Reference · PstlAdr

ISO 20022 PstlAdr fields: StrtNm, BldgNb, PstCd, TwnNm and Ctry

PstlAdr describes a party's postal address in an ISO 20022 message. The hard part is not memorising tags, but placing each value in the right element without duplication or invented data.

Written by Struct20022 · updated July 16, 2026

What does PstlAdr do?

In a payment file, PstlAdr can be attached to the debtor, creditor or another party in the message. It groups postal address elements in a form that systems can read and check.

A syntactically valid address is not necessarily correct. XML schema validation checks shape; street, postcode, town and country quality still need to be checked in the source data.

The five fields to learn first

StrtNm contains the street name, for example Boulevard Voltaire. The building number should not be merged into the street when BldgNb is available. BldgNb contains the building number and, where supported by the source, a useful suffix such as 8 bis.

PstCd contains the postcode in the country's format. TwnNm contains the expected town or locality without the postcode mixed into it. Ctry contains the two-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code, such as FR, DE, GB or CH.

For structured and hybrid formats used in the relevant CBPR+ flows, TwnNm and Ctry are the decisive minimum. Other fields add precision when the source data genuinely contains them.

Fully structured or hybrid address

A fully structured address places components in dedicated elements and does not use AdrLine. It is the easiest form to control over time.

A hybrid address keeps TwnNm and Ctry in dedicated fields while allowing up to two 70-character AdrLine values for detail that cannot be structured reliably. Information already held in a structured element must not be repeated in AdrLine.

The other structured elements

PstlAdr also provides Dept, SubDept, BldgNm, Flr, PstBx, Room, TwnLctnNm, DstrctNm and CtrySubDvsn. They cover departments, buildings, floors, post boxes, rooms, localities, districts and administrative subdivisions.

These fields are optional and country-dependent. A subdivision should not be generated mechanically when it has no useful postal role; a missing field is better than an assumed value.

Structure, quality and existence are different checks

Structure confirms that data sits in the expected elements. Quality checks formats, lengths and contradictions. Existence validation then compares the address with a postal or official source when one is available.

A useful audit retains the original row, each check's status and its warnings. Finance and master-data teams can then correct only the rows that need work.

PstlAdr examples

Fully structured address

<PstlAdr>
  <StrtNm>Boulevard Voltaire</StrtNm>
  <BldgNb>8 bis</BldgNb>
  <PstCd>75011</PstCd>
  <TwnNm>Paris</TwnNm>
  <Ctry>FR</Ctry>
</PstlAdr>

Hybrid address without duplication

<PstlAdr>
  <PstCd>75011</PstCd>
  <TwnNm>Paris</TwnNm>
  <Ctry>FR</Ctry>
  <AdrLine>8 bis Boulevard Voltaire</AdrLine>
</PstlAdr>

Field-by-field checklist

1Separate street name StrtNm from building number BldgNb when both are known.
2Keep the national postcode format in PstCd.
3Put the town only in TwnNm.
4Use an ISO alpha-2 country code in Ctry.
5Do not use AdrLine in a fully structured address.
6In hybrid format, do not repeat structured data in AdrLine.
7Populate optional fields only when the source provides them.

FAQ

Are all PstlAdr fields mandatory?

No. For the structured and hybrid formats targeted by CBPR+, TwnNm and Ctry are the minimum. Other elements depend on available data and the applicable usage rules.

Is PstCd always mandatory?

Not under the general minimum rule. It remains highly useful for disambiguation and may be required by a national context, bank or specific usage guideline.

What is the difference between Ctry and CtrySubDvsn?

Ctry identifies the country with two letters. CtrySubDvsn describes a state, province or other subdivision when it is relevant to that country's address format.

Does AdrLine automatically make an address invalid?

No. AdrLine is incompatible with a fully structured address, but it can be used in a hybrid address that meets mandatory-field and non-duplication rules.

Does a well-formed PstlAdr prove that the address exists?

No. It only proves that the structure is usable. Existence requires a suitable postal, official or address-validation source for the country.

Official sources

Check these fields in a real file

Struct20022 audits PstlAdr blocks and tabular files, retains original rows and flags priority corrections.

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