ISO 20022 XML schema (postal address)
The ISO 20022 XML schema (XSD) for postal addresses defines the <PstlAdr> container and its child elements with exact types and lengths: <TwnNm> up to 35 characters, <StrtNm> 70, <BldgNb> 16, <PstCd> 16, <Ctry> as [A-Z]{2}, and <AdrLine> at 70 characters per occurrence with format-dependent cardinality.
How ISO 20022 XML schema (postal address) works in practice
Parsers should validate against the XSD and then apply the format rules the schema alone cannot express: <AdrLine> cardinality of 0 in fully structured, [0..2] in hybrid and up to 7 in the decommissioned unstructured format, plus the No-Duplication Rule between structured elements and address lines.
Source: the ioNova Postal Address Specification v2.0 §3.2 (element table) and §3.4.3 (Figure 2 — XML schema structure); CPMI harmonisation requirements — technical annex §0.13–§0.31 / p5.
The schema skeleton with types, lengths and cardinality notes:
<PstlAdr> <Dept>text{1,70}</Dept> <SubDept>text{1,70}</SubDept> <StrtNm>text{1,70}</StrtNm> <BldgNb>text{1,16}</BldgNb> <BldgNm>text{1,35}</BldgNm> <Flr>text{1,70}</Flr> <PstBx>text{1,16}</PstBx> <Room>text{1,70}</Room> <PstCd>text{1,16}</PstCd> <TwnNm>text{1,35}</TwnNm> <!-- MANDATORY --> <TwnLctnNm>text{1,35}</TwnLctnNm> <DstrctNm>text{1,35}</DstrctNm> <CtrySubDvsn>text{1,35}</CtrySubDvsn> <!-- ISO 3166-2 --> <Ctry>[A-Z]{2}</Ctry> <!-- MANDATORY --> <AdrLine>text{1,70}</AdrLine> <!-- 0 structured / [0..2] hybrid / [0..7] unstructured --> </PstlAdr>
Parent reference: ISO 20022 structured address mandate.
Sources
Standards & regulatory sources
- Harmonised ISO 20022 data requirements for enhancing cross-border payments — technical annex — BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI), 26 February 2026.
- ISO 20022 message definitions catalogue — ISO 20022 Registration Authority, 2026.
ioNova reference material
- ioNova ISO 20022 Postal Address — Requirements and Specifications v2.0, May 2026 — ioNova reference work consolidating the sources above. Request the specification in a demo.
See ioNova ARS in action
The complete ISO 20022 Postal Address — Requirements and Specifications Update 2026 consolidates the CPMI harmonisation requirements, the BIS PIE taskforce report, the PMPG Hybrid Postal Address whitepaper and the EPC address guidance into a single reference.
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