Guide to International Mailing Address Formats is provided by BitBoost Systems

International Mailing Address Formats

and Other International Mailing Information


             

 
TOPICS COVERED
FORMATS When mailing to another country, how should I write/format the address?
I have an address for someplace in a foreign country, but I'm not sure if it is complete
(Do I have the entire address?)
POSTAL RATES How much postage should I use to send mail from the United States to other countries?
How much postage should I use to send mail from various countries?
(Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, etc., etc., etc.)
FINDING OUT AN ADDRESS Where are online address directories / telephone books for other countries?
OTHER SITES What other sites have information about international/foreign address mailing address formats?
RELATED TOPICS ...
CONTRIBUTORS Contributors and acknowledgements
CONTACT US
PRIVACY POLICY  



Formats

Listed by destination country, in alphabetical order

Quick index to popular countries and regions:
Argentina | Australia | Austria | Belgium | Brazil | Britain | Canada | Channel Islands | Chile | China, People's Republic of | China, Republic of | Costa Rica | Crimea (Autonomous Republic of) | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Fiji | Finland | Formosa | France | Germany | Great Britain | Greenland | Hong Kong | Iceland | India | Indonesia | Ireland | Isle of Man | Israel | Italy | Japan | Korea | Latvia | Luxembourg | Malaysia | Mexico | Miscellaneous/Other | Netherlands | New Zealand | Northern Ireland | Norway | Oman | Pakistan | People's Republic of China | Poland | Portugal | Puerto Rico | Republic of China | Romania | Russia | Scotland | Singapore | South Africa | South Korea | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Taiwan | U.K. | Ukraine | United Kingdom | United States | Uruguay | Venezuela | Wales |

The most general format for international mailing addresses is:
ADDRESS INSIDE THE COUNTRY YOU ARE MAILING TO
OF THE PLACE YOU
ARE MAILING TO
NAME OF COUNTRY YOU ARE MAILING TO

When mailing an envelope or postcard, leave at least the bottom 16 millimeters (5/8 inch) blank on both front and back. (The postal service's reading and sorting machines might need this space to print bar codes on your mail.)

For more specific information, please see below:


Argentina

Format Examples

Mostly adapted from Correo Argentino (Argentina's Postal Service) website:
   Juana Aguirre              [recipient]
   Piedras No 623             [street address (street name + house/building number)]
   Piso2 Dto.4                ["Piso2"="2nd floor".  "Dto.4"="(Weird abbreviation for department: Dpto. would be more usual) 4".  Piso/Depto-Barrio stuff may occur in this line, but only applies to some addresses.]
   C1070AAM Capital Federal   [postal code + city/town/locality.  Yes, currently (writing as of March 2005) an Argentina postal code ("CPA") has one letter + four digits + three letters.]
   ARGENTINA                  [country name, when mailing from outside Argentina]


   Daniela Sosa               [recipient]
   Casilla de Correo 432      [Post Office Box 432]
   Correo Central             ['Central Post Office' (Which post office.  Optional for some post office box addresses.]
   C1000WAM Capital Federal   [postal code + city/town/locality]
   ARGENTINA                  [country name, when mailing from outside Argentina]


   At. Sr. Hiro Gordo-Globo   [recipient name, literally "ATTN: Mr. Hiro Gordo-Globo".  The ATTN:/At. is certainly optional.]
   Sumo Informática S.A.      [business name]
   Calle 39 No 1540           [street address]  Here the street is named "Calle 39" and 1540 is the house number.
   B1000TBU San Sebastian     [postal code + city/town/locality]
   ARGENTINA                  [country name, when mailing from outside Argentina]


   Prof. Carlo Francis Xavier   [recipient]
   Escuela Rural 45             [name of a rural school or other appropriate named rural place]
   X5187XAB San Clemente        [postal code + city/town/locality]
   ARGENTINA                    [country name, when mailing from outside Argentina]
   

Adapted from the UPU:
   CPA                                      [recipient]
   Sarmiento 151, Piso 3, Oficina 311 BIS   [street name + house/building number, Floor 3, Office 311 BIS]
   C1000ZAA BUENOS AIRES                    [postal code + city/town/locality]
   ARGENTINA                                [country name, when mailing from outside Argentina]
   

Format Information

Addresses in the Spanish Language section.
Postal abbreviations, honorifics, and more about addressing mail in Spanish.

In Spanish only: Some useful pages at the Correo Argentino (Argentine Postal Service) website.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postal Code Lookup Form (Requires Javascript; in Spanish)
Works fairly well, but fails on some heavily abbreviated addresses. For help expanding an abbreviated address, see address correction/completion and address finding resources listed on this page.

Address Validation, Verification, and/or Correction

Completing/repairing a partial address
Interactive map of Buenos Aires (may require Javascript; in Spanish)
Surprisingly useful for helping fix over-abbreviated, incomplete or slightly broken addresses in Buenos Aires.

You can find an address by using a search form in the lower left corner (as of 2010 June) labeled "LOCALIZADOR DE DIRECCIONES". This can be useful for getting more complete forms of abbreviated street names, and for figuring out a location within the large city. Also useful for getting an address into the more complete form sometimes required by the Argentine Post's (Correo Argentino's) postcode lookup form.

You can check that an address at least exists with Correo Argentino's Postal Code Lookup Form (Requires Javascript; in Spanish)
  What Postcode Lookup Form Field Names Mean

  Localidad:          neighborhood/quarter
  Nombre de la Calle: street name
  
  Número:             number
  Búsqueda:           search

Australia

Format Information

Australia Post's "Correct Addressing."
This is fairly complete, but as usual, if you are mailing to Australia from another country, don't forget to write AUSTRALIA (the destination country) as the bottom line of the address.

   Mr S Tan
   200 Broadway Av
   WEST BEACH SA 5024    
   AUSTRALIA   

State/Territory Abbreviations
    ACT Australian Capital Territory
    NSW New South Wales
    NT  Northern Territory
    QLD Queensland
    SA  South Australia
    TAS Tasmania
    VIC Victoria
    WA  Western Australia
   
Abbreviations for Types of Streets/Roads/etc. (commonly used)
    ALLEY Alley
    ARC   Arcade
    AVE   Avenue  (but we've also seen Australia Post using "AV" or "Av".)
    BVD   Boulevard
    CL    Close
    CRES  Crescent
    CT    Court
    DR    Drive
    ESP   Esplanade
    GR    Grove
    HWY   Highway
    LANE  Lane
    PDE   Parade
    PL    Place
    RD    Road
    SQ    Square
    ST    Street
    TCE   Terrace
   
   MONKEY MAN ENTERPRISES
   SUITE 109
   FLOOR  5  240 WANDALOO ESP   
   NEW CANBERRA  WA  1234
   AUSTRALIA
(Yeah, how many people would've expected the floor and the thoroughfare address would go on the same line UNDER the suite?)

There are multiple formatting options relating to unit number, suite number, or apartment number. For example, you may use a slash to separate the number of the unit, apartment, or suite from the house number or building number; however, this won't work for a floor number or if a floor number is involved.

   "RIP" ULYSSES HOFF
   SLZ AGENCY NL
   101/3910 KOALA BARK DR   
   NEW CANBERRA WA 1234
   AUSTRALIA              
(This could be Suite 101 at 3910 Koala Bark Drive. The "NL" refers to the legal/business status of SLZ Agency.)

Abbreviations for "Building/Complex Sub Unit"
    APT   Apartment
    FY    Factory
    F     Flat
    MB    Marine Berth
    OFF   Office
    RM    Room
    SHED  Shed
    SHOP  Shop
    SITE  Site
    SE    Suite
    U     Unit
    VLLA  Villa
    WE    Warehouse
   
Abbreviations for Floor/Level
    B     Basement
    FL    Floor
    G     Gound Level
    L     Level
    LG    Lower Ground Floor
    M     Mezzanine
    UG    Upper Ground Floor
   
A House/Property Number [Building Number] can sometimes include a number range.
   MR W HEISENBERG
   U 235
   201-203 BROADWAY AVE
   WEST BEACH SA 5024    
   AUSTRALIA              
(Mr. Heisenberg appears to live in Unit 235 of a property having street numbers 201-203. Whether he lives at 201, 202, or 203 is uncertain.)

The Australian Post's "Australia Post Terms and Conditions" Appendix "Correct Addressing Standards": not only for nitpickers, but also for the utterly perplexed!

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Australia Post's Australian Postcode Lookup
If you know an addresses' town, suburb, city or village and territory, but don't know the numeric postcode.

Fun Fact

Ever wanted to 'unsend' a letter five minutes after you sent it?
Australia Post provides a special service to 'withdraw' mail before it's delivered.

Austria

Format Examples

Talented programmer R. Fellner
   R. Fellner         [recipient]
   Pazmaniteng 24-9   [street address]
   A-1020 Vienna      [postal code + city/town/locality]  The A- is an optional country code for mailing within the EU.
   AUSTRIA            [country name]
   
Council of Europe Publications: Sales Agents
   Gerold und Co
   Weihburggasse 26
   A-1010 VIENNA
   AUSTRIA
   
When name of destination is different from name of post office (adapted from UPU)
   Frau               ["Mrs." (sometimes also used for "Miss")]
   Mag. Maria Muster  [recipient (roughly: Maria Muster, MSc)]
   Gartenweg 8        [street address]
   Rafing             [city/town/locality]
   3741 PULKAU        [postal code + city/town/locality OR post office's name
   AUSTRIA            [country name]
   

Format Information

The Austrian Post's website includes some formatting and packaging information

For the fastest and most accurate machine processing of your mail:
  • The bottommost 15 mm of an envelope should be left blank.
  • The return address on an envelope should extend no more than 40 mm from the top of the envelope, and should not extend within 74 mm of the envelope's right edge.
  • The recipient address should be at least 40 mm from the top of an envelope, possibly should extend no more than 140 mm from the envelope's right edge, should be at least 15mm from the envelope's right edge, and should be surrounded on the right and left by blank zones at least 15mm wide.

