What is the correct Israel address format? An Israeli address is written recipient-first, with the building number and street on one line and the 7-digit postal code placed before the city name on the line below it — for example: Mr. Ploni Almoni / 16 Yafo Street / 9414219 JERUSALEM. If you are sending from the United States, add ISRAEL in capitals as the final line so USPS and UPS route the parcel to the right country.
Key Takeaways
- The postal code goes before the city, not after. The Universal Postal Union’s official Israel addressing file states the 7-digit code sits “to the left of locality name” on the same line — the opposite of the US/UK convention.
- Israel has used 7-digit postal codes since February 1, 2013, replacing the older 5-digit system. Many older addresses in circulation still show the retired 5-digit code.
- Line order is short: recipient name → street and building number → postal code + CITY (same line) → country (international mail only).
- From the US, always add “ISRAEL” in English capitals as the last line — USPS and UPS sort outbound international parcels by that country line first.
- Mail addressed to the Gaza Strip or West Bank is routed through Israel: the UPU’s guidance is to write the full local address and add “VIA ISRAEL” as the final line.
What Is the Correct Format for an Israeli Address?
A correctly formatted Israeli address is short — typically just four lines. Israel’s official addressing file, filed with the Universal Postal Union, gives this structure and worked example:
- Addressee’s name (an honorific such as Mar for Mr. or Gveret for Mrs./Ms. is optional)
- House or building number and street name
- Postal code immediately followed by the city name, in capitals, on the same line
- Country name, in capitals (international mail only)
The UPU’s own example reads: Mr. Ploni Almoni / 16 Yafo Street / 9414219 JERUSALEM / ISRAEL. Note that the postal code (9414219) comes first on that third line, immediately before the city name — there is no comma or other punctuation separating them. Israel Post specifies the address block sits in the bottom-right area of the envelope or parcel, aligned left. A US shipper preparing a label through ParcelPath’s Israel shipping page follows the same order, with the one addition covered below: the destination country on the final line.
What Are the Essential Components of an Israeli Address?
Each line carries a specific job. The line most senders get backwards is the third one — postal code first, city second — because it runs opposite to how a US or UK address reads.
| Line | What it is | Example | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient | Person or business receiving the item, optional honorific | Mr. Ploni Almoni | Yes |
| Street line | House/building number + street name | 16 Yafo Street | Yes |
| Postal code + city | 7-digit code, then city, same line, no punctuation | 9414219 JERUSALEM | Yes |
| Country | Destination country for international mail, in capitals | ISRAEL | Yes (from abroad) |
There is no separate “state” or “district” line in a standard Israeli address — the postal code and city together fully identify the delivery point, the same job a ZIP code plus city does in the US. Israel is divided into six administrative districts plus the Tel Aviv District, but those divisions aren’t part of a normal mailing address; they matter for government and statistical purposes, not for postal routing.
How Does the Israeli Postal Code System Work?
Israel’s postal code — called a mikud in Hebrew — is seven digits long and has been since a system-wide changeover. Israel Post announced the switch from 5-digit to 7-digit codes in March 2012, with the new codes taking effect on February 1, 2013. The old 5-digit codes were officially retired at that point, though some older records and printed materials still show them.
Codes are assigned in a rough geographic sequence running north to south, based on the first two digits of the code. Metula, at Israel’s northern tip, was assigned a code beginning with 10; Eilat, at the southern end on the Red Sea, was assigned a code beginning with 88. Jerusalem is an exception to the pattern — its codes begin with 9 despite the city sitting roughly in the country’s center, not its south. Military postal codes are a separate case: they always start with 0 and stay fixed to the unit regardless of where that unit is physically stationed.
Because the postal code precedes the city name rather than following it, automated sorting in Israel reads the numeric code first to route the item — the city name that follows is effectively a human-readable confirmation of what the code already specifies.
How Do You Address an Israeli Parcel From the United States?
Shipping into Israel from the US adds exactly one rule to the format above: the last line must be the destination country, written in English capitals — ISRAEL. USPS and UPS sort outbound international parcels by that country line before anything else is read, so a missing country line is one of the fastest ways to get a package held or misrouted.
