French Guiana is an overseas department and region of France located on the northeastern coast of South America. It is the only territory on the South American mainland that is governed as part of a European country. 

Although geographically located in South America, French Guiana is politically and administratively fully integrated into the French Republic. This means its residents are French citizens, and the euro is the official currency.

People in French Guiana often write addresses in different formats when sending mail. In the Amazonian interior and remote communes, there may be no official street names or house numbers. People in these areas often use descriptive or landmark-based directions instead of structured street addresses.

Additionally, decades of underdevelopment in infrastructure in some regions have led to informal housing or nonstandardized street naming, making it challenging to apply a strict French format. As a result, people adapt their address writing to what will help the postal workers locate the recipient.

Moreover, there are different types of addresses, each with its specific element requirements. If you need to mail a client or customer in French Guiana 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.

Recipient Name

In the first line, write the recipient’s full name. You can add honorific titles like “Monsieur” for Mr. and “Madame” for Mrs. or Ms. 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.

Street Address

In the second line, write the building number followed by the street name of the residential or business address. If the recipient uses a P.O. box, write “B.P. (Boîte Postale, which is French for P.O. box)” followed by the box number.

Postal Code and City

Begin with the five-digit postal code. In the same line, write the name of the city where the person lives. Some of the major cities in French Guiana are Cayenne, Kourou, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and Matoury.

Country Name

Write the name of the country in the last line. When sending international mail to French Guiana, write the name in capital letters.

Residential Address Format

Write the recipient’s name, street address, P.O. box number, postal code, city, and country name.

Rural Address Format

Typically, the streets in rural areas of French Guiana do not have a formal name. In this case, write the name of the village or the settlement, followed by the nearest larger town or city. Add the remaining address elements in the same manner as the residential address.

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 on the second line and add their department on the third line.

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.

P.O. Box Address Format

Instead of the street address, write the term “B.P.” and then the box number in the residential address.

Military Address Format

It does not have its military, but the French Armed Forces defend it. 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.

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.

Address Format for Multiple Recipients

If you want to mail multiple people in the same household or business, write each name on a separate line for the residential and business addresses.

Address Format for Courier Services

If you send mail using courier services like DHL or FedEx, add the recipient’s contact details in the last line of the residential address. Delivery agents can call them if they are unable to locate the address.

La Poste Guyane is the official postal service provider of French Guiana. It operates as the regional branch of La Poste Group, which serves all of France, including its overseas departments. As an extension of the French national postal system, it is responsible for managing mail delivery, logistics, and related services throughout the territory. 

It provides a wide range of services beyond traditional letter and parcel delivery. These include financial services through La Banque Postale, mobile and internet services, and identity verification tools. In urban areas like Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, post offices are well-established and offer full-service counters.

You have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in French Guiana. 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 need to verify a single or bulk address, we provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date addresses in sync with the official postal service providers for over 245 countries and territories. 

If you are curious about the format used in any other country, visit our global address format page to learn about the formats followed in countries worldwide.