Addressing Austria: Format And Structure For Austrian Addresses

If you're addressing a letter to Austria, it's important to follow the correct format to ensure your mail gets to its destination. Here's a quick overview of how addresses are formatted in Austria.

Addressee line

The addressee line is the first line of an Austrian address and should include the recipient's full name, including any appropriate titles. This is followed by the street name and house or building number on the second line.

For example, a standard address may look like this:

> Franz Müller

> Schillerstraße 10

> 1010 Wien

> AUSTRIA

Here, 'Franz Müller' is the recipient's full name and makes up the first line of the address.

In some cases, the addressee line may also include an abbreviated title, such as 'Herr' or 'Mrs', as seen in the example below:

> Herr Franz Huber

> Beethovenstrasse 12

> 1010 WIEN

> AUSTRIA

The use of titles is not mandatory but can be included as appropriate.

For business addresses, the company name is included on the first line, followed by the recipient's name or department. An example of this format is as follows:

> XYZ GmbH

> Attn: Franz Müller

> Schillerstraße 10

> 1010 Wien

> AUSTRIA

In this case, 'XYZ GmbH' is the name of the company, and 'Attn: Franz Müller' indicates that the letter is directed to the attention of Franz Müller within the company.

It is worth noting that German is the official language in Austria, so addresses are typically written in German. However, international mail may include English translations for key terms, such as 'PO Box' being translated to 'Postfach'.

Street name and number

The street name and house or building number are written without any punctuation between them. For example, 'Schillerstraße 10' or 'Postfach 456'.

The street name comes first, followed by the house or building number. The street name and number are written on the same line.

If the recipient uses a PO Box, write "Postfach" followed by the box number. For example, 'Postfach 789'.

In rural areas, where formal street names may not exist, include the name of the village or settlement, followed by the nearest larger town or city. For example, 'Dorfstraße 15 3150 Wilhelmsburg'.

In apartment buildings with multiple tenants, the apartment number comes after the house or building number, separated by a forward slash. For example, 'Josefstädterstraße 21/5'.

In larger apartment complexes with multiple entrances and stairways, the "Stiege" (staircase) number may also be included in the address. This comes after the street name and before the house or building number, separated by forward slashes. For example, 'Josefstädterstraße 21/1/5'.

Postal code and city

The postal code and city or town name go on the same line, in that order, with no punctuation in between. Austrian postal codes are four digits long. For example, "1010 Wien" or "5020 Salzburg".

The postal code is crucial for proper delivery, so it is important to ensure that the four-digit code matches the corresponding city or town.

In rural areas, where formal street names may not exist, the name of the village or settlement should be included, followed by the nearest larger town or city, and then the postal code. For example, "Hannah Gruber, Dorfstraße 15, 3150 Wilhelmsburg, AUSTRIA".

Subbuilding information

Austrian addresses do not always contain subbuilding information, such as apartment, floor, entrance, or block details. However, if subbuilding information is included, it should be noted in a specific format.

The forward slash (/) is used to separate building and subbuilding elements. For example, 'Wiener Brauhausstraße 6/6/2' is an address where 'Wiener Brauhausstraße' is the street name, '6' is the building number, and '6' and '2' are the subbuilding details. The first '6' could refer to the block number, and the '2' to the house or apartment number.

Another example is 'Josefstädterstraße 21/5/3/11', where 'Josefstädterstraße' is the street name, '21' is the building number, and '5', '3', and '11' are subbuilding details. Here, '5' could refer to the entrance, '3' to the floor, and '11' to the apartment or door number.

In some cases, the subbuilding information may be replaced with subbuilding descriptors, such as 'Reihe' (block), 'Haus' (house), or 'Tür' (door). For instance, 'Brauhausstraße 6 Reihe 6 Haus 2' is an address with subbuilding descriptors.

The inclusion of subbuilding information is verified up to the subbuilding level by services such as Informatica Address Verification.

Country

When addressing mail to Austria, it is important to follow the correct format to ensure accurate and prompt delivery. Here is a breakdown of the address format:

The country line is the last line of the address and should always be included in capital letters for international mail. The country line should read "AUSTRIA" or the country code "AUT". This is written in the top-right corner of the envelope or package.

Language

German is the official language in Austria, so addresses are typically written in German. However, international mail may include English translations for key terms, such as "Postfach" for "PO Box".

Abbreviations

Commonly accepted abbreviations in Austrian addresses include "Postfach" for "Post Office Box", "St." for "Straße" (Street), and "Nr." for "Number" (House or Building Number).

Capitalization and Alignment

For clarity and legibility, it is recommended to write the entire address in capital letters. All lines of the address should be left-aligned for ease of reading and postal processing.

Frequently asked questions