Your change of address lasts for 12 months with USPS

When you file a change of address with the United States Postal Service, the forwarding order runs for 12 months from the date you submit it. After that period ends, mail addressed to your old location stops being forwarded and returns to the sender or gets marked as undeliverable. You can renew the forwarding order before it expires, or let it end if you no longer need it.

The 12-month window applies whether you file online, by mail, or in person at your local post office. USPS will send you a reminder postcard about 30 days before your forwarding order expires, though this reminder does not always arrive — so mark your calendar if you want to renew.

Key Takeaways

  • USPS forwarding orders last exactly 12 months from the date you submit them, then stop automatically.
  • You can renew your forwarding order at any time during the 12-month period or after it expires, but mail sent to your old address will not be forwarded once the order ends.
  • USPS sends a reminder postcard about 30 days before expiration, but you should not rely on it — set your own reminder instead.
  • Temporary forwarding orders (30 days) are available if you are moving for a short time, such as during a renovation or military deployment.

When your forwarding order ends and what happens to your mail

On the day your 12-month forwarding order expires, USPS stops forwarding mail to your new address. Any piece of mail that arrives at your old address after that date will be handled according to what the sender wrote on it. If the sender included a return address, the mail goes back to them. If there is no return address, the post office may mark it as undeliverable or hold it for a limited time before discarding it.

This matters most for bills, bank statements, and other important documents that still go to your old address. If you have not updated your address with your bank, insurance company, employer, or other organizations, you will miss those pieces of mail once the forwarding order expires. The post office cannot forward mail indefinitely — the 12-month limit is a hard stop.

Renewing your forwarding order before it expires

You can renew your forwarding order at any point during the 12-month period. If you renew before the current order ends, the new order begins on the day the old one would have expired, so there is no gap in forwarding. You pay the renewal fee again — currently $1.10 for online renewal or $1.10 in person, though prices may vary.

The easiest way to renew is through USPS.com using the same process you used to set up the original order. You will need your old address, new address, and the date you want the renewal to start. If you wait until after your order expires, you can still file a new forwarding order, but any mail that arrived at your old address between the expiration date and the new filing date will not be forwarded.

Temporary forwarding for short moves

If you are moving for less than 12 months — for example, during a home renovation, a temporary work assignment, or military deployment — you can file a temporary change of address that lasts only 30 days. This costs the same as a standard order but covers a shorter period. After 30 days, mail goes back to your original address instead of your temporary one.

Temporary forwarding is useful when you know you will return to your original address and do not want to update every organization you do business with. Once the 30 days end, you can file another temporary order if you need more time, or convert to a permanent 12-month order if your plans change.

What to do if you miss the renewal important date

If your forwarding order expires and you did not renew it, you can still file a new change of address order. However, mail that arrived at your old address after the expiration date and before you filed the new order will not be forwarded — it will have already been returned to sender or discarded. There is no way to recover that mail.

To avoid this, update your address with every organization that sends you mail: banks, insurance companies, employers, government agencies, subscription services, and any other regular senders. This way, even if your USPS forwarding order expires, you will still receive important mail at your new address because it will be addressed there from the start.

How to check when your forwarding order expires

If you filed your change of address online through USPS.com, you can log back into your account to see the expiration date. Look for the "Manage My Change of Address" section, which shows the current status and end date of your forwarding order. If you filed in person or by mail, you can call USPS at 1-800-275-8777 or visit your local post office with your ID to ask when your order expires.

Write down the expiration date and set a phone reminder or calendar alert for 30 days before it ends. This gives you time to renew without any gap in forwarding. If you do not remember when you filed the original order, USPS can look it up using your name and address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extend my forwarding order beyond 12 months?

No, USPS forwarding orders have a fixed 12-month limit. You cannot extend a single order past that date. However, you can renew it before it expires to start a new 12-month period, or file multiple consecutive orders to keep forwarding active for as long as you need.

What happens if I move again before my forwarding order expires?

You can file a new change of address for your second move. USPS will forward mail from your original address to your second address for the remainder of the original 12-month period. You do not need to cancel the first order — just file the second one and USPS will handle the chain of forwarding.

Do I have to pay again to renew my forwarding order?

Yes, each renewal is a separate transaction and costs the same as the original order. Currently, online renewal costs $1.10 and in-person renewal also costs $1.10, though USPS may adjust these prices. There is no discount for renewing an existing order.

Will USPS forward mail to a temporary address if I file a 30-day order?

Yes, a 30-day temporary forwarding order works the same way as a 12-month order — mail sent to your old address goes to your temporary address for the full 30 days. After 30 days, mail returns to your original address unless you file another temporary order or convert to a permanent one.

Can I cancel my forwarding order before the 12 months end?

Yes, you can cancel a forwarding order at any time by contacting USPS online, by phone, or in person. Once cancelled, mail sent to your old address will no longer be forwarded. USPS does not refund the fee for unused time on a cancelled order.