How to Setup a US iTunes Account in Canada with Vanilla MasterCard

By Gary Ng on January 26th, 2009 215

Update, May 21, 2011: This method still works, but you need to ensure the ZIP code registered to your Vanilla MasterCard matches the ZIP code in your iTunes account.

Previously this did not matter, but the card setup has changed.

How do to this? Visit this link here…then select USA (English), and enter your card details. Go to edit card info, and ensure the ZIP code entered is the same as your US iTunes account.

**This post is for educational purposes only.**

There are lots of perks living in Canada. Think of our freedoms, our multicultural society, maple syrup, back bacon, hockey, $2000 blog anniversary giveaways, and US iTunes accounts. Okay, so maybe the latter perk is not something we can easily acquire or enjoy. When it comes to creating a US iTunes store account in Canada, it does require more effort than usual.

So just how do we create US iTunes accounts in Canada? The easiest way is to get your American friends and family to buy you US iTunes gift cards or find them on eBay (or try shady iTunes gift card resellers). However that can be a pain in the butt if you don’t know anyone in the US or don’t want to get scammed on eBay. Well, today I’m going to show you how to create a US iTunes account in Canada. How? Easy. Buy Vanilla MasterCard gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart!

How to Setup an US iTunes Account in Canada: Buy MasterCard Gift Cards from Shoppers Drug Mart

I was surprised really when I heard of this method. It’s actually pretty cool when you think about it because there are literally hundreds of Shoppers Drug Mart locations scattered across Canada. Here are the steps I took to create my US iTunes account here in Vancouver.

1. I went to my local store and quickly purchased a $25 MasterCard gift card (they also add on $3.95 activation fee, which is a small price to pay for convenience). Cards come in $25/$50/$100 denominations. Look for this card:

mastercard_giftcard_shoppers

**EDIT** You will need to register a US ADDRESS for your Vanilla MasterCard for this to work. Do this online. Look at the back of the Vanilla MasterCard and visit the website to ACTIVATE/REGISTER!!!

—- read above before continuing —-

2. I opened iTunes on my computer. I clicked on the iTunes Store and then scrolled to the bottom. From there, under “My Store” I selected “United States” from the drop down menu.

ishot-29
3. On the upper right, click on “Sign In”. Click on “Create New Account”.

4. **did you register your Vanilla MasterCard yet? Do this online before continuing.** Ensure ZIP code entered matches your US iTunes Account.

Agree to all the terms, etc. For your address, enter in the details of a “family member” or “friend” that lives in the US. Once could use a “friend’s” address in Oregon because they have no tax there.
ishot-28

5. On the next screen where it asks for payment details, select MasterCard. Enter in your gift card details (number, expiry, security code).
6. Once successful, you will see a screen explaining that your US account is now setup!
7. If you need to refill your account in the future, just buy another Vanilla MasterCard gift card, login to your iTunes account info, and change the payment info with the new card details.

Footnotes: I am able to switch easily between my Canadian and US iTunes account seamlessly. I can sync apps redeemed from the US iTunes store without a problem, along with US iTunes content.

What’s the Big Deal with a US iTunes Account?

Why get a US iTunes account? Well, for starters you gain access to a vast library of TV shows, movies, and music that is not available in iTunes in Canada. You can also rent movies and watch them on your Apple TV. More important, if you win a contest and get a promo code for an iPhone app, the only way to redeem them is through a US iTunes account. Certain iPhone apps are only available to the US as well (Pandora, Loopt; although Pandora doesn’t work in Canada!).

I’m sure this method of signing up for a US iTunes account will work with other pre-paid credit card gift cards, but so far all I know is the MasterCard gift card works like a charm. Also, this method should work for people living in other countries trying to get access to a US iTunes account.

So if you’ve been trying to setup a US iTunes account in Canada, stop procrastinating because a viable solution is finally here! Let me know how this works out for you in the comments!

*edit* Thanks to @eplatero for the heads up on this. Apparently this method also works for the Amazon MP3 store and streaming Netflix.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iPhoneinCanada.ca. Follow @iPhoneinCanada and on Google+. Click here to save 20% OFF at ZAGG.com with coupon 'iphoneinca'!

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  • geo

    hi i did this 2 days ago and today they updated the apps i bought but now its asking for the billing when the update is free? and when i give it my security code is in correct i know i’m putting in the correct one but it says its not valid ?! please help!

  • LOLOLOL

    Hahahaha! I remember Limewire. I was, what? 6 when I used that? Wow, I am so much smarter now. uTorrent asshole. Look it up.

  • J. Quire

    Is this method still working?

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    Yes

    Gary

  • kplus

    Agree

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  • Mark

    Just a note that you have to activate the card for online purchases here:

    https://www.getcardbalance.com/faq.html

    before you attempt to register on iTunes.

