Card is not available for payments in Apple Store if region of card different from region of Apple ID

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Card is not available for payments in Apple Store if region of card different from region of Apple ID

I can add cards to Apple Wallet, but when I try to use this card for in-app purchases in the Apple Store or iTunes, I cannot. The region of that card is Germany and region of my AppleID is Cyprus. Why I cannot use this card?

Here is the official information from Apple regarding

payment rules worldwide: Payment methods that you can use with your Apple ID - Apple Support

And specifically, regarding payments in Europe: About billing and purchases in Europe - Apple Support

It is clearly stated there that: "You can make App Store or Apple media service purchases using Apple Pay with any eligible card in Wallet on your iPhone or iPad." It is also mentioned that most bank cards can be

used for payments.

Thus, there are no restrictions in the official documents.

Why this card is not available for Apple Store or iTunes ?

iPhone 11

Posted on Nov 21, 2023 2:05 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Ingo2711

Community+ 2026

Level 10

81,681 points

Nov 21, 2023 3:12 AM in response to Andrew-a-k

You can only use a payment method that is linked to the region/country, your Apple ID is registered to.

For example, if you have a german Apple ID, you can only use a credit / bank card that is issued by a banking institution from Germany. And for Cyprus, your will have to have a banking card, issued by a bank in Cyprus.

Plus your address has also to be in that country.

Have a look at this article:

Change your Apple ID country or region - Apple Support

Land oder Region deiner Apple-ID ändern - Apple Support (DE)

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Answer 2

Nov 21, 2023 5:12 AM in response to Andrew-a-k

Did you change your Apple ID country from Germany to Cyprus as mentioned in the related article?

Change your Apple ID country or region - Apple Support

After that you will need a banking card that supports Apple Pay in Cyprus

Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd
Bank of Cyprus
BigWallet
Bitpanda
CleverCards
Curve
Emburse
Factorial HR
Hellenic Bank
iCard
Klarpay
Monese
NAGA Pay
Payhawk
Payquicker
Paysend
Paysera
Revolut
SumUp
SWAN
Unlimint
Viva Wallet
Wise

copied from: Apple Pay participating banks in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East - Apple Support

In case your Apple ID is registered for Cyprus, you can try to use Apple Gift Cards, bought in Cyprus, to pay for the country specific content of the local App Store for Cyprus.

More legal details can also be found here:

Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple

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Answer 3

Nov 21, 2023 5:57 AM in response to Andrew-a-k

As I mentioned, Apple content is country specific, and to make sure you can only access the correct Apple content, the banking card for the payment has to be issued by the local bank and only then will it work for the Apple App Store or iTunes Store in this particular country/region.

AppStore Cyprus -> Cyprus banking card, issued by local bank in Cyprus

AppStore Germany -> German banking card, issued by local bank in Germany

Even if the same banking institute has branches in each country.

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Answer 4

Andrew-a-k Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 21, 2023 4:30 AM in response to Ingo2711

Thank you, but I couldn't find an answer to my question in your comment - where is this restriction documented? Moreover, in the link See what payment methods you can use, it is stated that for the Cyprus region any card from the wallet or most credit cards can be used:

Cyprus

Apple Pay (When you use Apple Pay in Europe, pay with any eligible card that's in Wallet on the device that you're using.)
Most credit and debit cards

I don't understand why I can't use my card, issued in Germany, for payments in the Cyprus Apple Store. In my opinion, this is an unjustified restriction that contradicts the rules of international payment systems.

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Answer 5

Andrew-a-k Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 21, 2023 5:33 AM in response to Ingo2711

Yes, that's exactly how I switched my Apple ID region (Change your Apple ID country or region - Apple Support). I have a bank cards that is mentioned in your list for both the Germany region and the Cyprus region. The card for the Cyprus region is available for payment, but for the Germany region, it is not. I do not understand in which documentation these restrictions are described, as I can pay in Cyprus with a card issued for Germany, both in offline stores and online stores. But for some reason, I cannot pay with this card in the Apple Store and iTunes, and I would like to understand where these restrictions are documented.

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Card is not available for payments in Apple Store if region of card different from region of Apple ID

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