The fastest way to change your address at USPS

You can change your address with the United States Postal Service (USPS) 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. USPS will forward your mail to your new address for 12 months (or 18 months if you pay extra), and the change takes effect within three to five business days after you submit it.

You'll need your current address, your new address, and a credit or debit card to pay the fee online. If you prefer not to use a card, you can fill out Form 3575 at the post office and pay with cash, check, or card. The form method takes longer — usually five to seven business days to process — but works just as well.

Mail forwarding does not automatically update your address with banks, insurance companies, employers, or government agencies. You'll need to contact those organizations separately to prevent bills and important documents from going to your old address.

Key Takeaways

  • USPS online address changes cost $1.10 and take effect in three to five business days; the post office form method costs the same but takes five to seven days.
  • Mail forwarding lasts 12 months by default, or 18 months if you pay an additional fee when you set it up.
  • Changing your address with USPS does not automatically notify your bank, insurance company, employer, or government agencies — you must contact them separately.
  • You can change your address online, by mail using Form 3575, or in person at any post office location.
  • USPS will forward mail sent to your old address, but packages and certified mail may not forward depending on how they're addressed.

Changing your address online at USPS.com

Go to usps.com and click "Mail & Packages" in the top menu, then select "Change of Address." You'll be asked to enter your current address, your new address, and the date you want the change to start. USPS recommends submitting the change at least two weeks before you move, though you can submit it up to 30 days after moving.

After you enter your addresses, USPS will ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions based on your credit history. This step usually takes a few minutes. Once verified, you'll pay $1.10 with a credit or debit card, and your change will be submitted. You'll receive a confirmation email with a reference number — save this in case you need to check the status later.

The online method is the most reliable because USPS processes it immediately and you get instant confirmation. If you make a mistake, you can start over and submit a new change of address, though you'll pay the fee again.

Using Form 3575 at the post office or by mail

Form 3575 is the official USPS change of address form. You can pick one up at any post office, fill it out by hand, and submit it in person with payment. You can also mail the completed form to your local post office, though this adds several days to the process.

The form asks for your current address, new address, the date the change should start, and your signature. You'll need to provide a phone number or email address so USPS can contact you if there's a problem. Payment is $1.10, and you can pay with cash, check, or card.

Processing takes five to seven business days from the day the post office receives your form. If you submit it in person, the clock starts that day. If you mail it, add three to five days for delivery to the post office before processing begins. This method is slower than online but works if you don't have internet access or prefer to handle it in person.

What happens to mail after you change your address

Once your change of address is active, USPS will forward mail addressed to your old address to your new one for 12 months. This includes letters, bills, and magazines. However, some types of mail do not forward automatically: packages sent through certain services, certified mail, and mail marked "Do Not Forward" will be returned to the sender instead.

If you want forwarding to last longer than 12 months, you can pay an additional fee (usually around $1.10) to extend it to 18 months when you first set up the change. After the forwarding period ends, mail sent to your old address will be returned to the sender or treated as undeliverable.

Forwarding is not instant. Mail that arrives at your old address after your change takes effect will be forwarded, but it may take an extra week to reach you. This is why it's important to update your address with banks, insurance companies, and other organizations as soon as possible — don't rely only on USPS forwarding.

Updating your address with other organizations

USPS forwarding only works for mail sent through the postal service. Your bank, credit card company, insurance provider, employer, and government agencies (Social Security, IRS, state agencies) do not automatically receive your new address. You need to contact each one separately.

Start with the organizations that send you important documents: your bank, insurance company, mortgage or rental company, and employer. Then update utilities, subscriptions, and any services you pay for. For government agencies, contact them directly — the IRS has a form (Form 8822) to update your address, and Social Security has its own process.

Keep a list of organizations you've contacted and the date you updated your address with each one. This helps you track what's been done and follow up if mail still arrives at your old address after a few weeks.

Changing your address if you're moving out of state

The process is the same whether you're moving across town or across the country. Enter your new state address on the USPS form or website, and forwarding will work the same way. However, you may need to update your driver's license, vehicle registration, and voter registration separately, as these are handled by your state, not by USPS.

If you're moving to a state with different tax laws or requirements, contact your state's tax agency to update your address there as well. Some states require you to update your address within a certain number of days of moving; check your new state's requirements to avoid penalties.

What to do if your address change doesn't work

If mail is still arriving at your old address after your forwarding should be active, contact your local post office with your reference number (from the online confirmation or your Form 3575 receipt). USPS can check the status of your change and resubmit it if there was an error.

If mail is arriving at your new address addressed to someone else, contact the sender and ask them to remove you from their mailing list. If you're receiving mail for a previous resident, write "Return to Sender — Person Does Not Live Here" on the envelope and put it back in the mail. Do not open mail addressed to someone else.

If you submitted your change online and it was rejected during the identity verification step, you can try again or submit Form 3575 in person at the post office instead. Some people have better luck with the paper form if the online verification fails.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Online changes take effect in three to five business days. Form 3575 submitted in person takes five to seven business days. If you mail the form, add three to five days for it to reach the post office first. USPS recommends submitting your change at least two weeks before you move to avoid delays.

Can I change my address before I move, or do I have to wait until after?

You can submit your change up to 30 days before you move or up to 30 days after. USPS recommends doing it before you move so forwarding starts on your moving day. If you submit it after moving, there may be a gap where mail sent to your old address doesn't get forwarded.

What if I made a mistake on my address change?

You can submit a new change of address to correct it. You'll pay the fee again ($1.10). If you catch the mistake within a few days, contact your local post office with your reference number and ask if they can correct it before it's processed — this may save you a fee.

Does changing my address with USPS update my address with my bank and insurance company?

No. USPS only forwards mail; it does not notify other organizations. You must contact your bank, insurance company, employer, and any other organizations separately to update your address with them. This is important because some companies may freeze your account or send important documents to your old address if they don't have your new one.

Can I cancel my address change if I decide not to move?

Yes. Contact your local post office with your reference number and ask them to cancel the change before it takes effect. If the change has already started, you can submit a new change of address to go back to your old address, though you'll pay the fee again.