Shipping to Romania: how to address your shipments correctly

If you are an online retailer sending parcels or letters to Romania, you should be very familiar with the specifics of the Romanian address system. Only a correctly formatted address guarantees that your shipment will actually reach the recipient.

In this detailed guide you will learn everything you need to know about Romanian addresses. From the correct structure and the most common mistakes to the correct spelling. You will also receive practical tips to ensure a successful delivery to Romania.

The structure of Romanian addresses

Basic structure of an address in Romania

The structure of a Romanian address follows this pattern:

Name of the recipient
Street name + house number [+ additional information]
Zip code + place name
COUNTRY

The address system in Romania is very similar to the Austrian one! (→ See also: Addresses in Austria) Additional information - especially in cities with blocks of flats - is essential and must be given in detail.

However, the Romanian information on the block (bl.), staircase (sc.), floor (et.) and apartment (ap.) is more detailed than the Austrian address details.

Example of a private address

Maria Popescu
Str. Principală nr. 10, bl. A, sc. 2, et. 3, ap. 19
Sector 3
030045 BUCUREȘTI
ROMANIA

What do the abbreviations for Romanian addresses mean?

Addresses in Romania follow their own, clearly structured logic, which differs from German spellings in several respects. Certain abbreviations are particularly important so that you can interpret addresses correctly and assign them clearly - especially for street types, building details and apartment names.

The most important abbreviations at a glance:

Road types: In Romania, the street type precedes the name (unlike in German).
The most important abbreviations:

• Str. = Strada (street)

• Blvd. = Bulevardul (Boulevard)

• Sos. = Șoseaua (country road/main road)

• Al. = Aleea (avenue/path)

• Intr. = Intrarea (access/entrance)

• Dr. = Drumul (path/trail)

• Calea = Calea (path/road, historical)

Building details: These abbreviations often appear in Romanian addresses, especially in cities and apartment blocks:

• no. = număr (number/house number)

• bl. or bloc = Block/apartment block

• sc. or scara = Staircase/stairway (comparable with Austrian „Stiege“)

• et. or etaj = Floor/floor

• ap. or apartament = Apartment/flat (comparable to Austrian „Tür“)

• parter = Ground floor

• jud. = județ (district/district)

While in Austria ‚Hauptstraße 10/2/19‘ is often written compactly (house number/stairs/door number), in Romania all address components are given in abbreviations:

‚Strada Principală nr. 10, bl. A, sc. 2, et. 3, ap. 19‘ (house number, block, staircase, floor, apartment).

The difference: In Romania, block (bl.) and floor (et.) are fixed, standardized components of every address. In Austria, block and floor information may occur, but are not part of the official address system - the standardized Austrian spelling „Hausnummer/Stiege/Türnummer“ (house number/staircase/door number) does without them.

Where are these additional details?

All additional information is in the same line such as street and house number, separated by commas - not in the separate additional address field!

In German online stores, such details are often expected in the „Address supplement“ field, but in Romanian addresses they belong directly in the street line::

[street type] [name] nr. [number], bl. [block], sc. [Scara], et. [floor], ap. [apartment]

Sequence (from large to small):

1. Street type and street name (e.g. „Str. Florilor“)

2. House number with „nr.“ (e.g. „nr. 10“)

3. Block (bl.) - if available

4. Staircase/escape (sc.) - if available

5. Floor (et.) or „parter“ for first floor - if available

6. Apartment number (ap.)

Not all details are always necessary! The complexity of the address depends on the type of building:

Large apartment block (prefabricated building):
Str. Florilor nr. 8, bl. I19, sc. 2, et. 2, ap. 25 → All information required

Smaller apartment building:
Aleea Mirabelelor nr. 10, ap. 1 → Only apartment number needed

Single-family house:
Sos. Brașovului nr. 214 → No additional information required

Apartment in a house with several floors:
Blvd. Păcii nr. 30, et. 3, ap. 6 → Block and Scara omitted

Rules of thumbThe larger the building complex and the more floors, the more details are required.

The Romanian postal code system

From four to six digits

The postal code system in Romania has undergone an interesting development. Postal codes were first introduced in Romania back in 1974, at that time with a four-digit system. However, this system proved to be insufficiently precise for the growing demands of modern postal logistics.

