How To Pause Mail Delivery In Japan: A Fuzai Todoke Guide
If you will be temporarily away from Japan and want to pause your mail while away, it's important to ensure your mail is handled properly.
We will walk you through the simple steps of pausing your mail in Japan, explain important considerations, and offer solutions for longer absences.
Japan’s hold mail service: 不在届
Japan Post 不在届 (fuzai todoke) form
不在届 (fuzai todoke) is Japan's Post hold or pause mail delivery service. It is a "Notice of Absence" to notify the Japanese post office that you will be absent from your postal address.
Your nearest Japan Post office will hold mail, letters, government notices, etc for up to 30 days for free.
To pause mail delivery with Japan Post, you will need to submit the 不在届 in person along with:
Photo ID (driver's license, residence card, National Health Insurance card)
How to fill out fuzai todoke
You only need to fill out the top section of the fuzai todoke:
How to fill out 不在届
This form is only available in Japanese. Here is what you need to fill out:
Submission date
Your address
Your name
Inkan or Hanko
Phone number
How long you want Japan Post to hold your mail (up to 30 days)
You can download and fill out the form to submit to your local post office location, or you can request the form at the office and complete it.
When should I submit fuzai todoke to pause my mail?
It's best to submit the fuzai todoke form to pause your mail at least one week before you want them to start holding your mail in Japan.
Submit the form to the nearest post office to your address.
Remember to bring your ID when submitting the form.
Important notes about fuzai todoke
Here are a few things to remember when using fuzai todoke to pause your mail in Japan.
1) Holding mail lasts for up to 30 days.
30 days is the maximum for Japan Post's hold mail period.
During this time, any mail delivered to your address will be stored at the post office where you submitted the form.
After the storage period, all held mail will be delivered.
To hold mail for longer than 30 days…
Consider MailMate!
MailMate is a virtual mailbox provider where all your incoming Japanese mail, packages, and parcels are sent to them when you are away from home or abroad.
a) Dashboard to view your mail
While Japan's Post fuzai todoke is great for pausing your Japanese mail, you don't know what important mail you are receiving.
Here's where MailMate comes in.
When your mail is sent to MailMate, they scan the outside content. From there, you can click the "Open" button, and your mail will be opened, and its inside content will be scanned for you to read and view while you are away.
Plus, MailMate can hold your mail for as long as you need.
b) Forwarding to receive your mail
Since Japan Post's mail service only pauses your mail, it does not allow you to receive any important mail.
To ensure you receive your important documents while abroad, you can submit a forward mail request through MailMate, which will allow your mail to be sent directly to your international address.
To get your mail to you as fast as possible, they will use Japan Post EMS, which will include a tracking number for you to track them.
MailMate will even forward any parcels and packages domestically or internationally upon your request.
c) Pay your bills on time
It is important to stay on top of your bills while you are away to avoid any late fees. Even if Japan Pot holds your mail for a certain amount of time, those bills still need to be paid. If a certain amount of time passes, your services will be stopped.
However, if MailMate receives any bills for you, they will notify you, and you can easily arrange for MailMate to pay your bills on your behalf.
2) You cannot store specific types of mail or part of your household.
Japan Post does not allow you to request any specific mail to be held. So they can not hold only utility bills for you. They will hold all incoming mail, utility bills, Yu-Pack packages, notices, etc. when submitting the fuzai todoke form.
3) An “Absence Notification Reception Confirmation Slip” will be delivered.
A fuzai todoke confirmation slip will be sent to the submitted address to prevent third parties from submitting false forms for defrauding mail.
4) Mail delivery if anyone can receive it at your address.
If any of your family members or anyone living with you are home while your mail is being stored, then all your stored mail will be delivered to the same address.
What happens if I do not submit a pause mail form to Japan Post?
If there is none, the mail will be stored for 7 days. After that, it will be returned to the sender, and you will need to ask the sender to resend the item.
Can you pause Yamato Transport for parcels?
Normally, Yamato Transport or Kuroneko can store your parcels for 7 days from the first attempted delivery notice date. For any refrigerated parcels, it is 3 days.
As of 2024, there is no extended absence notice for Kuroneko.
However, if you have a Kuroneko Membership, you can receive notification before your package arrives. You can also prepare for the next delivery scheduled within 7 days.
If you are still away, then send the item to someone who can receive it on your behalf.
Can you pause Sagawa Express for parcels?
For Sagawa, parcels can only be stored for up to 8 days. Refrigerated delivery takes 4 days.
You can make an online request for your parcel to be delivered to your address within 7 days. However, any longer is not possible.
As of 2024, Sagawa has no extended absence notice. Therefore, sending your parcel to someone who can receive it on your behalf would be best.
Frequently asked questions
How do you stop mail temporarily in Japan?
Japan Post allows you to temporarily pause mail delivery to your address by submitting a 不在届 (fuzai todoke). It is a "Notice of Absence" form to notify your nearest post office that you will be away from your residence to check your mail for up to 30 days.
How do you hold mail while away from Japan?
Japan Post's 不在届 (fuzai todoke) allows your nearest Japan Post office to hold your mail while you are away from Japan for up to 30 days. For longer, consider a virtual mailbox service like MailMate.
In closing
Japan Post has a hold mail service for you to use for up to 30 days for free. All you have to do is submit their 不在届 (fuzai todoke) form, and they will pause mail delivery to your residence.
However, if you are looking for a hold mail service for longer than 30 or a virtual mailbox service that allows you to manage your mail remotely, including viewing, forwarding, and even paying bills, consider using a service like MailMate for a more flexible and convenient solution.
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