You can submit a request through the official USPS Mover's Guide or at a participating Post Office using the appropriate form and identification process. The right type of request depends on whether you are moving permanently or temporarily, and whether one person, a family, or a business is relocating.
What Does a USPS Change of Address Actually Do?
USPS uses your request to identify eligible mail addressed to your old location and redirect it to your new address for the applicable forwarding period. The process is designed to reduce interruptions while you tell senders where you now live. It does not move your belongings, cancel your lease, update your driver's license, or automatically notify every institution.
The official USPS Change of Address FAQ explains the different request types, identity checks, confirmation letters, and limitations. USPS also sends move-related notifications to help detect unauthorized address changes. Keep your confirmation information in a safe place because it can be needed to review or modify an order.
For example, a family moving from Ohio to North Carolina may file a family COA and begin receiving eligible forwarded letters at the new home. The family still needs to tell its bank, insurers, school district, and healthcare providers about the permanent address. Forwarding buys time; it is not a substitute for direct updates.
Individual, Family, and Business COA Requests
Individual change of address
Choose an individual request when only one person is moving or when members of a household are moving to different destinations. An individual COA may also be appropriate when people at the old address have different last names. Use the exact name format under which you regularly receive mail and review the USPS instructions for name variations.
Family change of address
A family request generally covers household members with the same last name moving from the same old address to the same new address. It does not automatically cover roommates or family members with different last names. If someone is staying at the original home, an individual request for the person leaving is usually more appropriate than redirecting mail for everyone.
Business change of address
A business COA applies to a business moving its mailing operations. It is not a shortcut for forwarding personal mail from an employer's address. USPS has separate authorization requirements for people filing on behalf of others or organizations; see its published authorization rule. An authorized officer should verify the correct business filing procedure before submitting.
Permanent vs. Temporary USPS Mail Forwarding
A permanent COA is for a move where you do not expect to return to the old address. Under the USPS Domestic Mail Manual, forwarding is generally available for the first 12 months for eligible mail, with details varying by mail class. Some forwarding can be extended for an additional fee. The permanent request itself does not mean every type of mail or package will follow you indefinitely.
A temporary COA is for an absence followed by a return to the old address. USPS normally accepts an initial temporary forwarding period of 15 to 185 days; you can extend it with a second request up to a total of 364 consecutive days. You must give both start and end dates. A person staying elsewhere for a seasonal job might use temporary forwarding, while someone permanently buying a new home would generally choose permanent.
A USPS Hold Mail request is different. It pauses mail delivery at the original address for a short absence rather than sending eligible mail somewhere else. Compare your plans before choosing between hold mail and temporary forwarding.
How to Submit a USPS Change of Address
Step 1: Decide who is moving
Identify whether the request is for one person, a family with the same last name, or a business. If household members have different destinations, submit separate appropriate requests. Confirm the old address, including apartment or unit number, and the exact new mailing address before starting.
Step 2: Choose a permanent or temporary move
For a permanent move, select the forwarding start date. For a temporary move, specify both the beginning and ending dates. Give yourself enough time to complete identity verification and account updates; avoid assuming forwarding will catch mail already in transit.
Step 3: Use an official USPS channel
Start at USPS Mover's Guide or visit a Post Office for the approved paper process. Do not pay a search-advertised third-party site simply because it resembles the USPS form. The USAGov consumer guidance warns that intermediaries may charge far more than the official verification fee. Check the current amount on the actual USPS page rather than relying on an older blog: USPS's mail-forwarding FAQ currently lists a $1.25 online identity-verification fee.
Step 4: Complete identity verification
USPS may require a payment-card identity check, device authentication, a one-time code, or in-person proofing. These are anti-fraud controls, not an optional marketing step. If the online system cannot verify your identity, follow the USPS instructions rather than repeatedly submitting inconsistent details. A USPS security update explains the enhanced verification approach.
Step 5: Save the confirmation and monitor mail
Keep the confirmation code and review the confirmation letters USPS sends. Verify that your new address is receiving forwarded mail, and contact important senders directly. If you need to correct a date or cancel the request, use the USPS modification process. A confirmation code is not something to post publicly.
What Mail Is Forwarded, and What Is Not?
Eligible First-Class Mail is generally forwarded during the applicable period. Periodicals have different forwarding rules, and advertising mail or certain package classes may not be forwarded under standard COA service. Some mailers use endorsements that change how undeliverable items are handled. Consult USPS Mail Forwarding Options for class-specific details rather than assuming every parcel follows the same rule.
What Else Should You Update When You Move?
Contact your bank and card issuers, employer or payroll department, insurance providers, medical offices, school or university, utilities, subscription providers, and government agencies as appropriate. Updating your address with USPS does not automatically change your federal tax records, voter registration, vehicle registration, or state identification.
USAGov provides a government-address-change overview covering federal and state agencies. Make a private checklist of the accounts that matter most, then confirm updates rather than assuming a submitted form means the new address is active everywhere.
If your household goods move includes a storage period, choose an address where you can reliably receive mail even if your furniture is delayed. A delivery window is not the same as a postal forwarding start date. You can arrange residential moving services independently of your USPS paperwork.
Common COA Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is filing a family request when only one roommate is leaving. Another is omitting an apartment number or selecting a temporary request for a permanent move. People also overlook accounts that require direct address updates, such as financial institutions, or assume that packages are all forwarded free of charge. Review every field before submitting.
Be alert to unauthorized requests. If you receive a move-validation notice that you did not initiate, use official USPS support channels immediately. Never share your confirmation code with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. A third-party relocation service may assist with a checklist, but a legitimate change-of-address order must follow USPS authorization and identity requirements.
Bottom Line
A USPS COA is an important administrative part of moving, but it is only one step. File through an official channel, choose the correct person or household type, save the confirmation, and directly update essential senders. Pair the mail checklist with your pre-move survey and your move schedule so the physical and paperwork sides of relocation stay coordinated.