On May 1, 2003, there was a complete changeover to the current six-digit system. This fundamental reform had become necessary for several reasons. Firstly, the new system enables much more precise addressing, which is even accurate down to street level in large cities. In addition, confusion between places with the same name was to be avoided, which occurred more frequently with the old system. Another important goal was to improve the automation of mail sorting. With the more detailed six-digit code, sorting can work much more efficiently.

Structure of the six-digit postal code in Romania

There are no separators such as spaces or hyphens in Romanian zip codes. Each combination has a clearly defined meaning and helps to guide the shipment precisely to its destination.

The first digit (values from 0 to 9) denotes the postal region. Romania is divided into ten such postal regions. The number enables a rough geographical classification of the address. Examples: Postal region 0 stands for Bucharest, postal region 5 for the center of Romania (including Sibiu and Brașov).

The second digit (usually values from 0 to 5) represents the specific circle (Județ) within this region. Example: Within postal region 5, the second digit stands for the respective district. The capital Bucharest has a special position in the system. As Bucharest is divided into six administrative sectors, their postal codes begin with 01 to 06 (Sector 1 to Sector 6). The digits 07 and 08 are reserved for the counties of Giurgiu and Ilfov, which belong to the Bucharest postal region.

The last four digits offer the finest localization. Depending on the size and structure of the location, they designate the provinces, towns and villages, streets and street sections and sometimes individual buildings. In larger cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, the zip code is so precise that it identifies a specific street or street section.

Zip codes by town size

The size and importance of a place determine the structure of the postal code in Romania. These differences are directly reflected in the number ranges used:

Large cities and the capital use zip codes in the range from 0xxxxx to 4xxxxx. In these larger cities (especially those with over 50,000 inhabitants), a zip code identifies a specific street or a small group of addresses.
In Bucharest, the digits 01xxxx to 06xxxx indicate the six administrative sectors. This high level of accuracy enables efficient delivery even in densely populated urban areas.

Smaller towns and municipalities, on the other hand, use zip codes in the range from 5xxxxx to 6xxxxx. There is a special feature here: smaller towns are given a single zip code for the entire town, ending with „00“. This indicates that a larger area is covered without further subdivision by street. Larger towns in this zip code area have zip codes that do not end in „00“, similar to the large cities.

Villages are assigned zip codes beginning with the number 7 (7xxxxx).

The first two digits of the zip code always indicate the district (județ).
The first digit stands for one of the ten postal regions, the second for the district within this region.

Bucharest: One city, six sectors

Why Bucharest is special

Bucharest occupies a special position in the Romanian address system. The Romanian capital is administratively divided into six sectors (Romanian: Sectorul 1 to 6), each of which is the size of a medium-sized city. These sectors are not just geographical divisions, but each has its own administration, its own mayor and its own zip code areas.

The six sectors at a glance:

• Sector 1: North, contains business districts and elegant residential areas

• Sector 2: Northeast

• Sector 3: East and southeast

• Sector 4: South

• Sector 5: West

• Sector 6: Northwest

This special structure has a direct impact on addressing: the sector must be specified for every address in Bucharest. Without this information, unambiguous delivery is practically impossible, as the same or similar street names can occur in different sectors.

How to write Bucharest addresses correctly

A Bucharest address contains the sector in a separate line between the street address and the postal code with the location:

Name	Maria Popescu
Street + house number	Calea Giulești no. 6-8
Address suffix	Sector 6
Zip code + city	060274 BUCUREȘTI
Country	ROMANIA

Why the sector is indispensable

The sector information is indispensable for several reasons. Firstly, there are actually identical street names in different sectors. Secondly, each sector has its own post offices and delivery districts - so Swiss Post must be able to tell immediately which of the six distribution centers the item belongs to. If the sector information is missing, the mail item can circulate for several days in the wrong sector or, in the worst case, be returned as undeliverable.

In addition to the six capital city sectors, Bucharest Post also manages the districts of Ilfov (zip code starts with 07) and Giurgiu (zip code starts with 08), although these are geographically outside the city limits.

Addresses in rural areas

Challenges in the countryside

In rural areas and smaller towns, the address system in Romania is less precise than in large cities. In small villages, there are sometimes no official house numbers, and addresses are instead described by village or place names. The zip codes in these areas often cover an entire village or municipality without further street-level subdivisions.

