Canada Doesn't Have ZIP Codes—It Uses Postal Codes

Canadian Addressing System

There is no national ZIP code in Canada. Instead, Canada uses postal codes—six-character alphanumeric strings in the format A1A 1A1.

Structure

• First character: Province/territory (e.g., V=BC, M=Toronto, K=Ottawa).
• Second character: Urban/rural (0=wide-area rural, 1–9=urban).
• Third character: Postal district/neighbourhood.
• Space, then three characters: Local delivery unit (block, building, large receiver).

Example: V5K 0A1 – Vancouver, BC, specific neighbourhood & block.

Use the correct postal code for mail to Canada; U.S. ZIP codes are not valid.