  • LoWd0Wn

    The card works great. I did it for my iPad. I was able to get apps from the US account but only on my desktop. Not the ipad. The ipad wont let me into the App Store. Keeps coming up saying I am in a different country. I read all the posts about making sure you were logged into the US account and plugged into the ipad. I even synced with it in the US account.
    Still same issue.
    Otherwise I am just getting the apps I want on my desktop pc and syncing them to my ipad.
    That is the only way I seem to get it to work.
    I even tried shutting off my location services but that does not help either.
    Anyone have any ideas?

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    I ran into that message yesterday. I just logged in again into my us iTunes account via the iPad settings and it worked. Try that if you haven't already?

    Gary

    Sent from my iPad

  • LoWd0Wn

    yeah I tried that. It has been in the US account for about 24 hours now and synced and the app store still doesn't work. Same thing. You are out of country.
    Before setting up the US account I had tried the app store and that is what it said. After getting the US account set up it still said that. I am going back to my Can account for a few days and then try again going back to my US account.
    Strange.
    Thanks anyway.

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    Try resetting the network settings? Forget your network and try again? ?

    Oh well, you still have your iPad ;)

  • LoWd0Wn

    Thanks Gary,
    I will play with it and see what I come up with,
    At least I am getting the apps I want. It is just some of the programs like iBookstore where you need to get into the store to get items. That is the bummer. But as soon as Canada gets online I bet things change.
    Anyway I do appreciate all your help. If you think of anything else let me know,

    Cheers

  • nuka

    “security code invalid” error when registering was because I didn't register the card on the vanilla mastercard website. Once I did that, it still didn't work for a few minutes – but after around 5 it did!

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  • Roy

    I tried this method and it worked fine for about a week. Now I keep getting a security code error.
    I have tried entering the code both through my iPad and iTunes. If anyone has found a solution to this problem, please let me know.

  • Roy

    Just wanna clarify that I have registered the card at the us site

  • Roy

    I am having the same problem please let me know if you find a solution.

  • Roy

    Just wanna clarify that I have registered the card at the us site

  • Roy

    I am having the same problem please let me know if you find a solution.

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  • Anonymous

    Best Online Store for Genuine USA iTunes Gift Cards Emailed same day great for iPad iPhone Apps from United States with no credit card needed , so far I find is http://4SALEUSA.COM , they sell wholesale and retail to international buyers mostly and sell also PSN – playstation network cards / codes , Nintendo Wii 2000 codes , Warcraft MMO CdKeys, WoW Lich King, Xbox Live Subscriptions and Points, Maplestory Nexon Cash, Trials , Games …. Good Luck….

  • iPhone WannaBe

    Does this method work still ? I want to try it tonight.

  • YouKnowMe

    This walkthrough works great. One note is that when you register your Vanilla MasterCard, it's hard to find the register link. If you check your balance first, you will see an option on the left vertical menu to register and it says something about Sam's Club but put your US address in anyways…it worked for me.

  • http://twitter.com/iGixer iGixer

    Still works in Sep 2010

  • http://twitter.com/iGixer iGixer

    Still works in Sep 2010

  • http://twitter.com/iGixer iGixer

    Still works in Sep 2010

  • psc

    Do I have to wait an hour or two after purchasing/registering my vanilla mastercard in order for this to work in iTunes? I keep getting the message: “Your credit card was declined. Please enter valid credit card information.”
    Also, when I went to register, all it asked me was for a zip code and which I put a US zip code (same one from my iTunes “US” account). The only time I saw that it ask me for my address and everything else was in the “Replace Card” menu. Any help is greatly appreciated.

  • Dave

    I did mine with out master card or any card believe it or not. and it works perfect, except its only for free apps of course because there is no cards in there. I did it like a year ago and still works good. I don’t exactly remember the details but it was easy to setup as long as you follow the instruction properly. you do need a U.S address and I picked some random address :D

  • A Guy

    As of today (21 Oct 10) I can confirm this still works. I didn’t even have to use a proxy server to register the card with a US address, so perhaps they weren’t employing IP filtering as one commentor has suggested.

  • ronald

    I am getting “Your payment method was declined.” now after trying to update my apps on the desktop itunes instead of through the phone. Long story short, if you do certain things looks like Apple can tell this is a gift card, and after that, their payment gateway would blacklist your card number.

    Anyone else have encountered this problem? I see a few down there, but surely must be quite common.

  • Christa

    FYI: Shoppers Drugmart is no longer selling the US $ Mastercard so when you go to register you can’t put in the US address. :(

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/ Ex

    I just bought one 2 days ago…

  • A Guy

    I just bought one (in Calgary) on October 21st. It wasn’t a USD one, but it still worked. (In fact, I don’t know if the ones sold in Canada were ever USD denominated, so if you specifically asked for a USD one, perhaps that was the problem. You just buy the “Vanilla” brand pre-paid MasterCard. The Vanilla web site let me register a US zip code for it, even though I believe it is denominated in CAD. I didn’t even have to use a proxy server, as one person suggested would be necessary.

