Can I Have My Passport Delivered To A Different Address? | Safer Mailing Options

Yes, a U.S. passport can be mailed to a different address when you list that mailing address on the application and label it “In Care Of” when needed.

If you’re staying with family, moving soon, living between two places, or traveling for work, you might not want your passport mailed to your home address. That’s normal. The trick is setting the delivery address the right way so the carrier can match names and the State Department can process the file without delays.

This article walks you through the clean, practical options for getting a U.S. passport delivered to a different address, plus what to do if your address changes after you submit the application.

What “Different Address” Means For Passport Delivery

When people say “deliver my passport somewhere else,” they usually mean one of these:

• Use a mailing address that is not your home address.
• Send the passport to a trusted person’s address while you travel.
• Use a P.O. Box for delivery.
• Switch the address after you already applied.

In most cases, the cleanest path is simple: put the address you want in the mailing address section on your application and make sure delivery can succeed at that address.

How To Set A Different Mailing Address Before You Apply

If you haven’t submitted your application yet, you’re in the easiest window. The State Department can mail your passport to the “Mailing Address” you provide on the form.

Pick An Address That Can Receive Secure Mail

Your goal is boring reliability. Choose an address where someone checks the mailbox often and where mail carriers regularly deliver First-Class letters and small packages without mix-ups.

• If you’re using a friend’s place, confirm your name can be accepted there.
• If the mailbox label won’t match your name, use “In Care Of” as described below.
• If it’s an apartment building, include unit numbers and any carrier-facing details that keep deliveries from bouncing.

Use “In Care Of” When The Mailbox Name Won’t Match

This is the part many people miss. If your passport is going to an address where your name is not on the mailbox, add an “In Care Of” line with the name that is on the mailbox. The State Department mentions this delivery tip on its application status page, and it lines up with how carriers handle name mismatches at residential addresses.

Use a format like this in the mailing address area:

• In Care Of: Jordan Lee
• Street Address: 123 Main St Apt 4B
• City, State ZIP

For the official wording and context, see Checking your passport application status.

Keep Your “Permanent Address” Truthful

Your permanent address is not a delivery instruction. It’s a record detail. List it accurately even if you plan to receive the passport somewhere else. If your living situation is in flux, use the mailing address field to control delivery, not the permanent address.

Taking A Different Address For Passport Delivery During Processing

Once you submit the application, the file moves through intake, processing, printing, and mailing. Address changes become harder because the passport is a secure document and delivery mistakes turn into costly rework.

If Your Address Changes After You Apply

If you need to switch where the passport will be mailed, act fast. The State Department’s DS-82 renewal form warns that if your mailing address changes before you receive your new passport, you should contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC). That guidance exists for a reason: once the document prints or enters the mail stream, rerouting gets limited.

Call NPIC as soon as you know your new mailing address. Keep these details ready:

• Your full name as submitted
• Date of birth
• Approximate application submit date
• Your application locator number (if you have it)
• The exact mailing address you want on file

If you’re close to travel dates, ask about expedited processing and the paid 1–3 day delivery option for passport books. The State Department lists those options in its passport FAQs. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Don’t Rely On USPS Forwarding For A Passport

People try to “solve” this with a mail forward. That’s risky for a passport. Forwarding can fail, can expire, or can route mail in a way that adds days you don’t have. Treat forwarding as a bonus if it works, not your plan.

If you’re leaving town and you just need mail held at your current address until you return, USPS offers a free hold service for short time windows. You can pause delivery and pick up your held mail later. See the official USPS Hold Mail service page for timing limits and request rules. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Common Scenarios And The Cleanest Option

Different situations call for different moves. Use this table to pick the approach that usually causes the fewest headaches.

