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The U.S. Postal Service is enhancing security protocols surrounding its change of address (COA) service by implementing additional authentication methods. These enhancements are designed to address global identity theft concerns, and to protect our customers' information. The change of address service remains simple and convenient to use. It can be completed in a few steps, online at USPS.com, or by visiting one of more than 33,000 local Post Office™️ locations.
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Getting Started: Before the Address Change
Mail will only be forwarded to your new address, if you submit a Change of Address with the USPS. You can make the Change of Address process faster and easier by notifying everyone who sends you mail of your new address and the date of your move at least two weeks before you move. Most bills and statements have an area for making an address change notification. Make sure you use a complete address that contains all necessary address elements, house number, street name, directional (N, E, S, or W), (apt., suite, room #), city, state and ZIP Code™.
A COA request can be submitted 90 days before the effective date of your move, and up to 30 days after the date of your move.
There are two ways to change your address: Online or In Person
In Person
For the fastest service, change of address (COA) requests can be submitted online at: https://moversguide.usps.com/
The security of your mail is very important to us. The following multifactor identity verification process is required for online COA requests:
- A mobile phone number verification may be required, and a one-time passcode or verification link will be texted to your cell phone.
- A valid credit or debit card for payment. A $1.25 authentication fee will be charged to your card. The billing address on the credit card must match either the old or the new address used in the COA request. In certain situations, the online application permits customers to use a third address for verification. For this option, the effective move date must be at least 7 days in the future. Note that prepaid cards and gift cards are not accepted for payment.
- A valid email address to receive communication regarding your COA. Military addresses are eligible; if you are moving from a military address, your email address must end in .gov, .mil, or .edu.
If online authentication is not successful, you will receive email instructions to complete the in person identity proofing barcode process at a participating Post Office™ location. You must bring an acceptable primary form of photo identification (ID) with you. If the address on the primary ID is not listed or does not match the old address on the COA, you must also provide a secondary form of identification that shows the old address. Valid primary and secondary forms of identification are listed here and below.Military customers moving from an APO/FPO/DPO should work with military officials to change their address and assist with mail forwarding. International addresses (moving to an international address) are not eligible for an online change of address. Please visit a Post Office to request a COA to an international address.
| Online changes of address may not be possible for persons acting as authorized agents for minor children, those unable to act for themselves or deceased individuals. If your online submission is not successful, you will have to complete the in person hardcopy COA process at a Post Office location. You must provide documentation establishing you as the authorized agent for the person listed on the COA, along with your primary photo ID. The documentation could include a notarized letter, birth certificate (for minors), power of attorney, executorship documents, guardianship letter, marriage certificate for yourself or other acceptable legal documents. |
If your online authentication was not successful, or if you do not wish to complete a COA online, you may complete a hard copy change of address in person at any Post Office.
Here's what you need to do:
- Visit a local Post Office location and inform the retail clerk you need to complete a hardcopy change of address.
- Bring an acceptable primary form of photo identification. Your identification must be current and unexpired.
- Bring an acceptable secondary form of ID just in case.
- If you are submitting a COA for someone else, or for yourself with a different name on your primary photo ID (e.g., maiden/married name), you must bring documentation that confirms you as the authorized representative for the individual listed on the COA. The documentation could include a notarized letter, birth certificate (for minors), power of attorney, executorship documents, guardianship letter, marriage certificate for yourself or other acceptable legal documents.
Acceptable Forms of Primary Photo Identification (must be current and unexpired):
- State, territory or tribal-issued driver's license or non-driver's license identification card
- Uniformed Service Identification Card
- U.S. passport, U.S. passport card or foreign passport
- U.S. permanent resident or other identification card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Alien Registration Card or Green Card)
- U.S. certificate of naturalization or citizenship
- U.S. university ID card
- Matricula Consular card (Mexico) or NEXUS card (Canada)
Secondary Forms of Identification:It is recommended that you bring a secondary form of identification with you, such as:
- Lease, mortgage or deed of trust
- Voter or vehicle registration card
- Home or vehicle insurance policy or card
| NOTE: Enrollment barcodes and 8-digit activation codes expire 20 days after the date on the letter or email. | |
Change of Address Online Security
Security of a customer's personal information is extremely important to the USPS. We use several techniques to minimize the chance that customer data will become known outside our system and to prevent fraudulent COA requests.
- Secure Server - Encryption Technology.
- Credit / Debit Card Address Verification. A fee of $1.25 will be charged to your credit card.