Practical points for US-origin shipments to Israel:
- English/Latin script is fully usable. While Hebrew is preferred for domestic Israeli mail, Israel Post’s international addressing standard is published in Latin characters, and international mail addressed in English routes correctly.
- Keep the postal code and city on one line, code first, exactly as shown in the components table above — don’t split them onto separate lines.
- Include a phone number and email in the label’s contact fields; Israeli customs and last-mile couriers use them for delivery coordination.
- Both USPS and UPS reach Israeli addresses. ParcelPath issues discounted USPS and UPS labels for the Israel lane; the Israel destination guide covers current transit windows and customs paperwork.
For customs documentation on an Israel-bound parcel — the CN22/CN23 declaration and what commonly triggers a customs hold — see our international shipping hub.
What Are the Most Common Israel Address Mistakes to Avoid?
Most delivery delays into Israel trace back to one of these formatting errors:
- Putting the postal code after the city instead of before it. Because this is the reverse of the US and UK convention, it’s the single most common mistake senders make on Israel-bound mail.
- Using a retired 5-digit postal code. Any code found in an old address book predating February 2013 needs to be updated to the current 7-digit format.
- Forgetting “ISRAEL” on mail sent from abroad. Without the country line, a US carrier can’t route the parcel internationally.
- Splitting the postal code and city onto two lines. They belong together on one line, code first, with no punctuation between them.
- Omitting “VIA ISRAEL” on Gaza Strip or West Bank mail. See the special-case note below.
How Do You Handle Special Cases in Israel?
A few situations fall outside the standard four-line format:
- Gaza Strip and West Bank (Palestinian Authority areas): the UPU’s Israel addressing file specifies these items should carry the full local address, including the area name (GAZA STRIP or WEST BANK), with “VIA ISRAEL” added as the final line, since mail to these areas is processed through the Israeli postal network.
- Honorifics: Mar (Mr.) and Gveret (Mrs./Ms.) are optional but commonly used ahead of a recipient’s name on Hebrew-language mail.
- Rural addresses: where a formal street name doesn’t exist, use the name of the moshav (cooperative farming village) or kibbutz, followed by the nearest larger town, then the postal code.
- Script: Hebrew is the default for domestic mail, but Israel Post’s own international addressing standard is filed in Latin characters — so a fully English-language label, correctly ordered, is standard practice for parcels arriving from the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Israeli postal code go before or after the city name?
Before. Israel’s official addressing standard, filed with the Universal Postal Union, places the 7-digit postal code immediately to the left of the city name on the same line — for example, “9414219 JERUSALEM.” This is the reverse of the US and UK, where the code follows the city.
How many digits are in an Israeli postal code?
Seven. Israel switched from a 5-digit to a 7-digit postal code system on February 1, 2013. If you have an older Israeli address on file with a 5-digit code, it should be updated, since the old codes were officially retired at that changeover.
Do I need to write “ISRAEL” when shipping from the US?
Yes — always, as the last line in English capitals. USPS and UPS sort outbound international parcels by the destination country first, so omitting “ISRAEL” risks the package being held or returned before it leaves the US.
How do I address mail to the Gaza Strip or West Bank?
Write the full local address, including the specific area (Gaza Strip or West Bank), and add “VIA ISRAEL” as the final line. The Universal Postal Union’s Israel addressing file specifies this routing note because mail to these areas passes through the Israeli postal network.
Can I write an Israeli address in English, or does it need to be in Hebrew?
English is fine for international mail. Hebrew is the default for addresses circulating domestically within Israel, but Israel Post’s own addressing standard, as filed with the UPU, is published in Latin characters — so a clearly written English-language label routes correctly from the US.
Sources
- Universal Postal Union — Israel addressing standard (official filing)
- Postal codes in Israel — Wikipedia
- Haaretz — Israel Post Has Your Number. All 7 Digits of It
- Israel Post — official website
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Part of our Shipping to Israel guide. Related: International Shipping hub · UK Address Format.