Belgium

Format Examples

UPU Model Address
   M. André Dupont
   Rue du Cornet 6
   B-4800 VERVIERS
   BELGIUM
   
ABB Flexible Automation World-Wide Contacts
   Asea Brown Boveri S.A. - N.V.
   Flexible Automation Division
   Hoge Wei 27
   B-1930 Zaventem
   BELGIUM
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postcode search form is the form on the right side of this page, headed "Zoek locaties van bpost of gemeente". (May require javascript; in Flemish)
Enter the town/city name into the box labeled "postcode of gemeente", and if you get a list of one or more city/town/quarter names as your result, click through on the city name(s) to get a map in which you can complete your search.
  straat        - street name
  nr / nummer   - building/house number

Address Validation, Verification, and/or Correction

The form on the left side of this page, headed "Zoek locaties van bpost in de buurt van dit adres" is somewhat helpful for checking the format and reasonableness of an address. (May require javascript; in Flemish)
  straat      - street name
  nr / nummer - building/house number
  Postcode    - four-digit postcode / postal code inside Belgium
  en gemeente - town/city/quarter/area
  Zoeken      - Search

Brazil

Please use the Brazil page on international mailing, address formats, and shipping-related issues.

Canada

Format Information

Special Bottom Margin for Canada
When mailing an envelope or postcard to or from Canada, leave at least the bottom 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) blank on both front and back.

The Canada Post Addressing Guidelines

Postal Symbols (Abbreviations) Recognized by Canada Post
  • Province and Territory Symbols

    Abbrev.English NameFrench Name, If Different
    ABAlberta
    BCBritish ColumbiaColombie-Britannique
    MBManitoba
    NBNew BrunswickNouveau-Brunswick
    NLNewfoundland and LabradorTerre-Neuve-et-Labrador
    NTNorthwest TerritoriesTerritoires du Nord-Ouest
    NSNova ScotiaNouvelle-Écosse
    NUNunavut
    ONOntario
    PEPrince Edward IslandÎle-du-Prince-Édouard
    QCQuébec
    SKSaskatchewan
    YTYukon
    All values confirmed up-to-date as of 2010 January.

  • Street Types

    e.g. ABBEY, ACRES, ALLÉE, ALLEY, AV, AVE, BLVD, CTR, CIR, DR, PL, RD, RTE, ST, WAY, etc. Some standard abbreviations for French-language addresses differ from the English-language.

  • Street Directions

    Of the form: N, E, S, W, NE, NW, etc.

    The one exception is, in French-language addresses Ouest is represented by an O.
    So, W-->O, NW-->NO, etc.

  • Unit Designators

    These are: APT, APP, SUITE, BUREAU, UNIT, UNITÉ

"Provincial and State Abbreviations"

Format Examples

a street address from Canada Post website, including features that only some addresses have
   JOHN JONES
   MARKETING DEPARTMENT
   10-123 1/2 MAIN STREET NW        [10 is a unit number, such as a suite or apartment number.]
   MONTREAL QC  H3Z 2Y7             [MONTREAL is the city;  QC is the province abbreviation;  H3Z 2Y7 is the postal code.]
   CANADA                           [If you were sending your mail from Canada, you wouldn't need this.]
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postal code lookup:
At Canada Post (Requires Cookies)

Chile

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

In Spanish only: CorreosChile (Chile Post)

Format Information

How to Address Mail in Spanish Even If You're an English Speaker: Addresses in the Spanish Language section (all information in English language.)
Postal abbreviations, honorifics, and more about addressing mail in Spanish.

China

Please see People's Republic of China / Mainland China, Taiwan, Republic of China, and Hong Kong.

Costa Rica

Miscellaneous Information

Crimea (Autonomous Republic of)

Service Interruptions/Suspensions Resulting from Russian Takeover of Crimea,
and Possible Work-Arounds

As of the spring of 2014:

  • Ukraine Post is no longer able to deliver domestic mail to Crimea (Ukraine postal codes 95000 to 99999), because of Russian interference.
  • Russia Post offers to deliver mail mailed from Russia to Ukraine.
  • The postal systems of countries (such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and various others) which do not recognize the Russian takeover of Crimea, are generally unable at present to deliver mail to Crimea. (Ukraine Post is blocked by armed force from delivering mail to Crimea, and those countries' postal systems refuse to deliver through Russia Post to Crimea.)

If you have a package or letter you need delivered to Crimea, probably the most effective methods at present are:

  • to have someone mail it from a country such as Russia that recognizes the Russian takeover of Crimea and has updated postal services accordingly, or
  • to inquire with a private delivery service such as FedEx or DHL about the current status of their delivery service(s) to Crimea, or
  • to have someone hand-deliver it.

Czech Republic

Format Examples

In a town with delivery office (from UPU documentation)
   Pan Martin Parma       [recipient name]
   Prujezdna 320/62       [street name + block number / building number]
   100 00 PRAHA 10        [postal code + city name + one to three digit numeric identifier for post office]
   CZECH REP.             [country name (suitable for mailing to Czech Republic from most other countries)]
   
Czech Post (from UPU documentation)
   Czech Post               [recipient name]
   Headquarters             [recipient name]
   Mail Traffic Department  [recipient name]
   Prujezdna 9              [street name + block number and/or building number]
   225 99 PRAHA 3           [postal code + city name + one to three digit numeric identifier for post office]
   CZECH REP.               [country name (suitable for mailing to Czech Republic from most other countries)]
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Czech Post postal code lookup form

Format Information

Czech postal address information document at the UPU website.

Denmark

Format Examples

from the UPU:
   Hr. Niels Henriksen             [recipient]
   Kastanievej 15                  [street address]
   DK-8660 SKANDERBORG             [country code + postal code + city/town/locality.  The "DK-" is an optional country code.]
   DENMARK                         [country]

   Post Denmark                    [recipient]
   International Post and Jetpost  [recipient]
   Tietgensgade 37                 [street address]
   DK-1566 COPENHAGEN V            [country code + postal code + city/town/locality.  The "DK-" is an optional country code.]
   DENMARK                         [country]
   
from the Theseus list of Danish libraries and archives:
   Botanisk Centralbibliotek       [recipient]
   Sølvgade 83, opg. S             [street address (street name + building number, additional delivery information]
   DK-1307 København K.            [country code + postal code + city/town/locality + letter additionally indicating delivery office/district/zone]
   DENMARK                         [country]
   
Chris Herborth's Example:

Thanks to Peter Mogensen, we have an entry for Danish addresses:

Peter Mogensen                  Name
c/o Fictional Company           Office or whatever (optional)
Niels Bohrs Alle 23, 1330       Street address
floor 13                        More address (optional)
Dalum                           Local area or village (optional)
5230 Odense M                   Zip code and postal district
Odense                          City (optional)
Danmark                         Country (optional)

The city is optional, only the postal district is relevent, so a minimal address would be:

Peter Mogensen
Niels Bohrs Alle 23, 1330
5230 Odense M

Format Information

"Danish language locale for Denmark, Narrative Cultural Specification"
Includes some postal abbreviations. See "Clause 25: Mail addresses". Alas, this document is kind of old (1996).

Storey specification is placed after the street number. The following conventions apply:

English       Danish  Danish abbreviation
Ground floor  stuen           st
1st floor     1. etage        1
basement      kælderen        kld
right         til højre       th
left          til venstre     tv
middle        midt for        mf
                    

Specifications for mailed items: includes some addressing format information.

(Quoted from http://www.postdanmark.dk/iis/english/erhvervsservice/til_forsendelse/forsendelsesformer/udformning/udformning_start.htm)
[Parts of an Address, Including Optional Parts]:
  1. Customer or registration number
  2. Title and name of recipient
  3. For the attention of (+ name)
  4. Street/road number and floor
  5. Location
  6. P.O. Box number
  7. Postcode and city (delivery office)

The address should be without extra space between the individual characters and words and without extra line spacing between the lines of the address. However, there must be a two-type space between postcode and city. Please do not underline the address.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Danish postal code / postcode lookup:
Postcode lookup (Requires Javascript)

 

Estonia

Please use the Estonia page.

Fiji

Use the Fiji page on international mailing, address formats, and shipping-related issues.

Finland

Format Information

Finnish Postal Service's English-Language Instructions For Addressing Mail
From the English-language website of the Finnish postal service.

Format Examples

from a version of the tidily formatted Greenland Guide:
   Saga Matkat OY       [recipient]
   Saga Tours Ltd
   Albertinkatu 36 B    [street address]
   00180 HELSINKI       [postal code + postal district IN CAPITALS.  (FI- could optionally be added before the postal code.)]
   FINLAND              [country]
   
A UPU example, but updated & edited by us:
   Ms. Aulikki Laasko   [recipient]
   Vesakkotic 1399      [street address]
   FI-00630 HELSINKI    [country code + postal code + postal district.  The "FI-" is an optional country code.]
   FINLAND              [country]
   
There is still some controversy over whether it's preferable on intercontinental mail to use the official country code of FI or to use FIN instead.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Finnish Postcode Search (in Finnish)
English explanation of how to use the Finnish form.

When searching for a street name, you may also use partial match search which requires at least 6 characters + %, for example by entering Kirkko% the search result will display all street names in Finland starting with the word 'Kirkko'.

kadunnimi = street name
postinumero = postal code
postitoimipaikka = post office
kunta = municipality
hae = search
tyhjennä = clear

Formosa (Taiwan)

Please see Taiwan (Republic of China).

