Reference for how carriers handle shipments to Military addresses, including how to format the address in ShipStation.
ShipStation can create labels to Military and Diplomatic addresses (APO/FPO/DPO etc.), but it will depend on the limits of the carrier used for the shipment. The addresses do have a specific format to follow.
The major carriers connected to ShipStation have unique services for these specialized addresses.
Carrier |
Service |
|---|---|
USPS |
|
DHL eCommerce |
Requires Endicia's integration |
FedEx |
|
UPS |
Write out the service member's rank and full name in the name field.
Include their unit and PO box on Address Line 1.
-
The city field will need to be one of the abbreviations set forth by the Military:
APO: Army Post Office
FPO: Fleet Post Office
DPO: Diplomatic Post Office
-
The Region field for your order needs to be assigned a “state code,” which is categorized by the following abbreviations:
AA: Armed Forces Central and South Americas (Armed Forces Americas)
AP: Armed Forces Pacific
AE: Armed Forces Europe (including-Canada, Middle East, and Africa)
-
Set the country as the United States, as these address are considered part of the U.S.
Here's a screenshot of how this should be formatted within ShipStation:
The above military addresses are considered domestic for outgoing shipments. This means you cannot process these shipments through a direct DHL eCommerce integration (formerly DHL Global Mail), as they can only create labels for international shipments. However, you can process these types of shipments through Endicia's integration of DHL eCommerce for domestic services.
The services available with DHL eCommerce domestic through Endicia are as follows:
DHL GM Parcel Expedited,
DHL GM Parcel Plus Expedited,
DHL GM Parcel Ground, and
DHL GM Parcel Plus Ground.
Notes about Military Addresses
Some shipments, although considered Domestic, may still require customs information. Check with your carrier for their specific requirements and more information.
ShipStation does not support International return labels. While ShipStation can create outgoing shipping labels to these military and diplomatic addresses, these addresses will always be considered International addresses for returns purposes.