# Validate Addresses

ShipStation can validate the `ship_to` address when you [purchase a label](/create-labels) if you add the `validate_address` property to the request body using either the `validate_only` or `validate_and_clean` values. `no_validation` is the default value for this property.

Currently, ShipStation API does not include a dedicated address validation endpoint. However, this feature is coming in 2025.

## Requirements

- Add the `validate_address` property to the purchase label request body (`POST v2/labels`)
- Set the property value to the type of validation you require for the `ship_to` address: `no_validation`, `validate_only`, `validate_and_clean`


## Sample Request

In this example, we add the `validate_address` property to the label request body with the `validate_and_clean` value.

**POST /v2/labels**


```http
POST /v2/labels HTTP/1.1
Host: api.shipstation.com
API-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__
Content-Type: application/json

{
 "validate_address": "validate_and_clean",
 "shipment":
    {
     "carrier_id": "se-28529731",
     "service_code": "usps_priority_mail",
     "ship_date": "2024-09-23T00:00:00.000Z",
     "ship_to":
        {
         "name": "John Doe",
         "phone": "+1 204-253-9411 ext. 123",
         "email": "example@example.com",
         "company_name": "My Company",
         "address_line1": "4301 Bull Creek Rd",
         "address_line2": "Suite 300",
         "city": "Austin",
         "state": "TX",
         "postal_code": "78731",
         "country_code": "US",
         "address_residential_indicator": "no",
        },
    "ship_from":
        {
         "name": "Jane Doe",
         "phone": "+1 204-253-9412",
         "email": "example1@example.com",
         "company_name": "My cool stuff",
         "address_line1": "710 West Ceasar Chavez St",
         "city": "Austin",
         "state": "TX",
         "postal_code": "78701",
         "country_code": "US",
         "address_residential_indicator": "no",
        },
    "warehouse_id": "se-28529731",
    "is_return": false,
    "confirmation": "none",
    "insurance_provider": "none",
    "packages":
        [
            {
             "package_id": "se-28529731",
             "package_code": "small_flat_rate_box",
             "weight":
               {
                "value": 1,
                 "unit": "pound"
                },
             "dimensions":
                {
                 "unit": "inch",
                "length": 8,
                "width": 8,
                "height": 9
               },
            "label_messages":
               {
                "reference1": null,
                "reference2": null,
                "reference3": null
               },
            "content_description": "Hand knitted wool socks",
           "products": [ ]
           }
       ],
    },
 "label_download_type": "url",
 "label_format": "pdf",
 "display_scheme": "label",
 "label_layout": "4x6",
}
```

If the address is fully validated and no changes are required, the response will be your standard response when creating a label. There are no additional properties to indicate the address validation status.

### Response: Address Cleaned

If the validation finds a more precise address match in the available database, the shipment will simply include the updated `ship_to` address values. In this example, the validation added the +4 code to the `postal_code` property in the `ship_to` object.


```json
{
 "ship_to":
    {
     "name": "John Doe",
     "phone": "+1 204-253-9411 ext. 123",
     "email": "example@example.com",
     "company_name": "My Company",
     "address_line1": "4301 Bull Creek Rd",
     "address_line2": "Suite 300",
     "city": "Austin",
     "state": "TX",
     "postal_code": "78731-5933",
     "country_code": "US",
     "address_residential_indicator": "no",
    },
},
```

### Response: Address Validation Error

If the address cannot be validated, we’ll return an error and the label will not be created. The error will provide the details you need to locate the source of the validation issue so you can modify the address and attempt to create the label again.


```json
{
    "request_id": "f0cab3d6-384e-4cce-9ba6-36f4e0de08f0",
    "errors": [
        {
            "error_source": "shipstation",
            "error_type": "business_rules",
            "error_code": "invalid_address",
            "message": "Invalid City, State, or Zip",
            "field_name": "ship_to",
            "detail_code": "unsupported_country"
        }
    ]
}
```

The level of detail provided in the `message` and `details_code` properties will vary depending on the country the address is located in and the validation level available.