How to Address Military Mail: APO, FPO and DPO
Per USPS Pub 28, an overseas APO or FPO address has the unit type, number and box number on the delivery line, then APO or FPO, a two-letter code (AA, AE or AP) and the ZIP Code on the last line. DPO Department of State mail has its own Pub 28 sample. USPS.com says not to include the city or country name on an APO, FPO or DPO address in another country.
Maintained by Archie Chang · USPS pages checked on November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
The format: last line
“Overseas military addresses must contain the APO or FPO designation along with a two–character “state” abbreviation of AE, AP, or AA and the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code.”
“AE is used for armed forces in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada; AP is for the Pacific; and AA is the Americas excluding Canada.”
Pub 28 prints this sample for an APO AA last line:
APO AA 34035-4198
“ZIP Codes are required on Priority Mail Express, commercial First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services and Parcel Select mailpieces, all mail sent to military addresses within the United States and to APO and FPO addresses, official mail, Business Reply Mail, and USPS Returns service packages.”
The format: delivery address line
“The Delivery Address Line for all APO/FPO military mail must be standardized to include the appropriate military address type with its assigned number, plus a box number. There are five possible military address types: CPR (Consolidated Postal Room), OPC (Official Postal Center), PSC (Postal Service Center), UPR (Unit Postal Room), and UNIT.”
| Code | Pub 28 name |
|---|---|
| CPR | Consolidated Postal Room |
| OPC | Official Postal Center |
| PSC | Postal Service Center |
| UPR | Unit Postal Room |
| UNIT | UNIT |
Pub 28 238.1 prints these complete addresses as samples, one item per line:
SGT ROBERT SMITH CPR 895 BOX 74 APO AE 09499-0001
COMMANDER 123 WATER PURIFICATION UNIT OPC 8 BOX 74 APO AE 09001-9990
PVT MIKE JONES PSC 3022 BOX 684 FPO AE 09397-0007
SSGT KEVIN TAYLOR UPR 10150 BOX 4190 APO AP 96278-5041
PO3 CHAD WALTERS UNIT 209856 BOX 121 FPO AP 96699-5601
DPO: Department of State mail
“The Delivery Address Line for DPO Department of State mail must be standardized as follows:”
NAME UNIT 9900 BOX 0500 DPO AE 09701-0500
The AE, AP and AA rule in Pub 28 225.1 is written for APO and FPO addresses. The Pub 28 239 sample is the DPO example on this page.
No city or country name overseas
USPS.com says not to include the city or country name when you send something to an APO, FPO or DPO address in another country, and it gives the reason:
“This keeps your mail out of foreign mail networks.”
“Do include unit and box numbers if they're assigned:”
SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH UNIT 100100 BOX 4120 FPO AP 96691
Military bases in the United States
“Most domestic military addresses must have a conventional street style address (see part 231).”
“Use only the approved city name as listed in the City State file, along with the two–character state abbreviation and the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code.”
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
How do you address mail to an APO or FPO address?
USPS Pub 28 225.1 says an overseas military address must contain the APO or FPO designation, a two-character code of AE, AP or AA, and the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code. Pub 28 238.1 says the delivery address line includes the military address type with its assigned number, plus a box number, and names five types: CPR, OPC, PSC, UPR and UNIT.
What do AA, AE and AP mean in a military address?
USPS Pub 28 225.1 says AE is used for armed forces in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada, AP is for the Pacific, and AA is the Americas excluding Canada.
Do you write the city or country on an APO, FPO or DPO address?
Not for an address in another country, per USPS.com, which says not to include the city or country name. USPS.com gives the reason: it keeps your mail out of foreign mail networks.
What is a DPO address?
USPS Pub 28 239 covers DPO Department of State mail. Its sample reads NAME, UNIT 9900 BOX 0500, DPO AE 09701-0500, one item per line. The AE, AP and AA rule in Pub 28 225.1 is written for APO and FPO addresses, so the Pub 28 239 sample is our only DPO example.
Does military mail need a ZIP Code?
Yes, per DMM 602 1.3, which lists mail sent to military addresses within the United States and mail sent to APO and FPO addresses among the mail that requires a ZIP Code.
How do you address mail to a military base in the United States?
USPS Pub 28 238.2 says most domestic military addresses must have a conventional street style address. For the last line, Pub 28 225.2 says to use only the approved city name from the City State file, the two-character state abbreviation and the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code.
How we checked
When we checked on November 2, 2026, USPS.com, USPS Publication 28 (Postal Addressing Standards, October 2024 edition) and the Domestic Mail Manual sections 602 and 604 said what is quoted on this page. Each quote shows where it comes from.
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Sources (checked November 2, 2026): USPS Publication 28: Postal Addressing Standards · USPS Domestic Mail Manual 602: Addressing · USPS.com: How to Send a Letter or Postcard (Domestic)