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

Have team members or clients spread across the US and Hong Kong? You're not alone.

Many companies operate globally today—but when sending rewards or thank-you gifts, complications arise quickly. Most US or Hong Kong gift cards only work locally, tied to their currencies (USD vs. HKD), merchants, or payment systems.

For example, a US Starbucks gift card won't work on local HK locations, and vice versa.

The challenge: Finding one gift card that recipients in both the US and Hong Kong can use seamlessly. This guide breaks down why most merchant-specific gift cards fail across borders—and spotlights solutions like the​ Toasty Choice Card—that make US-Hong Kong rewards easier than ever.

Global Gift Card Limitations

Gift cards rank among the top ways to reward employees and customers worldwide—but few manage international redemptions effectively. Most US or Hong Kong cards remain region-locked, issued in local currencies (USD vs. HKD), and limited by brand policies or payment networks.

For example, American-issued cards stick to USD and US merchants, while Hong Kong gift cards use HKD through local gateways. A US prepaid Visa often faces rejection on HK sites, and a Pizza Hut HKD card won't redeem stateside.

Key Challenges​

• Currency Restrictions: US cards operate in USD, Hong Kong ones in HKD—leading to conversion issues and merchant rejections.

• Payment Network Limitations: Many Hong Kong cards favor local gateways that don't work internationally.

• Brand and Licensing Barriers: Global brands run separate programs by region, limiting redemption to .com or .hk sites only.

• Digital Compliance Requirements: Cross-border cards trigger varying KYC/AML checks between US and Hong Kong regulations.

• Fulfillment Issues: Physical cards face shipping delays, customs holds, or activation blocks across borders.

A cross-border gift card should handle both USD and HKD, either through auto-conversion at redemption or by letting recipients choose their local currency and region.

This ensures someone in New York and another in Hong Kong both redeem for brands that actually work locally.

2.  International Catalog

3. Digital Delivery

Why it's ideal for US-Hong Kong gifting

• Works seamlessly across 90+ countries, including both the US and Hong Kong.

• Recipients choose from extensive brand catalogs—local favorites plus international options.

• Automatically handles currency and brand localization for region-specific choices.

• Delivered instantly via email—no printing, shipping, or manual distribution needed.

• Completely fee-free for both senders and recipients.

💡 Example: An HR manager in New York and a sales lead in Hong Kong both receive a Toasty Choice Card. Each redeems instantly with local merchants in their own currency—no separate US- or Hong Kong-specific rewards required.

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

• Starbucks HKD

• ZALORA eGift Card

• Nintendo eShop Card

• Steam Gift Card

• Pizza Hut HKD

• Haagen Dazs Gift Card

• Xbox Gift Card

• Uber Rides Hong Kong

• GODIVA (Soft Serve E-gift) HKD

• Cupping Room Coffee Roasters HKD

• HotelsGift Card

• TripGift eGift Card

• ToursGift eGift Card

• RentacarGift eGift Card

• AirlineGift eGift Card

• FlystayGift eGift Card

• BucketlistGift eGift Card

• eLearnGift eGift Card

• FlowerChimp

• Smile Yogurt

• Sofe Coffee

• CoffeeSweat E-Voucher

• Original Taste Workshop HKD

• IPEshop HKD

• Storellet HKD

• Blue Ribbon Bags HKD

• MindBeauty HKD

• Fem Fitness EVoucher

• Vigor Sports Voucher

• AIRSIM

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

2. Swype Global Virtual MasterCard

Toasty also provides the Swype Global Virtual MasterCard as an alternative, usable across multiple regions including the US and Hong Kong.

This prepaid card offers flexible spending at millions of online and in-store merchants in both markets, anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Keep in mind non-USD transactions include fees—ideal as a supplement rather than primary gifting solution for high-volume programs.

For full details on fees, restrictions, and usage, see this Swype Global Virtual Mastercard guide.​

How to Send US-Hong Kong Gift Cards via Toasty

1. Sign up

Set values in USD; the platform automatically handles HKD conversion for Hong Kong recipients.

3. Customize the experience

Add your logo, brand colors, and personal message to create unique, on-brand rewards.

4. Upload your recipients

Import US- and Hong Kong-based recipients manually or via CSV upload.

5. Send digitally

Choose instant delivery or schedule sends for a future date.

6. Track delivery

Monitor delivery through platform reporting.

Sign-Up   Book a Demo

FAQs

Can the same gift card work in both the US and Hong Kong?

Toasty Choice Cards and a few international prepaid cards work seamlessly in both the US and Hong Kong. Most single-brand or local cards work in either market—but not across both.

Do US Starbucks gift cards work in Hong Kong locations?

No—Starbucks gift cards are region-locked. US cards only work stateside; Hong Kong ones stay exclusive to local HK stores and sites.

Is Toasty really fee-free?

Toasty remains completely fee-free for both senders and recipients.

Can I send digital gift cards to both US and Hong Kong recipients in one order?

Yes—send to both countries simultaneously. Toasty auto-converts currencies: fund in USD, Hong Kong recipients see seamless HKD equivalents.

How fast is gift card delivery?

Instant—recipients get their digital card via email within seconds.

Do recipients need an account to redeem?

No account needed. They simply click the email link to browse brands and redeem immediately.

What's the minimum order size?