Moving in Japan? How to Redirect Your Mail with Japan Post

2026年8月13日

Japan Post Mail Forwarding After a Move: A Step-by-Step Guide

Japan Post can redirect mail and eligible parcels from your old address to your new address free of charge for one year. Submit a tenkyo todoke (転居届, relocation notice) online, at a post office, or by post.

Do it early. Registration normally takes 3–7 business days, so submitting the notice on moving day may leave a gap in delivery.

This guide is for foreign residents and families moving to another address in Japan. It explains what the service covers, what to prepare, and which address changes you must still make yourself.

Quick facts

Cost: Free
Forwarding period: One year from the submission date
Processing time: Usually 3–7 business days
Application methods: e-Tenkyo, a post office counter, or a paper form sent through a post box
Important limitation: Mail marked “Do Not Forward” is not redirected

TOC

What Japan Post’s forwarding service does

The service is a temporary safety net, not a complete change of address. It helps mail addressed to your former home reach your new home while you update each sender.

After Japan Post accepts your relocation notice, it redirects covered mail and Yu-Pack parcels addressed to the registered people at the old address. The service runs for one year from the date you submit the notice—not from your requested forwarding start date.

When that year ends, mail sent to the old address is generally returned to the sender. You can submit another relocation notice if you need to renew the service.

Forwarding does not update your records elsewhere

Submitting a relocation notice to Japan Post does not change the address held by your city office, immigration authorities, bank, employer, school, insurer, mobile carrier, utility companies, or online shops.

Contact important senders directly, especially those responsible for:

Residence and immigration-related records
Bank cards, credit cards, and financial statements
Health insurance, pension, and tax notices
Employment or school documents
Mobile phone, internet, electricity, gas, and water accounts
Online shopping and subscription deliveries

Japan Post states that it does not provide relocation-notice information to government agencies or private companies. Senders therefore do not automatically learn your new address through this procedure.

When to submit the relocation notice

Apply at least one week before you need forwarding to begin whenever possible. Japan Post says registration takes approximately 3–7 business days.

You can enter a preferred forwarding start date, but processing must be completed first. Weekends, public holidays, missing information, or an identity check may affect the practical timing.

A simple moving schedule is:

One to two weeks before moving: Submit the relocation notice.
Before leaving the old home: Make sure every moving household member who needs forwarding is listed.
During the first month: Update banks, government offices, employers, schools, insurers, and regular senders.
Before the one-year period ends: Confirm that no important organization is still using the old address.

ここがポイント: The one-year period begins on the day you submit the notice. It does not begin on your moving date or requested forwarding start date.

Choose one of three application methods

All three methods provide the same basic forwarding service. The best choice depends on your identification documents, access to Japanese-language services, and how soon you are moving.

Option 1: Apply online with e-Tenkyo

Japan Post’s online service, called e-Tenkyo (e転居), is available through its website and Post Office app. It is accessible 24 hours a day, and Japan Post says the application itself can take as little as five minutes once you are ready.

You need a Yucho ID (ゆうID) for which identity verification has been completed. Follow the current instructions on the e-Tenkyo screen because the available verification method and accepted documents can change.

The online route is useful when you:

Have a compatible phone or computer
Can complete the required identity verification
Want to apply outside post-office opening hours
Are comfortable entering Japanese names and addresses in the requested format

Check every character carefully. Apartment names, room numbers, name spellings, and the people included in the move should match the labels used on incoming mail.

Option 2: Apply at a post office counter

A counter application is often the clearest option if you are unfamiliar with Japanese address formats or are unsure which family members to list.

Japan Post checks the identity of the person submitting the notice and at least one person who is moving. Bring an accepted identity document. If the applicant and the person moving are different, Japan Post says a copy of the mover’s identification may be accepted.

The official English guidance also advises bringing a government-issued document that confirms the old address. Examples include a residence card, My Number Card, driver’s licence, or certificate of residence, depending on the document’s current address and the counter’s verification needs.

Before visiting, check the opening hours of a nearby post office. Postal counter hours can differ by location, and some small branches have limited services.

Option 3: Submit a paper form through a post box

Relocation forms are available at post offices. Complete the form, attach a copy of an accepted identification document as instructed, place everything in the dedicated envelope, and put it in a post box. No stamp is required for that envelope.

Japan Post currently lists examples of acceptable identification for postal submission, including:

Residence card
My Number Card
Driver’s licence
Special permanent resident certificate
Driving history certificate
Health-insurance eligibility certificate

Use the instructions printed on the current form. Older forms may contain an outdated QR code, although Japan Post says the paper relocation form itself can still be used.

Information to prepare before applying

Accurate names and addresses matter more than the application method. Prepare the following details before starting:

Your old postal code and complete address
Your new postal code and complete address
Apartment or building names and room numbers
The names of all household members who are moving
The names of anyone who will remain at the old address
Your requested forwarding start date
A reachable telephone number and email address when requested
Suitable identification for your chosen application method

List each person who needs forwarding

Do not assume that one person’s notice automatically covers every resident. Enter all moving household members whose mail should be redirected.