- In some cases, the online change of address application allows a customer to submit a COA using a third address for validation. This option requires that the move effective date is at least 7 days in the future to allow the Move Validation Letter to reach the old address.
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We apologize if you were unable to verify your identity online or in person. You will be unable to submit a USPS Change of Address without acceptable authentication.
To ensure you continue to receive critical mail, we encourage you to notify all organizations that communicate with you via mail of your new address, such as:
Utility Companies
Internet Service Providers
Phone Provider
Cable Provider
IRS
All Insurance Providers
Department of Motor Vehicles
Banks and Credit Card Companies
Subscription Services
Employers
Friends and Family
Business Associates
Individual Service Providers
Loan Providers
Social Security Administration
Medical Providers
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What it Costs
When the COA request is made online there is a $1.25 authentication fee. When you enter your credit card or debit card number and billing address, we can electronically verify your card's information with the issuing bank. If you prefer not to use your credit card, you can fill out PS Form 3575 acquired from your local Post Office. Forwarded mail may be subject to additional postage.
Warning: There are third party websites that will charge you fees of $40.00 or more to submit your change of address. The Postal Service no longer accepts submissions from third party businesses due to updated authentication processes.
The Postal Service is not affiliated with the businesses that own these sites and, unfortunately, will not be able to assist you, or offer any refunds for activity on ANY non-USPS site. If you attempted to file a COA on a non-USPS site, you will need to contact the financial institution that issued the credit card for resolution. To ensure the best service, always use USPS.com for all change of address activities.
Obtaining a Hardcopy Change of Address Form
The Change of Address Order (PS Form 3575) is available at your local Post Office within the Mover's Guide® packet. The packet also includes instructions for completing the form and coupons offering discounts for related moving services.
The Change of Address Order is a hardcopy paper form that can be completed to submit a change of address.
- If you mail or submit a PS Form 3575 without going through proper authentication at a post office, you will receive a letter in the mail. The letter directs you to finalize your authentication either Online or In-Person at a post office location with in-person proofing.
- If you choose to complete your COA request online, Mover's Guide® Online presents special offers. You can print the offers immediately or have them sent as a text message to your mobile device.
Change of Address Options
A Change of Address (COA) request can be temporary or permanent and be submitted for either an individual, family, or business. These options are requested when completing your COA online or by filling out a PS Form 3575 acquired from your local Post Office™. The PS Form 3575 form can no longer be printed from your home computer.
Choosing Temporary or Permanent
Temporary COA forwarding time limits: The minimum time period for temporary forwarding is 15 days. Temporary COAs, or seasonal forwarding, provide forwarding of mail to a temporary address for a maximum of 364 days, starting with the listed start date. Mail will stop being forwarded on the end date and delivery will resume to the original address you listed on your COA request.
- Temporary COAs provide forwarding of mail to a temporary address for a maximum of 185 days. A new request can be filed extending the temporary COA for up to an additional 179 days.
- The start date on the new request can be either the original end date, or a few days before the original end date (if the customer forgot the specific date).
- The total forwarding time on a temporary move cannot exceed 12 months.
- If you return to the original address for a minimum of 45 days, the 364 day forwarding limit starts over, allowing you to submit a new Temporary COA order.
- If you are not sure when you will return, please indicate your best estimate. If this date should change while you are away, contact the local Post Office for the original address and advise them of the new date to stop forwarding the mail. If you have already returned, simply cancel your temporary COA for mail delivery to resume.
See Premium Forwarding Service - Residential for additional temporary forwarding options.
Permanent COA forwarding time limits: Mail sent to your old address will be forwarded to the new address for a certain amount of time, depending on the mail class (see chart located in 'What Happens Next' accordion below).
Who can File a Change of Address?
The person who submits this Change of Address (COA) form states that he or she is the person, executor, guardian, authorized officer, or agent of the person for whom mail would be forwarded under this order. Anyone submitting false or inaccurate information on this form is subject to punishment by fine or imprisonment or both under Sections 2, 1001, 1702 and 1708 of Title 18, United States Code.
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If you are submitting a COA for someone else, or for yourself with a different last name on your primary photo identification (e.g., maiden or married name), you must provide documentation that confirms you as the authorized representative for the individual or business listed on the COA.