France

Format Examples

from the UPU, but updated by us:
   Madame Duval             Some people prefer to write the recipient's last name in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, but the UPU does not deem this necessary.
   27 RUE PASTEUR           [street address (house/building number + street name)]  People USED TO include a comma between house/building number and street name.  Presently, La Poste prefers no comma.
   14390 CABOURG            [postal code + city]  La Poste prefers now that you DO NOT precede the postal code with France's country code and a dash.
   FRANCE

   M. Bernard               this is a variant "Small locality" format
   IMPASSE VIVALDI
   VAUCE
   53300 COUESNES VAUCE
   FRANCE
   

Format Information

Sending mail to France
Includes "Writing a French Address."
By La Poste (the French Postal Service)

The Universal Postal Union listing for France is one of the best, most informative of the UPU country listings. (in PDF format)

AskOxford: Writing Letters in French includes some information about addressing letters sent to French destinations.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

English-language search form

Address Validation, Verification, and/or Correction

"Test your addresses"
Provides some help with formatting and partial plausibility checking of addresses.

Miscellaneous Information

French<->English Postal Glossary
"International mail often uses French terms and phrases..."

Fun Fact

France's Postal Service ("La Poste") lets you send a registered letter 'through the Internet.'
  • The letter is printed and delivered physically by La Poste.
  • This could be an unusual way to deliver a letter across the world very quickly!

Germany

Format Examples

German Post Office (Deutsche Post) sample addresses:
A normal address:
   Herrn                         ["to Mr." (form of address)]
   Eberhard Wellhausen           [name]
   Wittekindshof                 [institution / company name] 
   Schulstrasse 4                [street address]
   32547 Bad Oyenhausen          [postal code + city/town]        The German Postal Service prefers that you no longer prefix the numeric postal code with the letter(s)-based country code.
   GERMANY                       [country]
   
A PO Box ("Postfach") type of address:
   Firma                         ["company"]
   Wellhausen                    [company's name]
   Postfach 10 01 65             ["PO Box" + its number]
   32547 Bad Oyenhausen          [postal code + city/town]
   GERMANY                       [country]
   
The Deutsche Post website has a lot of advice for making your mail machine-readable for speedy and accurate delivery, but I think much of it may be less important when mailing internationally. Some of this advice is translated and summarized in Addressing a Letter in Germany (English Language Instructions.)

ABB Group
   ABB Flexible Automation GmbH  [company name]
   Grüner Weg 6                  [street address]
   61169 Friedberg               [postal code + city/town.]
   GERMANY                       [country]

   ABB Lackieranlagen GmbH       [company name]
   Schorbachstrasse 9            [street address]
   Postfach 260                  [PO Box number]              This letter will probably be delivered to the post office box, because it occurs lower in the address.
   35510 Butzbach                [postal code + city/town.]
   GERMANY                       [country]
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postal code lookup information, for German and English speakers.
This form lets you find a German address's postal code (German equivalent of a U.S. zip code.)

Format Information

Exeter Beginners' German textbook on the WWW
"Addresses and postcodes" partly explains German address format, but for more information you should also read "German letter layout," which gives more address formatting details.

Addressing a Letter in Germany (English Language Instructions) shows the unintentional humor and pathos of addressing a letter in a machine-processing age.

Great Britain (United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, U.K., Northern Ireland)

Format Information

Royal Mail Guide to Preparing Mail - Addressing

Some oddities of the Royal Mail include:

  • A preference for the return address to be on the back of the envelope.
  • A Locality line that only some addresses have (between the street address and town/city.)
  • The "full stops" you are requested not to use in an address are periods.

From the Royal Mail website (as of September 2009):

"What is a correct Postal Address?

Every house and business in the UK has a complete postal address that helps Royal Mail deliver mail quickly, accurately and cost effectively.
We've laid out below the elements that make up a postal address and those that are required for us to deliver mail.

AddressIs it Required?Information
Mr A SmithWhen applicableAddressees Name
Acme PlcWhen applicableCompany/Organisation
Acme HouseYes (except if it has a number)Building Name
3 High StreetYesNumber of building and name of thoroughfare
Hedle EndYes but only if a similar road name exists within a Post Town area Locality Name
SOUTHAMPTONYesPost Town please print in capitals
SO31 4NGYesPostcode please print in capitals
You do not need to include a County name provided the Post Town and Postcode are used."

The Royal Mail (British Postal Service) keeps reorganizing their website, but you might find addressing information here and/or here.

Format Examples

Nildram Systems
   Nildram Ltd         [recipient]
   Ardenham Court      [probably the building name: see Format Information.  Not all addresses have this part.]
   Oxford Road         [street name]
   AYLESBURY           [postal town (town/city)]
   BUCKINGHAMSHIRE     [county (not needed)]
   HP19 3EQ            [postal code]
   UNITED KINGDOM      [country name]
   

from the UPU:
   Mr. Walter C. Brown
   49 Featherstone Street
   LONDON
   EC1Y 8SY
   UNITED KINGDOM
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Post Code Finder provides U.K. postcode search.

Address Validation, Verification, and/or Correction

Click on the "Find an Address" tab for a form that provides some free address validation help.
Limited number of free searches per day.

Greenland

Format Examples

You can find some addresses in the Travel and Accommodations section of the 'Greenland Guide'.
These addresses are taken from various versions of the helpfully tourism-promoting Greenland Guide. It appears that 'Postbox' is an accepted alternate way of saying 'P.O. Box.' The example address below includes both street address and P.O. Box address in case either is undeliverable or out of date.
 
   Tikilluarit Nuuk Tourism A/S    [recipient]
   Hans Egedesvej 29               [street address]
   P.O. Box 199                    [P.O. Box + box number]
   DK-3900 Nuuk                    [postal code + postal district.  The "DK-" is an optional ISO country code; it is actually the country code of Denmark, because Greenland is still in some senses a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.]
   GREENLAND                       [country name]
   
Note: Greenland is still in some senses part of the Kingdom of Denmark and uses a similar address system, so also see Denmark.

Hong Kong (Hongkong)

Format Examples

Example address from HongKong Post (see Format Information)
   Mr. CHAN Kwok-kwong
   Flat 25, 12/F, Acacia Building
   150 Kennedy Road
   WAN CHAI
   HONG KONG
   
New Systems Online
   Flat D, 6/F, Golden Industrial Center, Block 4,
   182-190 Tai Lin Pai Road,
   Kwai Chung                  (In an older address format, ", N.T." might be written on this line after Kwai Chung, and HONG KONG written below.)
   NEW TERRITORIES             
   HONG KONG
   
Below is an older format for the New Systems Online address, which would probably still reach its destination:
   New Systems Online
   Flat D, 6/F, Golden Industrial Center, Block 4,
   182-190 Tai Lin Pai Road,
   Kwai Chung, N.T.,           (Here "N.T." stands for "NEW TERRITORIES")
   HONG KONG
   

Format Information

Address Formatting Information, based largely on information from HongKong Post with some international mailing additions

Although Hong Kong is now a special region within the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong has its own separate postal system and customs area. So mail sent into Hong Kong should be addressed to the 'country' of Hong Kong, (not China, nor PRC etc.)

Partial summary of information useful for people mailing from outside Hong Kong:

  • For Hong Kong, the address should always include:
    1. Name of addressee,
    2. Flat and Floor numbers,
    3. Name of building,
    4. Number of building and name of street,
    5. Name of village, town or district (in CAPITAL LETTERS),
    6. (Optional depending on destination) HONG KONG, KOWLOON, or NEW TERRITORIES as appropriate (in CAPITAL LETTERS).
    7. (At least if previous line was not HONG KONG) HONG KONG (in CAPITAL LETTERS to show the 'destination country.')
        Mr. CHAN Kwok-kwong
        Flat 25, 12/F, Acacia Building
        150 Kennedy Road   
        WAN CHAI
        HONG KONG
    
  • For items mailed internationally to P.O. Boxes in Hong Kong, the address should always include:
    1.Name of addressee,
    2.P.O. Box number,
    3.Name of Post Office (in CAPITAL LETTERS) at which the box is located,
    4. (Optional depending on destination) HONG KONG, KOWLOON, or NEW TERRITORIES as appropriate (in CAPITAL LETTERS).
    5. (At least if previous line was not HONG KONG) HONG KONG (in CAPITAL LETTERS to show the 'destination country.')
    
    
    
                        
  • If an address includes an "MCN" / (Mail Collection Number) line, and you are mailing from outside Hong Kong, the country name "HONG KONG" should be the bottom line of the address, and the MCN line should be directly above that bottom line.

  • If you are sending mail from within Hong Kong to a destination also in Hong Kong, the above formats should work except that you should omit the country line.

Cultural notes
 
  • When addressing mail to Chinese, use blue or black ink--never red! Writing a name in red is considered inauspicious.
  • A red envelope suggests a special gift of money, so a different color of envelope might be better for most purposes.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Hong Kong has no postcodes (no postal codes) at this time! The special territory still lets humans be humans and robots be robots.

Iceland

Format Examples

Example street address
   Gudmundur Jonasson Travel       [recipient]
   Borgartun 34                    [street address]
   105 REYKJAVÍK                   [postal code + locality.  The country code "IS-" is optional before the postal code, e.g. IS-105]
   ICELAND                         [country name]
   
Example format for a P.O. Box address
   Elmér Fúdd                  [recipient (person)]
   Wabbitwatchin Excursions    [recipient]
   Pósthólf 1034               [PO BOX + boxnumber]
   121 REYKJAVÍK               [country code (IS-) + postal code + locality.  The country code "IS-" is optional because ICELAND is written below.]
   ICELAND                     [country name]
   

Format Information

English-language version of Iceland Post home page.

