If an address is correct and genuinely exists, but DQE does not return it as valid, this does not necessarily mean the input is wrong. DQE validates addresses against each country's official postal reference database, and these databases are not always perfectly up to date — a very recent street, a newly built development, or a small or rural locality may not yet be indexed.
Why this can happen
DQE relies on the official national postal reference database for each country to determine whether an address is deliverable. These databases are maintained by the national postal operator and updated on a regular cycle (typically monthly), not in real time. An address that is correct in reality can temporarily fall outside this reference data if:
- the street was created or renamed recently;
- the address is in a newly built development not yet surveyed;
- the locality is small or rural and has limited coverage in the reference data.
Official postal reference databases by country
| Country | Reference database |
|---|---|
| France | SNA (La Poste) |
| United Kingdom | PAF (Royal Mail) |
| Belgium | bpost |
| Germany | Deutsche Post |
| Netherlands | BAG (Kadaster) |
| Spain | Correos |
| Italy | Poste Italiane |
Typical validation codes for this scenario
When an address falls into this situation, the Address API's DQECodeDetail (Classic) / DQEDetailCode (RESTful) field typically returns a "street not recognised" code (e.g. 30, 31, 50, 51) rather than an outright rejection. See the complete code reference for the full list and suggested UI messages.
What to do
- Confirm the address is correct — double-check the street name, number, and postal code against a reliable external source, such as a map service or the national postal operator's own address lookup tool.
- Contact DQE Support — if the address is confirmed correct but still not recognised, open a support ticket with the full address, country, and any supporting evidence (e.g. a recent utility bill or official document showing the address).
- Wait for the next reference data update — DQE Support can submit the address to the relevant national postal operator for inclusion. Since reference databases are updated periodically rather than in real time, this is typically resolved at the next update cycle rather than immediately.