How to Change Country on Amazon: What You Need to Know
Switching your Amazon country isn't as simple as flipping a setting — it involves account structure, payment methods, and regional restrictions that affect what you can buy, stream, and access. Here's a clear breakdown of how it actually works.
What "Changing Country" Actually Means on Amazon
Amazon operates as a network of separate regional storefronts — amazon.com (US), amazon.co.uk (UK), amazon.de (Germany), amazon.co.jp (Japan), and so on. These aren't just language filters over a single global catalog. Each is a distinct marketplace with its own product listings, pricing, sellers, and policies.
When people ask how to change their country on Amazon, they usually mean one of three things:
- Switching which Amazon storefront they shop on (e.g., from .com to .co.uk)
- Updating their country/region in account settings (for billing or delivery purposes)
- Changing their Amazon Prime Video country (to access a different regional content library)
Each of these works differently, and it's worth understanding which one applies to your situation.
How to Switch Amazon Storefronts
You don't need a separate account to browse a different Amazon marketplace. You can navigate directly to any regional storefront — amazon.de, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au — using its web address. Some storefronts will detect your location and offer to redirect you; others let you browse freely.
However, browsing and buying are different things. To complete a purchase on a regional storefront, you'll generally need:
- A payment method accepted in that region
- A delivery address in that country (for physical goods)
- An account that's recognized on that storefront
Your Amazon login often works across multiple storefronts, but your saved addresses, payment methods, and order history may not transfer between them automatically.
Updating Your Country in Amazon Account Settings 🌍
To update the country associated with your Amazon account:
- Go to Account & Lists → Account
- Navigate to Manage Your Content and Devices or Account Settings
- Look for Country/Region Settings
The exact path varies slightly depending on whether you're on the website or the mobile app, and which storefront you're logged into.
What this setting affects:
- The default currency and tax treatment on your account
- Which payment methods are available to you
- Eligibility for certain Prime benefits and subscriptions
What it doesn't change:
- Your ability to access content libraries tied to a different country
- Existing digital purchases made under a different regional account
Amazon may ask for proof of address (such as a credit card billing address or bank statement) when you change your country setting, particularly if you're also trying to move an existing Prime membership to a new region.
Amazon Prime Video: Country Changes Work Differently
Prime Video is where country-switching gets most complicated — and most misunderstood.
Prime Video libraries are licensed regionally. The content available in the US is not the same as what's available in Germany or Australia. Amazon ties your Prime Video region to your Amazon account's country setting.
| Scenario | What Happens |
|---|---|
| You move to a new country | You can update your account country; your Prime Video library will shift to the new region |
| You want content from another country's library | Not supported through standard account settings |
| You use a VPN to access another region | Against Amazon's terms of service; may result in content blocks or account issues |
| You have Prime in two countries | Generally requires two separate accounts |
If you've permanently relocated, Amazon does allow you to update your country and transfer your account, though the process may require contacting customer support, especially if you have an active Prime membership or unspent gift card balance.
Digital Content and Regional Restrictions
One important nuance: digital purchases are tied to the storefront where you bought them. Kindle books bought on amazon.com, for example, are linked to your US account. If you later switch your account to a different country's storefront, those purchases remain accessible, but new purchases will go through the new regional account.
The same applies to apps purchased through Amazon Appstore, Audible credits, and Prime Reading titles — all are regionally scoped.
What Actually Varies Between Users
The experience of changing your Amazon country differs significantly depending on:
- Whether you're moving permanently or just traveling — a permanent relocation opens up account country changes; traveling does not
- Which Amazon services you actively use — Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, and physical shopping each have different regional rules
- Your payment and banking setup — some payment methods are region-locked; international credit cards are generally more flexible
- Whether you have an active Prime membership — Amazon has specific (and sometimes restrictive) rules about migrating or pausing Prime across countries
- Your account history — long-standing accounts with significant purchase history, credits, or subscriptions may face more friction during a country switch
The Variables That Determine Your Path 🗺️
There's no single "change country" button that handles everything cleanly. The right approach depends on why you want to change your country, which Amazon services matter most to you, where your billing and delivery addresses are, and whether you're making a temporary or permanent change.
Someone relocating from the US to Canada has a different set of steps than someone in the UK who wants to buy from a US seller, or a Prime Video subscriber curious about a different regional library. The mechanics are the same — regional storefronts, account settings, payment validation — but which combination of steps actually applies depends entirely on your specific setup and what you're trying to accomplish.