Using Apple ID with a US address and Gift Card Credit from Outside the USA

Hi. I have been using apple products since the early iPods and yet we do not actually have Apple’s presence where I live, Pakistan. I have not yet ever been to the United States but I paid for a mail forwarding address in the USA, which essentially would take any mail sent to that address and ship it to any address I ask them to, for a fee. Since I enjoy using apple products and have an investment in the apple “ecosystem” , but the services that make these products function seamlessly like Apple Music or Apple TV+ aren’t available in Pakistan. What if I use my mail forwarding address in the USA and use gift card balance for payments since the store credit gets charged first. You can use subscribe and use the services like Apple Music then, and I have tried this.


I am just worried about any issue that I might face considering I do not actually reside in the US. If any mail is received on the address I will use however, I will be notified by mail forwarding service and can have it shipped physically to where I am.

Posted on Nov 15, 2024 5:20 AM

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2 replies

Nov 15, 2024 6:26 AM in response to sohaib157

I suspect that if Apple catches you using a forwarding service they may penalize you.


Shipping & Pickup - Shopping Help - Apple

"Shopping in the U.S.

Items purchased online from Apple ship within the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. No shipments can be made to P.O. Box addresses, United States territories, or addresses outside of the United States. You may not export any products purchased online from Apple."


Apple won't deliver to a freight shipper

Refund Period - Apple Community


As for using the services in the USA, again, you will be violating the terms of use of the service, and if caught, Apple could delete your accounts and everything in them (including your balance).

Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple

- A. ”Our Services are available for your use in your country of residence (“Home Country”). By creating an account for use of the Services in a particular country or territory you are specifying it as your Home Country.


To use the USA services you might well have to have a credit or debit card from a financial agency that bills to you at an address in the USA. Account balance alone will not work. Apple does not provide an explanation but I could see it dissuading people from a country trying to use the service in another country.



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Using Apple ID with a US address and Gift Card Credit from Outside the USA

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