Apple won't accept my credit card

I am living in Kenya but still using my Australian credit card, which Apple had no problem accepting when I lived in Australia. I have no banking services in Kenya, everyone uses a form of mobile money called M-Pesa. Having updated my billing address to Kenya, Apple will not accept my Australian credit card, it says it's not valid for my region. Funny, I have no problem actually using my debit and credit card over here.

I need a workable solution that does not require me to get a Kenyan credit card.

iPhone XR, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 14, 2023 7:29 AM

Reply
3 replies

Sep 15, 2023 11:13 AM in response to NicInKenya

Greetings NicInKenya,


When you change your country or region, the payment method would need to associated with that region as well:


"What to do before you change your country or region


You can find more details here: Change your Apple ID country or region


We hope this helps.

Take care.



Sep 16, 2023 7:33 AM in response to NicInKenya

It is frequently posted here that your payment method must come from the same country as that to which your account is set. However, I cannot find any statement from Apple saying that. The only official statement I can find about international payment methods is what Apple itself says is in its own support article specifically helping you with declined payment methods: If your payment method is declined in the App Store or iTunes Store - Apple Support : "You might need to ask your financial institution to allow international purchases on your debit or credit card". If Apple is requiring you to use a card from the same country it certainly isn't including a simple statement to that effect in any of its documentation that I have found.

Apple used to have a somewhat clearer statement in a previous version of its support article: Payment methods that you can use with your Apple ID - Apple Support

"Make sure that the billing address for your payment method matches the billing address for your Apple ID. " It may be that is still in effect even though Apple does not say so, It could therefore present problems unless your card is also billed to you at an address in the country to which your account is set. If it still is in effect then in most cases the simplest solution will be to use a method from the same country as the store you are using.



Sep 16, 2023 2:51 AM in response to Grace2211

Sorry, that didn’t help at all. Apple needs to change their system. I suspect that Apple doesn’t care about losing a single customer and I will have to sign up to an alternate streaming service.

I also find it incredibly arrogant that the only 2 quick responses offered in relation to the reply are “correct answer” and “helpful answer”. Must give them a false sense of awesomeness when they look at their KPIs.

Apple won't accept my credit card

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.