Understanding Romanian Postal Codes: Six Digits, Structured
Romania's Postal Code System (Cod Poștal)
Romania uses a **six-digit numeric postal code** system, introduced in 2003 (replacing four-digit system). It is hierarchical and precise.
Structure: AB CDE (often written ABCDEF)
- First Digit (A): **Postal Region** (1–9). Roughly corresponds to historical regions / major distribution centers.
- 0 = Bucharest (special)
- 1 = Bucharest Ilfov (surrounding)
- 2 = Southeast (Constanța, Tulcea, etc.)
- 3 = East (Iași, Vaslui, Botoșani, etc.)
- 4 = Northeast (Suceava, Botoșani... wait, 3/4 overlap — actually 3=Iași region, 4=Suceava region)
- 5 = West (Timiș, Arad, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara)
- 6 = Northwest (Cluj, Bihor, Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj)
- 7 = Center (Brașov, Sibiu, Alba, Mureș, Harghita, Covasna)
- 8 = South (Pitești, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu)
- 9 = Southwest (Craiova, Dolj, Gorj, Mehedinți, Vâlcea)
- Second Digit (B): **County (Județ)** within the region. Each county has a unique two-digit prefix (e.g., 01–06 Bucharest sectors, 11–12 Ilfov, 21 Constanța, 31 Iași, 41 Suceava, 51 Timiș, 61 Cluj, 71 Brașov, 81 Argeș, 91 Dolj).
- Third Digit (C): **City / Town / Commune** within the county.
- Last Three Digits (DEF): **Specific Sector / Street / Block** within the locality. In cities, often denotes a neighborhood or group of streets. In villages, often the whole commune shares a code.
Examples
| Code | Location | Breakdown |
|---|
| 010011 | Bucharest, Sector 1, Central Area | 0=Bucharest, 1=Sector 1, 001=Central |
| 060011 | Bucharest, Sector 6, Central | 0=Bucharest, 6=Sector 6, 001=Central |
| 300001 | Iași (city center), Iași County | 3=East region, 0=Iași county? Wait, Iași county is 31? Actually 30 is Iași county code? Let's correct: 30 = Iași county, 001 = center. |
| 400001 | Suceava (city), Suceava County | 4=Northeast, 0=Suceava county? 40=Suceava county, 001=center. |
| 500001 | Timișoara (center), Timiș County | 5=West, 0=Timiș county? 50=Timiș county, 001=center. |
| 700001 | Brașov (center), Brașov County | 7=Center, 0=Brașov county? 70=Brașov county, 001=center. |
| 900001 | Craiova (center), Dolj County | 9=Southwest, 0=Dolj county? 90=Dolj county, 001=center. |
Note: The second digit is part of the county code. E.g., Iași County = 30, 31, 32? Actually each county has a unique 2-digit prefix. See official Poșta Română list.
How to Find a Code
- Official: posta-romana.ro → "Căutare Cod Poștal".
- Enter county (județ), city/town (localitate), street (stradă).
- Or use Google Maps / OpenStreetMap — click a building.
Key Points
- **No letters.** Purely numeric.
- **Unique per delivery point** (street segment, block, village).
- **Required for all mail.** Format:
ROMANIA\n[Name]\n[Street, Nr.]\n[Postal Code] [Locality]\n[Județ].
- **Bucharest sectors (1–6)** have codes 010xxx – 060xxx.
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