According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit, and an intermediate transfer medium. The first image forming unit includes at least one image bearing member on which a first image is formed. The second image forming unit includes an image bearing member on which a second image is formed. The first image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium. When the intermediate transfer medium is moved to a first position, the first image is secondarily transferred onto the image bearing member of the second image forming unit and tertiarily transferred onto a transfer medium from the image bearing member. When the intermediate transfer medium is moved to a second position, the second image is transferred onto the transfer medium from the image bearing member of the second image forming unit.