The complete 2026 guide for overseas customers. No US credit card, no US phone number — works worldwide in under 5 minutes.
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If you live outside the United States, you'll need a separate US Apple ID to:
The good news: creating a US Apple ID is completely free, takes about 5 minutes, and you can keep your existing Apple ID for your home country at the same time.
Go to appleid.apple.com/account in any browser. This method reliably shows the "None" payment option, which means you don't need any credit card at all.
Sign out of your current Apple ID, open the App Store, try to download a free app (like YouTube or WhatsApp), and tap "Create New Apple ID" when prompted. The "None" payment option usually appears with this method too.
On iPhone/iPad: go to Settings > [Your Name] > scroll down > Sign Out. Don't worry — all your data stays safe and you can sign back in anytime.
Open appleid.apple.com/account in Safari or any browser. Tap "Create Your Apple ID".
Enter an email that has never been used for any Apple ID. Any provider works — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, ProtonMail, etc. This will be your new US Apple ID.
This is the most important step. Select United States from the country dropdown. This makes it a US account.
When asked for payment, select None. You'll add funds later using Apple Gift Cards instead of a credit card.
Apple requires a US address. We recommend using an address in a tax-free state like Oregon or Delaware — this way you pay zero sales tax on all App Store purchases and subscriptions. See the recommended addresses below.
Apple sends a verification code to your email and phone. Your regular international phone number works perfectly — just select your country code. No US phone number needed.
Done! Your US Apple ID is now active. Sign into the App Store with your new account to start downloading US apps and redeeming gift cards.
Apple charges sales tax based on your billing address. By using an address in a tax-free state, you save 6-10% on every App Store purchase, subscription, and in-app purchase. Over time, this adds up significantly.
Tip: Oregon is the most popular choice among international customers. You can copy any address above exactly as shown — Apple does not ship anything to this address, it's only used for tax calculation.
Make sure you're signed in with your new US Apple ID (not your home country account).
It's in the top-right corner of the App Store.
You can type the code manually or use your camera to scan it.
Paste the gift card code we sent you. The balance is added to your account instantly.
Your balance is ready! You can now buy apps, games, subscriptions, music, movies, and anything else in the US App Store.
You can have multiple Apple IDs and switch between them anytime. Here's how:
Important: Only switch accounts in the App Store app, NOT in Settings > Apple ID. Switching in Settings changes your entire iCloud, which can cause issues with your photos, contacts, and data.
To switch to your US account:
To switch back to your home account: Repeat the same steps and sign in with your original Apple ID.
"None" payment option doesn't appear?
Try the alternative method: sign out completely, open the App Store, search for a free app (like YouTube), tap "Get", and create a new account from there. The "None" option almost always appears when downloading a free app.
Phone verification not working?
Make sure you selected the correct country code for your phone number. Apple accepts all international numbers. If SMS doesn't arrive, wait 2 minutes and tap "Resend Code".
"This email is already in use"?
The email you entered is already linked to an Apple ID. Use a completely different email address that has never been used with Apple.
Never change your main Apple ID's region to US.
This will cause problems with your iCloud data, photos, and app purchases from your home country. Always create a separate, new Apple ID for the US store.
Yes! Apple accepts international phone numbers for verification. Just select your country code when entering your number.
No. Apple uses the address for tax calculation only. They don't ship anything to it or verify it. Any valid-looking US address works.
Yes. You can switch between them in the App Store. Apps downloaded with one ID stay on your device even when you switch to the other.
States like Oregon and Delaware have no sales tax. If you use their address, you pay $0 tax on all App Store purchases. Using a New York address, for example, would add ~8% tax to everything you buy.
Everything! Apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, subscriptions (Apple Music, iCloud+, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade), in-app purchases, and more.
Yes, 100%. Our US Apple Gift Cards are designed for exactly this. Redeem the code, and the full balance is added to your US Apple ID instantly.
Yes. Apple allows anyone to create accounts in any region. There is no restriction on creating a US Apple ID from outside the US. Millions of people worldwide use US Apple IDs.
Ready to get started? Grab a US Apple Gift Card and start using your new account today.
Shop US Apple Gift Cards