Us Post Office Change Of Address Form Updated May 2026
The USPS maintains a “forwarding order” for 18 months total, but the behavior changes over time.
The updated form now allows you to extend forwarding once, for an additional 12 months, via the USPS website (fees apply).
The new system is less forgiving. Here are the top errors that cause rejections or delays:
The US Post Office change of address form updated for 2025 is more secure, but it requires more effort from the consumer. The days of casually filling out a slip of paper at the kitchen table are over. Today, you must prove your identity, pay a small verification fee, and actively monitor your confirmation letters.
Failure to use the correct updated form could result in your mail being returned to sender for 30 days, creating missed payments and exposing you to identity theft.
To ensure a smooth move: File at least two weeks before your move date, use the official USPS website, save your Digital Identity Token, and check your old mailbox for the validation letter. By following this guide, you will navigate the updated system without delays.
Disclaimer: USPS policies change periodically. Always refer to USPS.com for the most current forms and fees.
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You're looking for the updated US Post Office change of address form, also known as Form PS 3575.
As of January 2022, the US Postal Service (USPS) has made changes to the form. Here are the updates:
New Form: The updated Form PS 3575, effective January 2022, is available on the USPS website.
Changes:
How to get the form:
Filling out the form:
When completing the form, ensure you provide:
Submission:
Once completed, submit the form to:
Online alternative:
Alternatively, you can submit a change of address online through the USPS website, using their online Change of Address tool. This method is faster and often more convenient.
Make sure to update your address with all relevant parties, including banks, creditors, and other relevant institutions.
The ceiling fan in the small-town post office groaned like a weary spirit, stirring the scent of old adhesive and wet pavement. Elias, the clerk whose skin had turned to parchment over thirty years of service, slid the new Form 3575 across the counter.
"It’s different now," Elias muttered, his eyes not leaving the stamp ledger.
Arthur, a young man with a suitcase held together by duct tape and hope, stared at the paper. "Different how? A move is a move."
"Used to be about the destination," Elias said, finally looking up. "The old forms just asked where you were going. This one? This one asks what you’re leaving behind."
Arthur looked closer. Beneath the standard boxes for 'New Address' and 'Effective Date' was a section he hadn’t seen in the online previews. It was labeled Section IV: The Weight of Departure. It didn't ask for a zip code; it asked for a single memory he didn't want to carry across state lines. "Is this a joke?" Arthur laughed, though his voice wavered.
"The Postal Service realized we were losing too much money on heavy hearts," Elias replied, deadpan. "Friction in the gears. If you don't declare the baggage, the mail won't follow. It'll just keep circling back to the house you think you left."
Arthur looked at the empty line. He thought of the quiet kitchen at 4:00 AM, the way the light hit the cracked linoleum, and the silence that had grown too loud to live in. He picked up the tethered pen.
He didn't write a street name. He wrote: The sound of the front door locking for the last time.
Elias took the form back, stamped it with a thud that echoed in the empty lobby, and nodded. "Your mail will find you in Seattle, son. Clean and light."
As Arthur stepped out into the rain, he felt a strange buoyancy in his step, as if the post office had just taken the heaviest part of him and filed it away in a drawer he never had to open again.
The USPS Change of Address (COA) process has undergone significant updates for 2026, primarily focused on identity verification to combat fraud. You can no longer simply drop a form in a mailbox; the process now requires active authentication whether you file online or in person. 1. Filing Online: The Modern Fast-Track
Filing online at the official USPS Movers Guide is the quickest method but involves a fee and strict verification.
Identity Verification Fee: A $1.25 non-refundable fee is charged to your credit or debit card.
Requirement: The card’s billing address must match either your old or new address.
Verification Steps: You must opt-in to receive a verification code via a mobile phone link. us post office change of address form updated
Failed Verification: If the system cannot verify you online, USPS will email you a barcode. You must take this barcode and a valid photo ID to a Post Office™ to finish the request. 2. Filing In Person: The Free Paper Option
For those who prefer a manual process or wish to avoid the online fee, you can still use the physical form.
PS Form 3575: This is the physical form you must fill out. You can find it inside the free Mover's Guide packet at any retail location.
Mandatory ID Check: You must present an acceptable photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) to a retail associate to verify your identity before the form is accepted. Cost: Filing in person is free. 3. Acceptable Forms of Identification
USPS has strict requirements for ID. Digital or electronic forms of identification are not accepted. Primary (Photo Required)
State driver’s license, Passport, U.S. Military ID, Nexus card, or Matricula Consular. Secondary (Address Proof)
Lease, mortgage, voter registration card, or vehicle insurance policy. 4. Critical Deadlines & Limitations
Timeline: While forwarding can start in as little as 3 business days, you should allow up to 2 weeks for full activation.
Duration: Permanent forwarding lasts for 12 months for First-Class Mail. Magazines (Periodicals) are only forwarded for 60 days.
Exclusions: USPS Marketing Mail® (junk mail) is not forwarded.
Security: After filing, you will receive a Move Validation Letter at your old address and a Customer Notification Letter with a confirmation code at your new address.
