Postal codes in Taiwan explained

Postal codes in Taiwan is a system of three + three digits used by Chunghwa Post.[1] There are 368 sets of three-digit codes for townships, county-administered cities, and districts in Taiwan.

The cities of Chiayi and Hsinchu have a single code covering all their districts. The uninhabited islands Pratas (Dongsha) and Spratly (Nansha) each have a single code. The uninhabited Senkaku Islands (Diaoyutai) (administered by Japan) have a code, but there are no deliveries.

Omitting the supplementary three digits is ordinarily acceptable, especially for general public, while using a six-digit code is expected for corporate customers who send large-volume mails, which will speed the delivery of the mail.[2]

Change from 3+2 to 3+3 postal codes

The official launch of three + three digit postal codes occurred on March 3, 2020,[3] in order to support more fine grained delivery section codes. For example, a bank with a high volume of mail or a community with a mailroom could have a unique code.[4]

The initial three digit division codes remain unchanged, only the supplemental two digits were updated to three digits. The previous three + two digit system had been in service for 29 years, since February 1, 1991.

As of November 2020, three + two digit postal codes are still in common use and accepted by the post office. A significant proportion of forms and systems provide space for only three + two digit postal codes.

There are apps for Android[5] and iOS/iPadOS[6] to look up the 3+3 postal codes.

Large Postal Code Zones

The first digit is for a large postal zone:

First digitCitiesCountiesSubsidiary islands
Taipei
New Taipei City, KeelungYilan, Lienchiang (Matsu)Diaoyutai Islands, Pengjia Islet, Mianhua Islet, Huaping Islet
Hsinchu, TaoyuanHsinchu, Miaoli
Taichung
Changhua, Nantou
ChiayiChiayi, Yunlin
Tainan
KaohsiungPenghu, KinmenPratas Island (Tungsha/Dongsha), Nansha Islands
Pingtung, Taitung, HualienQixingyan

Notes

Of the disputed territories, it is practically possible to send mail to Pratas Island (Tungsha/Dongsha) (817) and Taiping Island, the largest island of the Spratly Islands (819), as those are above sea level and controlled by Taiwan. There is no mail delivery to the Diaoyutai Islands (290), as they are controlled by Japan and have been uninhabited for many decades.

See also

References

  1. Web site: postalservices Zip Code . 7 January 2020 . Post.gov.tw .
  2. Web site: 郵遞區號3月改3+3碼 一般民眾可僅寫前3碼|卡優新聞網 . 2024-06-02 . 郵遞區號3月改3+3碼 一般民眾可僅寫前3碼|卡優新聞網 . zh-Hant-TW.
  3. Web site: 2 March 2020 . Liberty Times 郵件「3+3郵遞區號」中華郵政新制明起上路 Yóu Jiàn "3+3 Yóu Dì Qū Hào" Zhōng Huá Yóu Zhèng Xīn Zhì Míng Qǐ Shàng Lù . news.ltn.com.tw.
  4. Web site: 中央通訊社 . 2020-03-02 . 郵遞區號變3加3碼 新制3日起實施 生活 重點新聞 . 2024-06-02 . 中央社 CNA . zh-Hant-TW.
  5. Web site: Taiwan 3+3 ZIP Postal code, Post office/MailBox - Apps on Google Play .
  6. Web site: ‎台灣3+3郵遞區號 Tái Wān 3+3 Yóu Dì Qū Hào .

External links