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| Minors and Authorized Agents | Authorized Agents will be required to:
- Present their own valid primary form of photo identification
- Submit a Change of Address (PS Form 3575), in person at a local Post Office, on behalf of the party they represent or themselves with a different last name
- Provide required documents showing authorization to submit the change of address on behalf of someone else, or themselves with a different last name:
- For a minor child: A birth certificate or legal document showing custody or guardianship of the child
- For persons unable to act for themselves: A Power of Attorney, Guardianship
- For deceased persons: Executor documents, Court Appointed Representative
- For persons acting on behalf of themselves with a different last name: Marriage certificate or divorce document(s)
- For businesses filing a hardcopy COA: The Postal Service will require a business license or letter, printed on company letter head and signed by someone in a leadership role, stating that the bearer is authorized to perform the change of address for the business.
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Who's Moving? Choosing Individual, Family, or Business Move Types
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Situation
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Move Type
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One person only is changing their address
| Select Individual Move | |
Multiple persons with different last names
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File separate requests and select Individual Move for each person moving
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Some members of family changing their address, others not
| File separate requests and select Individual Move for each person moving | |
Entire family moving
- All have same last name
- All moving to the same address
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File one request for entire family and select Family Move
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Entire family moving
- All have same last name
- All moving to different addresses
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File separate requests and select Individual Move for each person moving
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Entire business changing its address
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File one request for entire company and select Business Move
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Entire business changing its address; however, mail is received in different business names
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For the primary Business Name, file one request for entire company and select Business Move
- Businesses can file changes of address for up to 50 business alias names in one request, as long as the "old" and "new" addresses are the same for all alias names.
Note: Changes of address cannot be filed for an individual person from any business
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Business moving to a residence
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File one request for entire company and select Business Move
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Individual(s) or family moving to a foreign country
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- Not allowed online
- Go to your local Post Office
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Individual / family moving from a business address
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- Not allowed
- A Change of Address may not be filed with the USPS for an individual's mail addressed to an organization, or to the individual at his or her place of employment, business, or other affiliation either during or after the termination of the employment, business, or other relationship. The organization may change the address (but not the name) on mail to redirect it to such individuals. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the business to forward an individual's mail.
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Individual / family moving from residence to business
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File separate requests and select Individual Move for each person moving
OR
File one request and Select Family Move if everyone has the same last name and are moving to the same address
Note:
- Individual COAs from business to residence are not allowed. See the above "Individual / family moving from a business address" for more information
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Individual / family / business COA from a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency) address
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- Not allowed. You may not file a USPS COA from a CMRA
- The CMRA (not the United States Postal Service®) is solely responsible for forwarding mail intended for individuals after the agency / recipient relationship has terminated
- CMRAs that do forward the mail are required to put new postage on the mail
- A CMRA must accept and re-send mail to former customers for at least 6 months after termination of the agency relationship
- After the 6-month period, the CMRA may refuse mail addressed to a former customer
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Individual / family / business COA to a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency) address
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You may file a COA request to a CMRA. Select Individual, Family, or Business Move depending on Move Type
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Individual / family / business new address is a PO Box
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Select Individual, Family, or Business Move depending on Move Type
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Change of Address Confirmation
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After scheduling a Change of Address (COA), USPS will promptly mail, to the address you are leaving, a Move Validation Letter (MVL) to validate the move.
MVL Envelope image
MVL Letter image
Within 5 Postal business days before the COA start date, you will also receive a Welcome Kit containing your Customer Notification Letter (CNL) in the mail at your new address.
A Change of Address Welcome Kit is a confirmation of the Change of Address, effective date and name. The Customer Notification Letter is included in the Welcome Kit and contains your 16-digit, numeric Confirmation Code (which is displayed in the area of Confirmation Code). Hold on to the Code to easily make changes or cancel your COA order. Without the Code, you'll have to visit a Post Office to change or cancel your COA order. The Welcome Kit also contains:
- Helpful information for new residents
- A community guide filled with facts, special offers, and coupons related to the customer's new address
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If you submitted your Change of Address (COA) online, you will receive the MVL and CNL mentioned above. Additionally, you will also receive a Change of Address Confirmation via email containing the Confirmation Code. Again, make sure to retain the Code for future changes/cancellations.
COA Confirmation Letter Duplication Requests
- A duplicate copy of the COA Confirmation letter may be provided for a fee of $90.00.
- Customers requesting duplicate confirmation letters should email requests to changeofaddress@usps.gov.
- Customers will receive an email reply with an attached order form to be printed, completed and returned by mail (or fax) along with a valid form of payment.
- Valid Payment methods include: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, ACH Credit, check or Postal Money Orders made out to United States Postal Service.
