What Does “Intercom Code” Mean on a Delivery Form?
An intercom code is the number or sequence used at a building's entrance panel to call a resident or unlock the communal door. On a delivery form, “intercom code” usually means the entrance detail a courier needs to reach the recipient; depending on the building, this may be a flat number to ring or a separate access code. It is different from a postcode and may also differ from the recipient's flat number.
Customers sending flowers to Russia often have a complete street address but get stuck at this small field. At Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), we recommend describing what the courier should do at the entrance instead of guessing a number. We have been working in Saint Petersburg since 2011, with three shops of our own, and clear entrance instructions are a practical part of arranging a bouquet delivery.
A call number and a door code do different jobs
An entrance panel can serve two purposes: contacting someone inside and controlling access to the building. A call number selects a flat or resident, who may then release the door from inside. An access code unlocks the entrance when entered correctly, without necessarily placing a call. Some buildings use one method, some use both, and others rely on a key or electronic fob that a visiting courier will not have.
This distinction changes what you should write in the delivery instructions. “Ring flat 24” tells the courier to contact the resident, while “Entrance access code: [confirmed code]” identifies a door-opening sequence. If the resident has given a sequence containing a symbol, preserve that symbol and its position exactly. Do not add a hash, star or call-button instruction unless you know the panel requires it.
How to recognise the field on a Russian address form
The Russian word for an entrance intercom is often written in Latin letters as “domofon”, and “kod domofona” means “intercom code”. You may also encounter “pod yezd” or “podyezd” for the building entrance and “kvartira” for the flat. These are separate address details, even when a form places them next to each other. A building with several entrances needs the correct entrance number as well as any useful intercom instruction.
Keep the street address, building number, entrance, floor and flat in their own fields wherever the form allows. Put the confirmed intercom information in the intercom field, then use a delivery note to explain any action that a number alone cannot communicate. For example, “Entrance 2; ring flat 24; recipient will answer” is clearer than an unexplained string of digits. Treat this as a format example and replace every detail with information you have checked.
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What to enter when you do not know the code
Do not invent an access code or assume that the flat number opens the door. If you know only the flat number, label it as a number to ring rather than presenting it as an unlocking code. Where a delivery form accepts a note, write “Intercom code unknown; please call the recipient”. If a required field prevents you from continuing, contact us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 to clarify the delivery details.
The most useful next step is to check the entrance arrangements with the recipient or someone who knows the building. Ask whether visitors ring the flat, enter a separate code or speak to a concierge, and confirm which entrance serves the address. A short, accurate instruction is more useful than a long description based on assumptions. Our guide to delivery instructions when you do not know the intercom code covers this situation in more detail.
Share enough information for access, and protect private details
A communal entrance code is an access credential, so send it only where it is needed to arrange the delivery. Keep it out of the greeting card message, which serves a different purpose and may be read by people other than the recipient. You do not need to provide a code for the recipient's private front door to explain how to enter the communal building. If you are unsure whether a detail is appropriate to share, ask the resident.
Before submitting the order, read the entrance note as someone seeing the address for the first time. Check for a missing entrance number, an ambiguous digit or instructions that refer to a previous home. If the building has more than one approach, include a confirmed landmark or direction only when it helps identify the correct entrance. Avoid guesses about open doors, concierge availability or neighbours who might let the courier in.
Use the entrance details to plan flower delivery in Russia
Once the address and entrance instructions are ready, choose the bouquet from our bouquets catalogue and review the delivery arrangement. We deliver flowers across Russia, and city delivery costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order. Keep the recipient's contact details accurate alongside the address, because an entrance code alone does not establish whether someone is available to receive the flowers.
Express delivery in large cities is available in 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed. Other options include delivery at an exact time with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes, or within the windows 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21; orders can also be placed 1–30 days ahead. When ordering from abroad, make the intended date and destination clear so that a time-zone difference does not create ambiguity. Around-the-clock delivery is available in Saint Petersburg.
Check the delivery and payment information before completing your order, particularly if the destination is outside the city. Online checkout uses CloudPayments; check the payment options displayed there rather than assuming a particular foreign card will be accepted. Put access instructions with the delivery details and the recipient's greeting in the card text. Keeping those two messages separate helps each one do its job.
Plan a surprise around the recipient's availability
A working intercom code helps with building access, but it does not confirm that the recipient is home. Our courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so plan a surprise with that contact in mind. Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, and you can choose whether its wording identifies you.
If the recipient is not there, we agree a second delivery the same day or handing the flowers to a neighbour or concierge with the sender's consent. A familiar neighbour's name in your notes should therefore be accompanied by clear instructions about whether you consent to that handover. Do not assume that access to the entrance means the bouquet can be left unattended. For a birthday, anniversary or other personal occasion, checking availability is as useful as checking the door code.
Frequently asked questions
Is an intercom code the same as an apartment number?
Sometimes the apartment number is what a visitor enters to call the resident, but it is not necessarily a door-opening code. Label it as “Ring flat [number]” if that is the confirmed instruction.
What should I write if I do not know the intercom code?
Where the form accepts a note, write “Intercom code unknown; please call the recipient”. If a required field blocks the order, call 8 (812) 507-67-05 to clarify the details.
Does knowing the intercom code mean the courier will not call?
No. Our courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, even when entrance information has been provided.
Can I send flowers anonymously?
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so consider whether your message reveals your identity.
Can I pay for delivery to Russia with a foreign card?
Online checkout uses CloudPayments. Check the options displayed at checkout, as acceptance of every foreign card is not guaranteed.
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