Daily Life Lessons · Post
Be able to submit a change-of-address notice to the post office when you move so that mail sent to your old address is forwarded to your new one, and to keep this separate from address changes at the city office or bank.
When you move, if you submit a change-of-address notice (転居届) to the post office, mail addressed to your old address will be forwarded to your new address free of charge for one year from the date you submit it. This is a different procedure from the address notification you submit to your city/ward/town/village office.
You can submit it at a post office counter, by putting it in a postbox, or online through "e-tenkyo" (e転居; a Yu-ID with verified identity is required). At the counter, show an ID document such as your residence card (在留カード). Registration takes 3 to 7 business days, so submit it early.
Mail marked "do not forward" (転送不要) is not forwarded. You need to notify banks and others of your address change separately. If you want forwarding to continue after one year, submit a change-of-address notice again.
引っ越し（ひっこし）の とき、郵便局に「転居届（てんきょとどけ）」を 出します。
- 前の 住所に 来た 郵便を、新しい 住所に 届けて くれます（転送・てんそう）。 - 1年間、お金は かかりません。 - 役所（やくしょ）の 手続きとは べつです。
出し方：郵便局の 窓口、ポスト、インターネット（e転居） 窓口では 在留カード などを 見せます。 始まるまで 3〜7日くらい かかります。早めに 出しましょう。
「転送不要（てんそうふよう）」と 書いた 郵便は 転送されません。銀行（ぎんこう）にも 住所が 変わったことを 伝えます。
With a change-of-address notice at the post office, how long is mail forwarded?
It is 1 year from the date you submit it (not from the date you want forwarding to start).
How much does forwarding cost?
Mail sent to your old address is forwarded to your new address free of charge for 1 year.
About how long does it take to be registered after you submit the notice?
Registration takes 3 to 7 business days, so submit it early, for example before you move.
What happens to mail marked "do not forward" (転送不要)?
"Do not forward" means the sender wants it returned if you no longer live there, so it is not forwarded.
How is the post office's change-of-address notice related to the address notification at the city office?
The mail forwarding service and the address notification at the city office are separate procedures.
Q. What if I want mail forwarded after one year?
A. When the forwarding period ends, mail is returned to the sender. If you want to continue, submit a change-of-address notice again.
Q. I submitted the notice, but mail is still delivered to my old address.
A. Have your copy of the notice ready and contact your nearest post office. You can check the status of your application on the Japan Post website.
Q. What should I do at the city office?
A. If you move within the same municipality, submit a change-of-address notification (転居届); if you move to a different municipality, submit a moving-out notification (転出届) and a moving-in notification (転入届) at the city/ward/town/village office. Check deadlines and other details in the lesson on resident registration or on the office's website.
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Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original