Can Amazon.com Gift Cards Be Used Internationally? Tips for Program Managers

If you’re planning any type of global rewards program, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: can Amazon.com gift cards be used internationally? Can’t I just buy a stack of Amazon.com gift cards and call it a day?

Unfortunately, no. If you send American Amazon.com gift cards to a global audience, your recipients in other countries won’t be able to use them as intended.

But all is not lost! It’s actually incredibly easy to send rewards and incentives to international audiences, as long as you work with an international Amazon.com gift card distributor.

In this article, we’ll walk you through why Amazon.com gift cards can’t be used internationally. More importantly, we’ll also explain how easily you can send Amazon cards (and lots more bulk digital gift cards) all around the world. 🌐

Using Amazon gift cards for international programs: what you need to know

If you’d like to use Amazon gift cards for your incentive program, kudos on the smart choice. They make reliable incentives that work for broad audiences, since they let recipients pick out exactly what they want from the Amazon store.

Whether they’re looking to stock up on some necessities, outfit their Kindle, upgrade to Amazon Prime, snag their favorite series on Prime Video, or splurge on luxury items, your global audience will likely find what they’re looking for.

That said, if you serve an international audience, you need to understand this caveat: Amazon gift cards are region-locked.

Like Amazon itself highlights, their gift cards are country-specific; a gift card purchased in one country can only be redeemed on that country's Amazon website. So an Amazon U.S. gift card won't work on Amazon France, and an Amazon UK gift card won't work in Mexico.

Good to know: As an Amazon gift card distributor, Giftbit offers gift cards for Amazon.ca, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com.mx, and Amazon.es (among others)

This country-specific restriction means that despite Amazon's global presence, there's no truly "international" Amazon gift card.

So, does that mean you’re out of luck if you want to use the Amazon brand to power your global incentive rewards? Nope!

It just means you need to find the right gift card provider to help power (and simplify) your program. We’ll explore how to do that further below. 👀

Sending Amazon.com gift cards across borders: the wrong way

First, let’s be clear on the Amazon marketplace restrictions that can create challenges for multi-region gift card programs.

If you just buy cards in your own country and try sending them abroad, expect to run into the following challenges.

• Administrative complexity: You'll need to source and manage separate Amazon gift cards for each country you’re sending too—and keep track of all the different countries where your recipients are at the time of sending.
• Recipient confusion: If you send the wrong card, recipients may not understand why they can't use their U.S. Amazon.com gift card on their local Amazon sites.
• Ineffective programs: If recipients can't easily use their rewards, this can undermine the results of the entire incentive program.
  
  

💬 “Having a reward that works ensures the recipient is happy to receive it and actually able to use it,” says Nat Salvione, Giftbit CCO. “It capstones your entire program.”

Sending Amazon gift cards globally: the right way

Yes, sending an Amazon.com gift card might not be as straightforward as you thought. But don’t let that put you off using this effective incentive in your programs. 

Indeed, Amazon is popular all around the world, accounting for nearly 10% of the global gift card market share. It’s this popularity that makes it an incredibly smart choice for rewards and incentives of all kinds–most people are going to be happy to get an Amazon gift card. 

If you still want to align your program with the ever popular Amazon brand, you have two main options:

1. Partner with a gift card company that offers country-specific Amazon gift cards for each country you’re sending to (whether you need that option available to you via Amazon.com gift card api or via a more simple web app).
2. And/or partner with a gift card company that has a global rewards catalog, complete gift cards and prepaid cards from popular global brands (Amazon options included), that only shows recipients what they can actually redeem

Like you’ve probably guessed, your best bet is to find a company that provides both these options. The more international visibility you have baked into the cake, the more sustainable and scalable your program will be. 🎂

Virtual gift card alternatives that can be used around the world

Let’s talk more about that global rewards catalog—because the more options you have for international use, the better your results will be.

Ideally, you’ll want to look for a catalog that offers international prepaid cards and a wide array of international eGift cards.

Keep reading to learn the benefits of both types of digital rewards. 

International prepaid cards

First up, prepaid cards—like Visa® and Mastercard® cards—are always popular choices, for similar reasons as Amazon. They’re incredibly versatile rewards with global name recognition.

So if you want to take the guesswork completely out of your global program, you might want to consider something like the USD Virtual Prepaid Mastercard. This is a prepaid card that can be sent and spent anywhere in the world that Debit Mastercard is currently accepted (see the complete list here).

Prepaid international cards like this offer many benefits, including:

• Near universal acceptance—they work at millions of merchants worldwide, both at in-store checkout and for online purchases
• Fund and send globally in one currency (i.e., USD)
• No regional restrictions—One card type covers multiple countries (availability is determined only by US Sanctions Programs, local regulations in other countries, and routine assessments from bank and network partners)
• Recipient flexibility— Give recipients the freedom to purchase exactly what they want, virtually anywhere they want (including if they prefer to shop local at physical stores!)

💬 “More businesses are global faster, especially with the rise of remote work,” says Leif Baradoy, Giftbit CEO. “They need rewards and incentives that are as global and flexible as their other business operations.”

💡Note: there is a difference between ‘gift cards’ and ‘prepaid cards.’ Prepaid cards come with a set balance—say, $25—that you can spend anywhere that accepts that payment network. The same goes for a prepaid Visa card, which works wherever Visa is welcome. While you might sometimes hear these referred to as 'Mastercard gift cards' and ‘Visa gift cards’, this is not the correct terminology, since they should be called ‘prepaid cards.’

One platform, many global options

Good gift card platforms will make it easy to send global prepaid card options along with a wide selection of global brands and retailers. 

