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🇺🇸 United States

USPS Change of Address

US Postal Service Address Change

Easy ~5 min MovingAddressUSPSMail

/ What is this form?

PS Form 3575, Official Mail Forwarding Change of Address Order, is the USPS document that initiates mail forwarding from your old address to your new address. The USPS forwards your mail for up to 12 months for First-Class Mail and registered mail, and 60 days for standard/marketing mail and newspapers. After the forwarding period ends, mail is returned to the sender or discarded.

Approximately 35-40 million Americans move each year, making address changes one of the most common administrative tasks in the country. The USPS processes millions of change-of-address forms annually. The online process ($1.10 fee for identity verification) is the fastest option; paper forms at the Post Office are free but take 1-2 weeks to activate compared to the online system's immediate or near-immediate activation.

Importantly, the PS Form 3575 only affects USPS mail forwarding — it does not automatically update your address with any federal or state agency, financial institution, or private company. Many people mistakenly assume that filing with USPS updates all their records; in reality, each organization must be updated separately.

/ Who needs this form?

  • Anyone moving to a new address who wants to receive mail sent to their old address
  • People moving temporarily who will return to their original address within 6-12 months
  • College students moving between school and home addresses
  • Businesses relocating or opening additional locations
  • People managing mail for an elderly parent or family member who has moved

/ What you need before you start

Your old complete address (street, apartment number, city, state, ZIP code)
Your new complete address
Your desired mail forwarding start date
Credit/debit card for the $1.10 online identity fee (not needed at Post Office)
Name(s) of all people whose mail you want forwarded (for family/household option)

/ Step-by-step guide

1 Choose Online or Paper
Online at moversguide.usps.com: takes 5 minutes, $1.10 identity verification fee (charged to your credit/debit card), confirmation email sent immediately. Paper at any Post Office: free, complete the PS Form 3575 at the counter, hand to a postal clerk. Both start mail forwarding on the start date you specify.
2 Select Who the Move Covers
Choose: Individual (only your mail forwarded), Family/Household (all household members at that address), or Business. For a family move, one form covers all members. For moves where only some household members are moving, use individual requests for each person.
3 Enter Old and New Addresses
Provide your complete old address (including apartment number) and complete new address (including apartment/unit number). Your start date can be today's date or up to 30 days in the future. Mail forwarding ends after 12 months for First-Class Mail; marketing mail is forwarded for 60 days.
4 Submit and Update Key Organizations Separately
Submitting PS Form 3575 only forwards mail temporarily — it does not update your address with the IRS, banks, SSA, DMV, voter registration, or subscription services. After submitting, use the USPS mover's resource checklist to update your address with all important organizations directly.

/ Key fields explained

Field What to enter Common mistake
Move Type Select: Individual, Family/Household, or Business. Individual: only your name. Family: all persons sharing the last name at that address. Business: forward mail for the business name. Using 'Family' when only one spouse is moving — if two household members have the same last name but only one is moving, use 'Individual' for that person only.
Start Date The date from which you want forwarding to begin. Can be today or up to 30 days in the future. Can also be backdated up to 30 days if you forgot to file before moving. Setting the start date too late — if you set the start date to after your actual move date, mail sent to your old address during the gap will not be forwarded.
Old Address Your complete old mailing address including apartment or unit number, ZIP+4 if you know it. Omitting the apartment number — without the apartment number, the system may forward all mail from all units in a building or may reject the request.

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming mail forwarding updates your address with government agencies — it does not. Update the IRS separately (Form 8822), the SSA (online at ssa.gov), and state DMV independently.
Not allowing enough lead time — the paper form takes up to 2 weeks to activate. File online if you need immediate forwarding.
Not updating critical financial accounts directly — banks, brokerage firms, and insurance companies need your address updated directly for legal and tax notice purposes. Forwarded mail for these is not a reliable substitute.
Expecting forwarding to last beyond 12 months — after 12 months, First-Class Mail is returned to the sender. If you have not updated your address with all senders by then, mail will be lost.

/ Frequently asked questions

Is the $1.10 fee a scam?

No. The $1.10 fee at moversguide.usps.com is the official USPS identity verification charge. However, many scam websites charge $30-$80 for the same service. Always go directly to usps.com or in person to a Post Office to avoid being overcharged.

How long does mail forwarding last?

First-Class Mail and Priority Mail: 12 months. Periodicals (magazines, newspapers): 60 days. Standard/marketing mail: 60 days. After forwarding expires, mail is returned to sender or discarded.

Can I forward mail for multiple family members with different last names?

Not with a single household form. You need individual change-of-address requests for each person with a different last name.

Can I cancel mail forwarding early?

Yes. Online at moversguide.usps.com you can update, extend, or cancel your forwarding request. In person at any Post Office. Note: cancellation takes a few days to take effect.