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You must include the abbreviation “c/o” in an address if the recipient of a letter or package does not have their own mailing address. There are clear differences between this and other notations such as “z.Hd.” and ‘bei’.
“c/o” in Addresses: How to use the abbreviation correctly
You’ll often see the abbreviation “c/o” on envelopes, especially when the recipient cannot be reached at their own home address. The abbreviation comes from English and stands for “care of.”
- You use this addition when a person can be reached temporarily or permanently at the address of another person or organization, but is not officially registered there.
- In the first line of the address, you specify the person who is to receive the mail. In the second line, followed by the abbreviation c/o, you then list the person to whom the mailing address belongs.
- You can also use c/o when a company name is involved, for example, for a package for Ms. Zimmermann at XY GmbH. In this case, the second line should include the company name preceded by “c/o”.
- Important: Do not write both names side by side on the same line. Deutsche Post may not be able to correctly route such addresses under certain circumstances. Also avoid additions such as “at” or “apartment of.”
- The address holder should therefore agree to have their address used as a c/o address so that they do not suddenly refuse to accept mail.
- The names of the address holder and the actual recipient must also be clearly visible on the mailbox – otherwise, the mail carrier may refuse delivery.
- A c/o address is not a valid registered address. Official documents, such as those from the Residents’ Registration Office (if someone has not yet updated their registration after moving), the tax office, or the job center, may not be sent to a c/o address . Registering with the Citizens’ Office under a c/o address is not permitted in Germany unless the recipient actually resides there permanently and can provide proof of this.
c/o addresses abroad: What you need to know
If you want to use c/o addresses, the regulations vary internationally.
- In many countries, such as the U.S. and the U.K., “c/o” is common practice and is also officially supported by postal services.
- In other countries, such as France or Italy, there are specific terms or restrictions. Sometimes a c/o address is only permitted in combination with a company name.
- When shipping internationally, make sure the destination country recognizes “c/o” and processes it correctly—if in doubt, check with the local postal service or consulate.
Differences between “z. Hd.” and ‘bei’
While you use “c/o” when the recipient can be reached at a third-party address, you use other suffixes like “z. Hd.” and “bei” for different reasons. However, one of these is not standard.
- z. Hd. means “to the attention of” and is used within a company to highlight a specific contact person. It does not replace the actual addressee.
- bei is the German variant of “c/o” and is used informally, but is not recommended for mailing , as “c/o” is the internationally accepted standard.
