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Iran Postal Codes and Addressing Guide
How Iran's ten-digit postal code and Persian address structure work, and how a UPCS IR code can mark an exact building entrance or gate.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 3 min read
Iran uses a ten-digit postal code (کد پستی) that is assigned at the level of individual buildings or units, and addresses are written in Persian, from province down to unit number. The national postal operator is Iran Post.
How the Iranian postal system works
The ten-digit code is notable for how precise it is: instead of covering a whole post office area, it is generally linked to a specific property. The first part of the code identifies the city and the district or block of the city, and the second part identifies the particular street segment and building. The code is normally written as one unbroken number, or in two groups of five digits for readability.
Persian digits are commonly used on documents and forms, while Latin digits appear in many online forms. Both represent the same number, and systems usually accept either.
How addresses are written
An Iranian address is typically written in Persian, right to left, starting with the province and city, then the district or neighbourhood, the main street, side street or alley (کوچه), the building number (پلاک), floor (طبقه), unit (واحد), and finally the postal code. The Iranian address format page goes through each part.
Street names in Iran often honour people and events, and a main street may change its name along its length, so couriers often rely on nearby landmarks as well.
How UPCS codes work in Iran
UPCS codes for Iran begin with the prefix IR and have the form IR-XXXX-XXXX, with letters or digits in each block. A code identifies a 3 m by 3 m cell on a map, such as the entrance of a building or a courtyard gate.
It is not an official postal code and is not issued by Iran Post or any government body. It does not replace the ten-digit code or the written address. Instead, it can accompany them so that a courier or visitor can open the exact point.
Why the system matters for delivery
Because a postal code can point to a single building, online shops and couriers in Iran often validate the code against the written address before dispatch. Mismatches, such as a code that belongs to a different street, are a common reason for held parcels, so keeping the address and code consistent is worth a minute of checking.
In this guide
- Iran postal code format explains the ten-digit structure and common input mistakes.
- Iranian address format shows the Persian component order and a sample.
- Find a postal code in Iran describes lookup and verification.
- Delivery and addressing in Iran covers courier challenges and exact-location codes.
See also the countries hub and the guides.
In this guide
Frequently asked questions
How many digits is an Iranian postal code?
An Iranian postal code has ten digits and is generally assigned to an individual building or unit, which makes it much more precise than many other national codes.
Is a UPCS code the same as the Iranian postal code?
No. A UPCS code is not issued by Iran Post or any authority. It marks an exact map location and can be shown next to the standard address.