If the letter's contents are delicate and the envelope may not be folded for it to be put in a mailbox it is imperative to write "Má ekki brjóta" in the bottom right corner on the address side.

[Excerpt from Iceland Post website, 2008]

It is important that the destination (after post code) be written in CAPITAL LETTERS.

[Excerpt from Iceland Post website, 2008 http://www.postur.is/english/Miscellaneous_information/Mailbox_Mail_Slot_Labeling.html]

India

Format Examples

From the UPU:
Address format isn't very standardized.
   Mr. I. K. Taneja
   Flat No. 100
   Triveni Apartments
   Pitam Pura
   NEW DELHI 110034    [city/town/locality + postal code (equivalent of U.S. zip code)]
   INDIA

   Steel Authority of India Ltd.
   Ispat Bhavan
   Lodhi Road
   NEW DELHI 
   110003
   INDIA

   Department of Posts
   Business Development Directorate
   Dak Bhavan
   Parliament Street
   NEW DELHI 110001
   INDIA
   
Post Office Box: XYZ Example Exports
   XYZ Example Exports
   Post Office Box 924
   Ludhiana 141003
   INDIA
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Indiapost "PIN Code" (postal code / zipcode) lookup form

Format Information

The India Post website might not have much format information.

Don't use the sleazy fake "India Post" website now at indiapost.org.

Indonesia

Format Examples

The self-declared 'Weblog Wannabe'
   Firda Beka
   Jl. Perhubungan IV/25  [For privacy we may have used an out-of-date address or changed it.]
   Pondok Betung
   Tangerang 15224        [city/town/locality + postal code (equivalent of U.S. zip  code)]
   Indonesia
   
From the UPU:
   Mr. N. Suprapto
   73, Jalan Cilaki
   BANDUNG 40115
   INDONESIA

   PT Pos Indonesia
   International Relations Dept.
   30 Jalan Banda
   BANDUNG 40115
   INDONESIA
   
The (non)punctuation of street addresses is wonderfully variable, no?

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

The Postcode search is not in English.

Format Information

The PT POS Indonesia website is mostly not in English.

Ireland

Format Information

"Ireland Mailing Address Formats (snail mail)"
An easy-to-understand guide, but outdated or potentially misleading on two points:

An Post
Ireland's national postal service.

Selected address formatting guidelines from the An Post website as of 2017, with additions for mailing from outside Ireland to Irish addresses:

  • For a few cities (Dublin and Cork) there may be a one or two digit zone number. This is completely different from the postcode/'Eircode'. For the least confusion, write it on the address's city line, after the city name. (Some people might write the zone number after the street name, but that could be more confusing.)

    An example is shown below, with the zone number written after the city of Dublin.

    An Post Business Desk
    GPO
    O'Connell Street Lower
    Freepost
    Dublin 1
    D01 F5P2
    IRELAND
                        

You should write your address in Ireland using the following guidelines:

  1. Each line should start at the same distance from the left hand edge of the cover, i.e. the address should not be written in the indented format.
  2. Each line should be limited to 32 characters.
  3. Individual characters should have a minimum height of 2mm (5/64 inch), a maximum height of 7mm (8/32 inch) and a maximum width of 7mm (8/32 inch). (So character height and width of 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch are certainly within the specified size range.)
  4. The address must be written in a compact form without a blank line between the Post Town or County Name (if required) and the other elements of the address. It is important that no part of the address is underlined.

Note: The Official Postal Address does not contain any abbreviations and An Post recommends that you use the full spelling when addressing a mail piece, for example Road not Rd.

A few addresses are special cases:

  • The post town and county in a mailing address can be different from the real physical location. To ease logistics, a particular area's mail might be delivered through a nearby town in a different county. In this case, the official mailing address might incorporate the "post town" and the post town's county, instead of the physically accurate geography.

  • Locality is an extra line required in a few addresses above the city/town, and optional in others.

    An Post says "The name of the locality or second thoroughfare should...always be included in the address where it is necessary to distinguish between two or more streets in the same postal district, for example"

    Pembroke Cottages
    Ringsend
    Dublin 4
    
    OR
    
    Pembroke Cottages
    Donnybrook
    Dublin 4
    

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Ireland's government has created and adopted a postcode system (somewhat like the USA's zip codes) in which the postcode is called an "Eircode."
Postcode/Eircode Search

  • When you address mail to a destination in Ireland, the postcode/'Eircode' is not mandatory.
  • An Irish postcode/'Eircode' is three letters and/or numbers, followed by a space, followed by four more letters and/or numbers.
  • Most addresses in permanent buildings now have postcodes. Relatively new buildings or addresses might not yet have postcodes assigned (that could take a few months.)
  • The first three characters of an Eircode indicate the post town or area; the last four characters indicate a particular address within that area.
  • When sending mail into Ireland and using the postcode/'Eircode', the postcode would go on a line of its own just above the country name IRELAND. Otherwise, the postcode would be the bottom line of the address.
  • A relatively critical explanation of the Irish Eircode / postcode system is available from Padraig O'Mara (July 2015).

Address Validation, Verification, and/or Correction

Free Address Correction and Verification and 'Check An Address' online forms provided by the Irish postal service.
Limited number of addresses per day on free plan.

Isle of Man

Please see United Kingdom / Great Britain.

Women also live on this island. :-)

Israel

Format Examples

Council of Europe Publications Sales Rep
   R.O.Y. International
   PO Box 13056
   ISL-61130 TEL-AVIV
   ISRAEL
   
The UPU Example
   M. Ploni Almoni
   16, Rue Yafo
   94142 JERUSALEM
   ISRAEL
   
Israeli Postal Authority's mail-order address for buying stamps by mail
   The Israel Philatelic Service
   12 Shderot Yerushalayim
   68021 Tel Aviv - Yafo
   ISRAEL
   

Italy

Format Examples

A simple street address
   SIG MARIO ROSSI       [recipient]
   VIALE EUROPA 22       [street + house/building number]
   00144 ROMA RM         [postal code + city + province code]   Province code is two letters.
   ITALY
   
(Old UPU documentation has a different, outmoded form of this address.)

Street address with slash / used to separate main house/building number from "exponent" number
   MARIA RUSSO            [recipient]
   VIA APPIA NUOVA 123/4  [street + main house number / "exponent"]
   00184 ROMA RM          [postal code + city + province code]
   ITALY
   
Address with PO Box ("Casella Postale" in Italian)
   TASTIERA SRA            [recipient, in this case a business name]
   UFFICIO ROMA TRULLO     ["UFFICIO" + post office location name possibly including a number]  This is the name of the post office where the box is.
   CASELLA POSTALE 1234    ["POST OFFICE BOX" + box number]
   00149 ROMA RM           [postal code + city + province code]
   ITALY
   
Address with 'Attention:' some person
   TASTIERA SRA            [recipient, in this case a business name]
   C.A. FELIX GATTO        ["Attn:" Felix Gatto (a person's name)]
   UFFICIO ROMA TRULLO     ["UFFICIO" + post office location name possibly including a number]  This is the name of the post office where the box is.
   CASELLA POSTALE 1234    ["POST OFFICE BOX" + box number]
   00149 ROMA RM           [postal code + city + province code]
   ITALY
   
Street address with a 'kilometric civic number'. Kilometric numbers may be written with commas for readability.
   ALDO DE LUCA           [recipient]
   VIA CARDANO KM 1,234   [road name + KM (kilometers) + 'kilometric number']
   20042 OMATE MI         [postal code + city + province code]  
   ITALY
   

Format Information

How to write Italian addresses

Based on various sources of information from Poste Italiane (the Italian postal service), but for clarity we've reorganized, edited, and written some new explanations.

The general rule is, the address must contain three to five lines, plus an extra line at the bottom for the country name.

Street Address Format
  Address Line / Element Must All Addresses Include This?
1. Recipient / Addressee YES
2. Additional information about the recipient
(e.g. specific person within an organization)
N
3. Additional information about the building or location (which floor, suite/apartment number, etc.; in some unusual cases, district or village) N
4. Street Name + House Number
YES
5. Postal Code (like a U.S. zip code) + Locality (city/town/village) + Province Abbreviation (two letters) YES
6. Country Name YES FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES (*)
(*) With the exception of San Marino and the Vatican City-State

Post Office Box ('CASELLA POSTALE') Address Format
  Address Line / Element Must All Addresses Include This?
1. Recipient / Addressee YES
2. Additional information about the recipient
(e.g. specific person within a recipient organization)
N
3. Specific post office where the box is located
('UFFICIO' + post office name possibly including a number)
YES (to avoid processing delays and potential confusion)
4. 'CASELLA POSTALE' (Italian for 'PO BOX') + Box Number YES
5. Postal Code (like a U.S. zip code) + Locality (city/town/village) + Province Abbreviation (two letters) YES
6. Country Name YES FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES (*)
(*) With the exception of San Marino and the Vatican City-State

Rules for best addressing and address format
  • Write rows in the correct order, as given in the table above.
  • Always write all required rows.
  • Print (not cursive) and use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
  • Usually it's best to avoid punctuation and other special characters.
    In some cases slash '/', commas, periods, apostrophes, and accent marks are acceptable.
  • Don't underline!
  • House/building number comes after the street name, never before.
  • The postal code ("Codice di Avviamento Postale" = CAP, like a US zip code) must be used on every type of mail.
  • Use correct & consistent postal code, city, and province abbreviation.
  • Use your specific address's postal code, not a generic postal code for a large city/area. Otherwise your mail might be delayed.

