You can change your address at the post office in person, by mail, or online through USPS.com

The fastest way is to visit your local post office with a photo ID and proof of your new address. A utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement dated within the last 60 days works. The postal clerk fills out the form while you wait, and the change takes effect in three to five business days. If you cannot go in person, you can mail the form or use the USPS website to start the process online, though online changes still require you to verify your identity by mail.

The change costs $1.10 in person or online. Mail-in requests are free but take longer. Either way, the post office forwards your mail to your new address for up to 12 months, though you should notify banks, employers, and subscriptions yourself — mail forwarding is not a substitute for updating your address directly with them.

Key Takeaways

  • In-person changes at your local post office take three to five business days and cost $1.10, but are the fastest option.
  • You need a photo ID and proof of your new address dated within the last 60 days, such as a utility bill or lease.
  • Online changes through USPS.com cost $1.10 but require you to verify your identity by mail before the change takes effect.
  • Mail forwarding lasts 12 months and does not replace notifying your bank, employer, and subscription services directly.
  • If you move to a different post office's delivery area, your mail may be rerouted to a new local post office automatically.

Changing your address in person at the post office

Walk into your local post office with your photo ID and a document showing your new address. A driver's license, passport, or state ID card works for identification. For proof of address, bring a recent utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, bank statement, or government document with your name and new address on it. The document must be dated within the last 60 days.

Tell the postal clerk you want to file a change of address. They will hand you Form 3575, the official USPS change of address form. You fill in your old address, new address, and the date you want the forwarding to start. The clerk processes it on the spot, charges you $1.10, and gives you a receipt. Your mail forwarding begins in three to five business days.

This method is the most reliable because you get when ready confirmation and a receipt with a confirmation number. If something goes wrong, you have proof you filed the change.

Changing your address online through USPS.com

Go to USPS.com and click "Change of Address" in the top menu. Enter your old address, new address, and the date you want forwarding to start. You will need to provide a credit or debit card to pay the $1.10 fee. The system will ask for your phone number and email address.

After you submit the form online, USPS mails you a verification letter to your old address. You must sign and return this letter to the post office or mail it back to USPS. Only after they receive the signed letter does your address change take effect. This process typically takes one to two weeks longer than in-person filing because of the mail verification step.

Use the online method if you prefer not to visit the post office, but expect the delay. If you are moving soon and need forwarding to start quickly, the in-person option is faster.

Changing your address by mail

You can request Form 3575 by mail or read it from USPS.com. Fill out the form with your old address, new address, and forwarding start date. Mail the completed form to your local post office. The address is on the form itself. Do not include payment — mail-in changes are free.

Processing takes two to three weeks from the time the post office receives your form. You will not get a confirmation number or receipt, so you have no proof the form arrived unless you send it certified mail. If you want confirmation, pay the extra cost for certified mail with return receipt so you know the post office received it.

This method is the cheapest but the slowest and offers the least proof that your change was filed. Use it only if you have time and do not need when ready confirmation.

What happens after you file a change of address

Once your change takes effect, the post office forwards mail addressed to your old address to your new one for 12 months. Mail that arrives after 12 months will not be forwarded — it will be returned to the sender or discarded. If you need forwarding for longer than 12 months, you can file another change of address before the first one expires.

Forwarding is not automatic for all mail. First-class mail, packages, and magazines are forwarded. Some bulk mail and advertisements may not be. If a company has your old address on file, they may continue sending mail there even after the post office forwards it — the forwarding service does not update their records.

For this reason, you should notify your bank, insurance company, employer, subscription services, and any government agencies of your new address directly. Do not rely on mail forwarding alone. Update your address with the IRS, Social Security Administration, voter registration, and your state's driver's license office yourself.

Changing your address if you are moving to a different post office area

If your new address falls under a different post office's delivery zone, the change of address process is the same. You file the form at your old post office or online, and the postal system automatically reroutes your mail to the new post office. You do not need to visit the new post office or file anything there.

However, if you have a PO Box at your old post office, you will need to close that box and open a new one at the new post office. A change of address form does not transfer a PO Box. Visit the new post office with your ID and ask to open a new box. Closing the old box is free, but opening a new one costs money depending on the box size and rental period.

Common mistakes when changing your address

The most common error is not providing proof of your new address. The post office will not file your change without it. Bring a document dated within the last 60 days — older documents are rejected. A lease agreement, utility bill, or mortgage statement works. A credit card bill or bank statement with your new address also works if it is recent enough.

Another mistake is assuming mail forwarding updates your address everywhere. It does not. Companies and government agencies still have your old address on file. You must contact them directly. If you do not update your address with your bank, you may miss important statements or fraud alerts. If you do not update it with the IRS, tax documents may go to your old address.

A third mistake is not notifying the post office of a move within your same delivery area. Even if you stay in the same zip code, you should file a change of address so the carrier knows to deliver to your new house number or apartment number. Without it, mail may go to your old address by mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a change of address to start working?

In-person changes at the post office take three to five business days. Online changes take one to two weeks because USPS must mail you a verification letter and wait for you to sign and return it. Mail-in changes take two to three weeks. If you need forwarding to start on a specific date, file at least one week before that date.

Can I change my address if I do not have a photo ID?

No. USPS requires a photo ID for in-person changes. A driver's license, passport, or state ID card is acceptable. If you do not have a photo ID, you can file online instead, though you will still need to verify your identity by mail when USPS sends you the verification letter.

What if mail keeps going to my old address after I filed a change?

Mail forwarding takes three to five business days to start, so some mail may arrive at your old address during that time. After forwarding starts, mail should be rerouted. If it continues to arrive at your old address weeks later, contact your local post office with your confirmation number. There may be an error in how the address was entered.

Do I have to pay to change my address if I do it by mail?

Yes, mail-in changes are free, but in-person and online changes cost $1.10. If you want proof that the post office received your mail-in form, pay extra for certified mail with return receipt. This costs a few dollars more but gives you confirmation.

What happens to my mail after 12 months of forwarding?

After 12 months, the post office stops forwarding mail to your new address. Mail sent to your old address will be returned to the sender or discarded. If you need forwarding to continue, file a new change of address before the first one expires. You can renew it as many times as you need.