Cannot create child Apple ID

Having same issues, despite having the valid credit card displayed on the Family Share page... of course I have a child with a brand new phone that I put off setting up until I could get her on the Family Share & now we're at a stand still...

Whilst I understand that this is due to a section in the US Child Protection laws... not everyone lives in the US, and even more do not use credit cards, as they are responsible enough to not get into debt.

So, for those of us NOT in the US, can we please get a clarification as to why:

1. Apple is incentivising people having debts;
2. Apple is restricting people with poor credit scores from exercising responsible parental controls, as they are not able to get a credit card;
3. Apple is holding every non-US user to a blunt law that only applies in one of their customer countries.

Just spoke with an Apple rep. You cannot set up an Apple ID for a child if the card on file is a debit card. It must be an actual credit card. If you have access to a credit card:

1. Login to iTunes and change you payment method to the credit card
2. Create the Apple ID for your child
3. Log back into iTunes and change the payment method back to the debit card

Yeah a year later and still have the same problem. They could've at least put a helpful error message or something when you try to setup child account! Already wasted time re-intering all info into the dialog boxes in step 1 a few times and everytime continue button stayed grayed out thinking it was an error entering info on the user's part when it's apple's fault!

This is a ridiculous solution. I don't have real credit cards and exclusively use my debit card--that works wherever credit cards are accepted. Apple, fix this ignorant oversight...some people do not use CCs.

Thanks, yes I have similar concerns but they are at scale in a school situation in Australia. I have written a detailed response at

Re: Have child but no credit card

Hopefully it gets addressed and simplified.

so if I am understanding you correctly, you have to have a credit card when you set it up only? Then you can change it back. because there is no way I would leave a credit card as my payment option, that would be nuts!

I don't have a credit card. Apple please notify when you have updated this. This is ridiculous.

We are having the same problem over in this post;

Create apple id for a child - credit card required

Having the same trouble here. I was hoping to have this all done today. Is it just because the servers are so busy?

WWe're you able to create an ID then?

I'm having the same issue. Out of curiosity are you using a credit card or a debit card.