An older, outmoded address style included a dash between your postal code and locality (city/town/village) and parentheses around the province abbreviation. Mail with these will probably be delivered anyway.

Address Composition Standards (2007 PDF published by Post Italia, the Italian postal service)

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Italian Post Code Search (in Italian, but not hard to figure out)
An Italian postcode is also called a "CAP" or a "Codice di Avviamento Postale".

Japan

Format Information


Learning Japanese
should be
fun and games

[animated stroke order demonstration of writing a Japanese language kana character]

TileTagTM is the game that helps you
efficiently learn to read and write Japanese

a genuine BitBoostSM product

Postal Information for Japan from japan-guide.com
Nice; includes additional links.

sci.lang.japan FAQ section 13.3. "How does the Japanese addressing system work?"
 

Japanorama: Japanese Address Formats
Has some good examples, but postal code format shown is the old three digit instead of the new longer format.
Also, be sure to write 'Japan' on a line below the rest of the address when you mail from the United States or other Western countries to Japan.

Bruce "Tog" Tognazzini's perspective on the Japanese address system

"How to write Japanese address" ("Wayback Machine" copy)
Sometimes slow to download, but good. Includes information about latest postal code change. (Link is to a "Wayback Machine" copy because original page was recently taken down.)

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postcode finder (not in English)

Korea

Please see South Korea.

Latvia

Format Information

Try the "Addressing the Mail" page on the Latvija Pasts website.

Luxembourg

Format Information

Luxembourg address format seems mostly similar to France's format, except that:
  • The postal code is a four-digit number.
  • Of course, the letter that you can optionally write before the postal code is L- for Luxembourg (not F- for France.)
    for example, L-1316.
A possible source of confusion is that Luxembourg is the name of both the country and its capital city, so you could write an address such as:
   M. Andrée TROMMER   [(M. = Monsieur) recipient name]
   BP 5019             [P.O. Box + number]
   L-1050 Luxembourg   [(optional country code L-) + postal code + city/locality]
   LUXEMBOURG          [country name]
   

Format Examples

from the UPU:
   M. Jacques Muller           [(M. = Monsieur) recipient name]
   71, route de Longwy         [street address (house number + street name)]
   L-4750 PETANGE              [(optional country code L-) + postal code + city/locality]
   GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG   [country name]
   

Malaysia

Format Examples

Example from Pos Malaysia website
Ahmad Bin Gh azali
75 Kg Sg Ramal Luar    [House Number/Lot Number/Floor and Building Name]
43000 Kajang           [postal code + city]
Selangor               [state]
Malaysia               [country name (for mailing to Malaysia from other countries)]
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Pos Malaysia postal code search form

Format Information

This Pos Malaysia help page includes information about
properly formatting addresses -- scroll to bottom of that page!

Mexico

Format Examples

from the UPU:
   Sra. Otilia Ramos Perez                 ["Mrs. Otilia Ramos Perez"]
   Urión 30                                [street address] (in this case, street name + building number)
   Col. Atlatilco                          [Neighborhood/Quarter Atlatilco]  ("Col."="Colonia"=neighborhood/quarter)
   02860 MEXICO, D.F.                      [postal code + ("MEXICO, D.F." represents "Mexico, Districto Federal"; compare to "Washington, D.C.")]
   MEXICO                                  [country name]

   Alonso Reyes Diáz                       [recipient]
   Super Manzana 3 - 403                   [street name + building number - apartment number]
   Puerto Juarez                           [village]
   77520 CANCUN, Q. ROO                    [postcode + locality name, province abbreviation]
   MEXICO                                  [country name]

   Departmento de Asuntos Internationales
   Nezahualcoyotl 109 Piso 8               [street name + house/building number + floor 8]  piso = floor.  So this is street name (Nezahualcoyotl) + building number (109) + 'Floor' (Piso) + floor number (8).
   Centro                                  [neighborhood/quarter]
   06082 MEXICO, D.F.                      [postal code + (MEXICO, D.F." represents "Mexico, Districto Federal"; compare to "Washington, D.C.)]
   MEXICO                                  [country name]
   
from a copy of US Postal Bulletin S-1 (but updated by us):
   Jaime Lopez                             [recipient name]
   8th Straco # 69                         [street address]
   46800 Puerto Vallarta, JAL              [postal code + city, province/state abbreviation]
   MEXICO                                  [country name]
   
ABB Group
   ABB Sistemas, S.A. de C.V.
   Flexible Automation Division
   Via Gustavo Baz No. 166
   Col. San Jerónimo Tepetlacalco
   54090 Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México
   P.O. Box 58 BIS Col. Centro
   06600 México, D.F.
   MEXICO
   

Format Information

Addresses in the Spanish Language section.
Postal abbreviations, honorifics, and more about addressing mail in Spanish.

In Spanish only: Servicio Postal Mexicano

Province abbreviations
Aguascalientes AGS Morelos MOR Baja California BC Nayarit NAY Baja California Sur BCS Nuevo Leon NL Campeche CAM Oaxaca OAX Coahuila COAH Puebla PUE Colima COL Queretaro QRO Chiapas CHIS Quintana Roo Q ROO Chihuahua CHIH San Luis Potosi SLP Distrito Federal DF Sinaloa SIN Durango DGO Sonora SON Guanajuato GTO Tabasco TAB Guerrero GRO Tamaulipas TAMPS Hidalgo HGO Tlaxcala TLAX Jalisco JAL Veracruz VER Mexico MEX Yucatan YUC Michoacan MICH Zacatecas ZAC

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postal Code Search Form (English speakers use glossary below; requires Javascript)
English language 'cheat sheet':
    Estado:          state/province
    Municipo:        city/town
    Asentiamento:    (rest of address)
    Código Postal:   postal code / postcode
  

Miscellaneous/Other

Please see Other Guides to International Postal Address Formats.

Netherlands

Format Examples

Koninklijke TNT Post BV
Koninklijke TNT Post BV   [recipient name]
Prinses Beatrixlaan 23    [street address (street name + house number / building number)]
2595 AK  'S-Gravenhage    [postal code + town/locality.  The 'S is part of the city/town/locality name.  The - within this specific city's name is a relatively recent change to preferred address format.]
NETHERLANDS               [country name (if sending mail across national borders]
A fictional government bureau.
Geschillencommissie Allerei          [recipient name]
Surinamestraat 27                    [street address (street name + house number / building number)]
2585 GJ  Den Haag                    [postal code + town/locality]
NETHERLANDS                          [country name (if sending mail across national borders]
A post office box address, with company name, department, person's name. (An example from the Dutch postal service, with annotations added by us)
Enigma Audio en Video                [recipient name (name of a business)]
Afdeling Salessupport                [recipient name (name of a department within the business)]
t.a.v. dhr. A. Jansen                [recipient name ('Attn: Mr. A. Jansen')]
Postbus 90222                        ['PO BOX' + boxnumber]
2554 FG  's-GRAVENHAAG               [postal code + town/locality]
NETHERLANDS                          [country name (if sending mail across national borders]
Sending an envelope to business reply service provided by the Dutch postal service. (An example from the Dutch postal service, with annotations added by us)
TNT Post Business Service            [recipient name (name of a business)]
Antwoordnummer 53040                 [Business Reply Service No. 53040]
3505 VB  UTRECHT                     [postal code + town/locality]
NETHERLANDS                          [country name (if sending mail across national borders]

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Dutch postcode finder.

Format Information

Please see the Netherlands Details Page for additional information.

New Zealand

Format Information

Addressing Mail
Includes explanations of special New Zealand format variants such as the apartment number -- house number format.
Don't forget to write NEW ZEALAND as the bottom line of the address when mailing from distant countries like the USA!
(Note: a "full stop" is what is called a "period" in the USA.)
   Mrs Brown          [recipient]
   Flat 2             [apartment number]
   173 Park Road      [house number + street name]
   Johnsonville       [suburb (only in some addresses)]
   Wellington 6004    [city + postal code]
   NEW ZEALAND        [country]
   

Rural Address Formats
Addresses are formatted differently away from cities and towns, on rural delivery routes.
   John Sample        [recipient]
   Flat 2             [apartment number]
   56 Maple Boulevard [house number + street name]
   RD 2               ['RD' + rural delivery (route) number]
   Wellington 6004    [postal town + postal code]
   NEW ZEALAND        [country]   
  • Use �RD� plus the RD number instead of a suburb.
  • �RD� has no spaces or punctuation (eg. �RD 1� not �R D 1�).
  • Include the name of a registered occupant if the rural address doesn�t have a street number.
  • Don�t use floor levels in rural addresses.
  • Use the correct mail town, ie. the town name of the rural delivery route -- this is not always the town closest to the address.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Post Code Finder (Requires Javascript)

Format Examples

from the UPU:
   Mr. .........
   Private Bag 39 990      "Private Bag" addresses are not typical.  I don't know why the UPU didn't provide a normal address also.
   WELLINGTON 1            
   NEW ZEALAND
   

Norway

Please use the Norway page.

Oman

Format Examples

UPU example, with annotations added
    Mr Ahmed Al-Ballushi     [recipient]
    BP 15                    [BP + (post office box's number)]
    133                      [postcode]
    AL-KHOER                 [city/town]
    OMAN                     [country name]
    Direction générale des postes     [recipient]
    BP 338 - RUWI                     [BP + (post office box's number) - (district or quarter of the city)]
    112                               [postcode]
    MUSCAT                            [city/town]
    OMAN                              [country name]

Format Information

  • If you are sending international mail to an address in Oman, the destination will almost certainly be a post office box.
  • Acceptable terms for 'post office box' in an address include "BP", "P.O.Box", "P.Box".
  • In theory, lines in an address are usually/preferably right-aligned (Each line's right edge is even with the other lines.)
    However, that would seem more applicable to addresses in Arabic rather than in Roman letters (such as English, French, etc.)

