How Do You Change Your Address and Receive Mail After Moving?
By JC Pacific Corp Published 2026-09-01 Last professionally reviewed: September 2026
USPS forwarding redirects eligible mail, but it does not automatically update your address with banks, government agencies, insurers, lenders, schools, employers, or service providers.
Who should receive the new address?
- USPS
- DMV
- IRS and California FTB when applicable
- Immigration authorities when required
- Banks and credit cards
- Lenders
- Insurance companies
- Employer
- School
- Healthcare providers
- Utilities
- HOA
- Voter registration when eligible
- Subscription and delivery services
What if you are arriving from outside the United States?
International-to-U.S. forwarding depends on the postal system of the origin country. Establish U.S. mail delivery and update senders directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does USPS forwarding begin?
USPS advises planning ahead and allowing time for forwarding to begin. Review current official guidance.
Is every type of mail forwarded?
No.
Can a friend submit the address change?
Authorized-agent and identity-verification requirements apply.
Educational information
Verify identity and use only official USPS websites to avoid change-of-address scams.
Use a master address-change checklist rather than relying only on mail forwarding.
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A note on legal advice: These guides provide general, educational information about California real estate practice. They are not legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Mortgage information is general education, not individualized lending, tax or legal guidance. For advice about your specific offer, contract, closing or financing, consult a qualified California real estate attorney and a qualified mortgage professional.
A note on these moving-to-California guides: These articles provide general, educational information about relocating to California from another country. They are not immigration, tax, legal, medical, customs, insurance, banking, or financial advice. Immigration status, California residency, tax residency, property ownership, school residency, and DMV residency are separate concepts that may use different standards, and buying or renting property does not create a visa, work authorization, immigration status, or permanent residence. No article guarantees school enrollment, attendance boundaries, utility service, driver-license eligibility, vehicle registration, bank-account approval, insurance, or healthcare access, and none ranks communities or schools by protected characteristics. Verify current DMV, school district, tax, customs, CDC, USDA, airline, pet, bank, and government requirements with the responsible official agency before taking action. Buyers and renters can request brokerage assistance in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.