Guidelines: Address Formats

For a domestic address, do not include US, United States, or USA on the last address line. The City, State, ZIP line should be bold font.

The correct domestic format is:

NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

For an international address, you must include the country name on the last line in bold font, but the spelling must be a certain way. If the country name is misspelled, abbreviated, or has some specific, other spelling, you may get an error message that the "State is not recognized". That means that mail authentication failed to recognize the address as an international address. For more information, see Guidelines: Return and Delivery Addresses for International Mailpieces.

The correct international format is:

NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, PROVINCE, POSTAL CODE
COUNTRY

For a military mail address, the Department of Defense has offered the following guidelines:

• Use the service member's full name.
• Include the unit.
• Use APO or FPO or DPO for the city.
• Use AA, AP, or AE for the state.
• Include the ZIP+4 Code.
• Include a return address.
• For packages, print on one side only.

• Note: Although APO/FPO mail uses domestic mail class services, customs forms are usually required for foreign destinations.

The military address format is:

Service Member's FULL NAME
PSC, UNIT, or CMR ADDRESS LINE
(APO or FPO or DPO), STATE (AA, AP, or AE), ZIP (5-digit or ZIP+4)

 

For more information about APO, FPO, and DPO addresses, guidelines and restrictions, see Send Military & Diplomatic Love.

• Important! Mail addressed to APO/FPO/DPO (overseas military and diplomatic) destinations may have many restrictions, and not all services are available. For more information about shipping to APO/FPO/DPO addresses, see the latest issue of the USPS Postal Bulletin and the USPS Preparing International Shipments.