Example of a rural address in Romania (without street):

Name	Vasile Dumitrescu
Village (Sat)	Sat Valea Mare
Municipality (Comuna)	Comuna Măgureni
Zip code + city	217245 MĂGURENI
Circle (Județ)	Jud. Prahova
Country	ROMANIA

Tips for rural deliveries in Romania

Additional descriptions can be very helpful for shipments to rural areas. It is advisable to include names of well-known reference points such as churches, schools or prominent buildings. It is particularly important to always state the district (Județ) in full, as this makes geographical classification easier.

In addition, the recipient's telephone number should always be given for courier shipments. Courier services often require specific delivery instructions and have to coordinate the delivery. This is particularly essential in rural or hard-to-reach areas.

Which post office is responsible in Romania?

Posta Romana S.A. is the state-owned and only universal service provider in Romania. The company was founded in 1862 and has been a founding member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) since 1874.

Range of services: In addition to traditional postal services, Posta Romana also offers international parcel delivery, express delivery (EMS - Express Mail Service), registered mail and insured items. Specialized business solutions are available for companies.

website: https://www.posta-romana.ro/

Shipping to Packstations and pick-up points in Romania

Is it possible to ship to Packstations in Romania?

Yes! Romania has a well-developed network of packing stations and pick-up points (PUDO = Pick-Up Drop-Off, i.e. manned pick-up points in partner stores). This shipping option is very relevant for German online retailers, as it is very popular with Romanian customers - especially among working people who are not at home during the day.

Which service providers are responsible?

For international shipments from Germany to Romania, local courier services take care of delivery in the destination country. The most important providers are

Sameday easybox

Largest Packstation network with approx. 5,000 lockers in Romania (as of end of 2024). Available 24/7 and particularly popular in Bucharest.

FAN Courier

Over 3,000 FANbox lockers (24/7, 2-day pick-up time) plus over 2,000 additional pick-up points including Collect Points in partner stores and FAN Courier branches.

Cargus SHIP & GO

Largest PUDO network with approx. 3,000 locations in over 750 cities (150 lockers + over 2,700 PUDO points). Collection time: 5 working days. Automatic redirection to the nearest SHIP & GO point if home delivery is unsuccessful.

How does addressing work?

The Packstation or pick-up point is usually selected by the customer during the ordering process in the online store. The customer enters the address of the desired collection point as the delivery address.

Important difference to Germany: Unlike DHL packing stations, no separate postal number is required in Romania. The collection code is automatically sent by SMS to the recipient's mobile number.

Address format for packing stations (example Sameday easybox):

Customer name	Maria Popescu
Packing station	easybox 0123
Street + house number	Strada Mihai Eminescu 45
Zip code + city	400001 CLUJ-NAPOCA
Circle	Jud. Cluj
Telephone	+40 722 123 456
Country	ROMANIA

Address format for PUDO points (example Cargus SHIP & GO):

Customer name	Ion Ionescu
SHIP & GO point	PayPoint
Street + house number	Str. Victoriei 12
Zip code + city	500001 BRAȘOV
Circle	Jud. Brașov
Telephone	+40 744 987 654
Country	ROMANIA

What do you have to consider as a retailer?

Telephone number required

Make sure that the mobile number is entered correctly in the checkout. The recipient will receive the PIN code via SMS. The QR code will also be sent by email. Both codes enable collection at the Packstation.

Shipping via German parcel services

Shipping to Packstations and pick-up points in Romania is handled by international shipping service providers:

DHL works with local partners such as Cargus or Posta Romana in Romania. Your customers can then pick up their parcels at their pick-up points (e.g. Cargus SHIP & GO).

DPD and GLS operate their own branches in Romania and deliver directly to their own locker networks.

The 5 most common mistakes when shipping to Romania

Mistake no. 1: Incomplete apartment details

The problem: In prefabricated buildings and apartment blocks, important details that are essential for successful delivery are often missing.

This is one of the most common mistakes when shipping to Romania. Especially in larger cities such as Bucharest or Timișoara, there are numerous apartment blocks that house a large number of apartments over several stairwells and floors. Without complete information on the block (bl.), staircase (scara), floor (etaj) and apartment number (apartament), delivery is practically impossible.

Wrong:

Maria Ionescu
Str. Florilor no. 10
BUCUREȘTI

→ This address is completely inadequate! There could be several blocks, each with dozens of apartments, at no. 10 Florilor Street.

