File USPS Change of Address First: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Before you touch a single bank account or DMV form, there's one task that buys you time on everything else: filing your USPS change of address. This USPS change of address checklist walks through exactly how to file online, what it actually costs, how long forwarding lasts depending on the type of mail, and how to avoid the third-party sites that charge far more than the Postal Service does for the same thing.

Mail forwarding isn't the finish line — it's a bridge. Once it's in place, mail addressed to your old home starts routing to your new one piece by piece while you work through the longer list of senders who need your address updated directly. Think of this as step one, not the whole project.

Your USPS change of address checklist, step by step

1. Decide: individual, family, or business move

The official USPS Change of Address form (available at the Postal Service's own site) asks you to choose one of three move types up front — an individual move, a family move where everyone shares a last name, or a business move. Picking the right category matters because it determines whose mail gets forwarded under the same request.

2. File online — or in person if you'd rather skip the fee

Filing online through the official USPS Change of Address website takes a few minutes: you enter your old and new addresses, choose a start date, and select individual, family, or business. If you'd rather not pay anything, you can file for free in person at your local Post Office by requesting a Mover's Guide packet and completing PS Form 3575 with a retail associate, who verifies your identity using photo ID.

3. Verify your identity and pay the small online fee

If you file online, USPS asks you to verify your identity, typically by opting in to receive a code or link on your mobile phone, and to pay a $1.25 identity-verification fee. The billing address on the card you use must match either your old or new address. If online verification doesn't work, USPS emails instructions and a barcode so you can finish the process in person at a Post Office location instead.

4. Plan ahead — but don't expect instant forwarding

USPS notes that forwarding may begin within about three business days of your request, but recommends allowing up to two weeks for everything to take effect. Because of that lag, it's worth filing roughly two weeks before your move date rather than the day before, so the first week of mail at your new address doesn't get missed.

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5. Watch for your confirmation and welcome materials

After you file, USPS sends a Move Validation letter to your old address, a Customer Notification Letter with your confirmation code to your new address (about five business days before your start date), and a welcome kit. Save the confirmation code — you'll need it if you ever want to modify or cancel the request.

What actually gets forwarded, and for how long

Not all mail is treated the same way once your change of address is in place:

• First-Class Mail and periodicals (newsletters, magazines) forward for free.
• Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage packages forward for free.
• Media Mail items are forwarded, but you pay the shipping cost from your old Post Office to your new address.
• USPS Marketing Mail is not forwarded at all.

Standard forwarding runs for 12 months. If you need longer, USPS offers Extended Mail Forwarding for an additional 6, 12, or 18 months (18 months total is the maximum), which you can add when you first file or later when you edit your request — note that this extension can't be canceled or refunded once purchased. After your forwarding period ends, USPS returns undeliverable mail to the sender with your new address on it for six months, rather than forwarding it indefinitely. Some guides also note that periodicals specifically stop forwarding after about 60 days even though First-Class mail continues for the full 12 months, so it's worth updating magazine subscriptions directly if you don't want a gap.

Skip the sites that charge $40 for a $1.25 service

Search for "change of address" and you'll likely see third-party websites, some designed to look official, charging $40 to $80 to "process" the exact same request USPS handles for $1.25 online or free in person. These sites aren't affiliated with the Postal Service. The only place to file directly is the official USPS Change of Address page — if a site asks for a card number to "process" your move and it isn't on usps.com, close the tab.

A worked example: filing two weeks out

This is a hypothetical walkthrough, not a record of a real move. Say Maya and Jordan are leaving an apartment on the 15th of the month and want mail waiting at their new place from day one. Two weeks before moving day, they file online as a "family" move, verify identity through a mobile code, and pay the $1.25 fee with a card billed to their current address. USPS's system logs a start date matching their move-in day. About five business days before that date, their Customer Notification Letter arrives at the new address with a confirmation code, which they save in a folder along with their move-related paperwork. Because they filed early rather than the day of the move, their first week of mail at the new place — bills, a renewed magazine, a forwarded package — arrives without a gap. From here, their next task is working through the individual senders (bank, DMV, insurer) who need the new address directly, since forwarding doesn't update any of those accounts on its own. A room-by-room setup checklist, like the one Nido builds from a few quick questions about your new place, can help keep that broader move-in punch list — administrative and physical — in one place instead of scattered across notes and emails.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does USPS charge to change my address online?

Filing online carries a $1.25 identity-verification fee, charged to a card whose billing address matches either your old or new address. Filing in person at a Post Office with PS Form 3575 is free.

How soon before I move should I file my USPS change of address?

USPS says forwarding may start within about three business days of your request but advises allowing up to two weeks for it to fully take effect, so filing roughly two weeks ahead of your move date is a reasonable buffer rather than waiting until the day before.

Does a USPS change of address update my driver's license, bank, or DMV records?

No. USPS is explicit that a change of address order only updates your mailing address with the Post Office — you still have to separately notify government agencies like the DMV and voter registration, along with banks, insurers, and other companies, since none of those records update automatically from a mail-forwarding request.

What mail actually gets forwarded, and for how long?

First-Class Mail, periodicals, and Priority-tier packages forward for free for up to 12 months; Media Mail forwards but you cover the shipping cost; USPS Marketing Mail isn't forwarded at all. You can pay to extend forwarding up to 18 months total, and after forwarding ends, mail is returned to the sender with your new address for six months.

Can I file my change of address in person instead of online?

Yes. Visit your local Post Office, ask for a free Mover's Guide packet, and complete PS Form 3575 with a retail associate, who verifies your identity with photo ID. This route is free, unlike the small fee charged for the online option.

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Are the paid "change of address" websites that show up in search results legitimate?

No — several third-party sites charge $40 to $80 for a service USPS provides for $1.25 online or free in person, and they aren't affiliated with the Postal Service. The only official site is USPS's own Change of Address page; anything else asking for payment to "process" your move should be treated with caution.

What should I do if I can't verify my identity online?

If online identity verification fails, USPS emails instructions along with a barcode so you can complete the process in person at a Post Office location with acceptable photo ID. If you're unable to verify your identity at a Post Office either, USPS notes you won't be able to complete a change of address at all, and your only remaining option is to contact senders directly with your new address.

Further reading: Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify (2026).

Further reading: The Ultimate Change of Address Checklist for 2026 - Coastal Moving Services.