How to Forward Mail When Moving

Explanation

File at usps.com under 'Change My Address,' which takes about 10 minutes and charges $1.10 to verify your identity by credit card. If you'd rather skip the fee, pick up PS Form 3575 at any post office window or ask your letter carrier for one—processing is free when submitted in person with photo ID. Either way, submit your request 1-2 weeks before move day; USPS takes 7-10 business days to activate forwarding, and mail sent to your old address during that gap still goes there first.

A permanent change of address forwards First-Class Mail and Priority Mail free for 12 months from your move date. Periodicals like magazines forward for only 60 days, and most standard marketing mail isn't forwarded at all—it's discarded or returned to the sender. If you're relocating temporarily, choose the temporary option instead, which forwards mail for 15 days up to 6 months without a permanent address change. Keep your boxes labeled by room so mail-related paperwork doesn't get buried.

USPS forwarding only covers mail carried through USPS's own network, so packages shipped via UPS, FedEx, or Amazon logistics won't follow you automatically. Update your shipping address directly in your Amazon account, FedEx Delivery Manager, and UPS My Choice before your move date, ideally the same week you file with USPS. Banks, insurers, your employer's payroll department, and subscription services also need separate notice—mail forwarding is a safety net, not a substitute for updating your address everywhere that matters.

Time your forwarding request around the rest of your move: file it the same week you figure out how many boxes you'll need and settle on what to pack first. You can submit a request up to 3 months before your move, so there's no reason to wait until the last minute. Whether you're comparing DIY moving against hiring professionals, add mail forwarding to your moving-week checklist—it costs little and prevents misdirected mail from piling up at your old address.

Things to Know

• Moving within the same ZIP code sometimes needs only a local forwarding order rather than a full address change—ask your local post office which applies to you.
• After the 12-month forwarding period ends, First-Class Mail is returned to senders with your new address printed on it for roughly 6 more months, nudging them to update their own records.
• Each adult at an address must file their own Change of Address request—one form only automatically covers people sharing the same last name.
• Government mail, including some tax and legal documents, often isn't forwarded reliably—contact the IRS and your state agency directly, the same way you would when working through your address-change checklist.
• You can edit or cancel a forwarding request online within the first few days if you entered the wrong date or address.
• Scammers sometimes send fake USPS forwarding emails demanding extra payment—file only through usps.com or in person, since the real fee is $1.10.