How to Redirect Mail in Australia

When you move house or go away, a mail redirection (sometimes searched as a mail direction service or a mail forwarding service) ensures your post follows you so bills, bank cards and parcels don’t go missing. Below is a practical, step-by-step guide to how to redirect mail, what’s included, how much mail redirection costs, and who qualifies for a mail redirection concession.

 

Key Points:

• Have your mail redirected for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months (domestic or international). You can include up to 6 names (handy for families and name variations). You can also extend, alter or cancel the service.
• Apply online or at a Post Office (international redirections must be done in-branch). Proof of identity is required.
• Start date: allow at least 3 full business days from today.

 

What is mail redirection and how does it work?

Australia Post’s mail redirection forwards your personal mail from your old address to your new one for a fixed period so you can get your mail redirected from your old address to your new one for a fixed period. You choose the duration (1, 3, 6 or 12 months), list up to six names living at the address (including prior or alternate names), and nominate a start date. There’s also an optional Address Update feature that can notify selected organisations (e.g., insurers, energy providers) of your new address.

 

Australia Post Mail Hold & Redirect Services

Australia Post offers two personal services when you’re moving or away: Mail Redirection (forwards your post to a new address) and Mail Hold (pauses delivery at your current address). Use redirection if you’re changing where you live (temporarily or permanently); use hold if you’re away but returning to the same place.

Mail Redirection Service (Australia-wide)

Forwards letters and most eligible parcels for a set period (e.g. 1, 3, 6 or 12 months).
Add multiple names (useful for families, former/maiden names).
You can extend, change, or cancel if plans shift.

Mail Hold (Australia-wide)

Pauses delivery for specific dates, keeping items secure until you’re back.
Best for holidays, renovations, or short absences.

Update your details with government and key senders

Redirection/hold doesn’t update your records. You should still tell banks, insurers, the ATO, utilities, schools and your state/territory government services your new address so future mail goes directly to the right place.

For example, in NSW:

Use Service NSW to update your address across NSW Government services (e.g., driver license, vehicle registration, Seniors Card). This complements Australia Post services: Service NSW doesn’t redirect or hold your mail; it updates your official records so less mail is sent to the old address.

Quick scenarios

• Moving home (any state/territory): Set up Mail Redirection and update your address with government services and priority senders.
• Away 4-6 weeks: Use Mail Hold; no redirection needed if you’re returning to the same address.
• Switching to a PO Box: Lease the PO Box and run a Mail Redirection from your street address for a few months while you update everyone. If you’re notifying customers of a new address, consider a short postcard campaign. We’ll design, print and lodge it via our Postcard Printing & Distribution and Bulk Mail services.

Practical tips for Mail Redirection

• List all name variations on the redirection so nothing gets missed.
• Start a few business days before you move/leave.
• Treat redirection as a safety net, keep updating senders so the redirection can end cleanly.
• For business moves, cleanse and de-duplicate your mailing list before you send change-of-address notices, our Data Management Services help reduce returns and wasted postage.

 

Does mail redirection include parcels?

Yes, eligible letters and parcels are redirected under the service within Australia, and to overseas addresses (see international exceptions below). Note there’s a separate “parcel redirection while in transit” feature inside the Australia Post App (MyPost) that’s for changing the address of a specific parcel already on the way, and is different to a general mail redirection.

 

How much does mail redirection cost?

Personal and Concession pricing (current published rates – August 2025):

Redirection to	1 month	3 months	6 months	12 months
Personal | Australia	$38.50	$77	$115.50	$192.50
Personal | International	$77	$154	$231	$385
Concession | Australia	$23.10	$46.20	$69.30	$115.50
Concession | International	$46.20	$92.40	$138.60	$231

Prices above come directly from Australia Post’s published “Personal”, “Concession” and “International” mail redirection tables. A “Home office” bundle exists for people redirecting both personal and home-business mail; it has separate (higher) rates. Always confirm live pricing before you purchase.

 

Who qualifies for a mail redirection concession?

