This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Italy address formatting, postal code structures, and localization practices. It includes information on postal services, languages, time zones, and address validation standards across Italy.
Address Format
Structure for standardized Italy postal addresses.
- Organization
- SubPremises
- SubPremisesLevel SubBuilding
- Building
- PremisesNumber Thoroughfare
- DependentLocality
- Locality
- SubAdministrativeArea
- PostalCode (EIRCODE)
- Country
Ireland postal addresses verification data.
| Available: | Yes |
| Does the country use Postal Codes: | Yes |
| PO Box Indicator: | Bosca PO, PO Box, FREEPOST, POSTE RESTANTE |
| ISO-2-Code: | IE |
| ISO-3-Code: | IRL |
| Phonecode: | 353 |
Address Example
Example of standardized Ireland postal addresses.
Country Info
Full Country Name: Ireland
| Country Alpha-2 code | IE |
|---|---|
| Country Alpha-3 code | IRL |
| Numeric Code | 372 |
Timezone
Ireland Time Zone Details
| Time Zone | UTC | DST |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) | UTC+0 | N/A |
| Irish Standard Time (IST) | N/A | UTC+1 |
Official Language
Irish (Gaeilge) and English are the official languages.
Fun Fact
-
The total area of Ireland is about 84,421 sq km / 32,595 sq miles, including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. (CIA World Factbook)
-
Ireland has a coastline of approximately 3,172 km / 1,971 miles, featuring cliffs, bays, and peninsulas. (CIA World Factbook)
-
The Republic of Ireland became fully independent from the United Kingdom in 1949, forming a sovereign nation. (CIA World Factbook)
-
Natural hazards include occasional flooding, storms, and coastal erosion due to its maritime climate. (CIA World Factbook)
-
Life expectancy is high, averaging about 82 years, reflecting strong healthcare and quality of life. (CIA World Factbook)
-
Ireland’s population growth is moderate, with a relatively young population compared to much of Europe. (CIA World Factbook)
-
The terrain is mostly low-lying plains with rugged hills and mountains in the west and south, and a temperate maritime climate dominates. (CIA World Factbook)
Postal Authority
An Post is the national postal service of Ireland. It provides comprehensive mail and parcel delivery services, financial services, and retail services throughout the Republic of Ireland.
Reference: https://www.anpost.com
Postal Code Format
In Ireland, postcodes called Eircodes were introduced in 2015. They consist of 7 characters formatted as A65 F4E2 (XXX XXXX). The first three characters identify the routing area, and the last four are a unique identifier. Eircodes appear after the address, town, and county.
Example: 123 Main Street, Dublin, D02 XY45
Postal Data & Certification
- ECAF: Eircode Address file with 2.2 million address points
- ECAD: Eircode Address Database with all ECAF data and additional geo-coordinate, boundary, and building information.
Name Conventions
Population Names
In Ireland, names follow the Western naming convention with given name(s) followed by the family name. Irish Gaelic names follow similar patterns:
[opt: title] [given name] [opt: middle name(s)] [FAMILY NAME] [opt: suffix]
Examples:
- Mr. Liam Murphy
- Ms. Aoife O'Connor
- Dr. Seán T. McCarthy
- Seán Óg Ó Súilleabháin
- Niamh Caitlín Ní Chathasaigh
Irish names may be in English or Irish (Gaelic), with many people using both forms of their name.
Common titles include Mr., Mrs., Ms., and professional titles like Dr., Prof. In Irish: An tUasal (Mr./Ms.).
Generational suffixes like 'Óg' may appear after the forename.
Irish surnames often begin with "O'" (Ó - grandson of) or "Mac/Mc" (son of), indicating patronymic origins.
Prefixes "O'" and "Mac" may be dropped in some contexts but are considered part of the surname.
Irish names often include the fada (´) accent mark, which changes pronunciation and meaning (e.g., Seán vs Sean).
Traditional naming patterns included naming children after grandparents, though this is less common now.
Upon marriage, individuals may keep their surname, adopt their spouse's surname, or use both. Women traditionally adopted their husband's surname but increasingly retain their maiden names.
The General Register Office governs name registration. Irish speakers may register names in Irish language form.
Organizational Names:
Irish businesses must register with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). Common legal entity designations include:
-
Ltd (Limited) – Private company limited by shares
-
PLC (Public Limited Company) – Public limited company
-
DAC (Designated Activity Company) – Company with specific objects
-
LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) – Limited liability partnership
-
Teoranta (Teo.) – Limited (Irish language)
Company names must be unique and not misleading. Names can be in English, Irish, or both. The legal designation typically appears at the end of the company name.
