Change of Address is a request to tell the U.S. Postal Service to reroute your mail (including letters and packages) to a specified Earth Class Mail address. When filing a change of address with the postal service, there are two options: Temporary or Permanent.
Change of address options
A change of address request can be temporary or permanent. Both options can be requested and completed online or by filling out a Form 3575 acquired from your local Post Office. Please note, the USPS no longer allows you to print the form from your home computer.
When the request is made online, there is a $1.10 identity verification fee. When you enter your credit card or debit card number and billing address, the postal service can electronically verify your card’s information with the issuing bank. If you prefer not to use your credit card, you can fill out a hard copy of PS Form 3575, which you must get from your local Post Office.
Temporary change of address
A Temporary Change of Address service routes mail from your current address to a new location for a short period. During this time, if you decide to use your new mailing address for the long term, you must manually update senders as you see mail items with a yellow forwarding label arrive. You can cancel this service by visiting the postal service page: Manage my Move
The minimum period for temporary forwarding is 15 days. Temporary changes of address, 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 you listed on your request.
Permanent change of address
A Permanent change of address tells the postal service to reroute your mail permanently. If you are relocating entirely and do not plan to move again for some time, then this solution will be your best option.
However, the postal service will only forward your mail for 1 year in this case as well.
What is the difference between temporary and permanent change of address
If you only want to change your address for a short period of time, a temporary change of address is a better option. It could also be worth considering if you don’t want all your mail to be forwarded. For example, if you currently get mail from senders who you don’t want to receive mail from, a temporary forwarding option could allow you to change your address only with those senders who you want to continue to receive mail from.
Both a temporary and permanent change of address can forward mail for up to 12 months.