So whether your recipients are in Canada, India, Brazil, or somewhere in between, they’ll be able to find ‘just the thing.’ And when done properly, this approach to gift card delivery can make your programs more effective and cost efficient. 

And a lot of the benefits of this type of program stem one thing: simplified management.🙌

Specifically, this unified approach to global rewards can help solve many of the main pain points often associated with them, such as:

• No more hours spent researching options. With prepaid cards and global catalogs, you no longer need to research which types of gift cards work in each country you serve.
• Streamlined global distribution. Instead of managing dozens of different currencies and bank accounts across multiple countries, you can distribute a single reward that works virtually everywhere, dramatically simplifying reward logistics.
• Reduced administrative complexity. Managing inventory, tracking usage, and handling support for multiple country-specific gift cards creates significant overhead. Meanwhile, global gift card distribution platforms can consolidate this into a single, easily-managed type of reward with unified reporting.
• Improved recipient experience: The more choice your recipients have, the more delighted they’ll be.

How to send international gift cards (that actually work)

Like we’ve already covered, the most efficient approach to global rewards delivery is partnering with a trusted gift card distributor with a comprehensive global catalog.

Think of this distributor as the partner who’s going to handle all the ‘messy stuff,’ i.e., all the complexities of international distribution, including currency conversions, regional preferences, and delivery logistics.

Here are seven key features to look for in a global gift card distribution tool:

1. Transparent pricing. Don’t settle for minimum participation rates (MPRs), or any added transaction fees. If you are sending $50, for example, it should only ever cost you $50. 
   
   “When a company pays money for an incentive, all of that cost should go to the incentive itself,” says Nat. “The most effective incentives programs are ones where the entire budget goes to the reward.”
   
   Ideally, you’ll also want flexibility around how you finance your account. For example, Giftbit accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including via bank wire, electronic funds transfer (EFT), direct debit, and all major credit cards.
   
   
2. Detailed reporting. The more you’re able to see how your program is performing, the more you’ll be able to optimize your results. Look for clear visibility into costs across regions, including tracking of claimed/unclaimed rates, redemption status, and other comprehensive program performance metrics.
   
   
3. Flexible delivery options. Sometimes, simple email delivery is what works best for your audience. But to future-proof your program, you’ll want to ensure you have lots more options available, including social media DM, mobile delivery via text messaging, , QR codes for in-person distribution, integration with workplace tools, and API integration for automated reward flows (more on these options below).
   
   
4. Robust currency support. Ensure you have the ability to fund your account in your preferred currency without needing separate bank accounts in each country—otherwise, expect your workload to get unwieldy fast. You’ll likely always want the ability to use international wire transfers.
   
   
5. Revenue sharing for large programs. If you're running a big rewards program, you’ll want a partner that offers a flexible revenue sharing model. This will make it easier to invest back into your program as it scales.
   
   
6. Quick and easy onboarding. Your rewards setup should be hassle-free, with a streamlined onboarding process that lets you get up and running without drowning in paperwork or technical hurdles.
   
   
7. Recipient support. Your audience should always have someone to turn to. Look for a provider that offers friendly, accessible support to handle any questions or issues that might arise.

Creating an Effective International Gift Card Strategy

With the right platform, you can implement several approaches to international gift cards.

Curated brand options provide control over your reward experience. You can select specific brands available in each region, align rewards with your company values, and create themed reward collections for wellness, entertainment, or other categories.

You also have the option to give your recipients full choice from all the available options in their region. When you put the decision-making into their hands, you can eliminate guesswork yourself, and often improve satisfaction for them (win-win).

Indeed, full recipient choice is often a smart choice for when your audience is spread around the world. 

Think about it. If you’re based in the US, then you probably know what brands are going to resonate with your US audience. It won’t surprise you that Walmart, Starbucks, Apple and iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Target, and Subway are all likely to be on your audience’s wish lists.

But did you know that some of the most popular gift card brands in India are Bigbasket, BookMyShow, and Barbeque Nation? Have you heard of Casas Bahia and Riachuelo, two incredibly popular options in Brazil? Or that your Australian recipients might be more likely to go for Big W, Coles, or Bunnings?

More ways maximize the impact of international gift cards

To get the most from your international gift card program, you should:

• Personalize the experience: Include recipient names and personalized messages.
• Brand the delivery: Customize the delivery experience with your company branding.
• Time it right: Consider time zones and local holidays when scheduling deliveries. 
• Measure and optimize: Track performance metrics and refine your approach.
• Gather feedback: Ask recipients about their experience to continuously improve.

To make life a lot easier for yourself, you may also want to consider gift card integration via a tool like Zapier. This type of no-code integration lets you connect your gift card program to apps and software you’re already using, like your CRM, scheduling and booking apps, or Slack or Google Docs.

Meanwhile, if you need to completely embed rewards into your own app or software, then you’ll need to consider using a well-documented gift card api.

Send virtual gift cards that can be used internationally

So now you know the answer to your question. Can Amazon.com gift cards be used internationally? Yes and no!

Yes, Amazon cards are country specific, so buying one that works in the USA isn’t going to work in other countries.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t send Amazon gift cards to your international audience—it just means you have to be smarter about how you go about it. 

And perhaps the smartest way to do it is with a flexible gift card platform that lets you send Amazon cards from the right region to the right recipients, each and every time. 

Giftbit simplifies the process of sending digital rewards globally, with access to a robust global catalog that includes beloved global brands like Adidas and Amazon. It’s quick and easy to get started: just sign up for a free account and start sending.