USPS mail forwarding takes 3 to 5 business days to start, but you should wait a full week before relying on it

When you submit a change of address form to the United States Postal Service, the forwarding itself does not happen when ready. USPS processes the form and enters it into their system, which typically takes 3 to 5 business days. After that window closes, mail addressed to your old address will begin forwarding to your new one. However, mail that arrives during those first 3 to 5 days will be delivered to your old address, not forwarded.

The safest approach is to wait a full week after submitting your form before you expect forwarding to work reliably. Some mail carriers process forms faster than others, and mail already in transit to your old address will still arrive there even after forwarding is active. If you have time-sensitive mail coming—bank statements, tax documents, medical records—contact those senders directly and ask them to update your address in their system before you move.

Key Takeaways

  • USPS mail forwarding takes 3 to 5 business days to set up after you submit the form, so mail arriving during that window goes to your old address.
  • You can submit a change of address online at usps.com, by mail, or in person at your local post office; online is fastest.
  • Mail forwarding lasts 12 months for residential moves and 18 months for business moves, then stops automatically.
  • Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and subscription services do not automatically learn about your move and must be notified separately.
  • Some mail (packages from certain retailers, certified mail, and first-class mail from government agencies) may not forward and will be returned to the sender instead.

How to submit your change of address and which method is fastest

You have three ways to tell USPS about your move. The fastest is online at usps.com: go to the "Mail & Packages" section, select "Change of Address," and fill out the form. You will need your old address, new address, and the date you want forwarding to begin. USPS will ask for payment—currently $1.10 for online submission—and you can complete the entire process in minutes. Your forwarding becomes active within 3 to 5 business days.

You can also fill out form PS Form 3575 in person at your local post office or by mail. In-person submission may be slightly faster because the postal worker can enter it when ready, but you will still wait 3 to 5 business days for the system to process it. Submitting by mail takes longer overall because the form has to travel to a processing center first.

Do not rely on telling your mail carrier verbally. They cannot enter a change of address into the system—only the post office can. Always submit an official form.

Why some mail does not forward and what happens to it

Not every piece of mail will follow your forwarding order. First-class mail from government agencies—tax refunds, Social Security statements, court documents—typically will not forward and will be returned to the sender instead. Packages from certain retailers, especially those marked "do not forward," will also be returned. Certified mail and registered mail do not forward either.

This is why contacting important senders directly matters. Call your bank, insurance company, employer, and any government agencies you deal with and give them your new address before you move. The same goes for subscriptions, utilities, and medical providers. A few minutes on the phone now prevents mail from being returned and you missing critical documents.

How long forwarding lasts and what happens when it expires

USPS forwarding is not permanent. For a residential move, your forwarding order lasts 12 months from the date it becomes active. For a business move, it lasts 18 months. After that period ends, mail addressed to your old address will no longer be forwarded—it will be returned to the sender or held at the post office.

You do not have to do anything to let it expire; it stops automatically. If you need forwarding to continue beyond 12 months, you can submit a new change of address form before the first one expires. USPS will extend it for another 12 months from the new submission date.

Banks, insurance, and government agencies need separate notification

USPS forwarding does not notify your bank, credit card company, insurance provider, or government agencies about your move. These organizations maintain their own address records and do not check with USPS. If you do not tell them directly, they will continue sending statements and notices to your old address, where they may be lost or opened by whoever lives there now.

Make a list of every organization that has your address: your bank, credit cards, insurance (auto, home, health), your employer, the IRS, Social Security, your state's tax agency, utilities, internet provider, subscription services, and your doctor's office. Call or log into each account and update your address. This takes an hour or two but prevents months of missed mail and potential identity issues.

What to do if mail is still going to your old address after a week

If you have waited more than a week and mail is still arriving at your old address instead of being forwarded, the first step is to check that your form was actually processed. Go to usps.com, log in, and look for your change of address in your account history. If it shows as submitted but not yet processed, wait a few more days.

If the form shows as processed but mail is still not forwarding, visit your local post office with your confirmation number. The postal worker can check whether the address was entered correctly into the system. Sometimes a typo in the new address or a mismatch in how the old address was formatted can prevent forwarding from working. The post office can correct it on the spot.

If you no longer have access to the address where mail is arriving, ask the current resident or landlord to write "Return to Sender—No Longer at This Address" on the mail and put it back in the mailbox. This tells the mail carrier to return it, which may prompt the sender to contact you or check their records.

Forwarding for packages and how it differs from letter mail

Package forwarding works differently than letter mail. USPS will forward packages for 12 months just like regular mail, but some carriers and retailers have their own rules. Amazon, for example, will not forward packages to a new address—they will be returned to Amazon or held at your old address. UPS and FedEx packages typically do not forward through USPS at all because they use their own delivery networks.

For packages, the best approach is to update your address directly with the retailer or shipper before you move. Log into your Amazon account, eBay account, or any other service you order from and change your address there. If a package is already in transit when you move, contact the shipper with your tracking number and ask them to update the delivery address if possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my address before I actually move?

Yes. You can submit your change of address up to 30 days before your move date. This lets you set a specific date for forwarding to begin, so you do not have to worry about timing it perfectly with moving day. Just make sure the date you enter is when you actually want forwarding to start.

What if I move multiple times in a year?

You can submit a new change of address form for each move. Each form creates a separate 12-month forwarding order. If you move from Address A to Address B and then to Address C within a year, you will have two active forwarding orders, and mail will eventually reach you at C. However, it is cleaner to update senders directly rather than relying on multiple forwarding chains.

Do I have to pay for change of address every time?

Online submission costs $1.10 each time. In-person submission at the post office is free. If you are moving multiple times or want to avoid the fee, you can submit your form in person instead of online.

Will my old landlord or the new resident get my mail?

Once your forwarding is active, mail addressed to you should not go to the new resident. However, mail that arrives before forwarding starts (during the first 3 to 5 days) will be delivered to your old address. Ask the new resident or landlord to write "Return to Sender" on any mail that arrives for you and put it back in the mailbox so it gets returned to the sender.

What happens to mail if I do not set up forwarding?

Without a forwarding order, mail addressed to your old address will be delivered there. The new resident or landlord may open it, discard it, or write "Return to Sender" on it. Important mail like bank statements, tax documents, and medical records could be lost. This is why setting up forwarding and notifying senders directly is important.