PURPOSE: To provide a magnetic levitation transfer system in which a pallet can be started quickly while facilitating the specification of the pallet position even in a tunnel where the pallet can not be detected visually.

CONSTITUTION: Pairs of a magnetic pole 3 for magnetically levitating a pallet and a displacement sensor 4 are secured at a constant interval along a track 1. The distance between a pallet 2 and the levitation magnetic pole 3 is detected by the displacement sensor 4 and a levitation controller controls the magnetic force acting on the pallet 2 to levitate the pallet 2. The levitation magnetic pole 3 system is switched as the pallet 2 moves thus realizing noncontact supporting of the pallet 2. A detecting means detects the output from the displacement sensor 4 sequentially when levitation of the pallet 2 is started thus detecting the position of the pallet 2.