Provided is a transfer device including a primary transfer roller that selectively takes a contact position where an intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with an image holding member, and a separation position where the intermediate transfer belt is separated from the image holding member, a tension applying roller on which the intermediate transfer belt is wound thereon together with a driving roller and which is urged in a direction receding from the driving roller, and a relaxing member that is attached to a shaft portion of the tension applying roller, is urged by an urging unit in a direction approaching the driving roller, and relaxes an urging force of the tension applying roller in a direction receding from the driving roller when the primary transfer roller is at the separation position.