Guernsey Address Format With Examples
Guernsey, a picturesque island in the English Channel, is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey—a British Crown Dependency. Known for its stunning cliffs, historic castles, and a mild maritime climate, the island offers a tranquil lifestyle rooted in its Norman and British heritage. St. Peter Port, the capital, serves as the island’s commercial hub, while charming parishes like Vale, Castel, and St. Sampson provide residential settings steeped in history.
Mail delivery in Guernsey is managed by Guernsey Post, a local authority that handles both domestic and international mail with high efficiency. Guernsey has its postal code system, which starts with “GY”. Although it follows the general UK address structure, it has unique attributes and regional designations that are important to understand for accurate mail routing. Understanding Guernsey’s specific address format is essential for ensuring precise and timely delivery. Let’s explore the structure in detail with practical examples across different address types.
Guernsey Address Format Breakdown
Recipient Name
The recipient’s full name appears on the first line. For business addresses, write the company name first, followed by the recipient’s name or relevant department. This ensures that the item reaches the intended party within the organization.
Example
EMMA MARTIN
OR
ISLAND ENERGY LTD.
ATTN: EMMA MARTIN
Street Address or P.O. Box
The following line should include the building number and street name. Guernsey addresses typically follow the British system, with the number placed before the street name. Some locations may use property names in place of numbers. P.O. Boxes are commonly used and should follow the format “P.O. Box” plus the number.
Example
14 LES BANQUES
OR
P.O. BOX 98
Locality or Parish Name
Following the street address, include the name of the parish or locality. Guernsey consists of ten parishes, such as St. Peter Port, Vale, and Castel. The locality is key for accurate sorting and delivery.
Example
ST. PETER PORT
OR
VALE
Postal Code and Island Name
Guernsey uses the GY postcode system, with codes unique to each parish or delivery area. The postal code is written before the island name. The standard format includes “GY” followed by a digit and two letters.
Example
GY1 1AA
GUERNSEY
Country Name
When sending mail internationally, especially outside the UK or Channel Islands, include the country name on the last line in uppercase. Though Guernsey is a British Crown Dependency, the country name should be written as “GUERNSEY” and not “UNITED KINGDOM.”
Example
GUERNSEY
Special Considerations for Writing a Guernsey Address
- Language: English is the official and commonly used language for all mail in Guernsey. Although Guernésiais (a Norman-French dialect) is part of the island’s heritage, it is not used in formal postal addresses.
- Capitalization: Use uppercase letters when writing Guernsey addresses, particularly for international deliveries. This helps ensure clarity and prevents delays caused by misreading handwritten or printed text.
- Rural Addressing: While Guernsey is compact, rural homes may use property names rather than numbers. Ensure these names are spelled correctly and that parish names are always included, as they are essential for accurate routing.
- Postal Code: Guernsey uses the UK-style GY postcode system. Always include the complete postal code, as it uniquely identifies each delivery area. Omitting or incorrectly entering the postal code can result in delays or incorrect delivery.
- Alignment: Keep all address components left-aligned. This improves formatting consistency, making it easier for Guernsey Post and international carriers to process mail quickly and accurately.
- Country Identification: When sending mail from outside the Channel Islands, always use “GUERNSEY” (not “United Kingdom”) as the country name. This is a critical distinction to ensure the mail is routed correctly to the island.
- Address Placement: Write the recipient’s address on the lower center or right side of the envelope or package. For international mail, it’s helpful to bold or underline the country name when handwriting the address.
Examples of Different Types of Guernsey Address Formats
Residential Address Format
Start with the recipient’s name, followed by the house number and street name. Then include the parish, postal code, and country name.
Example
EMILY LE PAGE
14 LES BANQUES
ST. PETER PORT
GY1 1AA
GUERNSEY
Rural Address Format
In more rural areas, property names may replace street numbers. Parish names remain essential.