Pakistan

Format Examples

From Pakistan's UPU documentation
   Mr. Nasratullah Khan
   House No 17-B
   Street No 30
   Sector F-7/1
   ISLAMABAD-44000
   PAKISTAN
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Post Codes

Poland

Format Examples

Adaptation of UPU Example Addresses
   Mme Anna Kowalska                  recipient
   Ul. Bosmanska 1                    street address
   81-116 GDYNIA                      postal code + locality
   POLAND                             country name

   Poste Polonaise
   Direction générale
   Bureau du trafic international
   Pl. Malachowskiego 2
   00-940 WARSZAWA
   POLAND
   

Portugal

Format Examples

Addresses based upon UPU Example Addresses
   Sr. Antonio Costa                  recipient
   Rua do Farol 2                     street name, house/building number
   AZOIA
   2740-029 COLARES                   postal code + 'territorial subdivision'
   PORTUGAL                           country name


   CTT - CORREIOS DE PORTUGAL, S.A.
   Rua Conde de Redondo 79
   1167-921 LISBOA CODEX
   PORTUGAL
   

Format Information

Some notes on official formatting standards for Portugal addresses
Portugal's postal service has made some changes:
   SOME FORMAT CHANGES IN AN EXAMPLE ADDRESS:
   Sr. Antonio Costa                  
   Rua do Farol, 2                    remove comma from between street name, house/building number
   AZOIA
   2740-029 COLARES                   postal code now has three added digits for a total of seven
   PORTUGAL
                  

Puerto Rico

Format Information

Addresses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are often in Spanish.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are presently covered by the United States Postal Service.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

USPS Zip Code Lookup Form
Find the full zip code for any U.S. address.

Romania

Use the Romania Page.

Russia (Russian Federation)

Format Information

In general, mail to a Russian address from foreign countries such as the United States may have the recipient address components written in the following order. (from Russian Post website, but edited for mailing from outside Russia)
  • Name of addressee (for citizens-surname, name, patronymic )
  • Name of the street, number of the house and flat
  • Name of the settlement (town, village and other)
  • Name of the district
  • Name of the republic, territory, region, autonomous district(region)
  • Postcode
  • Name of the country (for international items)


Russian Post: "How to write address correctly"
  • Explains internal Russian mailing address formats.


Russian postal address information document at the UPU website
  • Warning: addresses are in format for mailing from inside Russia.
  • Some useful terms and abbreviations.
    Ulica(ul.) : street
    Pereulok.: lane
    Bulvar : boulevard
    Prospekt. : avenue
    Gorod (g.).: town / city
    Posclok (pos.).:small town
    Derevnya (der.).: village
    Dom (d.).: house
    Korpus (k.).: building
    Kvartira (kv.).: appartment
    Raion (r-n).: district
    Oblast (obl.).: province


Art Lebedev comments on local variant formats in "Housekeeping tip".
"Zelenograd, Moscow...has just building numbers, like bldg. 1001A, instead of full street addresses. The first two digits represent the district (number 10)."

Format Examples

UPU Example Addresses edited and annotated by us for clarity & correctness when mailing from the United States:

Example with addressee in a large town or city:
   Ivanov Alexander Ivanovitch        recipient (family name first)
   ul. Lesnaya d. 5, kv. 176          'ul.'(abbreviation for street) + street name + 'd.(doma=house) + house number, 'apt.' + apartment number  
   g. MOSKVA                          town/city
   123456                             postal code
   RUSSIAN FEDERATION                 country name
   
Example with addressee in a more rural area:
   Petrov Ivan Sergeevich             recipient (family name first)
   ul. Lesnaya d. 5                   'ul.'(abbreviation for street) + street name + 'd.(doma=house) + house number  
   pos. Lesnoe                        locality
   ALEKSCEVSKTY r-n                   district
   VORONEJSKAYA obl                   province (oblast)
   247112                             postal code
   RUSSIAN FEDERATION                 country name
   

Singapore

Format Examples

Example address from Singapore Post
   Singapore Post Pte Ltd
   10 Eunos Road 8
   #05-33 Singapore Post Centre
   Singapore 408600
   REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE          (Added for mailing from some foreign countries e.g. the United States)
   

UPU Examples
   Mr. M. Rajendran
   Blk 35 Mandalay Road
   # 13-37 Mandalay Towers
   SINGAPORE 308215
   REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

   Ms. Tan Bee Soo
   16 Sandilands Road
   SINGAPORE 546080
   REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
   

Addresses of many Singapore post offices:

Format Information

Mailing and Packaging Tips
For example:
  • Write the return address on the back of the envelope.
  • Don't put text or images within the designated 'clear zone' at the bottom of the front and back of the envelope.
  • Use a white or cream-colored envelope. If your envelope is colored at all, the color should be extremely light (e.g. a light pastel).

Cultural notes:
  • Never write the address or return address in red.

This page includes some information about how Singapore's postal codes work.
"The 6-digit postal code was introduced on 1 September 1995. It allows SingPost to assign a unique postal code to every house and building in Singapore so that the mail sorting system is able to sort mail directly into the sequence of delivery for each postman...."

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Singapore postal code lookup (requires Javascript).

South Africa

Format Examples

Some contact addresses for departments or services of the South African Post Office
   Customer Services
   497 Jacob Mare Street
   Pretoria
   0001
   South Africa
   
A "Private Bag" is for large customers who receive very large volumes of mail.
   Philatelic Services
   Private Bag X505
   Pretoria
   0001
   South Africa
   
from the UPU:
   Mr. J. Public
   1234 Church Street
   Colloyn
   PRETORIA
   0083 SOUTH AFRICA

   The Senior General Manager
   Postal Business
   SA Post Office
   P.O. Box 10 000
   PRETORIA
   0083 SOUTH AFRICA
   

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

"Post Code Finder"
Provided by the South African Post Office.

Miscellaneous Information

South African Post Office website.

"What is an Address in South Africa?" by Serena Coetzee and Antony K. Cooper
Interesting article for people who want to know a lot about South African address types.

Not really focused on formatting for mailing, however.

Some key points:

  • What are all the types of addresses found in South Africa? Which types are useful for which purposes?
  • As of the article's date, South Africa has no official address register.
  • Trying to cope with the ambiguities resulting from the above.

South Korea

Format Examples

from the UPU:
   Ministry of Information and Communication
   116 Shinmullo 1-ga
   Chongno-gu
   SEOUL 110-700
   REP OF KOREA
   
For more information you can contact:
   International Postal Division
   Bureau of Posts
   Ministry of Information and Communication
   SEOUL 110-700
   REP OF KOREA
   

Format Information

For best understanding, look at all of the South Korean address format references given below.

"Postal Addresses in Korea"
  • Complains that finding an address on foot can be difficult.
  • Explains some of the structure of South Korean addresses.
  • Explains more words found in a South Korean address.

"Korean Addresses" (an explanation for students of the Korean language), ARCHIVED AT ARCHIVE.ORG
  • Explains the basic structure of urban and rural South Korean addresses for mailing within Korea
  • Defines some terms that occur within postal addresses.
When mailing from many countries such as the U.S., you will have to place the name of the destination country at the bottom of the address, and the rest of the address will be in the reverse of the ordering usually used within Korea.
   AN EXAMPLE ADDRESS FORMATTED FOR MAILING FROM THE UNITED STATES OR WESTERN EUROPE:

   Ms. Yi Hun Kyong  [person's name]
   467 ponji         [house number]
   Yaum-dong         [subdivision or precinct of the city]
   Ulsan-si          [city name]
   Kyongsangnamdo    [province]
   South Korea       [country name: added for mailing from most foreign countries e.g. the United States]

Why does my house have two different numbers?
South Korea's postal service is changing building/house numbers to an easier sequential system. This can be confusing.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

South Korean Postal code / Zipcode Lookup (Requires Javascript)

Spain

Format Examples

from the UPU with our own annotations added:
   Sr. D. Alvaro Blanco Ruiz
   Luna, 10 - 3o               [street name, house/building number - floor number]  (For more information see Spanish Language Addressing page.)
   28300 ARANJUEZ (MADRID)
   SPAIN

   Organismo Autónomio Correos y Telégraphos
   Area de Asuntos Internacionales
   Calle Aduana, 29                       [street name, house/building number]
   28070 MADRID                           [postal code + city/town/locality]
   SPAIN
   

Format Information

Addresses in the Spanish Language
Postal abbreviations, honorifics, and more about addressing mail in Spanish.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

White Pages (with postal code link)

To use English, click on the little British flag (probably near upper left corner of page.)

The "codigo postal" search link is near the lower right corner of the page.

Fun Fact

"Digital Mail" can be printed and delivered on paper in Spain by the Spanish postal service. (Spanish-language web page.)

Sweden

Format Examples

Chris Herborth's Example
With piece-by-piece explanation [and light editing by BitBoost].

Jon "I can't stop reading email while on vacation" Wätte writes:

Ms. Hypothetical                Name of person/company/whatever
c/o Jon Wätte                   Extra name/info (optional)
Hagagatan 1, vi                 Street, number, apartment floor
SE-113 49 Stockholm             Postal code [113 49] and city
SWEDEN                          Country

For mail within Sweden, remove the "SE-" prefix (part of the ISO standard for country codes) and the country.


