renewal takes effect right away. You do not have to wait until the order is about to expire. If you renew before the original order ends, the new 12-month period begins on the date you submit the renewal, not on the original expiration date.
To renew, you can file a new change of address order online at USPS.com, by mail using Form 3575, or in person at your local post office. There is a fee for online renewals (currently $1.10) and mail-in renewals, but in-person renewals at the post office are free. If you renew online, the change takes effect within one business day.
Temporary Forwarding for Short Moves
If you are moving for only a few weeks or months—such as for a temporary job, military deployment, or home renovation—you can set up a temporary change of address that lasts just 30 days instead of 12 months. This is useful if you plan to return to your original address or do not want a year-long forwarding order.
After the 30 days end, mail will stop being forwarded and will revert to your old address. You can convert a temporary order to a permanent 12-month order at any point, or let it expire and file a new order later if your situation changes.
Tracking Your Expiration Date
Write down or set a phone reminder for the date your change of address will expire. The USPS confirmation email or receipt you receive when you file will include the exact expiration date. If you file online, you can log into your USPS account to check the status and expiration date of your current forwarding order.
Many people miss the expiration because they assume forwarding continues indefinitely. Mark your calendar three months before the expiration date so you have time to decide whether to renew. If you realize after expiration that you still need forwarding, you will have to file a new order, and any mail that arrived during the gap will have already been returned to senders.
Canceling a Change of Address Early
If your situation changes and you no longer need mail forwarded—for example, you move back to your original address or you have notified everyone of your new location—you can cancel the forwarding order at any time. Cancellation is free and takes effect within one business day if you do it online.
To cancel, go to USPS.com, use Form 3575 and mail it to your local post office, or visit the post office in person. Once canceled, mail sent to your old address will no longer be forwarded and will be returned to the sender. This is useful if you want to stop paying the renewal fee or if you have already updated your address everywhere it matters.
What Happens to Mail During the Forwarding Period
While your change of address is active, USPS forwards both First-Class Mail and periodicals (magazines, newspapers) to your new address. However, some types of mail are not forwarded automatically, including packages sent via certain shipping methods, mail marked "do not forward," and mail addressed to a business name rather than a person.
If you are expecting packages or important mail, contact the sender and provide your new address directly rather than relying solely on USPS forwarding. This is especially important for financial institutions, government agencies, and subscription services, which may have their own address-update procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my change of address before the 12 months are up?
Yes. You can renew at any point during the 12-month period, and the new 12-month period begins on the date you submit the renewal. There is no penalty for renewing early, and it ensures you do not have a gap in forwarding.
What if I forget to renew and my forwarding expires?
Mail sent to your old address after expiration will be returned to the sender. You can file a new change of address order at any time, but it will only forward mail from that point forward—it will not recover mail that was already returned. Contact senders directly to request they resend important documents.
Does the 12-month period start over if I move again?
No. If you move a second time before the first forwarding order expires, you must file a new change of address for your second move. The original forwarding order will continue until its expiration date unless you cancel it. You can have only one active forwarding order per address at a time.
Is there a fee to renew my change of address?
Online renewals cost $1.10, and mail-in renewals also have a fee. Renewing in person at the post office is free. The fee applies each time you renew, so if you renew annually, you will pay the fee each year unless you go to the post office.
Can I extend my change of address beyond 12 months without renewing?
No. The forwarding order automatically stops after 12 months. You must submit a renewal before the expiration date if you want forwarding to continue. There is no option to extend the original order—you must file a new one.