Situation	Best Move	What To Watch
You’re staying with family for a month	Use their address as mailing address	Add “In Care Of” if your name isn’t on the mailbox
You’re moving during the processing window	Call NPIC to request a mailing address update	Changes may not stick if the passport is already printing
You want delivery to a P.O. Box	Use the P.O. Box in the mailing address field	Confirm the box can receive the full range of mail you get
You travel often and want a stable delivery point	Use a consistent mailing address you can monitor	Make sure someone checks mail often and stores it safely
You applied, then realized the mailbox name won’t match	Call NPIC to add “In Care Of” guidance if allowed	Carriers may return mail when names mismatch
You’re leaving town right when it might arrive	Use USPS Hold Mail at that address	Hold windows are limited (short trips fit best)
Your building has frequent delivery mix-ups	Use a more reliable mailing address	A passport returned as undeliverable can add weeks
You need the passport sent to a trusted person	Use their address with “In Care Of”	Use a person who can sign, store it, and alert you fast

What Happens If The Passport Gets Returned Or Doesn’t Arrive

Two problems show up more than the rest: “undeliverable” returns and “delivered, not received.” Each has a different fix, and timing matters.

If It’s Marked Undeliverable

An undeliverable passport usually means the carrier couldn’t match the recipient name, couldn’t access the delivery point, or found an address formatting issue. When a passport is returned, you lose time because it has to be processed again for re-mailing.

Steps that often help:

• Double-check the address format: unit number, ZIP+4 if known, correct city spelling.
• Make sure the mailbox label can accept the name used for delivery.
• If a different name is on the mailbox, use “In Care Of” with that name on the mailing address in the future.
• Contact NPIC to confirm the address on file and ask what re-mail steps apply to your case.

If Tracking Says Delivered But You Don’t Have It

Start with the simple checks before you assume the worst:

• Ask others at the address to search for mail that was set aside.
• Check parcel lockers, mail rooms, front desks, and building offices.
• Ask the carrier office if the item was scanned at the door, mailbox, or office.

If it still doesn’t turn up, contact NPIC to report non-receipt and ask about the next steps. Keep the delivery address and your application details in front of you when you call.

Security Habits That Reduce The Odds Of A Bad Outcome

A passport is a high-value document. Even if it arrives safely, you want clean handling from mailbox to your hands.

Pick A Delivery Address With Low Friction

These are small choices that pay off:

• Use an address where mail theft is rare and boxes lock or sit in a monitored area.
• Avoid sending it to a place with frequent package swaps.
• Use a person you trust if someone else will receive it.

Match Names Where You Can

Mail carriers often treat name mismatch as a red flag. If your name won’t be on the mailbox, “In Care Of” gives the carrier a name they recognize at that address. The State Department points out this exact delivery tip on its status page. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Time Your Requests Around Travel Dates

Processing times shift across the year. Build buffer time before any trip. If you’re cutting it close, plan for expedited processing and faster delivery where available for passport books. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Fast Checklist For Getting Delivery Right

This is a tight checklist you can use while filling out forms or reviewing what you already sent.

• Mailing address is the place you want the passport delivered.
• Permanent address is your long-term address and is filled in truthfully.
• Mailing address includes apartment or unit number.
• “In Care Of” line is used if your name won’t match the mailbox name.
• Someone checks mail at that address often.
• If you moved after applying, you call NPIC right away.
• If you’ll be away for a short window, USPS Hold Mail is scheduled at the delivery address.

Delivery Problems And What To Do Next

If something goes sideways, move in a straight line. Don’t scatter your effort across ten places. Use this table to pick the next action that fits the problem.

Problem	Next Step	Timing Tip
You entered the wrong mailing address	Call NPIC to request an update	Do it as soon as you spot the error
You moved after applying	Call NPIC with your new mailing address	Earlier is better, before printing and mailing
Your name won’t match the mailbox	Use “In Care Of” with the mailbox name	Set it before you apply when possible
You’ll be away when it arrives	Schedule USPS Hold Mail at that address	Hold requests have a limited window
Status shows mailed, nothing received	Check mail room and carrier office, then call NPIC	Start checks right after the scan shows delivery
Passport returned as undeliverable	Confirm address formatting and mailbox names, then call NPIC	Fix the root cause before re-mail

One More Thing That Saves People Time

Write down the exact mailing address you used and keep it with your application locator number. When you call NPIC, clean details speed up the call and cut repeat contact.

If you’re using someone else’s address, send them a short message with the delivery window and what the envelope might look like. It keeps the handoff smooth and keeps your passport from sitting in a stack of unopened mail.