How to Transfer Your Section 8 Voucher to Another State (Portability Guide)

You generally can transfer your Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher to another state using a process called portability, but it is not automatic, and it must be coordinated between your current public housing agency (PHA) and the PHA in the area you want to move to. You have to follow specific steps, meet certain conditions, and expect some waiting time before your new rent is approved.

How Section 8 Portability Works in Real Life

Section 8 vouchers are administered by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), but the program is funded and overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). When you move to another state, your voucher “ports” from one PHA to another.

Key terms to know:

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) — Your Section 8 voucher that helps pay rent in private housing.
• Portability (“porting”) — The process of moving your voucher from one PHA’s jurisdiction to another’s.
• Initial PHA — The housing authority that currently manages your voucher.
• Receiving PHA — The housing authority in the area you want to move to.

Whether you can port right away depends on your situation. If you’re a new voucher holder, many PHAs require you to live in their area for 12 months before porting, unless you qualified as a resident when you applied. Rules and timing commonly vary by PHA and state, so your exact experience may be a little different.

A realistic next step you can take today is: call your current housing authority’s Section 8 or HCV office and ask for their portability policy and request form.

Where to Go Officially to Start a Transfer

Two main official system touchpoints handle portability:

• Your current Public Housing Agency (initial PHA) — where you get your voucher now.
• The receiving PHA — the local housing authority in the city/county where you plan to live.

To find them:

• Search for your current housing authority’s official website by name plus “housing authority” and look for sites ending in .gov or clearly identified as public agencies.
• Search for the housing authority in your new city/county or state (for example: “XYZ County Housing Authority Section 8”) and again look for .gov domains to avoid scams.

Your core action is to request portability through your current PHA, not by contacting HUD directly. The initial PHA typically:

• Verifies that your voucher is active and you are in good standing (no unpaid rent to the landlord, no program violations).
• Confirms you’re income-eligible for the new area’s payment standards.
• Sends a portability packet (your file) to the receiving PHA.

If you can’t find the correct housing authority website, you can call your city or county government main line and ask: “Which department handles the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program locally?”

What to Prepare Before You Ask to Port Your Voucher

Going into the portability request prepared often reduces delays. Most PHAs will ask for updated information and sometimes a written portability request.

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Government-issued photo ID for the head of household (and sometimes other adult members).
• Current lease and rent information for your existing unit, or your most recent rent notice.
• Proof of income for all adult household members, such as pay stubs, benefit award letters (SSI/SSDI, TANF, unemployment), or pension statements.

Other items that are often required or helpful:

• Social Security cards for all household members (or documentation showing you’ve applied).
• Recent verification of family composition, such as birth certificates for children or custody/guardianship papers if applicable.
• Any notice of upcoming lease end, rent increase, or landlord notice, which can support the timing of your move.

Before you officially ask to port:

1. Confirm your eligibility to move.
   Call or visit your current PHA and ask if you must complete a 12-month residency period before porting, and whether you have any outstanding issues (like unpaid rent or paperwork).

2. Choose your target area.
   PHAs need at least the city/county and state where you want to move, not just “another state.” Try to identify the actual town or metro area.

3. Ask about deadlines and voucher expiration.
   When you port, your voucher still has an expiration date, so ask your current PHA when your voucher expires and how much search time you’ll have in the new area.

A simple phone script you can use for your first call:
“Hi, I have a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and I’m planning to move to [city, state]. Can you tell me your portability policy and what I need to do to request a transfer to another housing authority?”

Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Your Section 8 to Another State

1. Notify your current PHA that you want to port

Tell your Section 8/HCV caseworker or the main voucher office that you want to use portability to move to [city, state]. This is usually done by:

• Submitting a portability request form, if your PHA has one.
• Or writing a signed letter stating your intention to move, including your current address, desired move location, and date you hope to move.

What to expect next: The PHA will typically schedule a meeting or phone appointment to review your eligibility and explain their portability rules.

2. Complete any required recertification or update

Before your PHA can send your file to another state, they usually must have up-to-date income and household information on file.

• You may be given recertification forms or asked to complete an interim re-exam.
• You’ll be asked to provide recent income documents, ID, and household info.

What to expect next: The PHA reviews your documents and updates your file. They may adjust your portion of rent and confirm you are income-eligible for the voucher size you have.

3. Get portability approval and PHA-to-PHA transfer started

Once you’re cleared to port:

• Your initial PHA typically approves your request in writing and prepares a portability packet that includes your voucher, income info, family composition, and other required forms.
• They then send this packet to the receiving PHA, either by secure email, fax, or mail.

What to expect next: You should receive instructions about contacting the receiving PHA, and sometimes a new voucher or temporary paperwork is issued for the new area. Ask the initial PHA to confirm when and how your file was sent.

4. Contact the receiving PHA promptly

Your next action is to reach out to the receiving PHA as soon as your packet is sent.

• Call the Section 8/HCV or Portability Unit at the receiving PHA.
• Tell them: “My voucher is being ported from [Initial Housing Authority]. I’d like to confirm you received my portability packet and ask about your intake process.”

What to expect next: The receiving PHA may:

• Schedule a briefing or orientation (in person, phone, or virtual) about their local rules and payment standards.
• Issue you a voucher for their jurisdiction, sometimes with a new expiration date.
• Explain how to submit requests for tenancy approval (RTA) when you find a unit.

5. Search for housing and get the new unit approved

Once you have an active voucher under the receiving PHA:

1. Look for landlords who accept Section 8 in your new area.
2. When you find a unit, ask the landlord to complete the Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) form provided by the receiving PHA.
3. Submit the RTA and any documents they require by their stated deadline.

What to expect next:

• The receiving PHA will typically schedule a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection of the unit.
• If the unit passes inspection and the rent is within local limits, the PHA will prepare a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract with the landlord and a lease for you to sign.
• Only after the effective date of the HAP contract and lease can assistance start in the new state.

Real-World Friction to Watch For

Common snags (and quick fixes)

• Portability packet delays between PHAs — If days or weeks go by with no update, call both the initial and receiving PHA portability contacts and ask when the packet was sent/received and if anything is missing.
• Voucher expiring while you search in the new area — Track your voucher expiration date and request an extension in writing from the receiving PHA if you’re struggling to find a unit.
• Different payment standards in the new area — Rents might be higher than what the voucher will cover; ask the receiving PHA for their payment standards and utility allowance schedule before you apply for a unit.
• Landlords unfamiliar with portability — If a landlord is unsure, let them know rent is paid directly by the housing authority under a standard HAP contract and offer to have them call the receiving PHA for clarification.

Staying Safe, Avoiding Scams, and Getting Help

Because Section 8 involves money and housing benefits, be cautious:

• Only give personal information (Social Security numbers, birth dates, income details) to official PHAs and landlords you’ve confirmed as legitimate.
• Look for websites ending in .gov and housing authorities clearly described as public agencies; avoid sites that charge upfront fees to “guarantee” vouchers or transfers.
• Never pay a private person or company to “speed up” your portability; PHAs do not require side payments.

If you are stuck:

• Contact a local legal aid office and ask if they assist with Section 8 or housing authority issues.
• Some areas have HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that can explain portability and help you understand letters and forms from PHAs.
• If you suspect fraud or a fake Section 8 listing, you can report it to your local housing authority or HUD’s fraud hotline listed on the official HUD website.

Once you have spoken with your current PHA, gathered your core documents, and confirmed the receiving PHA’s process, you will be ready to submit your portability request and move forward through the official channels.