The present invention relates to a packet transfer unit, which comprises a search key memory that stores a search key for a transfer destination of a packet and verification information generated from the search key, in association with a storage location of transfer information memorized in a transfer information memory, wherein a transfer information acquisition unit searches the search key memory by using the search key generated based on the header information and the verification information generated from the search key, acquires storage location information of the transfer information from the search key memory when a match with the search key and the verification information memorized in the search key memory is found, and acquires the transfer information stored in the transfer information memory based on the acquired storage location information, and wherein a transfer unit transfers the packet based on the acquired transfer information.