Addressing Solutions

Universal POST*CODE® DataBase

A world postcode database containing the postcodes of 192 member countries.

Use the POST*CODE® DataBase to look up, validate, cleanse or customize (by geographical region or country) addresses worldwide.

Tailor-made solutions

Our activities cover the collection, analysis and processing of international postal data with a view to improving the quality of international addressing and postcodes.

We develop tailor-made solutions for the cleansing, validation and standardization of international address files.

  • Universal POST*CODE® DataBase Product Sheet
    09.02.2020
    The world database of raw postcode data contains all available information on the postal addressing data of the 192 member countries of the UPU.
    English German Spanish
  • Updated: August 2024
    - Contract
    - Non-disclosure agreement
    - Exhibits 1,2,3 
    - Data use declaration
    - Rates
  • 1. Updated data sets and update description
    2. List of data sets and database volume
    3. Territories, countries subdivisions and interrelated data sets
    4. Territories, country subdivisions and interdependent data sets
    5. Description of files
    6. Description of the structure of folders on CD/FTP in the deliveries
  • Extracts from Universal POST*CODE® DataBase
    16.09.2024
    Updated: August 2024
    For additional samples, please contact us.
    Africa Asia CentralAmerica EasternEurope WesternEurope Territories SpecialCountries e-LITE

Addressing knowledge centre

Addressing practices differ essentially from country to country: there are more than 200 address formats in the world, 200 database structures and at least 20 language scripts are officially used to write addresses.

This diversity is very difficult to comply with when dealing with addressing at the international level. Our Addressing Knowledge Centre is designed to answer questions arising as a result of this variety and complexity. 

It consists of three parts: Universal POST*CODE® DataBase-specific FAQs, General Addressing Issues and Thoroughfare Types and Abbreviations.

  • Updated August 2022 - Where I can find the list of field lengths/types of the Universal POST*CODE® DataBase data? etc.
  • Updated November 2022 - Where can I find lists of different types of thoroughfares, and their abbreviations used in different countries?
  • Updated November 2024 - Which countries in the world have/do not have a postcode system?
    Is there a standard that a country should follow when it does not adopt a postcode?

Postcodes contact

For any questions regarding POST*CODE® and addressing products, please contact:

Carla SAHLI
Sales and Marketing
Universal Postal Union
International Bureau
Addressing Solutions
P.O. Box 312
3000 BERNE 15
SWITZERLAND
Contact
Email postcode@upu.int

Telephone +41 31 350 34 91
Fax +41 31 350 31 10

POST*CODE® Newsletter

Postal Addressing Systems (PAS)

A proper addressing system guarantees speed and efficiency in the processing of postal items among UPU member countries (including their territories) and other non-member country territories (as exceptionally authorized by the Acts of the UPU or the decisions of its bodies). The information available on these pages allows you to:

  • Prepare addresses in accordance with the standards of the designated operator of the country of destination;
  • Obtain additional information on a country’s addressing system or postal operations;
  • Check that a postcode is correctly structured, by checking the number and nature of its components;
  • Verify that the elements comprising a postal address are written correctly.

Postal addressing systems in member countries and/or territories

Use this tool to ensure that your address is written correctly, and that Posts worldwide process your mail fast and efficiently.

Please select a country

International addressing

Looking up a postcode

The postcode is the fundamental, essential element of an address. It is a key component of a postal addressing system.

A unique, universal identifier, it unambiguously identifies the addressee's locality and assists in the transmission and manual or automated sorting of mail items.

At present, around 130 countries use postcodes as part of their addressing systems.

To validate an international address, consult the websites of one of our partners.

https://www.informatica.com/products/data-quality/data-as-a-service/address-verification/address-formats.html#fbid=MI598aRrRul

To search for a postcode, consult the list of UPU designated operators' websites in the menu below.