Correct:

Maria Ionescu
Str. Florilor nr. 10, bl. C, sc. 1, et. 4, ap. 8
Sector 2
021234 BUCUREȘTI
ROMANIA

→ Now the delivery person knows: Block C, stairwell 1, 4th floor, apartment 8

Error no. 2: Missing or incorrect zip code

The problem: The six-digit zip code is omitted or old four-digit zip codes are still used.

The postal code system in Romania was completely changed in 2003, which is why four-digit postal codes are no longer valid. Nevertheless, it still happens that outdated address databases still contain old postal codes. Recipients from Romania sometimes even habitually enter old zip codes or omit the zip code altogether.

Why is this problematic? Modern mail sorting in Romania is largely automated. Without the correct six-digit zip code, in the worst case scenario the item could be returned as undeliverable.

What you need to consider: Always use the current six-digit zip code without spaces or hyphens. For example, the correct spelling is 021234, not 02-1234 or 02 1234. You can find the zip code on the official website of Posta Romana look up.

Error no. 3: Forgetting the sector for Bucharest addresses

The problem: The sector is not specified for Bucharest addresses.

This is the most common mistake when sending shipments to the Romanian capital. The same street names occur in different sectors. Each sector has its own post offices and delivery districts. Without sector information, the post office does not know which of the six distribution centers the shipment should go to, which leads to considerable delays or returns.

Real-life example of a problem: There are street names such as „Strada Florilor“ in several Bucharest sectors. If the sector is not specified, the parcel may end up in sector 2, while the recipient lives in sector 4. The parcel then has to be redirected or, in the worst case, is returned as undeliverable.

Correct spelling:

Andrei Popescu
Str. Unirii nr. 25, bl. A5, sc. 2, et. 3, ap. 12
Sector 3
030045 BUCUREȘTI
ROMANIA

Note: At all Bucharest addresses is the indication „Sector 1“ to „Sector 6“ absolutely necessary!
The information is in a separate line between the street address and the postcode/city.

Additional info: The zip code also indicates the sector (second digit 1-6), but the sector information written out in full is still necessary for smooth processing.

Mistake no. 4: Forgetting your phone number

The problem: No contact option for the deliverer indicated on the parcel.

Many senders underestimate how important the recipient's telephone number on the parcel is. Especially in rural areas or where addresses are difficult to find, it can make the difference between successful delivery and return.

Why is the telephone number so important? The delivery person can contact you directly if there are any problems - for example, if addresses are difficult to find or to arrange alternative delivery times. Modern delivery systems also send automatic notifications about upcoming deliveries, especially in rural areas.

Error no. 5: Country name missing or incorrect

Problem: The destination country Romania is not clearly recognizable or is incorrectly named.

For international shipments, the correct indication of the destination country is absolutely critical. Even if it seems obvious, this mistake happens surprisingly often!

Common mistakes: The country name is completely omitted with the justification „it's on the customs form“. Incorrect abbreviations such as „RO“ or „ROM“ are used instead of the full name. Or the country name and address are mixed up.

The correct spellingWrite the country name in capital letters in the last line of the address. You can use either „ROMANIA“ or „ROMANIA“. However, „ROMANIA“ is recommended, as this international spelling is universally understood.

Conclusion:

The Romanian address system may seem complicated at first glance, but it follows clear rules. With the information in this guide, you are well equipped to send letters and parcels safely to Romania. The most important success factors are Completeness of the information, which Correct six-digit postal code and for Bucharest addresses the Mandatory sector specification.

Take the time to check your address carefully. It's worth it! A correctly addressed consignment will reach its destination reliably and save you and the recipient unnecessary trouble and delays.

You can find out how address validation works worldwide and what is important for international addresses in general in our article International address verification explained in compact form.

Do you also ship to other countries? Then our blog posts on the topic of Shipping to France or also Shipping to Great Britain be interesting for you.

How endereco supports you with international shipping

Foreign address formats present many stumbling blocks. With our Address validation you can check customer addresses in real time - directly as they are entered in the checkout. Typing errors, missing zip codes or incorrect city names are detected and corrected immediately, even before the order is completed. The result: better data quality, fewer delivery problems and smooth shipping processes.
And that for more than 200 countries worldwide.

Would you like to optimize your international shipping processes? We would be happy to advise you.

 

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Note: All addresses used in this article are fictitious sample addresses for demonstration purposes and do not correspond to real persons or places of residence.