How to Set Up Mail Forwarding: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Moving house or launching a company usually means one nagging admin job: making sure your post follows you. Knowing how to set up mail forwarding keeps important letters — HMRC notices, bank cards, client cheques — landing where you actually are, not gathering dust at an old address. This guide walks through every route, from Royal Mail redirection to a professional virtual office address, so you can pick the one that fits.

There are two practical answers to how to set up mail forwarding in the UK. You either redirect post through Royal Mail to another physical address, or you use a business mail-handling service — often bundled with a virtual office — that receives post on your behalf and sends it on. Below we cover both routes, what each costs, how long they take, and when a virtual address beats a simple redirect.

What is mail forwarding?

Mail forwarding is a service that receives post addressed to one location and sends it on to another. It covers two common situations: redirecting personal post after a move, and handling business post sent to a professional address. Both answers to how to set up mail forwarding share the same goal — nothing important slips through the cracks. For a fuller explainer, read our guide to what mail forwarding is.

How to set up mail forwarding with Royal Mail (step by step)

For a house move, Royal Mail Redirection is the standard choice. Here is how to set up mail forwarding with Royal Mail, step by step:

1. Open the Royal Mail Redirection service and start a new application.
2. Choose a duration — 3, 6 or 12 months — and how many people are moving.
3. Enter the old address and the new address, then pay online.
4. Verify your identity so Royal Mail can protect against fraud.
5. Allow up to five working days before your redirection starts.

Prices start at £45 for three months for one adult, rising to £66.50 for six months and £95 for a full year. Add a second person and the fee steps up modestly. Redirection covers letters and packets sent through Royal Mail, but not courier parcels — worth remembering if you order a lot online.

How to set up mail forwarding with a virtual office address

If the post is for a business rather than a home, a virtual office is the smarter route. Here is how to set up mail forwarding using a professional business address:

1. Pick a provider and a location that suits your brand — a central London postcode reads differently from a home address.
2. Complete the identity and anti-money-laundering (AML) checks every UK provider must run.
3. Register the address, and use it on Companies House if you need a registered office address.
4. Choose how post is handled: scanned and emailed, held for collection, or forwarded on.

A virtual office keeps your home address private, presents a credible business location to clients, and can bundle call answering and pay-as-you-go meeting rooms. If you are weighing your options, our guide on how to get a virtual business address covers the paperwork in detail.

What does it cost to set up mail forwarding in the UK?

The cost of learning how to set up mail forwarding depends on the route. Royal Mail Redirection is a one-off fee from £45 for three months. A virtual office with mail forwarding is a monthly plan, usually between £10 and £30, with scanning and physical forwarding sometimes priced separately. For a business, the monthly option often works out better value because it also delivers a professional address, not just a redirect.

How long does mail forwarding take to set up?

Royal Mail asks for at least five working days’ notice before a redirection begins, so apply ahead of your move date. A virtual office can be faster: many providers activate the address the same day and start forwarding within one to three working days, once your ID checks clear. Book early either way and you avoid the gap where post lands at the wrong door.

When should you use a virtual office instead of Royal Mail redirection?

Redirection is built for people moving home for a fixed period. A virtual office is built for businesses that need a lasting, professional address. Choose the virtual route if you run a limited company, work from home and want privacy, or need a credible city-centre postcode. Choose Royal Mail if you simply need personal post to follow you after a move. The right space should never be the thing that goes wrong.

Frequently asked questions

How to set up mail forwarding for a limited company?

Choose a virtual office or registered office provider, complete the ID and AML checks, then use their address on Companies House. The provider receives and forwards your statutory mail, and remember to tell HMRC when your registered address changes.

Can I set up mail forwarding online?

Yes. Royal Mail Redirection and most virtual office providers let you apply entirely online, though you will usually need to verify your identity before it activates.

How much does it cost to set up mail forwarding with Royal Mail?

From £45 for three months for one adult, £66.50 for six months and £95 for twelve months, based on Royal Mail’s 2026 prices.

Does mail forwarding cover parcels?

Royal Mail Redirection covers items sent through Royal Mail, but not courier parcels from Amazon, DPD or similar. Many virtual offices can receive parcels on your behalf.

How long does mail forwarding last?

Royal Mail Redirection runs for 3, 6 or 12 months and can be renewed. Virtual office forwarding continues for as long as you keep the plan active.

Is a virtual office address the same as mail forwarding?

Not quite. A virtual office includes a professional business address plus mail handling and forwarding, and often call answering and meeting-room access on top.

Setting up mail forwarding, the simple way

Once you know how to set up mail forwarding, the decision comes down to purpose. A house move points to Royal Mail Redirection; a business points to a virtual office that keeps your home address private and your brand looking sharp. Compare 440+ UK virtual offices with mail forwarding on Wezoo, and book the address that works for you — no long lease, no membership.