French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, located in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Australia and South America. It comprises over 100 islands and atolls spread across five main archipelagos: the Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Austral Islands.

The way people write an address in this nation varies by region. Many parts of French Polynesia, particularly on smaller or remote islands, lack a formal system of street names or house numbers. Instead, people often use landmarks, family names, known buildings in the area, or village or district names. This leads to informal and highly localized address formats.

Moreover, there are different types of addresses, each with its specific element requirements. If you need to mail a client or customer in French Polynesia 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” and “Madame” for Mr. and Ms., respectively. 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.

Thoroughfare Number and Name

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

Municipality Section

In the third line, write the name of the municipality section where the recipient’s house is.

Postcode, Municipality, and Island 

Begin this line with the postcode, which is a five-digit number. Postcodes of the French overseas departments and territories all begin with 97 or 98. In the same line, write the city’s name where the recipient lives. Some French Polynesian provinces are Puna’auia, Papeete, Mo’orea, and Bora Bora. The island’s name is the third thing to include in the same line.

Country Name

Write the name of the country in the last line. If you send international mail to French Polynesia, write the name in capital letters.

Residential Address Format

Write the recipient’s name, street address, thoroughfare name and number, municipality section, postcode, municipality, island name, and country name.

Rural Address Format

French Polynesia’s rural streets typically lack formal names. 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 “B.P.” and the box number in the residential address.

Military Address Format

Except for the first two lines, the address format follows the same structure as the residential address format. 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 to multiple people in the same household or business, write each name on a separate line of 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 contact them if they are unable to locate the address.

The Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT) is the official national postal and telecommunications provider of French Polynesia. As a multi-service public enterprise, OPT is crucial in maintaining communication infrastructure, offering postal, financial, and telecommunication services across the country’s scattered archipelagos. 

It offers a range of tailored domestic postal services, including Standard Mail, Parcels, Registered Mail, P.O. Box Services, and Express Mail Services. OPT also ensures international connectivity by offering a wide range of mail and parcel services, such as International Letters and Documents, International Parcel, and more

You have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in French Polynesia. 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.