International eGift Cards: How To Approach Global Incentive Programs

👉 Do you need international eGift cards? You might think any USD reward from global brands like Apple and Airbnb could be used anywhere they operate. But while they might work occasionally, it’s more likely your international recipients will end up with rewards that are difficult to redeem.

💡 If your program relies on digital gift cards and you're expanding internationally, your best bet is a trusted, transparent gift card platform with a global catalog. Look for one with flexible currency options, along with experience sending rewards to multiple regions.

Sending international eGift cards isn't as straightforward as you might think.

Yes, it’s technically easy to click a button and send some digital rewards to a global audience.

But that doesn’t mean you can expect those digital rewards to actually work.

Currency differences, regional restrictions, and retailer limitations can create significant unexpected challenges—especially for businesses managing incentive programs. And sending a faulty reward can undo the entire program and all the work that’s gone into it.

That’s why it’s smart to work with a global gift card distributor. Find the right partner, and you’ll be able to sidestep any of the hassles usually associated with global sending.

In this article, we’ll cover how international eGift cards work, which ones are best for global rewards programs, and the simplest ways to send them to recipients anywhere in the world.

Jump to list of popular global digital gift cards 💳

At a glance: Best options for global eGift card programs

Option	Local brand gift cards	Globally accepted open-loop prepaid cards	Curated choice global gift card catalogs
What it is	Gift cards to well-known retailers in each recipient’s country	Prepaid cards (e.g., USD Virtual Prepaid Mastercard®) that work anywhere that payment network is accepted	A global catalog of local and global eGift cards, including popular open-loop options
Key benefits	Highly recognizable and culturally relevant Often enjoy higher claim rates due to local familiarity	Universal acceptance with one payment network Flexible spending options for recipients	Reduces guesswork for each country Consolidates multiple brands and currencies
Ideal for	Location-specific incentives, consumer-focused programs, or regional campaigns	Broad international coverage, large-scale rewards, or uncertain recipient preferences	Diverse audiences, or multi-region programs
How to send them	Use a self-serve web portal or robust API from a gift card aggregator. Then easily send gift cards via: email SMS embedded rewards Social DMS *QR codes	Use a self-serve web portal or robust API from a gift card aggregator. Then easily send gift cards via: email SMS embedded rewards Social DMS *QR codes	Use a self-serve web portal or robust API from a gift card aggregator. Then easily send gift cards via: email SMS embedded rewards Social DMS *QR codes

Can e-Gift cards be used internationally?

👉 A brand might be global, but that doesn’t mean every international outlet will accept their digital gift cards. Be sure to read the fine print before starting any global program. Otherwise, you’ll risk sending a reward that leaves your recipients empty-handed.

Google ‘international gift card,’ and you’ll find lots of listicles of so-called gift cards for international use. Be sure to read between the lines—because these lists aren’t always as accurate as they seem.

Yes, the right eGift cards can be used internationally. But it’s not so simple.

Let’s say, for example, that a gift card provider you’re assessing has Sephora gift cards (most of us do). Sephora is a popular international brand, with physical stores in many countries, ranging from Brazil to Poland, Australia to Malaysia, and beyond.

But here’s the thing: if you are in the US and sending that card to recipients in a different country, even a country that has Sephora, there’s no guarantee that your recipients will be able to claim it at their local Sephora. It might work, or it might not—and are you willing to take that gamble?

In short, you can’t reliably send a Sephora US card internationally and be sure it’s going to work for your international recipients. The country of the card issuer matters.

Of course, you’ll be able to email or text any card to whomever you like, but that doesn’t mean it’ll actually be redeemable.

That’s why it’s smart to be wary of any gift card company