Sending an Amazon gift card to someone in another country can be a thoughtful gesture, allowing you to share the joy of shopping on the world’s largest online marketplace.
However, the process may seem a bit complex at first. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to send an Amazon gift card to another country.
So, if you’re eager to learn all the ins and outs of this international gifting process, keep reading!
Can You Send an Amazon Gift Card to Another Country? (3 Things)
Before you try to purchase a gift card for someone in another country, you should first check that it’s even a supported option.
Amazon is available in a lot of different countries, but Amazon gift cards are not.
If the country in question is not a viable destination for the gift card, you cannot get around this by purchasing the card for another country.
Amazon gift cards are locked by region.
Someone in the United Kingdom cannot redeem a gift card designated for the United States, for example. So, verification of eligibility is crucial.
#1 Check if Amazon is Available in Other Country
To see if a gift card is even an option for the intended recipient, you need to make sure that Amazon has an online store for the country where you want to send the card.
Amazon is available in over 100 countries. There are currently around 195 countries in the world, depending on the criteria used for classification.
That means that there’s a good chance that Amazon does have a functioning store for the country in question, but there are no guarantees.
You can look up countries available for shipping on the Amazon website, and that’s an important first step.
If Amazon is not available in the country in question, then your options are limited. You can potentially mail a gift card, and the steps for that are in a later section.
Trying to purchase a gift card for someone in an unsupported country will not work by default.
#2 Check the Currency of Other Country
Assuming Amazon is available in the country where you are sending the gift card, you also need to make sure that you purchase the card in the right currency.
Typically, if you buy the card directly from the Amazon website, everything will default to the right currency.
That said, some countries favor international currencies over their own domestic currency. If this is the case, the Amazon defaults might not be correct.
In cases where the domestic currency is unstable, it might be better to provide a gift card in a less volatile currency to guarantee value.
Figuring out the best currency isn’t always easy. You can start by speaking to the intended recipient of the gift card.
You can also check online shops that are located in the country in question. The currency(s) those shops accept are probably a good way to go.
You can also use the Amazon website for the country in question and see what payment options are available.
As stated before, the defaults are typically reliable, but if there are questions regarding currency, it’s best to do a little research before making the purchase.
#3 Check if Amazon Gift Card Can Be Used in Other Country
The last thing you need to do before committing to a purchase is to check on redemption options.
Not all gift cards can be redeemed in all countries. International trade is a complicated thing, and restrictions can pop out of nowhere.
For any Amazon gift card, there should be a list of available countries on the card’s page.
Here’s where you get into the biggest catch. Amazon is available in over 100 countries, but gift cards are not.
For the list of gift cards, you will find far fewer countries, and you need to double-check that any given country is listed in the fine print on the page of the gift card you are trying to get.
This applies to third-party gift cards purchased through Amazon too.
How You Can Send an Amazon Gift Card to Another Country? (5 Steps)
At this point, you have confirmed that the intended recipient can receive and redeem the gift card.
Now that you have established as much, you can follow these steps to make the purchase and ensure that everything is in the right format and working as intended.
#1 Log Into the Correct Amazon Site
Start by logging into the appropriate country’s version of the Amazon website. If you are on the Amazon site, you have the option to change the country.
On the top bar and on the right side, you should see a flag icon. You can click on that icon to change the country for your user experience.
Go to the country that will be the card’s destination to make sure everything works as intended. As you go through this, keep in mind that changing the country can change the site’s language.
If you’re not fluent in the destination language, you might need help making the purchase.
There is also a caveat to this process. Some countries have restricted internet access by law. So, you might be denied access to some country sites for Amazon.
If you want to try to get around this, you can attempt to use a VPN service. That service can potentially connect you to a server in the country in question.
This will cause the website to think that you are physically in that country, and then you can proceed.
Before you go through with this method, keep in mind that you might be violating the laws of another nation. Tread carefully.
If you want to err on the side of caution, don’t try to trick the Amazon servers with a VPN, and only follow through on the purchase if everything works normally.
#2 Select the Gift Card
This is the easy part. Now that you are on the right country’s website, you can browse gift card options.
Find the card that you like, and select it. You can typically fill out the amount that you want.
For most Amazon gift cards, there’s a fairly large range in purchase amounts.
You can also select whether you are sending a physical card to someone or keeping everything strictly digital. Most cards default to digital options, but physical cards do exist.
If you choose a physical card, Amazon will walk you through shipping options, as the site does with other physical orders.
#3 Double-Check the Payment Options
Once you make your selections, you will be routed to a payment screen. Since you are paying electronically, Amazon should accept any payment in this store.
That means you can pay for the card in USD, even though it is presenting a card in Euros, for example.
There is one thing to note. Since another country is involved, there will be a currency exchange.
Sometimes, this can incur exchange fees or rounding errors that change the final price. Pay attention to such changes as you go and make sure they are acceptable.
If you are being hit with exchange fees that feel unreasonable, check with your card(s) and issuer(s). You might be eligible for a service that reduces such fees.
It depends on who manages the card you are trying to use.
#4 Finalize the Purchase
As with any Amazon purchase, you will have a chance to review everything before you make it final.
As long as you are making the purchase on the right country site, everything should be pretty normal here.
If you’re satisfied with the terms of the sale, you can finalize it, and you will be charged.
#5 Mail a Card
If for any reason, the electronic process does not work or is not available, you have another option. You can purchase a physical gift card and have it shipped to yourself.
You can then mail that card to the intended recipient. This runs the risk of putting the card in a currency or format that cannot be redeemed in the destination country.
The end-user might need to use a VPN or other workaround to use the card, but if it’s that important to send an Amazon gift card, you can try to make it work.
Why Are You Sending an Amazon Gift Card?
You now know how to check the availability of Amazon gift cards and how to purchase them for a user in another country.
Before you do, you should ask yourself why you are doing this. If it’s a simple gift for a friend, then go for it.
If, however, things are a little more complicated, you need to be wary of scams. Many scammers will offer a service or a special offer.
In order to redeem the offer or whatever is made available, they will request an Amazon gift card.
The reasons given as to why they need a gift card will vary, but the emphasis on a gift card remains the same.
Amazon gift cards are non-refundable, and when you give away the information to redeem them, they are non-transferable.
If you send a gift card to a scammer, you will simply lose the money you spent. There is virtually no resource to recover the losses.
So, be sure as to who is receiving the gift card and why you are sending it.
If you are unsure, you can contact Amazon support, and they can give you direct advice about detecting and avoiding scams.