This is especially important when:

Family members use different surnames
A spouse or child receives mail in a different Roman-letter spelling
Some residents are moving while others remain behind
A former resident still receives mail at the household address

Use the names under which mail actually arrives, including relevant kanji, kana, or Roman-letter forms where the application permits them.

Write the full apartment address

Japanese addresses often depend on building names and room numbers for accurate delivery. Include these details at both the old and new addresses.

If the official address and the name displayed on the building differ, check how the property manager writes the address on contracts, utility accounts, or the mailbox. Avoid inventing an English building-name spelling that senders do not use.

What may not be forwarded

Not every item sent to the old address will reach the new one. The most important exception is an item marked tenpū fuyō (転送不要), meaning “Do Not Forward.”

A sender may use this instruction for security-sensitive documents. If such an item goes to your former address, Japan Post does not forward it under the relocation service. It may instead be returned to the sender.

Possible examples include certain:

Bank or credit-card documents
Identity-verification mail
Government or insurance notices
Replacement cards and security credentials

Whether a particular item carries this restriction is decided by the sender. Update high-priority accounts directly rather than relying on forwarding.

Private couriers are separate

A Japan Post relocation notice applies to mail and eligible parcels handled through Japan Post. It does not automatically redirect deliveries carried by other companies.

For online orders or private courier shipments, change the delivery address with the shop, platform, subscription provider, or carrier. An address saved in a shopping account can remain unchanged even after you update your billing details.

International moves need separate confirmation

Do not assume that the standard domestic relocation process will forward everything to an overseas address. Japan Post’s English pages describe different conditions for international forwarding, and the treatment may depend on the mail type and required procedure.

If you are leaving Japan, contact a post office before departure. Ask what can be forwarded, whether extra postage may apply, and what will be returned to the sender. At the same time, give banks, government bodies, insurers, schools, and other essential organizations a valid contact address through their own procedures.

Identity and residence checks

Japan Post may verify that the move is genuine before or after accepting the notice. This is a security measure intended to prevent someone from diverting another person’s mail.

Japan Post may confirm the relocation by:

Visiting the old or new address
Asking a person still living at the address about residence
Sending a confirmation document to the former address

A confirmation letter to the old address may not be necessary when the applicant’s identity and the old address have already been verified at the counter. Respond promptly if Japan Post asks for additional information.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems come from late applications or from treating forwarding as a permanent address update.

Applying on moving day

Registration takes 3–7 business days. Submit the notice early and update urgent senders before the move.

Leaving family members off the form

Check every person who receives mail at the old address. Pay particular attention to different surnames and name spellings.

Forgetting the room number

An incomplete apartment address can delay delivery even when the postal code is correct. Include the building name and unit number.

Expecting “Do Not Forward” mail to arrive

Change your address directly with banks, card issuers, government bodies, insurers, employers, and schools. Security-sensitive mail may be returned rather than redirected.

Assuming all parcels and couriers are covered

Update saved addresses in shopping and subscription accounts. Contact private delivery companies separately when necessary.

Waiting until the forwarding year expires

Use the forwarding period to identify senders that still have your old address. Correct each account as soon as redirected mail arrives.

Forwarding, holding, and changing your address are different

These services solve different problems.

Relocation forwarding: Redirects covered Japan Post items from an old address to a new address, normally for one year.
Temporary absence notice: Allows a post office to hold mail during a temporary absence, generally for up to 30 days. It is not a substitute for moving-address forwarding.
Direct address change: Updates your record with a bank, government office, employer, school, insurer, utility, or other sender. This remains necessary even after filing a relocation notice.

If you are only away temporarily and are not changing your home, ask the local post office about an absence notice instead of submitting a relocation notice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does mail forwarding cost?

Japan Post’s standard relocation and forwarding service is free for covered domestic mail and eligible parcels.

How long does forwarding last?

It lasts for one year from the date the relocation notice is submitted. After expiration, items addressed to the former address are generally returned to their senders.

Can I extend the service?

Japan Post says you can submit another relocation notice to renew forwarding. Do this before the existing period ends and allow time for registration.

Can I apply after moving?

Yes, but mail may continue going to the old address while registration is pending. Apply as soon as possible and contact important senders directly.

Does filing at the city office forward my mail?

No. Municipal address registration and Japan Post forwarding are separate procedures. Completing one does not automatically complete the other.

Can one person apply for the whole family?

A notice can include multiple people who are moving, but all relevant names must be entered. Identity checks may apply to the applicant and a person included in the move.

What happens to mail after the service ends?

Mail still addressed to the old home is generally returned to the sender. It does not automatically continue to the new address.

Your practical moving checklist

Submit the notice early, then use every forwarded item as a reminder to correct the sender’s records.

Before considering the postal side of your move complete, check that you have:

Submitted the relocation notice at least several business days in advance
Included every moving household member
Written both addresses in full, including room numbers
Updated security-sensitive and government-related accounts directly
Changed saved addresses for shopping, subscriptions, and private couriers
Recorded the submission date so you know when the one-year period ends
Confirmed special arrangements with Japan Post if you are moving overseas

The next watchpoint is the first important envelope that arrives with a forwarding label. Do not simply file it away: contact that sender and replace the old address before the one-year safety net disappears.

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