The updated USPS Change of Address process (PS Form 3575) now centers on enhanced identity verification to combat fraud. While you can still start the process online for a $1.10 – $1.25 fee, a failed digital verification now triggers a requirement to visit a local Post Office in person with a specific QR code and government-issued ID to finalize the request. A Story of the "New" Move
Imagine Sarah, a long-time resident of a quiet street, finally ready to move across town. In the past, she might have just dropped a paper form in a blue mailbox and assumed her mail would follow. But in 2026, the story looks different. Knowledge: Change of Address - The Basics - FAQ | USPS
The most significant recent update to the USPS Change of Address (COA) process is the implementation of enhanced identity verification to prevent fraud Key Updated Features Bulk Filing for Businesses : As of May 2024, users can submit up to 99 change-of-address requests in a single transaction via the Mover's Guide Online Mandatory Multi-Factor Verification : You must verify your identity via a one-time passcode sent to a valid mobile phone Identity Fee $1.10–$1.25
credit/debit card fee is required online to verify your identity; the billing address must typically match your old or new address
: If online verification fails, you will receive a barcode via email to bring to a local post office along with a government-issued photo ID Real-Time Address Verification
: The system now checks addresses against the USPS deliverable database in real-time, alerting you immediately if an address is invalid Extended Mail Forwarding : While standard forwarding lasts , you can now purchase Extended Mail Forwarding for an additional 6, 12, or 18 months through the Official USPS Help Center Service Summary Standard Forward Mail & Change of Address - USPS The USPS maintains a “forwarding order” for 18
Moving is stressful, and the last thing you want is your mail going to the wrong house. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has updated its Change of Address (COA) process with stricter security measures to prevent fraud.
Here is everything you need to know about the updated 2026 process to ensure your mail moves with you safely. 1. Choose Your Method: Online vs. In-Person
You have two official ways to update your address. The "updated" part of this process involves mandatory identity verification for both. Online (Fastest) : Visit the Official USPS Change of Address® website . You will be charged a $1.25 identity verification fee In-Person (Free) : Visit any local post office and ask for the Mover’s Guide packet , which contains PS Form 3575 2. New Security & Verification Requirements
To combat a 167% jump in mail-related identity theft, USPS now requires "enhanced identity proofing". Online Verification
: You must provide a valid email and a mobile phone number to receive a one-time verification code or link. The billing address on the credit/debit card used for the $1.25 fee must match either your In-Person Verification : You must present a current, unexpired primary photo ID (e.g., Driver’s License, Passport, or Green Card). Secondary ID : If you use a Passport or Military ID, you often need a secondary ID
that shows your name and address, such as a lease, voter registration, or vehicle insurance card. 3. Filling Out PS Form 3575 Whether online or on paper, you'll need to specify: (for long-term moves) or (forwarding for 15 days to 1 year). Who is Moving? Individual (if everyone has the same last name), or Start Date recommends filing at least 7–10 days before your move. Standard Forward Mail | USPS
While the standard free forwarding (12 months for First-Class Mail) remains unchanged, the updated form now includes clearer language about the Premium Forwarding Service (PFS). This paid service (starting around $20/week) allows you to have all mail, including periodicals and packages, shipped in bulk to a temporary address—something the old form glossed over.
The US Post Office change of address form updated for businesses is even stricter. Businesses must use PS Form 3576 (not the residential 3575). Key differences:
If your business is moving, do not use the residential form. It will be rejected, and you risk 30 days of returned mail.
The old form allowed any “adult” at the old address to submit a COA for the entire household. The updated form now requires written consent from each adult over 18 unless you are the head of household with legal proof (e.g., lease or mortgage). If you are moving alone but had a roommate, they will no longer automatically have their mail forwarded. They must file their own separate form.
Q: Is the $1.10 fee a new charge? A: No. The $1.10 identity verification fee has existed for online COAs for several years. The update clarifies that this fee is non-refundable, even if you cancel your move.
Q: Can I submit the US Post Office change of address form for someone else? A: No. That is now illegal. The updated form requires identity verification that matches the person moving. Submitting for a roommate or relative without their explicit consent is considered mail fraud.
Q: What if I am in the military and moving? A: Military members with PCS orders can waive the $1.10 fee. You must submit the paper PS Form 3575 with a copy of your orders at a military Post Office.
Q: How do I cancel a change of address? A: You can cancel online within the first 30 days using your Digital Identity Token. After 30 days, you must visit the Post Office that serves your old address with a government ID.
Q: What if I move again before 12 months? A: You must file a new COA for the second move. Do not try to "modify" an existing COA to a third address—the system does not support that. Simply file a fresh request.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Postal Service (USPS) has officially rolled out an updated version of its ubiquitous Change of Address (COA) form, introducing new security protocols and a streamlined digital interface aimed at reducing fraud and simplifying moves for millions of Americans.
Whether you are relocating across town or across the country, the "Movers Guide" has changed. Here is a breakdown of the key updates to the form, formally known as PS Form 3575. The updated form now allows you to extend