Martin Rebas' world domination letter
Hey, it's funny.
   Martin Rebas                            [Human being's name]
   Gyllenkrooksgatan 1                     [Street name + house number]
   412 84 GÖTEBORG                         [Postal code + city/town]
   SWEDEN                                  [Country name]
   

Format Information

"The Swedish Gazetteer - National Atlas of Sweden [search page]
Helps you find information about possible city/town names in Sweden, to help you evaluate an address' plausibility.

Switzerland

Format Examples

Example post office address
    Philatelie der Post     
    Maria Reichenbach       
    Fraumünsterpost         
    Kappelergasse 1         [street name + building number]
    8022 Zürich             [postal code + city/town/village  (If city/town/village name is not unique, place 2-letter abbreviation for the containing canton's name after the city/town/village.)]
    Switzerland             [country name]
If a letter has two döts over it, you may type an e after the letter instead of the dots.
    8022 Zuerich
Addresses with e.g. apartment/residence number, floor number, or apt/suite letter.
    Herr                         [Mr.]
    Hans Katze                   [person's name]
    Tastentanzenstrasse 5/16     [street name + building-number/apartment-number]
    1234 Zuerich                 [postal code + city (Zuerich = Zürich)]
    SWITZERLAND                  [country name]
    Frau                      [Mrs.]
    Wilhemlina Waschbaer      [first name + last name]
    Hochbaumstrasse 123 A     [street name + house or building number + apt. or suite letter]
    5678 Bern                 [postcode + city or town]
    SWITZERLAND               [country name]
Mail to a specific person within a larger organization
    Komputerfutzen AG             [business name]
    Herr Doktor X. Schmidt        [specific person]
    Denkmaschinenstrasse 1024     [street name + building number]
    4096 Zürich                   [postcode + city name]
    SWITZERLAND                   [country name]
PO BOX address with street address as secondary information -- this mail will normally be delivered to the PO BOX.
    Lachenwissenschaftsinstitut     [organization/institution name]
    Herr Doktor A. Klaun            [specific person]
    Zichzachweg 15                  [street name + building number]
    Postfach 230                    ["PO Box" + box number]
    9876 Tihidorf                   [postal code + city name]
    SWITZERLAND                     [country name]
Military Addresses
Military addresses may include general pseudo-'locations' such as 'Kaserne', 'Militär', etc. See page 48 of "Briefe Schweiz".

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

A postcode search form is within the right side of some pages on the Swiss Post website.

Format Information

Readability
  • Please don't address mail in cursive, italic, or old-style "Gothic" print.
  • Please don't address mail in light print on a dark background.
  • Font size should be between 2mm and 9mm high.
  • Successive lines of the address should be at least 1mm apart (including descenders.)
  • NO underlining please!

"Addressing Mail:" Some rather basic information.
(Will probably auto-detect language from your browser; to pick language click on one of the two-letter language codes "DE | FR | IT | EN" near upper right corner of page.)

Canton abbreviations (needed only if name of city/town/village is not unique)
AG Argau
AR Appenzell AusserRhoden
AI Appenzell Inner-Rhoden
BL Basel-Landschaft
BS Basel-Stadt
BE Bern
FR Fribourg
GE Geneva
GL Glarus
GR Graubunden
JU Jura
LU Luzern
NE Neuchâtel
NW Nidwalden
OW Obwalden
SG Sankt Gallen
SH Shaffhausen
SZ Schwyz
SO Solothurn
TG Thurgau
TI Ticino
UR Uri
VS Valais
VD Vaun
ZG Zug
ZH Zürich 

Address Validation, Verification, and/or Correction

Swiss Post provides various services helping you to maintain, update & correct your address lists
(some services require a fee.)

Taiwan (Republic of China)

Format Examples

U.S. Asis Environmental Partnership in Taiwan
   U.S. Asis Environmental Partnership in Taiwan
   (U.S.-AEP Taiwan), American Institute in Taiwan
   International Trade Tower
   32/F, 333 Keelung Road, Section 1
   Taipei, 10548
   TAIWAN, R.O.C.
   
An address for buying stamps by mail from the Directorate General of Posts (Taiwan)
   The Philatelic Department       [recipient]
   Directorate General of Posts    [recipient]
   55 Chin Shan South Road Sec. 2  [(house/building number) + street + section of street]  Some roads are divided into multiple sections, for each of which sections the house numbering starts over again.
   Taipei, Taiwan 10603            [city, (island name) + numeric postal code]
   TAIWAN, R. O. C.                [country]
   
Post Office Locations

Format Information

Some format information from the English-language section of the website of Taiwan's Postal Service.

Excerpts:

   Yu Chi Enterprises Co., Ltd.
   5 Lane 80 Taiyuen Road
   Datong District, Taipei City 10349
   Taiwan (R.O.C.)
   
Stamp: on the upper right corner

Writing order: first line - addressee or company's name
Second line - address number, alley, lane, road, and street
Third line - county, town, province, zip code
Fourth line - country

A diagram shows an example of how addresses in Taiwan can sometimes include not only a road and the specific section of the road, but also a further branching out to a lane and an alley.
"Here's the example of #4, Alley 14, Lane 104, 3rd Section, Xi-tun Road."

Never write the address or return address in red -- use blue or black ink.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postal code ("zip code") finding form from the English-language section of the website of Taiwan's Postal Service.

Ukraine

Format Examples

Example with addressee in a town or city:
    Ivan Kottovich Kuluchovskiy        recipient (given name first in this example, but family name can also be first)
    ul. Astronomicheskaya 22, kv. 33   'ul.'(=street) + house number, 'kv.'(=apt.) + apartment number
    Kharkov                            town/city/locality
    12345                              postal code
    UKRAINE                            country name
   
Some variations on this format are also used. For example,
  • Some abbreviations may sometimes be left out.
  • We have seen the postal code either below the town/city, or on the same line before or after the town/city.
        Ivan Kottovich Kuluchovskiy        recipient (given name first in this example, but family name can also be first)
        ul. Astronomicheskaya 22, kv. 33   'ul.'(=street) + house number, 'kv.'(=apt.) + apartment number
        Kharkov 12345                      town/city/locality + postal code
        UKRAINE                            country name
       

Format Information

Ukrpost (Ukraine Post)
says an address should include [at least]:
  • the full name
  • street, house number, flat number
  • name of the town/village
  • postal code
  • (for international correspondence, the name of the country)

Many abbreviations are similar to those of Russia.

Crimea's Special Status and Resulting Impact on International Mailing

See the Crimea page for information on sending letters and packages to Crimea despite present international difficulties.

United Kingdom (Great Britain, England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, U.K., Northern Ireland)

Please see United Kingdom / Great Britain Page.

WARNING: "GB" not "UK"?!
"UK" doesn't necessarily mean "United Kingdom" to the United States Postal Service!
In many U.S. computerized postage/addressing systems, don't mark your mail "UK" or pick "UK" if you want to send mail to Great Britain. The United States Postal Service has computer systems that use UK as an abbreviation for "Ukraine".

United States

Format Examples

Many street addresses include a direction (e.g. E = EAST):
   CHRIS NISWANDEE
   SMALLSYS INC
   795 E DRAGRAM
   TUCSON AZ 85705
   USA
   
An example with the optional latter 4 digits of the zip code:
   JOHN "GULLIBLE" DOE
   CENTER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DEPOSED NIGERIAN ROYALTY
   421 E DRACHMAN
   TUCSON AZ 85705-7598
   USA
   
With an apartment/suite/etc. number (which many addresses don't have):
   MARY ROE
   MEGASYSTEMS INC
   799 E DRAGRAM SUITE 5A
   TUCSON AZ 85705
   USA
   
If you don't have room for the apartment/suite/etc. number on the street address line:
   MARY ROE
   MEGASYSTEMS INC
   SUITE 5A-1204
   799 E DRAGRAM
   TUCSON AZ 85705
   USA
   
Many different terms for street type, or abbreviations for them, might follow the street name.
   JANE ROE
   200 E MAIN ST
   PHOENIX AZ 85123
   USA
   
"PO Box" and "POB" are two valid ways of saying "Post Office Box."
   BITBOOST PYTHON CODE OBFUSCATOR SALES
   PYTHON CODE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
   BITBOOST
   POB 65502
   TUCSON AZ 85728
   USA
   
Some variants exist. In certain regions, some addresses have a direction after the street name.
   JOHN SMITH
   300 BOYLSTON AVE E
   SEATTLE WA 98102
   USA
   
If an address has two conflicting lines, such as a post office box line and a street address line, the lower line will normally be used if mail can be delivered to that address. Most often conflicting lines are not used.
   JOHN SMITH
   100 MAIN ST
   PO BOX 1022
   SEATTLE WA 98104
   USA
   
The examples in the table above are in capital letters only, and omit puctuation, because that is what the USPS officially prefers.

Format Information

For consumer-level summaries see the United States Postal Service's
"Addressing Tips" and "Addressing Tips for Packages"

If you're running a business or other organization that sends mail on a larger scale, the United States Postal Service has a more in-depth guide at
"Business Mail 101".

USPS Web Page for Official Abbreviations (use tabs inside page to see different kinds of abbreviations)

Addresses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are often in Spanish.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

USPS Zip Code Lookup Form
Find the full zip code for any U.S. address.

