Mail / Delivery
ご不在連絡票: Japan Delivery Attempt Notice & Redelivery
A ご不在連絡票 (fuzai renrakuhyō, "delivery attempt notice") is the small slip a driver leaves when they tried to hand you a parcel or piece of mail and nobody was home. It is used by 日本郵便 (Japan Post, for ゆうパック parcels, 書留 registered mail, レターパックプラス and similar), ヤマト運輸 (Yamato, 宅急便), 佐川急便 (Sagawa) and others. The layouts differ but the contents are the same: a tracking number (お問い合わせ番号 or 伝票番号), the name and phone number of the local branch or post office holding the item, the date and time of the attempted delivery, and a 保管期限 (holding deadline). Sometimes the sender's name and the type of item are printed too. This is not a bill and not a penalty notice, it simply means your item is waiting at a nearby office. Do not ignore it, though: 書留 (registered) and 本人限定受取 (addressee-only) items often contain a residence card, My Number related documents, or important letters from a city office, bank or court. You can book redelivery online via the QR code on the slip, through the carrier's app or LINE account, or by automated phone line, choosing a date and time slot. After the holding deadline passes, the item goes back to the sender.
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Anyone who was out when a delivery was attempted, did not hear the intercom, or was sent something that must be handed over in person, registered mail, addressee-only mail, cash-on-delivery items, or large parcels. Slips are also common in buildings with auto-locked entrances and when no 置き配 (leave-at-door) setting is in place. The name on the slip may be a family member or housemate at the same address rather than you.
What to do
- 1Look at the top of the slip to see which carrier it is (日本郵便, ヤマト運輸, 佐川急便 and so on) and find the tracking number labelled お問い合わせ番号 or 伝票番号.
- 2Find the 保管期限 (holding deadline) date so you know how long you have to act.
- 3Scan the QR code on the slip, or use the carrier's official website, app or automated phone line, enter the tracking number and choose a redelivery date and time slot.
- 4If no redelivery slot works, take the slip and a photo ID (residence card, driver's licence) to the branch or post office printed on the slip and collect the item at the counter.
- 5If the deadline has already passed, the item has been returned to the sender, so contact the sender and ask them to send it again.
About the deadline
The slip prints a date under 保管期限 (or 留置期限), meaning the last day the office will hold your item; the number of days from the attempted delivery varies by carrier and item type, so read the date on your own slip. Book redelivery or collect the item at the counter by that date. After it passes, the item is returned to the sender and the carrier can no longer release it to you. If the date is unreadable or you lost the slip, phone the office printed on it with your tracking number, address and name.
Common misunderstandings
- I got an SMS or email saying delivery failed. Is that the same as this slip?
- A genuine ご不在連絡票 is a paper slip in your mailbox. SMS and email messages with a link saying a delivery could not be completed are frequently phishing attempts that lead to fake sites. Do not tap the link; instead type the tracking number from your paper slip into the carrier's official site or app yourself. A real redelivery request never asks for your credit card number or bank details.
- It's just a parcel notice, can I ignore it?
- For an online shopping order, little happens. But 書留 (registered) and 本人限定受取 (addressee-only) items can contain your residence card, My Number documents, or letters from a city office, bank or court. If unclaimed, they are returned to the sender and your paperwork is delayed, so check the item type box and act early.
- I won't be home for the redelivery either. Can I collect it somewhere else?
- Depending on the carrier, options include convenience store pickup, counter pickup at the branch or post office, delivery lockers, or forwarding. Registered, addressee-only and cash-on-delivery items are restricted and usually must be received by the addressee in person with photo ID. Call the office printed on the slip to confirm what is possible for that specific item.
- The name on the slip is a previous tenant or someone I don't know.
- Do not open or throw away anything. Contact the branch or post office printed on the slip and tell them that person does not live at your address, and they will arrange for the item to go back to the sender.
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This page is general information. For your own case, confirm with the office that issued the document, or with a qualified professional.