Redirection is a cost-effective way of continuing to receive mail sent to your former address when you move home or business, even if the move is only temporary. Ensure your mail follows you wherever you go and avoid losing out on established business.

Redirect your mail from any UK address to any address in the UK or overseas for one, three, six or 12 months. When your Redirection is about to expire, you can easily renew it online, over the phone, or by post. We can redirect your mail for a maximum of two years.

From 1st August 2008 retail mail redirected under the Royal Mail Redirection service is eligible for delay compensation, with the exception of  items sent by Special Delivery™ Next Day.

Read more about compensation.

Read more about Special Delivery™ Next Day.

When applying for a Redirection you’ll need to provide specific forms of identification. This will help us to protect the security of your mail.

Social Customers

If you’re posting your form, please include original documents (not photo copies)and show the address you are moving from.  If everyone applying shares the same surname we only need to see identification from the person sending the application.
 
Send identification for each person with a different surname chosen from the list below. (You can only use ID from this list for postal applications).

Two different utility bills from the last 6 months (NOT a mobile phone or a store/charge card statement)

Bank/Building Society statement from the last 6 months

We’ll return your original identification within ten working days. Please make a copy, for your own reference, before posting the originals to us.

Applying for your Redirection at a Post Office™ branch

Two different forms of original identification – not photocopies for each different surname on the form, one from List A and one from List B. If you are providing bills and statements as ID they must be dated within the last six months unless we say otherwise. If everyone applying shares the same surname, we only need ID in the name of the person applying at the Post Office® branch.

You will need one from each list below:

By Post

Original identification (not photocopies). All ID must relate to the name of the organisation given in section 1of the application and show the address you are moving from. We will return ID within 10 working days. Customers are advised to take a copy of the identification before sending it.

Together with the form the customer needs to send one of the items from the list below as proof of ID (only items from this list can be used for postal applications).

• A company  bank / building Society / credit card statement
• Two different utility bills (Not a mobile phone bill) 
• A business rate demand
• Two different  invoices

For sole traders, we accept personal or business account bank/building society/credit card statements.

Applying for your Redirection at a Post Office™ branch

Two forms of original identification (not photocopies). One from List A and one from List B. All ID must relate to the name of the organisation given in section 1 and show the address you are moving from. Payment by cheque counts as ID from List A. Please keep copies of documents that you submit. Lists below are only to be used for applications made at Post Office™branches.

Your identity and personal information are valuable. Criminals can find out your personal details and use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licenses in your name.

Your personal details could be acquired by someone stealing your mail, particularly if others have access to your post. Fraudsters may also seek to redirect your mail without your permission. If you suspect your mail is being stolen, or whether a mail redirection application has been made in your name without your knowledge, contact Royal Mail Customer Care on 08457 740 740.

Royal Mail takes the security of your mail very seriously, we make stringent checks to ensure that all Redirection applications are valid.

If you move house, tell your bank, card issuer and all other organisations that you deal with immediately. Ask Royal Mail to redirect any mail from your old address to your new one for at least a year as recommended by the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee.

Royal Mail, working together with the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee to stamp out Identity Fraud.

For more information about identity theft visit the Home Office Identity Theft Website 

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