- Customers should allow 5 business days for processing upon USPS receipt of the returned COA Reprint Request Form.
- Note: The COA request must be less than 18 months old to allow for the USPS COA Support Dpt. to validate the initial COA filing.
Users of Informed Delivery® Feature
Did you receive an email informing you that your access to Informed Delivery service(s) has been temporarily suspended? The detection of a Change of Address submission corresponding to your online account triggered this suspension for security purposes. You can learn more about restoring these services by clicking here.
What Happens Next
- USPS stops delivering mail to your old address on the designated Change of Address (COA) start date.
- Mail starts arriving to your new address within 7-10 Postal business days of the COA start date.
- Mail is forwarded to your new address for up to 12 months depending on the mail class.
- Mail will not be forwarded to your new address if the mailer has instructed the USPS to return the mailpiece if it is undeliverable as addressed.
When mail is being forwarded to you, you will have to wait until it is delivered
- You may not pick up mail at the Post Office™ of your old address.
- The public is not allowed access to mail processing and you would not be able to pick up any mail from a processing facility.
- There is no estimated delivery time for forwarded mail.
- USPS stops delivering mail to the customer's previous address on the designated start date and begins the forwarding process to the new address. During this 7-10 day period, your mail is inaccessible.
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Mail Class
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Forwarded for...
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First-Class Mail® / USPS Ground Advantage™ / Priority Mail® service (bills, invoices, personal correspondence, reply mail)
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12 months
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Priority Mail Express® service (merchandise, printed material)
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12 months
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Periodicals (magazines, newsletters)
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60 days
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USPS Marketing Mail® (advertisements, catalogs, retail offers)
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Only forwarded IF the mailer specifies forwarding instructions
May be subject to postage due
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Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail®
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12 months (Forwarded only to domestic addresses)
May be subject to postage due
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- During months 13-18, the mail is returned to sender with your new address attached.
- After 18 months, the mail is returned to sender, but will not have your new address attached.
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For handling of mail classes not listed or exceptions, please see the DMM: Forwarding Mail Exceptions & Details (DMM 507.2.0)
If you need mail forwarding for longer than the times listed above, you can purchase Extended Mail Forwarding.
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Remember: You can ensure a smooth, Change of Address transition if you do some legwork up front, and notify anyone who sends you mail of your new address and your move date.
Example of a Yellow Forwarding Label:
If no Change of Address is Filed
If you move without filing a Change of Address (COA) request, your mail carrier will pick up the accumulated mail and leave a notice advising you that your mail is available for pickup at the local Post Office. Your local Post Office will automatically hold any accumulated mail for up to 10 calendar days. After that, most mail items are returned to sender(s); items that cannot be forwarded or returned back to the sender will be discarded.
How do Endorsements Affect my Mail Forwarding?
Endorsements are instructions from mailers to USPS that tell us what to do with mail that cannot be delivered as addressed. Mailpieces sent from businesses, financial institutions or government agencies that use ancillary endorsements may not forward to your new address. Common examples could be driver's licenses or bank statements. Please contact the sender of the mailpiece you are looking for to ask whether it will forward or can be resent.
Can I have my Mail Forwarded to a Hospital?
A Change of Address (COA) can be filed to have your mail forwarded to a hospital, but not from a hospital back to your home. To begin receiving your mail at home again if it has been 12 months or less since you filed your Change of Address, just cancel the forward to the hospital to begin receiving mail at your previous address.
How do I File a COA for an International Address?
Please Note: If you are filing a Change of Address from another country to the United States, you will need to contact the foreign country's postal administration.
Change of Address for Multiple People in a Household
- If some members of your household with the same last name are moving with you, but others are staying, you need to fill out a separate Change of Address (COA) form for each person moving, using the "individual" option.
- If members of your household with different last names are moving with you, but others are staying, you need to fill out a separate COA form for each person moving, using the "individual" option.
- If your entire family is moving to the same address and each member has the same last name, you only need to fill out one COA form, using the "family" option.
Still not sure where your COA situation falls? Check out the chart in section "Who's Moving? Choosing Individual, Family, or Business Move Types".
What about Change of Address Requests for Less Common Situations?
USPS handles Change of Address requests on a circumstantial basis. Several less common and/or unique COA types and handling procedures are listed below:
- Deceased Persons
- Mail addressed to a deceased person may be received at the address of the deceased by anyone who would normally receive mail at that address.
