Is a $50 gift card really a “thank you” message that reaches cross-border workers? Most gift cards sold in the United States can only be used within the United States. Many branded cards are limited to one country, one currency, or one app store. So when an engineer in Lisbon or a designer in Manila tries to use the card, they may receive an error message. For companies with employees spread across many countries, this small gesture of appreciation can quickly become a support ticket.
We compare 10 types of gift cards that non-US employees can actually use. It also explains the country, currency, and tax details you should check before sending a card. The goal is to highlight the areas where HR or operations managers are most likely to run into problems when sending compensation to overseas employees.
Why Most Gift Cards Break at the Border
The fundamental problem is regional limitations. In general, gift cards are tied to the country of purchase, the currency they were loaded in, and local versions of retailers. For example, a card purchased on Amazon.com can only be used on Amazon.com, not on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de. Apple has the same structure. Cards purchased in France cannot be used on the App Store in the United States, and vice versa.
The second restriction is currency. Netflix accepts cards for purchases in other countries only if the card currency matches the member's Netflix billing currency. Uber Gift Cards can only be used in countries that use the currency in which the card was issued. Therefore, a euro card can be used in Eurozone cities, but not in London or Warsaw.
The third constraint is delivery. Physical cards sent overseas can be held at customs for several weeks. Sometimes, the recipient is also required to pay import taxes upon arrival. For distributed teams, there is only one type of gift card that actually works well: a digital card that can be used in the recipient's own currency and country.
Gift Cards for International Employees at a Glance
Card | Best for | Delivery method | Works internationally | Minimum order |
Giftronaut's choice card | Global teams in many countries at once | Email, delivered within seconds; bulk send by spreadsheet | Yes, 225 countries with automatic local-currency conversion | No platform minimum; cards from $10 |
Kiva Card | Purpose-driven teams and charity-minded staff | Email or print-at-home | Yes, redeemed online in USD by recipients anywhere | $25, in $25 increments |
Steam digital gift card | Gamers and engineering teams | Sent to the recipient's Steam account | Yes, converts to the recipient's currency; some countries restricted | $5 (tiers of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100) |
Uber gift card | Staff in large cities who commute or order food | Email or in-app gift | Yes, in any country that uses the card's currency | From $15 at US retailers; varies by country |
Amazon gift card | Employees near a major Amazon storefront | Email | Only on the storefront where it was issued | Varies by storefront |
MasterClass gift membership | Learning and development rewards | Email (can be scheduled) or print | Yes, streamed online | One annual membership |
Prepaid Visa or Mastercard | Employees who want to spend anywhere | Physical or virtual card | Depends on the issuer; foreign fees often apply | Varies by issuer |
Netflix gift card | Low-cost monthly entertainment | Email or physical card | Only if the card currency matches the member's bill | Varies by country |
Airbnb gift card | Travel rewards and sabbatical gifts | Email (digital) or retail card | Bought in around two dozen countries; spendable on stays worldwide | Varies by country |
Apple Gift Card | iPhone and Mac users | Email or physical card | Only in the country where it was bought | Varies by country |
1. Giftronaut's choice card
Giftronaut's choice card solves the problem of regional restrictions by allowing employees to choose the brand instead of the sender. The amount is set by the company and each recipient chooses from a global catalog of more than 1,200 brands, with hundreds of options available in each country. And your balance will be converted to your local currency, as 225 countries accept it. Teams spread across Canada, Poland, India, and Brazil can receive the same payout on the same day.
Gifts for international employees don't have to be a logistical headache. For HR and operations teams, Giftronaut takes care of what is often a stagnation in international gift-giving. The recipient list can be uploaded by spreadsheet and sent in batches via email. Sends can be scheduled for birthdays or service anniversaries. And all cards can be personalized with your company logo and personal message. Card amounts range from $10 to $500 in standard denominations. and supports currencies such as USD, GBP, EUR, CAD and AUD.
The cost structure is also clear. Giftronaut does not charge a platform fee. There is no subscription or contract, and funding via ACH or wire transfer is free. And the only fee is a 3% processing fee for credit card payments. Our refund option allows you to recover up to 50% of the unused card value. This is in response to the general problem of unused rewards. Administrators can also limit the brand catalog by country or category. This is useful when a company wants to exclude certain retailers.
Best for: Ideal for companies that send rewards to employees in multiple countries at the same time. This is especially relevant when no one knows which local brand each employee uses.
2. Kiva Card
The Kiva Card provides employee funding of $25 or more for loans to small businesses, farmers, and students through Kiva, a non-profit microlending organization. The recipient chooses the borrower and when the loan is repaid. You can lend the same money again. This is because the card is used online in US dollars. Employees in any country can use it, as long as they have internet access.
Giving a coworker a meaningful gift can sometimes be a difficult task.Kiva Cards are sold in $25 increments and ship via email or as cards that can be printed at home. The recipient must have a free Kiva account to use. If not used within 12 months from purchase The balance is converted to a donation for Kiva's operating costs, so your funds aren't easily lost.
Best for: It's perfect as a holiday gift for the entire team, charities, and employees who like to give more than they receive.
3. Steam Digital Gift Card
Topping up a Steam Wallet is a welcome reward for engineering teams and PC gamers alike. What matters is the type of card. A physical Steam Wallet code only works if it matches the currency in the recipient's Steam account. However,Steam Digital Gift Cards are automatically converted to the recipient's local currency.
