France Postal Codes and Addressing Guide

France uses a five-digit postal code, the code postal, written before the name of the commune. The national postal operator is La Poste, and its conventions shape how French addresses are written, including the use of a special format for organisations known as CEDEX.

How French postal codes work

A code postal consists of five digits. The first two digits correspond, in general, to the département, the administrative unit that is smaller than a region, and the last three narrow the code down to a commune or a delivery office. Overseas departments and territories use codes beginning with 97 and 98. The fit with departments is general and not perfect, so a code should not be used to guess an exact administrative boundary.

One commune may have several codes, and one code may serve several small communes. The largest cities, such as Paris, use codes that include the arrondissement. The details are in France postal code format explained.

How addresses are written

French addresses place the house number before the street type and name, for example 12 rue de l'Exemple. The postal code and the commune name appear together on the last line. Organisations that receive large volumes of mail may use a CEDEX line. See how to write a French address correctly.

How UPCS codes work in France

UPCS generates a short code for an exact spot chosen on a map. In France the code begins with FR, followed by two blocks of letters and digits, for example FR-XXXX-XXXX (placeholder). Each code represents a 3 m x 3 m grid cell, and the same coordinates always give the same code.

A UPCS code is not an official postal code and is not issued by La Poste or the French government. It does not replace the code postal or the street address. It lets a driver, visitor or shop open the exact entrance, building door or collection point on a map.

Why the code postal alone is not always enough

A code postal identifies a commune or a delivery office, not a door. Entry codes, interphones, inner courtyards and rural lieux-dits mean a courier often needs more than the five digits and the street name. An exact map point can add that missing detail without changing the official address.

In this guide

Postal code format explains the five digits and the department link. Address format covers line order, lieux-dits and CEDEX. Finding a code postal shows how to look one up and check it. Delivery and addressing challenges looks at entry codes, courtyards and rural hamlets. For other countries, see the countries hub.