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How to address your mail (Clear addressing)
These guidelines show the best way to address your mail for fast delivery in the UK and abroad.
Write the address clearly on the front following our clear addressing guide lines and always include a postcode when you can. You can search for up to 50 postcodes or addresses, free of charge, with our Postcode Finder.
Before sending your item, please check our Prohibited and restricted items - advice for personal customers and Country guides to make sure your item can be sent in the mail.Addressing your item
- The name and address go on the bottom left corner of the front of the envelope or parcel.
- Use a clear and easy to read hand writing (or font if you are printing the address).
- Use a pen or ink that is clear against the colour of the envelope or parcel.
- Left align the text (no centred or 'stepped' lines).
- No commas or full stops.
- Leave a generous margin around the address.
- Place the correct postage on the top right.
Remember to include a return address so if for any reason your item can't be delivered, we can send it back to you.
Write the words 'return address' on the back of the envelope and underneath that, the actual return address.
Best way to write a UK address
British Forces Post Office (BFPO) addresses
The address layout is:
Service Number, Rank and Name
Unit/Regiment
Operation or Location Name (if applicable)
BPFO Number
Please note: the town and country mustn't be included
Please go to our HM Forces Mail page for full details, and any restrictions.
A full list of BFPO addresses is available at Gov.uk.
Typical way to write an address to an international destination
Using coloured envelopes (Tip - stick on a white label with black ink.)
It's important that the address shows up against the colour of your envelope.
Top lines
Write or print the name of the person (or people) you are sending to on the first line, above the address. It's best to include their surname as well as their first name.
You can add a line for an organisation name.
Middle lines
Use a line for the property number and street name.
If the property has a full name, this can take up one line and drop the street name onto the next line.
Next line can be used to name the local area or village name.
Next line should be for the town. Write the name of the town in capital (upper case) letters.
There is no need to include a county name, your letters and parcels will reach your intended recipient without one. If, however, you'd prefer to include a county name, you' are welcome to do so.
Bottom line
UK destination: The final line should be the UK postcode, again in capital letters.
International destination: After the area code, add the country name to the final line, again in capital letters.
Address formats for specific countries:
The State abbreviation should be inserted on the same line as, and between, the town and the postcode.
Mr J Brownhall
264 High Street
ALLAMBIE NSW 2100
AUSTRALIA
Beethovenstrasse 12
1010 WIEN
AUSTRIA
Mr Willy Janssens
Lange Stationsstraat 352
3000 LEUVEN
BELGIUM
M. Emile Dubois
Rue du Diamant 215
4800 VERVIERS
BELGIUM
Av Paulista 952, Apto 16
B VISTA
01311-300 Sâo Paulo - SP
BRAZIL
Dimo Hadjikimov 6
1606 SOFIA
BULGARIA
150 Rue Nepeau App5
OTTAWA ON K1P 2P6
CANADA
Ilica 25
41 000 ZAGREB
CROATIA
Fibichova 92
125 02 PRAGUE 3
CZECH REPUBLIC
Tietgensgade 137
8800 VIBORG
DENMARK
Mr Torben Raldorf
PO Box 100
COPENHAGEN
1004 VIBORG
DENMARK
PO Box 511
39140 AKDENMAA
FINLAND
When addressing mail to France, write the addressee’s surname in CAPITAL letters.
M. Robert MARIN
Rue de l’Eglise
Dunes
82340 AUVILLAR
FRANCE
Mme Marie PAGE
23 Rue de Grenell
75700 PARIS CEDEX
FRANCE
Germany has strict rules about receiving mail, which, if ignored, may result in your mail being returned to you with no attempt at delivery. When addressing mail to Germany, always:
- Use the new five-digit postcode (using an old four-digit postcode will cause delay)
- Put the postcode before the town name
- Put the house number after the street name
Mrs F Meier
Weberstr. 2
53113 BONN 1
GERMANY
Mr P Kunde
Lange Str. 12
04103 LEIPZIG
GERMANY
Alkamenou 37
117 80 ATHENS
GREECE
Budapest
Kossuth u.7
1055
HUNGARY
Einimel 80
107 REYKJAVIK
ICELAND
In 2015 a seven digit postcode system was developed for Ireland and should be used in all addresses, other than those for PO Boxes.
All mail for Ireland should now be addressed as illustrated below:
Eason
80 Abbey Street Middle
DUBLIN 1
DO1 P8N3
IRELAND
The introduction of the new codes will not in any way affect the existing address structure. The postcode will occupy a new line at the bottom of addresses for domestic mail and the penultimate line for international mail.
27 Rue Yafo
91999 JERUSALEM
ISRAEL
via Garibaldi 27
47037 RIMINI RN
ITALY
504 Kasumigaseki 1 chome
Chiyoda-ku
TOKYO
100 JAPAN
100 Sejongno, Jongno-gu
SEOUL 110-050
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
71 route de Longway
4750 PETANGE
LUXEMBOURG
San Antonio Abad 120 – Piso 4
06820 CIUDAD DE MEXICO
MEXICO
There should be a double space between the postcode and the post town
Mr J van Dieten
Morsstr 111
2312 BK LEIDEN
THE NETHERLANDS
64 Waterloo Quay
WELLINGTON 1
NEW ZEALAND
Svingen 22
9230 BEKKEHAUG
NORWAY
ul Cicha 5
62-806 KALISZ
POLAND
Av das A’Augsa Livres
Monte Trigo
7220 PORTEL
PORTUGAL
Rosalina Silva
R Conde Redondo 80
1192 LISBOA CODEX
PORTUGAL
Bd Golescu 38
77113 BUCHAREST
ROMANIA
Oulitsa Gagagin 7
103375 MOSCOW
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Items for the former Yugoslavia should be addressed to the relevant Republic.
Mr Stevan Raukovic
Palmoticeva 2
11001 BELGRADE
SERBIA
532 Chai Chee Road
SINGAPORE 1646
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
Olsanka 18
820 01 BRATISLAVA 1
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Poštna ulica 5
2250 PTUJ
SLOVENIA
The province should be included in brackets after the town.
Sra Ana Jimenez
Mimbreras 4
03201 ELCHE (Alicante)
SPAIN
Vasavagen 3 4tr
582 20 LINKOPING
SWEDEN
Schanzenstrasse 7
3030 BERNE
SWITZERLAND
13/54-26 Chaeng Waltana Road
Bang Kehn
BANGKOK 10002
THAILAND
Iskele Caddesi 35
06101 ANKARA
TURKEY
252001 KIEV
Prospect F Skaryna
UKRAINE
If only the first half of the postcode is known, this will be sufficient, although both parts are preferred. The abbreviation USA is also acceptable.
Mr Joe Engle
1612 Dexter Street
FORT WAYNE IN 46805
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Mr Bill Harrison
347 L’Enfant Plaza SW
WASHINGTON DC 20260-6500
USA
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