Gift Card That Works Both in the US and Australia: The Complete Guide

Have team members or clients spread across the US and Australia? You’re not alone.

Many companies today operate globally—but when it comes to sending rewards or thank-you gifts, things get complicated fast. Most gift cards for the US or Australia only work within their own country, tied to local currencies, merchants, or payment systems.

For example, a US Amazon gift card won't work on Amazon.com.au, and many Australian-brand cards can't be redeemed outside the region.

The challenge? Finding a single gift card that recipients in both the US and Australia can use seamlessly.

In this guide, we'll break down how international gift cards work, why most can't cross borders, and which options—including the Toasty Choice Card—make sending rewards easy across both countries.​

Why Cross-Border Gift Cards Are So Difficult

Gift cards rank among the top ways to reward employees and customers worldwide—but few handle international use effectively. Most US or Australian cards stay region-locked, issued in local currencies, and restricted by brand or payment networks.​

For example, American-issued cards use USD and US merchants, while Australian gift cards come in AUD under local regulations like those from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.

A US prepaid Visa might fail on Australian gateways, and an Amazon.com.au card won't redeem on Amazon.com.​

Key Challenges

1. Currency Restrictions: US cards operate in USD, Australian ones in AUD—leading to conversion issues and merchant rejections.
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2. Payment Network Limitations: Many Australian cards favor domestic networks (e.g., eftpos) that don't work internationally.
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3. Brand and Licensing Barriers: Global brands run separate gift card programs by region, limiting redemption to .com or .com.au sites only.
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4. Digital Compliance Requirements: Cross-border cards may trigger varying KYC and AML checks between US and Australian rules.
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5. Fulfillment Issues: Physical cards face shipping delays, customs holds, or activation blocks across borders.​

For multinational teams spanning the US and Australia, these hurdles make unified gifting feel anything but effortless.​

What Makes a Gift Card Work in Both the US and Australia

To qualify as a international gift card, it must meet three essential criteria:

1. Multi-currency support

A cross-border gift card should support both USD and AUD, either by auto-converting at redemption or letting recipients pick their local currency and region.

This ensures a recipient in New York and another in Sydney both see familiar pricing and redeem at brands that actually work in their market.​

2. Global coverage

Instead of locking recipients into a single store, the best US-Australia gift cards connect to a catalog blending international names with local favorites in each country.

That way, every recipient turns the same reward into what matters most—e-commerce, groceries, entertainment, or daily essentials.​

3. Digital Delivery and Redemption

2 Best Gift Card Options for the US and Australia

When it comes to gift card options that cover both the US and Australia, only a handful deliver a truly smooth experience for both senders and recipients.

1. Toasty Choice Card (Best Option)

The Toasty Choice Card is built for distributed teams and global customer bases, making it a strong fit when you need one reward that works across both the US and Australia.​

It supports local brands and currencies in each country, so recipients see options that feel native to their market while you manage everything from a single dashboard.

Because it's fully digital, you can send cards instantly by email at scale, avoid international shipping or activation issues, and track delivery in one place—ideal for HR, sales, and customer marketing programs.​

Why it's ideal for US-Australia gifting

• Works seamlessly across 90+ countries, including both the US and Australia.
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• Recipients can choose from hundreds of brands, covering both local favorites and international names.
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• Automatically handles currency and brand localization, so each person sees options that make sense in their region.
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• Delivered instantly via email—no printing, shipping, or manual distribution required.
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• Completely fee-free for both senders and recipients.​

💡 Example: An HR manager in New York and a project lead in Sydney both receive a Toasty Choice Card. Each redeems it instantly with local merchants in their own currency, without needing separate US- and Australia-specific rewards.

Catalog for Australia

Here are some available redemption options for Australia (subject to change):

• Amazon.com.au Gift Card

• Coles Gift Card

• JB Hi-Fi Gift Card

• Coles Groceries Gift Voucher

• Bunnings Gift Card

• Kmart Gift Card

• David Jones Gift Card

• Apple Gift Card

• eBay Gift Card

• Big W Gift Card

• Harvey Norman Gift Card

• Kogan.com Gift Card

• Flight Centre Gift Card

• DoorDash Gift Card

• Hey You Gift Card

• Event Cinemas Gift Card

• BCF Gift Card

• Chemist Warehouse Gift Voucher

• Priceline Pharmacy Gift Card

• Adrenaline Gift Voucher

• Kathmandu Gift Card

• H&M Gift Card

• ASOS Gift Card

• PlayStation Store

• Xbox Gift Card

• Bonds Gift Card

• Cotton On Gift Card

• Adore Beauty Gift Card

• Endota Spa eGift Card

• The Good Guys Gift Card

For the most up-to-date catalog, view our global catalog here.

2. Swype Global Virtual MasterCard

Toasty offers the Swype Global MasterCard, redeemable across many regions including the US and Australia.

The Swype Global Virtual MasterCard provides versatile prepaid spending at millions of online and in-store merchants across both countries, wherever Mastercard is accepted. It's a great alternative when you prefer spending freedom over brand-specific choices.

However, non-USD transactions incur fees, so review details before using it as your primary reward—especially for large or recurring programs.

Check out our article for more details on restricted regions and full fee info.

How to Send Gift Cards for the US and Australia

1. Choose a cross-border provider

Select a gifting platform like Toasty that supports both US and Australia delivery/redemption. Run one unified program instead of juggling country-specific services.

2. Decide on the amount

Set base values in USD; the platform handles AUD conversion for Australian recipients.

3. Customize the experience

Add your logo, brand colors, and personalized message to make rewards feel unique and on-brand.

4. Upload your recipients

Import US- and Australia-based recipients manually or via CSV.

5. Send digitally

Send immediately or schedule ahead. Digital skips shipping delays, customs hassles, and physical card losses.

6. Track delivery

Monitor delivery through platform reporting.

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FAQs About Gift Cards That Work in the US and Australia

Can I use the same gift card in both the US and Australia?

Only certain products—like multi-region or global gift cards—are designed to work smoothly in both countries. Most single-brand or region-specific cards are limited to either the US or Australia, not both.

Do US Amazon gift cards work on Amazon.com.au?

No. Amazon gift cards are region-specific, so a US Amazon gift card only works on Amazon.com, while Amazon.com.au gift cards work only on the Australian site.

Are there fees for cross-border or global gift cards?

Many prepaid Visa and Mastercard-style products include activation, conversion, or foreign transaction fees. Toasty is completely fee-free for both senders and recipients.

Can I send digital gift cards to Australian recipients from the US?

Yes. With the right digital gifting platform, you can send rewards instantly to recipients in Australia, even if you're based in the US, without needing to manage separate systems.

What brands can recipients choose from with the Toasty Choice Card?

Recipients access 200+ brands tailored to their country.

How fast can I deliver a Toasty Choice Card to US and Australia recipients?

Delivery is typically instant. Recipients receive their digital card by email within minutes, whether they're in New York or Sydney.

Do recipients need an account to redeem?

No signup required. They click their email link to browse brands and redeem instantly.

What currencies does Toasty support for US-Australia sends?

Toasty handles both USD and AUD automatically. Fund in USD; Australian recipients see AUD equivalents with seamless conversion.