How to geocode an address number with a postal code

In countries where postal codes are highly specific (linking only a few addresses on the same street), an address can be found using only the house number and postal code. This practice is common in transportation and parcel delivery logistics. This feature is supported in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States (ZIP+4), Israel, Ireland, and Singapore. In both Ireland and Singapore, postal codes provide exact location details down to the specific house number.

Examples

Geocode an address with postal code

Sample request

Use query component

{
  "QueryComponents": {
    "AddressNumber": "1368",
    "PostalCode": "V5N 1T2"
  }
}

Use free text

{
  "QueryText": "1368, V5N1T2"
}

Sample response

{
    "ResultItems": [
        {
            "PlaceId": "<Redacted>",
            "PlaceType": "PointAddress",
            "Title": "1368 E 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5N 1T2, Canada",
            "Address": {
                "Label": "1368 E 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5N 1T2, Canada",
                "Country": {
                    "Code2": "CA",
                    "Code3": "CAN",
                    "Name": "Canada"
                },
                "Region": {
                    "Code": "BC",
                    "Name": "British Columbia"
                },
                "SubRegion": {
                    "Name": "Metro Vancouver"
                },
                "Locality": "Vancouver",
                "District": "Grandview-Woodland",
                "PostalCode": "V5N 1T2",
                "Street": "E 8th Ave",
                "StreetComponents": [
                    {
                        "BaseName": "8th",
                        "Type": "Ave",
                        "TypePlacement": "AfterBaseName",
                        "TypeSeparator": " ",
                        "Prefix": "E",
                        "Language": "en"
                    }
                ],
                "AddressNumber": "1368"
            },
            "Position": [
                -123.07612,
                49.26306
            ],
            "MapView": [
                -123.0775,
                49.26216,
                -123.07474,
                49.26396
            ],
            "AccessPoints": [
                {
                    "Position": [
                        -123.07611,
                        49.26333
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "MatchScores": {
                "Overall": 1,
                "Components": {
                    "Address": {
                        "PostalCode": 1,
                        "AddressNumber": 1
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

cURL

curl --request POST \
  --url 'https://places.geo.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/v2/geocode?key=Your_Key' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
  "QueryComponents": {
    "AddressNumber": "1368",
    "PostalCode": "V5N 1T2"
  }
}'

AWS CLI

aws geo-places geocode --key ${YourKey} --query-components '{"AddressNumber" : "1368", "PostalCode": "V5N 1T2"}'

Geocode an address with postal code in Singapore and Ireland

In Ireland, the Eircode system assigns a unique code to every home and business, while in Singapore, postal codes are equally specific. In both countries, a postal code alone can identify an exact address: there is no need for the street name, city, or house number.

• Singapore: 6-digit postal code

• Ireland: 7-character Eircode

Sample request

Use query component

{
  "QueryComponents": {
    "PostalCode": "D02 X285"
  }
}

Use free text

{
  "QueryText": "D02 X285"
}

Sample response

{
    "ResultItems": [
        {
            "PlaceId": "<Redacted>",
            "PlaceType": "PointAddress",
            "Title": "29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin, County Dublin, D02 X285, Ireland",
            "Address": {
                "Label": "29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin, County Dublin, D02 X285, Ireland",
                "Country": {
                    "Code2": "IE",
                    "Code3": "IRL",
                    "Name": "Ireland"
                },
                "SubRegion": {
                    "Code": "D",
                    "Name": "County Dublin"
                },
                "Locality": "Dublin",
                "District": "Dublin 2",
                "PostalCode": "D02 X285",
                "Street": "Adelaide Road",
                "StreetComponents": [
                    {
                        "BaseName": "Adelaide",
                        "Type": "Road",
                        "TypePlacement": "AfterBaseName",
                        "TypeSeparator": " ",
                        "Language": "en"
                    }
                ],
                "AddressNumber": "29-31"
            },
            "Position": [
                -6.25549,
                53.33207
            ],
            "MapView": [
                -6.257,
                53.33117,
                -6.25398,
                53.33297
            ],
            "AccessPoints": [
                {
                    "Position": [
                        -6.25536,
                        53.33231
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "MatchScores": {
                "Overall": 1,
                "Components": {
                    "Address": {
                        "PostalCode": 1
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

cURL

curl --request POST \
  --url 'https://places.geo.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/v2/geocode?key=Your_Key' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
  "QueryComponents": {
    "PostalCode": "D02 X285"
  }
}'

AWS CLI

aws geo-places geocode --key ${YourKey} --query-components '{"PostalCode": "V5N 1T2"}'

Developer tips

Learn more about ZIP+4 (United States) and Eircode (Ireland). Also, learn about postal code system in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Israel.