Timor-Leste Address Format With Examples
Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, is a small Southeast Asian nation located on the eastern half of the island of Timor. Indonesia borders it to the west and the Timor Sea to the south and north. The country is one of the youngest nations in the world, having gained independence in 2002 after centuries of colonial rule and a brutal period of occupation.
People within Timor-Leste write address formats differently. Local customs and language have led to some variations in how addresses are written, especially in informal contexts. For example, in rural areas, people might refer to landmarks, neighborhoods, or regions that are locally known but might not be officially recognized in the postal system.
Additionally, addresses may incorporate regional identifiers, such as districts or neighborhoods, that are essential for accurate delivery. In some cases, people use village names or local landmarks instead of precise postal codes, especially in less urbanized areas.
Moreover, there are different types of addresses, each with its specific element requirements. If you need to mail a client or customer in Timor-Leste but are unsure of the correct address format, we can assist you. We have listed all the different types of addresses, along with their formats and examples.
Timor-Leste Address Format Breakdown
Recipient Name
In the first line, write the recipient’s full name. If you are sending the mail to a business, the company name will appear in the first line. Write the person’s name and department in the second and third lines. Add ATTN. in front of the person’s name to ensure the internal mail distribution system sends the mail to the correct office and desk.
Example:
JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
Or
ABC COMPANY LTD.
ATTN: JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Street Address
In the second line, write the street name of the residential or business address. If the recipient uses a P.O. box, write “P.O. BOX” followed by the box number.
Example:
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
Or
P.O. BOX 34
Locality, City, and Postal Code
Write the name of the neighborhood and city where the person lives. Some of the major cities in Timor-Leste are Dili, Baucau, and Maliana. In the same line, write the alphanumeric postal code.
Example:
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
Country Name
Write the name of the country in the last line. When sending international mail to Timor-Leste, write the country’s name in capital letters.
Example:
TIMOR-LESTE
Special Considerations for Writing a Timor-Leste Address
- Address Line Alignment: All the lines should be left-aligned.
- Address Placement: Write the address on the bottom left-hand corner of the envelope.
- Punctuation: There should be a hyphen between locality and city name.
Examples of Different Types of Timor-Leste Address Formats
Residential Address Format
Write the recipient’s name, street address, locality, city, postal code, and country name.
Example:
JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
Rural Address Format
Typically, the streets in rural areas of Timor-Leste do not have a formal name. In this case, write the name of the village or the settlement, followed by the nearest large town or city. Add the rest of the address elements in the same way as the residential address.
Example:
JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
VILLAGE OF UATO-LARI
NEAR BAUCAU
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
Business Address Format
Instead of the recipient’s name in the residential address, write the company’s name in the first line. Write the person’s name in the second line, and add their department in the third line.
Example:
ABC COMPANY LTD.
ATTN: JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
International Address Format for NGOs and Organizations
Write the organization’s name in the first line and the specific department in the second line. Place all the other address components, except the recipient’s name, in the same way as the residential address.
Example:
UNICEF TIMOR LESTE
ATTN: CHILD CARE DEPARTMENT
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
P.O. Box Address Format
Add a line after the locality, city, and postal code. Write the term “P.O. box” and then the box number in the residential address.
Example:
JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
P.O. BOX 56
TIMOR-LESTE
Military Address Format
The address format follows the same structure as the residential address format, except for the first two lines. In the first line, write the rank and full name of the person. In the second line, write the military unit number.
Example:
CAPTAIN JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
Government Office Address Format
Instead of the recipient’s name, write the office and department names in the residential address on the first and second lines.
Example:
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ATTN: DEPARTMENT OF EXCHANGE
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
Address Format for Multiple Recipients
If you want to mail multiple people in the same household or business, you should write each name on separate lines of the residential and business addresses.
Example (for family) | Example (for businesses) |
JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA
MARY MARIA DA SILVA AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12 MOTAEL-DILI TL13242 TIMOR-LESTE |
ABC COMPANY LTD.
ATTN: JOSÉ MARIA DA SILVA ATTN: MARY BATISTA MARTINS FINANCE DEPARTMENT AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12 MOTAEL-DILI TL13242 TIMOR-LESTE |
Address Format for Courier Services
If you send mail using courier services like DHL or FedEx, add the recipient’s contact details to the end of the residential address. Delivery agents can call them if they cannot find the address.
Example:
MARY MARIA DA SILVA
AVENIDA DE MOTAEL NO. 12
MOTAEL-DILI TL13242
TIMOR-LESTE
PHONE: +670 221 3425
Postal Information
Correios de Timor-Leste is the national postal service provider of Timor-Leste. It handles both domestic and international mail, offering standard mail, registered mail, and express services. It ensures that communication can reach every part of the country and beyond its borders.
The company also offers parcel delivery services, both domestically and internationally, to ensure the timely receipt of goods. Express mail services are also available for faster delivery.
It has partnered with other institutions to offer banking services, such as the Postal Savings Bank, which helps people in rural areas manage their finances. This is crucial for a country with a large rural population.
No. of Administrative Areas | District: 13 |
Administrative Area Names and Their Abbreviations | Aileu: AL
Ainaro: AN Baucau: BA Bobonaro: BO Covalima: CO Dili: DI Ermera: ER Lautem: LA Liquiçá: LI Manatuto: MT Manufahi: MF Oecusse: OE Viqueque: VI |
Postal Language | Portuguese
Tetum |
Postal Service Provider | Correios de Timor-Leste |
Country Information
Country/Territory Name | Timor-Leste |
Capital | Dili |
Major Cities | Dili
Baucau Maliana |
Endonym | Timor-Leste |
ISO Codes | ISO 3166-1 numeric code: 626
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code: TL ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code: TLS ISO3 : TLS |
Population Information
Total Population | 1,421,617 |
Urban Population | 439,188 |
Rural Population | 930,107 |
Official Language | Portuguese
Tetum |
Commonly Spoken Languages | Tetum |
PostGrid's Address Verification Solution
You have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in Timor-Leste. However, you need a verified address to ensure your address reaches the intended recipient. The PostGrid Address Verification solution verifies, standardizes, and offers real-time address autocomplete suggestions. Whether you want to verify a single or bulk address, we provide correct, complete, and up-to-date addresses in sync with the official postal service provider for over 245 countries and territories.
Check the Format of More Countries
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