Uruguay

Format Examples

A simple street address
   FELIX GATO                   [recipient]
   AV DE LOS SUSTANTIVOS 22     [street + house/building number]
   12345 MONTEVIDEO             [postal code + city ('department'/province is omitted from this address)] 
   URUGUAY
   
More complicated street address (a UPU example)
   JUAN CARL GONZALEZ               [recipient]
   AGRACIADA 1165 apto 101 piso 1   [street name + house/building number + apartment + floor]
   11600 PANDO CANELONES            [postal code + locality (e.g. city/town) + department (province)] 
   URUGUAY
   

Format Information

Address format based on information from Uruguay's postal service.
Recipient Street Address Format For International Mailing to Uruguay
  Address Line / Element Should All Addresses Include This?
1. Recipient (Name of Person, Name of Business/Organization, etc...) YES
2. Additional information used at delivery point (e.g. which department, mail stop, etc.) N
3. Additional information about the building or location (which neighborhood [aka 'barrio'], corner, etc.) N
4. Street Name + House/Building Number + Apartment/Suite/Office/etc.
YES (but apartment/suite/office/etc. is in only some addresses)
5. Postal Code (like a U.S. zip code) + Locality (city/town/village) + 'Department'[Province] YES (but department/province is sometimes not needed)
6. Country Name YES FOR MAILING FROM OUTSIDE URUGUAY

Addresses in the Spanish Language section (all information in English language.)
Postal abbreviations, honorifics, and more about addressing mail in Spanish.

In Spanish only: Correo Uruguayo (Uruguay Post)

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Postal Code Map/Lookup (Código Postales; Spanish-language only)

Venezuela

Format Information

Addresses in the Spanish Language section.
Postal abbreviations, honorifics, and more about addressing mail in Spanish.

Find Postcodes / Postal Codes

Find Postcodes / CPs (Spanish-language)
Provided by the Venezuelan postal service.

Wales

Please see United Kingdom / Great Britain.



Postal Rates



For our most complete listing of postal rates, please see our separate page on this topic.


Mailing from the United States

United States Postal Service International Rate Calculator
This calculates the total postage to send mail from the United States to any of various countries.
  • For letters, packages, flats, postcards.
  • Please note that it does not include the indirect costs of sending someone to the post office to fill out and sign customs forms, etc. So it would be unwise for a business to base its postage & handling charges on only the rate calculator's figures.

USPS Price List (International and Domestic)

Mailing from many other countries

Austrian Postage Calculator (in German language)
  • Postal rates for sending different sorts of mail from Austria. (Features may require Javascript.)
  • Note: "Tarifrechner" = postage calculator. "Brief" = letter. "Paket" = package. "Gebiet" = region. "Gewicht" = weight (weights are in grams or kilograms). "Inland" = within Austria. "Ausland" = outside of Austria. "Länge" = length. "Breite" = width. "Stärke" = thickness. Prices are in Austrian currency.

Australia Post's Postage Calculator
In-country and overseas postage rates for sending different sorts of mail from Australia.

Belgium
Prices in Euros.
  • Rate sheet as PDF document (German language)
    • "Auslandstarife" is "international rates"
    • "Europa" is the countries listed in the "Europa Zone".
    • "Restliche Welt" is of course the rest of the world (neither Belgium nor Europa)
    • "Maximaldicke: 5 mm" means "maximum thickness: 5 millimeters"
    • "Standardisierte Sendungen" means standard (mailing that meets standard rates)
    • "Nicht Standardisierte Sendungen" means NOT standard (for example, oversize rates)
    • "Briefversand" refers to letter rates
    • "Paketversand" refers to package rates
  • French-language and Flemish-language small customer ("residential") postage rate calculator links.
    • "Brief" = "letter" (Flemish-language)
    • "pakketten" gives rates for packages (Flemish-language).

Bhutan
Postage rates / calculator when mailing from Bhutan to anywhere. (Requires Javascript)

Canadian Postal Rates (Canada Post)
Mail from Canada to anywhere.

Danish Postal Service Website (many features require Javascript)

Fiji
Postage rates / calculator when mailing from Fiji to anywhere. (Requires Javascript)

Finnish Postal Rates (Finland Post)
Mail from Finland to anywhere.

French Postage Calculator (La Poste)
In English.

German Postage Calculator, by Deutsche Post (German Language; requires Javascript)
  • Mail from Germany to anywhere.
  • Note: "Stück nach." = Piece (of mail) to. "Länge, Breite, Höhe, Gewicht" = Length, Width, Height, Weight. "berechnen" = calculate/reckon.

Iceland Post website: English-language version.

India Postage Calculators (for mailing from India)
Domestic and international mail.

Irish Postal Rates (An Post)
Mail from Ireland to anywhere.

Italian Postal Rates (in Italian language)
You will have to understand enough Italian to click on the type(s) of mail that interests you; or an English language version of the website might be available.

Japanese Postal Rates
Japanpost website

Malaysian Postal Rates
Pos Malaysia website's postal rate links

New Zealand Rate Finders
Sending mail from New Zealand to anywhere. (Requires Javascript)

Saudi Arabia (requires Javascript)

Singapore (SingPost) Postal Calculator

South Africa
South African Postal Rates

Switzerland: "Sending Mail" (Swiss Postal Rates & Prices)
Links to price lists and calculators for various types of mail.

Taiwan (Republic of China) Postal Rates
This link might work, or you might have to look for the English section of this website.

United Kingdom: Royal Mail (price calculator requires Javascript).




Other Information



Links to Address/Telephone Directories of Many Countries (at CERN)
This page links to telephone/address directories for many countries.


French and Spanish language messages on returned mail (at USPS)
Translations of these messages.

"Translating the Messages on Returned Mail" [backup copies at archive.org]
"Help!!! What do these foreign returned mail endorsements mean? Look them up here (sorted by foreign term)."
Terms include Spanish, French, German, and Italian.





Other Guides to International Postal Address Formats



The Universal Postal Union (a division of the United Nations) provides address format examples for its 180+ member countries.
The UPU information is

The skimpiest country listings provide only one example address that's an atypical government bureaucrat address or PO Box. Certain countries and special regions, such as Taiwan/R.O.C., are left out because they don't have the right relationship with the United Nations.

Although we give several example addresses labeled as being drawn from UPU documentation, in most such cases we have combined these with our own information such as [our right-side annotations in gray]. Also, we have updated some such information where we found it necessary.

Requires Adobe's PDF / Acrobat viewer, and Javascript to access much of the information. Chris Herborth recommends that if you can't get an appropriate Adobe Acrobat viewer for your system, you might try a Ghostscript viewer.

No Javascript? Try this workaround page to access UPU documentation of mailing address formats for member countries anyway.

The United States Postal Service International Mail Manual
is more oriented towards giving information about customs requirements and mailing rates. Includes some special data such as where in Russia USPS Express Mail can be delivered.

Universal Postal Union > Worldwide postal organizations[s]
A listing of websites connected with various nations'/countries'/regions' postal services.

"Frank's Compulsive Guide"
has some good points and some drawbacks. Frank's guide historically has focused more on postcodes rather than on many other aspects of address formatting. There is a lot of miscellaneous background information. Unfortunately, to the casual mail sender, some of the background information would be obscure trivia or even misleading. You might have to do a lot of reading to look for the information that you wanted and find out if it's in Frank's guide. If you have to deal with large amounts of international mail addressing and you're developing a thorough understanding of the subject through using a variety of sources, this guide looks like appropriate reading, because you will be developing the right perspective to evaluate its contents. For example, if you're developing an involved system for tracking, storing, and formatting international addresses in a database, you really ought to read Frank's page among other sources.

Microsoft's "Appendix V International Address Formats."
A guide to "preferred address formats for selected countries." Includes about 30 countries. Designed for software developers wanting to give software users spaces in which to enter their countries' style of mailing address. For this reason some details of address arrangement may be missing, and some formatting may not be quite appropriate when sending mail from one country to another.

Graham Rhind's Links to Postcode Pages
Provides links to pages providing postal codes (the local equivalents of what in the United States are called zip codes.) Also tries to sell you a book. Does include a decent listing of "Links to Post Office Pages."

For links to information on address formats for some countries such as Cambodia, Croatia, Estonia, Lebanon, and Malaysia, scroll most of the way down near the bottom of his "Links to Other Address Issue Pages" to the "Country-by-country:" section.

Australia Post's International Guide
You can find out whether you might run into trouble mailing toy guns to Germany or lottery tickets to the United States. (Make sure you don't send Mexican jumping beans or Japanese shaving brushes to India--that's illegal!) Doesn't generally have address formatting information though.

Chris Herborth's International Mailing Address Formats
Currently offline. Chris Herborth says he is no longer maintaining or updating his International Mailing Address Formats web page. ...is a resource to help programmers write programs that handle different address formats. For programmers, Chris Herborth's International Mailing Address Formats page is worth viewing for even just the interesting links.

I have compared Herborth's page against other documents including the UPU's example address information, and it generally looks OK. For United States address formats, Herborth shows a positioning for suite/apartment number that the US Postal Service says in its most technically voluminous documentation is not theoretically the ideal format; but even most Americans wouldn't know any better, and I'm sure the mail would be delivered and look respectable anyway.

List of Postal Authority Websites (at Israel Postal Authority Website)


refdesk.com's Postal Information Resources.
An assemblage of miscellaneous links, most of which are USA-only.




Disclaimer

Although these links and other information were compiled by BitBoost Systems personnel primarily for the use of such personnel: None of the information included or linked to is guaranteed by BitBoost Systems to be available or correct. Nor is it guaranteed by any personnel or organizations associated with BitBoost Systems. BitBoost Systems takes no reponsibility for the results of using such links or other information.



Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Want to find out how to contact us? Then click here!
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Copyrights, Trademarks, Service Marks

© Copyright 1999-2017 by BitBoost Systems. All Rights Reserved.
BitBoost and BitBoost Systems are trademarks and service marks of BitBoost Systems.
We have composed and provided our own annotations for most addresses, so even if a source is given or suggested for an address, copyright on our own annotations remains our own. This is true even in the eventuality that someone adopts the form(at) of our annotations and/or copies some or all of our annotations, whether they do so under fair use or not.