Switzerland Address Format With Examples
Switzerland, often referred to as the “Land of the Alps,” is a picturesque country in the heart of Europe, known for its breathtaking mountain landscapes, pristine lakes, and vibrant cities. Despite its small size, Switzerland boasts immense diversity, with four official languages—German, French, Italian, and Romansh—reflecting its rich cultural heritage. Home to iconic cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Bern, Switzerland blends modernity with tradition, offering visitors historic architecture, cutting-edge innovation, and natural beauty. Let us explore how you should write an address for sending the package to Switzerland.
Switzerland Address Format Breakdown
Recipient Name
Include the recipient’s full name on the first line while addressing a mailer or package. If you are sending the mailers to a business, write the company name first, followed by the recipient’s name or department.
Example
PAUL MEIER
Or
SWISS TECH SOLUTIONS
ATTN: PAUL MEIER
Street Address
Write down the street name and house/building number for residential or business addresses. If your recipient relies on a Post Office Box, write “Postfach.” and then include the box number. Apartment numbers can be added after the street name or on a separate line.
Example
HAUPTSTRASSE 45, APT 3A
Or
Postfach 134
Postal Code and City/Town
Switzerland relies on a four-digit postal code system. Write the postal code before the city or town name. Zürich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern are some major cities in Switzerland.
Example
8001 ZURICH
Or
3000 BERN
Country Name
Write the country name in the last line. If you are sending international mail, always write the country name in capital letters.
Example
SWITZERLAND
Country Name
Example
Switzerland
Special Considerations to Write a Switzerlandn Address
- Address Placement: Write the address on the bottom right corner of the envelope.
- Address Line Alignment: The address lines should be left aligned.
- Language: German, French, Italian, and Romansh are the official languages of Switzerland, every address must be written in one of these languages for domestic mail. However, English is acceptable for international mail.
- Rural Addressing: Street names are less common in rural areas. It is recommended to use village names near larger towns to ensure successful deliveries.
- Apartment Numbers: Clearly include apartment or unit numbers for multi-tenant buildings.
- Capitalization: For clarity and legibility write the whole address in the capital letter.
Examples of Different Types of Switzerlandn Address Format
Residential Address Format
Write the recipient’s name, street address or PO box number, postal code, city/town, and country for residential addresses.
Example
PAUL MEIER
BAHNHOFSTRASSE 123
8001 ZURICH
SWITZERLAND
Rural Address Format
In rural areas without formal street names, include the village or settlement name, followed by the nearest major town, postal code, and country.
Example
HANS MÜLLER
DORFPLATZ 2
6487 GÖSCHENEN
SWITZERLAND
Business Address Format
Add the company name on the first line, followed by the recipient’s name and their department. The rest will be according to the standard Swiss address format. To ensure that the internal distribution system sends mail to the correct office and desk, write ATTN in front of the name.
Example
SWISS TECH SOLUTIONS
ATTN: PAUL MEIER
HAUPTSTRASSE 45
3000 BERN
SWITZERLAND
International Address Format for NGOs and Organizations
For international organizations or NGOs operating in Switzerland, include the name of the organization followed by the specific department or program.
Example
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ATTN: IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
AVENUE DE LA PAIX 20
1202 GENEVA
SWITZERLAND
PO Box Address Format
For mail sent to a Post Office Box, replace the street address with “Postfach” followed by the PO Box number.
Example
MARTIN SCHMIDT
POSTFACH 567
6000 LUCERNE 7
SWITZERLAND
Military Address Format
In Switzerland, military addresses are managed by the Swiss Armed Forces and typically involve the unit or division name along with the specific military postal box number. These addresses are standardized for secure and efficient mail delivery.
Example
CAPTAIN MARKUS KELLER
SWISS ARMY UNIT 10
POSTFACH 123
3000 BERN
SWITZERLAND
Government Office Address Format
When sending mail to a government office in Switzerland, include the name of the office or department first, followed by the recipient’s name (if applicable), the street address, postal code, and city. For international mail, add “SWITZERLAND” at the end.
ATTN: DR. THOMAS KELLER
SCHWARZENBURGERSTRASSE 157
3003 BERN
SWITZERLAND
| Example (for Family) | Example (for Businesses) |
| PETER MÜLLER
ANNA MÜLLER FAMILY MÜLLER DORFSTRASSE 10 8000 ZURICH SWITZERLAND |
SWISS TECH SOLUTIONS
ATTN: PAUL MEIER ATTN: SANDRA KELLER MARKETING DEPARTMENT BAHNHOFSTRASSE 25 3000 BERN SWITZERLAND |
Address Format for Courier Services
When using courier services like DHL or FedEx, include the recipient’s name, address, and contact details such as a phone number to facilitate smooth delivery, especially in cases of rural or hard-to-access locations.
Example
SANDRA KELLER
SEEFELDSTRASSE 88
8008 ZURICH
SWITZERLAND
PHONE: +41 44 123 4567
Postal Information
The Swiss postal system, managed by “Swiss Post”, is renowned for its efficiency and reliability, serving as a cornerstone of Switzerland’s infrastructure since its establishment in 1849. As the national postal service provider, Swiss Post delivers mail and parcels domestically and internationally, ensuring seamless connectivity even to the most remote alpine regions.
Known for its punctuality and precision, the organization has evolved with the times, integrating digital services and sustainable practices, such as eco-friendly delivery vehicles. Swiss Post operates an extensive network of post offices and self-service kiosks across the country, catering to Switzerland’s multilingual population in German, French, Italian, and Romansh-speaking regions.
| No. of Administrative Areas | Cantons-26 |
| Administrative Area Names and Abbreviations | Aargau- AG
Appenzell Ausserrhoden- AR Appenzell Innerrhoden- AI Basel-Landschaft- BL Basel-Stadt- BS Bern- BE Fribourg- FR Geneva- GE Glarus – GL Graubünden- GR Jura- JU Lucerne- LU Neuchâtel- NE Nidwalden- NW Obwalden- OW Schaffhausen- SH Schwyz- SZ Solothurn- SO St. Gallen- SG Thurgau- TG Ticino- TI Uri- UR Valais- VS Vaud- VD Zug- ZG Zurich – ZH |
| Postal Language | Romansh, French, Italian, and German |
| Postal Service Provider | Swiss Post |
Country Information
| Country/Territory Name | Switzerland |
| Capital | Bern |
| Major Cities | Zurich Geneva Basel Lausanne Lucerne Lugano |
| Endonym | Suisse |
| ISO Codes | ISO 3166-1 numeric code- 756
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code- CH ISO 3166-1 alpha 3 country code- CHE |
Population Information
| Total Population | 8,943,330 (as of November 2024) |
| Urban Population | 6,566,767 |
| Rural Population | 2,283,085 |
| Official Language | German, French, Italian, Romanish |
| Commonly Spoken Languages | German, French, Italian, Romanish |
PostGrid’s Address Verification Solution
So you have learned how to structure the address format to a recipient in Switzerland. But to ensure your address is reaching the intended recipient, you need a verified address. PostGrid address verification solution verifies, standardizes, and offers address autocomplete suggestions in real-time. Whether you want to verify a single address or bulk address, we provide correct, complete, and up-to-date addresses in sync with the official postal service provider for over 245 countries and territories.
Check the Format of More Countries
If you are curious about the format of any other country, visit our international address format page and learn the address format followed in countries around the world.