- Mail also may be forwarded to a different address (such as that of an appointed executor or administrator) if an order of request is filed at the Post Office™.
- In order to submit a COA to stop mail from being delivered to a deceased person or to receive mail on behalf of a deceased person, legal authorization (such as Executor) must be provided in person or by mail along with a Change of Address (COA) form to the local Post Office of the deceased.
- Possession of a death certificate does not qualify as legal authorization.
- General Delivery
- Mail can be forwarded to or from a general delivery address by using a PS Form 3575 or Internet Change of Address. Local forwarding procedures may vary. The Postmaster of some small towns may hand forward from General Delivery.
- Mobile Addresses
- The United States Postal Service® does not offer mail forwarding and message services to customers who live and travel in recreational vehicles (RVs). However, there are some Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) (CMRAs) that specifically offer these services.
Modifying, Canceling or Disputing a Change of Address Request
To modify or cancel your Change of Address (COA) online, you must know your new ZIP Code and have the Confirmation Code you received when you placed the COA order.
- Go to https://managemymove.usps.com/.
- In the corresponding fields, enter your new ZIP Code and the Confirmation Code.
- Click Submit.
- You can now edit various Change of Address fields according to your modification/cancelation needs.
If you lose your Confirmation Code, go visit a Post Office and talk to a Postal Clerk about any changes you want to make to your COA order.
Note: You will be able to make no more than 2 (two) changes in a single day*, one of which can be street address line related. After two changes, you will receive an error message that says: "You have exceeded the amount of changes that you can make within the same day. Please try again in 48 hours."
* You may still cancel your Change of Address (COA) order, even if you have exceeded 2 allowable changes.
What can be modified or edited?
| Editable Change of Address Fields |
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- Cancel the COA
- Takes 72 hours to take effect
- Cancel the COA and submit a new request
- Switch from a Family move to an Individual move
- A change from Family to Individual is allowed. However, a change from Individual to Family is not allowed.
- Enter (or modify) an email address
- Home Phone
- Mobile Phone
- Switch from a Temporary move to a Permanent move
- A change from Temporary to Permanent is allowed. However, a change from Permament to Temporary is not allowed.
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- Start Date
- End Date (for Temporary moves)
- Old Address**
- New Address**
- Old City**
- New City**
- Old State**
- New State**
- Old ZIP Code**
- New ZIP Code**
| **Changes cannot be made to the address that was used in the Identity Validation process (i.e. the credit card billing address), UNLESS the modified address is in the same ZIP Code as the address that the customer originally submitted. |
| | Limitations on Changes / Edits | Movers will be allowed to make no more than 2 changes in a single day. One of these changes may be street address line related.
After 2 changes, the customer will receive an error message that says: "You have exceeded the amount of changes that you can make within the same day. Please try again in 48 hours".
| | Cancellations | Cancellation will still be allowed even if the customer has exceeded 2 aggregate changes.
After cancellation is processed the COA Request will no longer show up in the system. (If more than one COA has been submitted, only the COA canceled will be removed.) |
To dispute a Change of Address order
- Go to https://managemymove.usps.com/.
- Under Get Started
- What is a Change-of-Address Order Dispute?
- If you are not moving but received an Official USPS Change of Address Validation Letter, file a dispute to flag the order for investigation. USPS Support will be notified to investigate and determine the proper course of action.
- How to find your Change of Address Key?
- This 13 digit Key is printed on the front of the Official USPS Change-of-Address Validation Letter. The key is highlighted in the image below. Click image to make larger.
- What ZIP Code™ do I enter?
- Enter the ZIP Code™ that is on the Official USPS Change of Address Validation Letter
Requesting a COA to a New Construction
Before filing a COA to a new construction, the local government with jurisdiction over the property must assign it an address. See How to Report New Construction and Street Address Information to USPS for further information on the process and verifying that the new address has been reported to USPS. Please keep these things mind:
- If you are filing an In-Person COA, you should inform the local Post Office serving the new address that it is a new construction. That Post Office, if needed, will take the steps to ensure that the new construction address has been verified by USPS.
- If you are filing an Online COA, you may see the error "Address not found, enter a valid address" when entering the new construction address. If so:
- Confirm that you entered your new address correctly. If correct, then the error is likely indicating that the address has not been verified by USPS.
- Click the "Next" button to confirm the new address and proceed to the next page.
- Select "Yes" in the subsequent pop-up window to indicate that the address was "built in the last 6 months". This will report the address to USPS for verification.
- Click the "Next" button to proceed with your COA request.
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