List of sites by country

List of member countries and territories proposing this service.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Overseas Territories)

Official name
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Overseas Territories)
ISO Code 3166/Alpha-2
-
Date of entry into UPU
01.04.1877
Contribution units
4
 
Sort by :

Audit Consulting

  • For proper dispatch and delivery, a full and accurate address for the recipient is vital.
    With cross-border deliveries and different postal addressing systems from one country to the next, sound address management is a must.
    We can advise companies and suggest a fix.
    Your must-have address for support and guidance is: postcode@upu.int
  • This software tool will guide you for easy address data entry or acquisition of international and country-specific addresses. It will facilitate your address data management as well as the standardized address rendition on your mail or parcels for trusted delivery.

Addressing S42 standard

The UPU has developed two addressing standards: S42 and S53.

Standard S42: International postal address components and templates

The S42 international addressing standard consists of two parts:

S42 part A defines:

  • a set of postal address components used in worldwide addresses;
  • languages for expressing address templates, i.e. formal descriptions of address formatting rules.

S42 part B:

  • provides country-specific address templates. A country defining its S42 template provides precise information about its address elements and formatting rules.
  • creates a library of templates that can be easily incorporated into computer systems for managing addresses.

Standard S 53: Exchange of name and address data

S53 facilitates exchange of name and address data between postal authorities, businesses, mailers and other organizations. It incorporates the S42 elements and templates.

  • The S42 international addressing standard comprises of a generic list of address elements (used in all UPU member countries) and country-specific templates that tell users how to transform address elements into an accurately formatted address.

Steps to create S42 template


This page outlines the process for creating a new template.

Country: submit sample

To launch its template development, the country contacts the S42 expert group by e-mail. The country's expert supplies a sample data set, which should consist of between 20 and 50 address examples representing all the address formats recommended by the postal operator. 

Country and UPU: map addresses into elements

Each address in the sample needs to be mapped into S42 elements reflecting their use in the country. For example, mapping the address line "12 Main Street" involves dividing it into 3 parts: "12", "Main", and "Street", and linking them to appropriate address elements as follows: "12" – street number; "Main" – thoroughfare name; "Street" – thoroughfare type.

UPU: create a draft template based on mapped sample

On the basis of a mapped sample, the S42 expert group creates a template which is fed into a computer program known as a tester. This program reassembles each address from elements and checks the result against the submitted data. The test of the template is positive when all addresses from the sample have been assembled correctly.

Country: validate and approve template 

At the end of the process, the country expert checks that:

  • all addresses in the sample data set are properly formatted;
  • the sample contains a sufficiently complete representation of formats recommended by the country; and
  • the addresses are correctly mapped to S42 elements.

UPU: publish template and deliver certificate

The template developed through this process is published in the next version of standard S42, and the country that developed the template is presented with a “S42 certificate of recognition” during one of the annual Postal Operations Council or Council of Administration sessions.

Compliant countries

S42 templates have been developed for the countries listed below.

For each S42 compliant country this web page provides access to standardized address format description (SAFD). The SAFD includes address formats, mapping of S42 elements to national elements specified by countries and metadata incorporated in the S42 template.

Access to XML S42 templates is provided for registered users only. See application form.

Please select a country

Getting compliant

  • This spreadsheet is intended to assist in submitting the country specific address sample for S42 template test purpose. It lists the most popular address types and prompts country expert to provide address example of each type that is recommended in this country.

Application to access templates

By submitting this form, you will receive credentials to download XML S42 templates for compliant countries.

Registration allows us to send important notices on updates and additional resources and evaluate interest in the country templates.

Please see liability and privacy policy in UPU Disclaimer page.

Please note that fields marked with a star (*) are mandatory.

By submitting this form, you will receive credentials to download XML S42 templates.

S42 Contact

For any questions regarding S42, please contact:

S42
  Address
Universal Postal Union
International Bureau
Addressing Solutions
P.O. Box 312
3000 BERNE 15
SWITZERLAND
Contact
Email S42@upu.int

Telephone

+41 31 350 31 11
Fax +41 31 350 31 10