If you hold an eligible concession card or you’re listed as a dependent on someone else’s card you may qualify for reduced (concession) rates. If multiple people are listed on the same application, each person needs a valid concession card to receive concession pricing. Proof of identity is required when applying.

 

How to redirect mail (step-by-step)

1. Decide the dates: pick a start date ≥ 3 full business days from today and select 1, 3, 6 or 12 months.
2. List addressees: add up to 6 names (e.g., partner, children, previous surname, alias).
3. Apply:
   Within Australia: apply online or at a Post Office.
   International redirection: apply in person at a Post Office (not available online).
4. Verify identity: bring accepted ID (and concession card, if relevant).
5. Optional: opt in to Address Update to notify selected organisations of your new address.
6. After setup: you can extend, alter or cancel your redirection if plans change.

 

International mail redirection: what’s different?

• Apply in person at a Post Office.
• Certain items can’t be redirected overseas, including Registered Post, Cash on Delivery, Parcel Post, Express Post and articles requiring customs documentation.
• Australia Post can’t redirect mail from an overseas address to Australia using the postal service in the origin country.

 

Can I redirect mail to a PO Box?

Yes and if you’re leasing a PO Box for the first time, you can have your mail redirected from your street address to your new PO Box (not PO Box-to-PO Box). Lodge the redirection in store when you collect your PO Box keys.

 

How long does mail redirection take to start?

Allow at least 3 full business days from the day you apply to the nominated start date. If you need coverage sooner, set the start date as early as the system allows and update key senders directly.

What redirection and returned mail means for your direct mail campaign?

Mail redirection isn’t just a consumer convenience it has a direct impact on businesses running mail campaigns. When a customer moves house and hasn’t updated their details with you, their redirection will only forward mail for the length of the service (1, 3, 6 or 12 months). Once it lapses, anything still addressed to the old address is returned or lost, which quietly drags down your response rate and skews how you measure campaign effectiveness.

This is why list hygiene matters as much as the creative itself. Before running a bulk mail send, it’s worth cleaning your database of known movers, duplicate entries and outdated details every returned item is postage paid for nothing, which adds up quickly across a large postage costs budget. If you’re notifying customers of a business relocation or new service area, a short, well-timed postcard or brochure run is often more effective than folding it into a regular newsletter see our guide on the different types of direct mail for which format suits your message.

For B2B campaigns, office relocations and lease changes are common, so it’s worth building a database refresh into your campaign calendar rather than discovering stale addresses mid send. Timing matters too sending around known high mobility periods (EOFY, new leases, school holidays) without checking your list first is a common reason campaigns underperform; our article on choosing the right time to send direct mail covers this in more detail.

If you manage a large or frequently changing mailing list, our fulfilment and distribution services include address validation as standard, so fewer of your pieces rely on a redirection to reach the right person at all.

Smart tips to get the most from mail redirection

• Start early so the service is live before settlement/move-out.
• Update critical organisations (banks, ATO, super funds, insurers) even if you opt in to Address Update, redirection is a safety net, not a permanent fix.
• List every relevant name (hyphenated surnames, former names) to avoid misroutes.
• Know the limits: unaddressed “junk mail” isn’t forwarded; use a “No Junk Mail” sign if you’d rather not receive it at all.
• Parcels already on the way? Use MyPost parcel redirection (in-transit change of address) if you’re trying to reroute a specific parcel that’s already been lodged.

Planning a larger move or a multi-site change? We provide end-to-end Direct Mail marketing services strategy, design, print and national lodgement. Talk to us and we’ll map the most cost-effective route.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does mail redirection work?

You purchase a fixed-term service (1, 3, 6 or 12 months) that forwards eligible letters and parcels from your old address to your new one. You can include up to six names and manage changes or extensions later.

Does mail redirection include parcels?

Yes, eligible parcels are included domestically. International redirections have notable exclusions (e.g., Registered Post, COD, Parcel Post, Express Post, customs-required items).

How much does mail redirection cost?

See the price table above for personal and concession rates (domestic and international).

What is a mail redirection concession?

Reduced rates for holders of eligible concession cards (and listed dependants). Each person on a multi-party application needs their own valid card to get the concession from Australia Post.