The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) are considered a French “territoire d’outre-mer” (overseas territory). It means they are under the sovereignty of France but located far from the European mainland. As an overseas territory, TAAF is part of the French Republic, and its government and political structure are tied to France.

It holds strategic significance due to its location in the southern Indian Ocean, a critical area for maritime navigation, fisheries, and international shipping routes. Its positioning makes it a vital zone for scientific research and environmental monitoring.

TAFF has no permanent population and is mainly composed of scientific research stations. It affects the way addresses are formatted in the region. Additionally, due to the sparse population and specialized nature of the area, there is no developed postal infrastructure like in other parts of France. As such, standard postal codes are not used, and the emphasis is placed on the island’s name for routing purposes.

Moreover, there are different types of addresses, each with its specific element requirements. If you need to mail a client or customer in TAFF 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. It typically follows the same address format as France, except for one addition. As per the Universal Postal Union (UPU), you need to add TF in the last line.

Recipient Name

In the first line, write the recipient’s full name. You can also add honorific titles like M. for Mr. or Mme for Mrs.  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 is French for P.O. Box)

Island Name

Write the name of the island where the person lives.  Some of the famous islands of TAFF are the Crozet Islands, Amsterdam Island, Adélie Land, and Kerguelen Island.

Country Name and Code

Write the name of the country in the last line. When sending international mail to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, write the country’s name in capital letters. In the following line, write the code TF to indicate  French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Residential Address Format

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

Research Station Address Format

In the second line of the residential address, write the name of the station. Replace the third line with the island name. The rest of the elements will be in the same place.

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.

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

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, you should 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 to the end of the residential address. Delivery agents can call them if they cannot find the address.

Mail services in TAAF are managed by La Poste, which operates throughout France and its overseas territories. La Poste oversees the delivery of mail to the research stations and facilities within TAAF, ensuring that correspondence reaches its destination. 

Given the remote nature of these locations, mail is typically transported via specialized vessels such as the Marion Dufresne and L’Astrolabe, which serve as logistical lifelines for the territory. Additionally, TAAF has its postal administration that handles local mail and philatelic services. This includes issuing stamps and managing postal operations within the territory.

You have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. 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. 

If you are curious about the format of any other country, visit our global address format page and learn the format followed in countries across the world.