How to Change Address for U.S. Postal Service

Let the post office know about your new address.

The U.S. Postal Service must have a correct address for you to receive mail. To get your mail delivered to a new address, you must notify the Postal Service. Do it officially and quickly to ensure your mail is forwarded. There are various methods to change your address, but you can accomplish this quickly without difficulty.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Old address information
• New address information
• Moving date
• Credit or debit card (optional)

1. Get all of your address information ready. Filing a Change of Address with the post office requires details about your old and new address. You must know particulars, including the house or building number and street name. You'll need the apartment, suite number or P.O. (Post Office) box number (if applicable). Identify the city, state and ZIP code for both addresses. You'll also need the full names of each person (or business) who is moving, the start date of the move and whether the move is temporary.

2. Decide when and how to submit your change of address to begin forwarding your mail. The Postal Service advises filing a "Change of Address" application at least two weeks prior to your move. The U.S. Postal Service will not accept any change of address requests three months before the forwarding date.

3. Submit online at the Postal Services website for a fee. Go to the Postal Service's official online change of address form. Read the statements presented and click on the large orange button. Put a mark by "Permanent" or "Temporary." Fill in the forwarding date(s). Click "Continue." Select the type of move (Individual, Family or Business). Click "Continue." Fill in all of the required information including an email address. Click "Continue." Supply credit or debit card information for verification next (a fee is charged for this). Submit details about catalog forwarding and then confirm all of the information in the final step.

4. Print the change of address form you created online to avoid the fee charged by processing your change of address form online. Choose "Print and Mail Form" that is situated on the "Identity Verification" page at the bottom. This printed form can be mailed, given to your mail carrier or hand delivered to your post office.

5. Use the phone to supply information for a change of address for a charge. Call 1-800-275-8777 (1-800-ASK-USPS) and supply all of the required details. This method of forwarding your mail will also incur a verification fee charged on a credit or debit card.

6. Obtain and submit your change of address form locally. Your local post office and mail carrier will supply you with a change of address form (PS Form 3575). Fill out all of the required data and return it to the post office in person or to your mail carrier.

Tips & Warnings

• It is common for people with vacation homes (snow birds) to forward their mail temporarily.

Resources

• U.S. Postal Service: Change Your Address Online