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How to Buy a Steam Game for a Friend in Another Region

Steam lets you gift a game through checkout, but regional price and territory restrictions can block delivery to a friend abroad. Here’s what to try instead.
WorldAnother Region Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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You can buy a Steam game for a friend abroad by selecting This is a gift at checkout, but Steam may block the purchase if regional price differences or territory restrictions apply. If the game cannot be gifted to that friend, try Steam’s digital gift card option instead—if checkout allows it for your country pair.

How to send a Steam game as a gift

  1. Open the game’s Steam Store page and add it to your cart.
  2. In the cart, choose This is a gift as the purchase option.
  3. Continue to gift options and select your friend from your Steam Friends List.
  4. Choose immediate delivery or schedule it for a date up to 12 months after purchase.
  5. Continue to payment and complete checkout. If your Steam Wallet balance does not cover the full price, Steam will ask for another payment method for the remainder.

Steam gifts are one-time transfers: you can gift a new purchase, but you cannot transfer a game already in your library. A friend who already owns the game will appear grayed out and cannot be selected. Steam Support’s Steam Gifts FAQ also explains that the recipient must already own the base game to receive its DLC as a gift, and that some personalized “Complete Your Collection” bundles cannot be gifted.

Why Steam may block a gift to another region

Steam applies regional restrictions to some gifts because prices differ between purchase regions. Steam Support states: “Due to regional price differences, some gifts cannot be sent to recipients located in other purchase regions.” Territory restrictions may be noted on the game’s Store page, and checkout can flag a blocked gift. Steam Support says it cannot change these restrictions.

If your friend cannot be selected or checkout reports a territory restriction, do not switch to another region’s Store. Steam warns that using a VPN or proxy to disguise your location and bypass regional pricing or content restrictions is forbidden and may lead to account restrictions. Steam’s purchase currency and regional restriction guidance explains the rule.

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#1 Best Overall
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
  • When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
  • This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
  • Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
  • This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.

Use a Steam digital gift card if the game is unavailable

A digital Steam gift card is the official alternative when a particular game cannot be sent. You send it through Steam to your friend; after they accept it, the value is added to their Steam Wallet and automatically converted to their currency. The recipient can then choose what to buy.

Gift cards have separate country restrictions: Steam says some countries restrict sending or receiving them. Check the recipient selection and checkout notices for the actual transaction rather than assuming a gift card will work for every country pair. Steam’s digital gift card page provides the sending flow and restriction details.

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Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
  • When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
  • This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
  • Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
  • This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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  • The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
  • Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
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  • Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
  • When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
  • This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
  • Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
  • This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Rank #2
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
  • When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
  • This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
  • Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
  • This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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Digital or physical Steam gift card?

Option How it works Cross-region consideration
Specific game gift You choose the game and send the purchase to a Steam friend. Steam may block it because of regional pricing or territory restrictions.
Digital gift card You send the card through Steam; after acceptance, its value enters the friend’s Wallet and converts to their currency. Some countries restrict sending or receiving cards, so eligibility must be confirmed during checkout.
Physical gift card Steam supports physical Wallet gift cards that can be redeemed for Steam purchases. Steam’s product information does not establish cross-border mailing or availability in a particular destination. Check local availability and delivery before relying on this option. Steam Gift Cards.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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