LordMatsu
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac App Store

Q: Change store without payment information?

I recently moved to Japan for teaching English and although my credit card is from the US, I can use it internationally and don't intend to get a Japanese credit card anytime soon.  Is there a way for me to change my store from US to Japan?  It keeps saying to enter a Japanese credit card but I don't have one.  Entering my address in Japan doesn't work either :/

Windows 7

Posted on Apr 25, 2016 9:24 AM

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LordMatsu

Q: Change store without payment information?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 25, 2016 9:29 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 7 (27,397 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 25, 2016 9:29 AM in response to LordMatsu

    You are required to have a valid payment method issued in the country of the store you want to change to, with a valid billing address in the country of the store you wish to change to.

     

    There's no way around this unfortunately.

     

    Also, it would be wise to understand what will happen to your US based purchases if you do indeed change countries:

    Change your iTunes Store country or region - Apple Support

    What you need know before you change your country or region

    When you change your iTunes Store country:

    • Update your billing address to one in your new country. When you change your billing address, the primary address for your Apple ID and your other Apple services, such as the App Store and iCloud, automatically updates.
    • You might need to update your payment method. For example, only German credit cards can be used to buy content from the German iTunes Store and App Store.
    • You won't see the items that you purchased from the previous country’s store in your Purchased section.
    • You won’t see the items from your iCloud Music Library that you matched, uploaded, or added from the previous country’s store.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 25, 2016 9:30 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 7 (34,741 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 9:30 AM in response to LordMatsu

    You can not us a US credit card in the Japan iTunes/Mac App Stores.

     

    To have an account in a country you must be a legal resident of the country, supply a credit card issued by a bank in that country with a verifiable billing address in that country.

     

    Late 2012 Mac mini, OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 beta 2;  Watch, 38 mm silver AL, Watch OS 2.1; iPad Air 2 & iPhone 6+, iOS 9.3.2 beta 2;  Apple Airport Express

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 25, 2016 9:33 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 6 (15,140 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 25, 2016 9:33 AM in response to LordMatsu

    The rules are that you can only buy from the country in which you are resident, using a credit card supported by a bank of that same country.   I see the difficulty; I suggest you write to iTunes support for confirmation of any alternate arrangements they can make.

  • by LordMatsu,

    LordMatsu LordMatsu Apr 25, 2016 10:30 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 10:30 AM in response to seventy one

    My co-worker might let me use his credit card and address so I can switch over, then remove it after.  This is really stupid.  Google Play is so much easier to switch over as it just did it automatically without me doing anything.

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 25, 2016 10:38 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 6 (15,140 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 25, 2016 10:38 AM in response to LordMatsu

    I really can't comment on Apple's way of doing business.   I can just try to help you get what you want, where it is possible.  You should not do what you suggest because it is not within the terms of business.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 25, 2016 10:40 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 7 (34,741 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 10:40 AM in response to LordMatsu

    That's a bad idea because lots of folks report that they can't remove the credit card info later without replacing it with a different card's information.

     

    Perhaps it would be better to use your US credit card to buy Japanese iTunes Gift Cards and redeem them for credit in your account to make purchases.

  • by LordMatsu,

    LordMatsu LordMatsu Apr 25, 2016 10:51 AM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 10:51 AM in response to Dah•veed

    Would that change my store to Japan by just purchasing Japanese iTunes Gift Cards?

  • by Dah•veed,Helpful

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 25, 2016 11:24 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 7 (34,741 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 11:24 AM in response to LordMatsu

    You should be able to offer the iTunes gift card as the payment method for the Japanese stores.

  • by LordMatsu,

    LordMatsu LordMatsu Apr 25, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Dah•veed

    I'll try to see if that works.  Thanks.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 25, 2016 11:26 AM in response to LordMatsu
    Level 7 (27,397 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 25, 2016 11:26 AM in response to LordMatsu

    No, to redeem Japanese Gift cards you need to be using a Japanese account. I.e you cannot redeem a Japanese gift card onto a U.S. account.

  • by LordMatsu,

    LordMatsu LordMatsu Apr 25, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Phil0124

    While changing stores/location it asks you if you want to redeem any gift cards, so we'll see.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 25, 2016 11:29 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 7 (34,741 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 25, 2016 11:29 AM in response to Phil0124

    Yes, that is what I meant, change the account to Japan and use the Japanese iTunes Gift cards as the payment method.