  • susan c

    Wondering if you’ve run into a similar problem that I’ve had on numerous occasions…
    I use my sister’s US account whenever I find that I need to, since all of my credit cards are only accepted with my Canadian address. So .. for updating apps for example (I use mostly free apps) , in order to update them I must be in the country that I downloaded them in, in order for them to update. So if I purchased the app when I was in the US using my sister’s account, I can only update them from Canada, not from the US. Same goes with purchases or rentals from the app store or itunes. When I’m in Canada I have to purchase from my Canadian account and not US.
    The app store and itunes will send a message indicating that I cannot purchase from the US store while I”m in Canada.

  • Someone answering susan c

    It sounds like you’re describing two different (but related) issues:

    1) To update apps you must initiate the update using an internet service provider (ISP) that is physically located in the same country you were in when you originally purchased the app. You say that “if I purchased the app when I was in the US using my sister’s account, I can only update them from Canada, not from the US”, but I assume you meant to say “… I can only update them from the US, not from Canada…”. Am I understanding this right?

    2) To purchase an app or media from the US store in the first place you must be using an ISP that is physically located in the US.

    If I’m understanding you right, you’re saying that iTunes is restricting access based on physical location. That would be a bit troubling, and doesn’t make much sense as a business practice, as it wouldn’t accomodate people who travel away from their home country.

    I’ve not had either issue. iTunes doesn’t let me make purchases when I’m in the US store but logged into my Canadian account, and vice versa, but it’s always a simple matter to either switch stores (by clicking the flag at the bottom right of the page in the store in iTunes), or to log into the correct account, as the case requires.

    Have any others noticed what Susan describes? This would be troubling, and would give me pause before buying a US iTunes gift card, which I was planning to do when/before my Vanilla MasterCard balance was exhausted.

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  • Eastendsfinest

    Ok updated if you want to use the vanillamastercard (Canada) is ok do it from your iPhone I just tried on my pc and couldn’t do it cause the vanillacard site at first let me say i was in the states I used the zip code I goggle a campus in Oregon for address zip, and phone number iTunes asks for it ??? So after you register your card use the us zip code the fist time you use the card on the site If you have already said your in Canada go buy another card it’s the only way and once you register then on your iPhone click the AppStore app and scroll to the very bottom oh and I made a new email account (gmail) too so I could make a new iTunes account now it’s going to say united states leave it and continue and if you got your self a us address then follow and DING DING DING US iTunes account…
    Good luck
    Yours truly
    Eastendsfinest

  • herv

    i just tried this. Make sure you log in to the US site, and enter a zip code that matches the one you enter in Itunes, works great!

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  • Hank

    I’ve noticed this post is kinda old and I would just like to make sure it still works

  • Jalbert90

    did it today, it works!! thanks:)

  • Jalbert90

    just did it today, no probs so far…

  • Rob C.

    Didn’t work for me yet. But think it’s a newer one that just came in. Vanilla Mastercard but they swipe it at the checkout to activate it….. damn. So looks like this plan didn’t work for me. US iTunes account is set up but doesn’t recognized the security code with the CC. I assume because it sees it as Canadian.

  • mellvin

    what address can i use?

  • DoubleJ

    Did you buy the Vanilla Mastercard from shoppers or a different brand? How do you register the card with a US zip code? I’m worried that the card gets activated over the counter, and if so, how can I then use it with the US itunes account? or do we have to activate/register online? Did you follow the steps outlined above? Sorry for the questions, I’m anxious to get this done.

  • DoubleJ

    Was your vanilla mastercard activated in the store? If it was, were you still able to register it with a US address after the fact?

  • Zantheman

    Just to let you all know, my Vanilla Mastercard did work then recently didn’t. I thought that it was because my card didn’t have enough balance and when I tried to update to another Vanilla card it wouldn’t accept the security code. I called Vanilla 1-800 line and they said that Itunes can recognize that the card is registered as a Canadian Vanilla Mastercard and will not accept the security code.

  • ZJ

    Nice article… good job… however if people want to do this without a credit card… follow the link from apple here.. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

    I live in Toronto and I wanted to add Google voice app to my Rogers iphone4 so I can text my US friends for free…

    So first I had to register with Google voice on my PC (found instructions online to do so)
    Then I used the link above to create a free US itunes account then logged in on my iphone and downloaded the app (which was blocked before with my cdn itunes account).

    A great workaround regardless of what you need!

  • Rebeccareeves73

    This happened to me to, so I called vanilla MasterCard to find out why. It was because the tines account had a zip code attached to it (us) and the vanilla MasterCard had my postal code attached. Make sure you go onto mc website and register your card with the same zip code you used to setup iTunes account. I fixed mine and it worked! Good luck!

  • http://debruyndesign.com Kye Grace

    Tried it yesterday and it worked like a charm! Thanks for this, I was desperately wanting the Weber On The Grill app. $5 later I am not as impressed with the app as I had hoped…the anticipation was so much better! 

    Either way this still works, only variable is Shoppers doesn’t seem to carry the Vanilla Mastercards. Went to 7-11 and got one there. 

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