Example
TOM MARTIN
LA PERELLE FARMHOUSE
CASTEL
GY5 7FT
GUERNSEY
Business Address Format
Begin with the company name, followed by the recipient’s name or department and the complete address.
Example
ISLAND ENERGY LTD.
ATTN: CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
COMMERCIAL HOUSE, LES COTILS
ST. PETER PORT
GY1 2QQ
GUERNSEY
International Address Format for NGOs and Organizations
Include the full name of the organization and the responsible program or department.
Example
BRITISH RED CROSS
ATTN: ISLAND RESPONSE TEAM
VICTORIA HOUSE, LES VARDE
ST. SAMPSON
GY2 4HR
GUERNSEY
P.O. Box Address Format
Replace the physical address with “P.O. BOX” and number. Include the correct postcode and location.
Example
JAMES ROGERS
P.O. BOX 123
ST. PETER PORT
GY1 3PP
GUERNSEY
Military Address Format
Use rank and name, followed by the military location or installation on the island.
Example
CAPT. OLIVER FLETCHER
ROYAL NAVY LIAISON OFFICE
FORT GEORGE
ST. PETER PORT
GY1 1AA
GUERNSEY
Government Office Address Format
Clearly list the name of the government department and its physical location.
Example
STATES OF GUERNSEY
DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY
EDWARDS HOUSE, UPPER MARKET STREET
ST. PETER PORT
GY1 1HE
GUERNSEY
Address for Multiple Recipients Format
List each name on a separate line. Useful for families or departments.
| Example (for family)
MR. PETER ROBINS MRS. SARAH ROBINS 4 RUE DES FOSSES ST. MARTIN GY4 6EZ GUERNSEY |
Example (for businesses)
ATTN: AMY BROWN ATTN: DANIEL LAMBERT GUERNSEY TELECOMS TELECOM HOUSE, ROYAL COURT ST. PETER PORT GY1 2LR GUERNSEY |
Address Format for Courier Services
Couriers such as DHL and FedEx often require a contact number along with the full address.
Example
HANNAH SMITH
8 SAUMAREZ STREET
ST. PETER PORT
GY1 2PU
GUERNSEY
PHONE: +44 7781 123456
Postal Information
Guernsey Post is the official postal service provider of the island of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands and a British Crown Dependency. Although not part of the United Kingdom, Guernsey’s postal system operates in close coordination with Royal Mail. It adheres to the UK-style address format and postal standards, including the GY postcode area.
Established in 1969 and corporatized in 2001, Guernsey Post serves the island’s residential and business communities with a wide array of services, including domestic and international mail delivery, special delivery services, P.O. Box rentals, and bill payment solutions. Guernsey Post also handles customs clearance for incoming parcels, given the island’s non-UK customs status.
The postal network includes the central sorting facility at Envoy House in St. Peter Port, along with sub-post offices throughout the island. Guernsey Post continues to modernize its operations through enhanced tracking, digital services, and logistics support for ecommerce businesses.
| Number of Administrative Areas | Parishes – 10 |
| Administrative Area Names and Abbreviations | Castel
Forest St. Andrew St. Martin St. Peter Port St. Pierre du Bois St. Sampson St. Saviour Torteval Vale |
| Postal Language | English |
| Postal Service Provider | Guernsey Post |
Country Information
| Country/Territory Name | Guernsey |
Capital |
St. Peter Port |
| Major Cities | St. Peter Port
St. Sampson Castel Vale St. Martin |
| Endonym | Guernsey |
| ISO Codes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: GG
ISO 3166-1 alpha-3: GGY ISO 3166-1 numeric: 831 |
Population Information
| Total Population | 64,477 (as of 2025) |
| Urban Population | NA |
| Rural Population | NA |
| Official Language | English |
| Commonly Spoken Languages | English, French, Norman language, Portuguese |
PostGrid’s Address Verification Solution
So you have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in Guernsey. 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 need to verify a single address or multiple addresses, we provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date addresses in sync with the official postal service providers for over 245 countries and territories.
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