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New SEPA 2026 standard —
The structured address becomes mandatory
From 15 November 2026, the unstructured address format disappears from SEPA credit transfers and direct debits. It is one of the changes in the SEPA Credit Transfer 2025 rulebook (version 1.1) published by the European Payments Council (EPC). We explain what changes, who is affected, and how to prepare.
What changes in practice?
Today, the address of a beneficiary or debtor can be entered in a simple free-text field ("unstructured address"). From 15 November 2026, this format will no longer be accepted: a structured (or hybrid) address will be required, with separate fields for city, country, street, etc.
| Before 15/11/2026 | From 15/11/2026 |
|---|---|
| Adresse non structurée ("12 rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris") |
✗ Rejected by banks |
| Adresse structurée ou hybride (city, country, street, number, postcode in separate fields) |
✓ Mandatory if an address is provided |
Who is affected?
The address itself does not become mandatory for all payments — only its format changes when it is provided.
Intra-EEA payments
The address remains optional. If you provide one, it must be structured or hybrid from 15 November 2026.
Beneficiary outside the EEA
For a credit transfer (SCT) to a beneficiary located outside the European Economic Area, the address becomes mandatory, in structured or hybrid format.
Debtor's bank outside the EEA
For a direct debit (SDD) debiting a bank located outside the EEA, the debtor's address also becomes mandatory.
How to prepare now?
A few simple actions let you anticipate the deadline without any last-minute rush.
| ✓ Identify beneficiaries and banks outside the EEA in your payment files |
| ✓ Prepare at least the city and country fields (ISO 3166-1 code) for these cases |
| ✓ If possible, also fill in the street, number and postcode (recommended) |
| ✓ Check with your bank the exact format expected in your pain.001 / pain.008 XML files |
Frequently asked questions
What is the new SEPA standard of November 2026?
From 15 November 2026, the unstructured address format is no longer allowed in SEPA credit transfers and direct debits (SCT, SDD, SCT Inst). This date comes from version 1.1 of the SEPA Credit Transfer 2025 rulebook published by the European Payments Council (EPC), aligned with the SWIFT Standards MX release of November 2026.
Is the beneficiary's address mandatory in all SEPA credit transfers?
No. The address remains optional for intra-EEA payments. It becomes mandatory only for transfers to a beneficiary located outside the EEA, or for direct debits debiting a bank located outside the EEA.
What must I enter if I provide an address after 15 November 2026?
The address must be structured or hybrid: the city and country (ISO 3166-1 code) become mandatory fields. The street name, number and postcode are recommended but not yet mandatory at that date.
What happens if I keep using an unstructured address after that date?
Files containing an unstructured address (a single free-text field) risk being rejected by banks from 15 November 2026.
How to prepare for this deadline?
Identify the credit transfers and direct debits involving beneficiaries or banks outside the EEA, and prepare the city and country fields (ideally also street, number and postcode) in your payment files now.
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