Forms of Address
How to address the Vice President
The sitting Vice President is addressed as "The Vice President" on the envelope, with the salutation "Dear Mr./Madam Vice President:" and the same form used in conversation. A former Vice President reverts to "The Honorable [Full Name]," with the salutation "Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]:"
Checked September 10, 2026/5 min read
Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28
What is on this page6 sections
The Vice Presidency is addressed almost exactly like the presidency, with the same office-first logic while the seat is held and the same switch to a personal name once it is not. The one wrinkle is that the office genuinely has two correct addresses, not one, because of its constitutional tie to the Senate.
Most everyday correspondence never needs the Senate address at all. The White House line covers the vast majority of real use cases, and the Senate form only matters when the letter is specifically about the Vice President role presiding over that chamber.
Step by step
Address the envelope to the office, not the individual name
Like the presidency, the sitting Vice President is addressed by office. "The Vice President" is the correct first line while they hold the office.
THE VICE PRESIDENTTHE WHITE HOUSE1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NWWASHINGTON DC 20500CorrectStandard envelope format for a sitting Vice President. Know the Senate address is also correct
The Vice President constitutional role as President of the Senate means an alternate, equally correct address exists: "The Vice President, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510," commonly used for anything related to Senate business specifically.
Use the office title in the salutation and in conversation
"Dear Mr. Vice President:" or "Dear Madam Vice President:" in writing, and the same short form, "Mr./Madam Vice President," when speaking directly.
Switch to a personal form once they leave office
A former Vice President is addressed as "The Honorable [Full Name]" on the envelope and "Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]:" in the salutation, the same pattern as a former president.
Quick reference
| Who | Envelope | Salutation |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting Vice President | The Vice President, The White House | Dear Mr./Madam Vice President: |
| Vice President (Senate business) | The Vice President, United States Senate | Dear Mr./Madam Vice President: |
| Former Vice President | The Honorable [Full Name] | Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]: |
| Vice President-elect | The Honorable [Full Name] | Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]: |
Special cases
The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.
Which address should I use if I am not sure whether my letter counts as Senate business?
The White House address is the safer general-purpose choice for anything not specifically tied to the Vice President Senate duties. The Senate address is mainly relevant for correspondence going through the Senate itself.
Is the spouse of the Vice President addressed with a special title?
There is no single official title equivalent to First Lady for the Vice President spouse. The standard personal courtesy title (Mrs., Mr., Dr., and so on) plus full name is used, at the same White House or Naval Observatory address as appropriate.
Key terms on this page
- President of the Senate
- A constitutional role held by the Vice President, giving the office a separate, equally valid mailing address through the United States Senate.
- The Honorable
- A courtesy title used before the full name of a current or former holder of a high government office, including a former Vice President.