FAQ
Business FAQ: UPCS for Stores and Couriers
Answers for online stores, couriers and businesses about UPCS partner accounts, API keys, request limits, allowed origins, plugins and supported countries.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 4 min read
UPCS gives stores, couriers and other businesses a short code for an exact delivery location chosen on a map. These answers cover partner accounts, API keys, limits, supported countries and how the code reaches your orders. For technical details see the developer FAQ and the documentation.
Frequently asked questions
What can a business use UPCS for?
A business can let customers pick an exact delivery spot on a map and receive a short UPCS code for it. The code and its coordinates can be saved with the order so couriers know precisely where to go. It sits alongside the normal address.
Is a UPCS code a replacement for the customer's postal address?
No. A UPCS code is not an official postal code and is not issued by any government or postal operator. It is a complementary exact-location code that can accompany a normal address.
How do I create a UPCS partner account?
Go to the partner page on upcs.io and fill in the sign-up form with your name, work email, business or store name and a password, and choose your platform. This partner account is separate from the WhatsApp sign-in used for personal accounts. Once it is created you land in the partner panel, where a first API key already exists and where you manage your keys and allowed origins. Keys start with upcs_ and can be shown and copied from the panel.
Can I use one API key for all my integrations?
Yes. The same key works in the UPCS plugins and in custom code. Remember that the hourly request limit applies per key.
What is the hourly request limit on an API key?
Each key has an hourly request limit, which is 1,000 requests per hour by default. When the limit is exceeded, the API returns a 429 response with the code rate_limited.
What are allowed origins and why do I need them?
Allowed origins are the website addresses that are permitted to show the UPCS embedded map with your key. They belong to your partner account and you register them in the partner panel. A session request for an origin that is not registered is rejected with a 403 and the code origin_not_allowed.
Do I need to register my store domain before the embedded map will work?
Yes. If you embed the map in a custom site, the site's origin must be registered under Allowed origins in the partner panel. Only https origins are accepted, with http://localhost:5173 allowed for development.
How does the UPCS code reach the order in my store?
With the WordPress/WooCommerce plugin the code, latitude and longitude are saved as order meta. The PrestaShop module can link the location to the order and the OpenCart extension attaches the location to the order. For a custom site you receive the code from the map selection and store it yourself.
Can I use UPCS on Shopify or another platform without a plugin?
UPCS has no Shopify plugin, and none for Wix, Squarespace, Joomla, Drupal or Magento. If a platform lets you add your own code and a server component, you can use the embeddable map and the REST API described in the documentation.
Which countries can my business use UPCS in?
UPCS supports 25 countries, including Pakistan, the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. A point outside the supported countries returns a 422 response with the code unsupported_location and no code is generated.
Can couriers use UPCS codes to find a delivery point?
Yes. A courier can paste a code into the search box on upcs.io, or open the address upcs.io followed by the code, and land on the exact spot the customer picked. The lookup page offers Open in Map, Get Directions and Copy coordinates.
How precise is a UPCS code for a delivery?
Each code identifies a 3 m by 3 m square, and the same place always gives the same code. A courier who opens the code is taken to the exact spot the customer picked.
Should I keep my API key private?
Yes. Keep the key on your server and never place it in public browser code. The browser should only receive the short-lived session token created by your server.
Can I restrict which servers may use my key?
A key can carry an IP restriction, and a session request from an IP address that is not allowed is rejected with a 403 response that has no code. The partner panel does not manage IP restrictions, so contact UPCS if you need one reviewed. Origins for the embedded map are controlled separately under Allowed origins.
What happens if I disable an API key or remove an allowed origin?
Disabling a key or removing an origin immediately stops the embed sessions that depend on it. Visitors on your site will then be unable to use the map until the key or origin is restored.
Does UPCS offer address autocomplete or address validation for my checkout?
No. UPCS generates a code for an exact map location and looks codes up. It does not provide address autocomplete or address validation as a product.
Can I upload a spreadsheet of addresses to get codes in bulk?
No, bulk upload is not available. Codes are created from individual locations through the map or through the API.
Does UPCS integrate with postal operators or government systems?
No. UPCS is an independent system and is not connected to any postal operator or government. Its codes sit alongside official postal addresses.
Will a courier who opens the code land on the customer's exact spot?
Yes. The code is created from the exact point the customer picked, and opening it takes the courier to that same spot. Timing and delivery outcome remain with the courier.
Can UPCS help customers whose address has no street name or number?
Yes. The customer picks the spot on the map and the code leads straight to it, so no street name or house number is needed to describe the location.