Because the Postcode Address File is maintained by Royal Mail, its commercial use is governed by a licence. You can licence PAF directly, but for most teams that means contracts, compliance and minimum commitments. Using a licensed provider removes that friction.
Two ways to access PAF
- Direct Royal Mail licence — full control, but contracts, fees and compliance to manage yourself
- Through a provider like AutoPostcode — compliant access bundled into simple pricing, ready in minutes
The simpler route
AutoPostcode holds the underlying licensing so you can integrate via API or plugin and stay compliant. See PAF data access and our pricing.
Learn more
Read what PAF data contains or return to the PAF guide hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a PAF licence?
If you use Royal Mail PAF data you need to be covered by a licence. Most businesses don't licence directly — they use a licensed provider like AutoPostcode that includes usage within its service.
How much does a PAF licence cost?
Direct Royal Mail PAF licensing involves setup and ongoing fees that vary by use case. Using a provider bundles compliant access into simple per-lookup or subscription pricing.
Can I use PAF data for free?
PAF is a licensed dataset, so it isn't free to use commercially. AutoPostcode offers a free trial so you can build and test before committing.
Ready to get started?
Add Royal Mail PAF-verified UK address lookup to your site in minutes — start free, no card required.