Digital cards are available for $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100 and, once approved by the recipient, are deposited directly into the recipient's Steam Wallet. Steam will indicate if there are country-specific restrictions on the checkout page. The practical drawback is that the sender must add the recipient as a friend on Steam, so this method is more suitable for small teams than for company-wide programs.
Best for: It's perfect for small teams where gamers, developers, and managers already know who's playing.
4. Uber Gift Card
Uber Gift Cards can be used on both rides and Uber Eats orders, so even with the travel benefit included, catering to a late dinner after work is on the company. Uber operates in more than 10,000 cities around the world and is one of the most widely available single-brand cards.
The restriction is currency. Registered cards can only be used in countries that accept payments in the card's issued currency. Therefore, purchases must be made in the employee's local currency. Uber also operates a corporate portal for businesses purchasing more than 10 cards at a time.
Best for: Ideal for workers in large cities where Uber and Uber Eats are a part of everyday life.
5. Amazon Gift Card (Local Storefront)
Amazon's card can only be used abroad if you purchase it from the correct storefront. UK employees need an Amazon.co.uk card, German employees need an Amazon.de card, and employees in India need an Amazon.in card. If you provide these employees with a US Amazon.com card, the balance cannot be transferred.
When stores match, Amazon offers one of the most flexible single-brand cards, which you can use for groceries, electronic devices, books, and Kindle titles. This still requires some management. A team distributed across eight countries may need eight separate orders in eight currencies. Countries that do not have an Amazon store also need to be considered.
Best for: This is suitable for employees in countries where Amazon has a full storefront, but it is limited to cases where the sender can purchase locally.
6. MasterClass Gift Membership
The MasterClass gift gives the recipient one year of access to more than 200 video courses taught by well-known professionals in fields such as business, writing, cooking, design, and more. Because the courses are online, you don’t need to coordinate delivery with a local retailer.
Gifts are sent via email or printed out. And the sender can schedule delivery on the specified date. Employees should also be aware that once activated, the membership will automatically renew after the first year unless the recipient turns off auto-renewal.
Best for: Suitable for employees who have a budget for learning and development. and are seeking new skills
7. Prepaid Visa or Mastercard
Prepaid cards can be used almost anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted and are the closest thing to cash. But that flexibility comes with more rules than other card brands. Many prepaid cards issued in the United States are designed for use only within the United States. Even cards used abroad A foreign transaction fee of approximately 3% is usually added to every purchase.
If you choose this method, you must choose an issuer that supports international use or is based in the employee's country. You must also check the fee schedule for activation fees, monthly fees, and inactivity fees, as described in the following section. Prepaid network cards are subject to the heaviest tax treatment in some countries.
Best for: This is ideal for employees who want complete freedom in choosing where to spend their money. However, this is only effective if fees and taxes are confirmed in advance.
8. Netflix Gift Card
Netflix gift cards are simple, affordable, and never expire. Netflix accepts cards purchased in other countries as long as the card currency matches the member's Netflix billing currency. Members billed in euros can use a euro-denominated card, regardless of where the card was purchased.
Netflix has stopped gift card sales in some markets. But existing cards in those countries will still work. You should check the status of local sales before promising a card to the employee.
Best for: In countries where Netflix gift cards are still available, they are great for showing small, frequent thank yous.
9. Airbnb Gift Card
Airbnb gift cards are great for bigger milestones, like work anniversaries, a sabbatical, or a reward for a difficult project. Digital cards can be purchased in around two dozen countries, mainly in Europe, North America, and Australasia. Once added to your account, you can use the card anywhere in the world. Airbnb gift cards never expire.
In principle, cards can only be purchased for people in the same country as the purchaser. However, cross-border gifts within the European Economic Area are an exception. Additionally, cards purchased in the European Economic Area or Switzerland can only be used for accommodations, not experiences.
Best for: Ideal for larger milestone rewards for employees based in countries that support Airbnb gift cards.
10. Apple Gift Card
Apple Gift Cards can be used on apps, iCloud storage, Apple Music, and Apple Store hardware. That's why they're so popular with people who use an iPhone or Mac. Internationally, however, this is one of the strictest cards on this list. Apple Gift Cards can only be used in the country or region of purchase. And the card's country must match the country of the recipient's Apple Account.
Additionally, Apple Gift Cards are not sold in all countries. For mixed international teams, Apple works best as one of several options. Not as the only reward.
Best for: Ideal for employees who can purchase Apple Gift Cards locally.
What to Check Before You Send a Gift Card Abroad
Recognition matters more than the size of the gift. A Gallup and Workhuman study followed about 3,500 employees for two years. Research has shown that employees who feel highly valued are45% less likely to leave their organization after two years. In the same study, only 22% of employees felt they received the right amount of recognition. A gift card that cannot be used wastes that effort. So first, you need to check the following:
- Country of redemption. Make sure the card is valid in the country where your employees live. Not the country of your finance team
- Currency. The balance should come in the employee's local currency or be automatically converted. That way, your $50 gift won't shrink after the bank fees.
- Delivery method. Shipping by email completely avoids customs delays. Check whether cards can be reserved for birthdays or service anniversaries.
- Fees and expiry. Some prepaid cards charge monthly fees or foreign transaction fees. Other cards expire after 12 months.
- Tax treatment. In some countries, gift cards are considered taxable wages unless certain conditions are met. The next section discusses this point in more detail.
- Admin load. Sending five cards is easy. But sending 150 cards to 30 countries requires bulk uploading, tracking, and recording who gets what.
The administrative side is an area where many HR teams are automating today. Recognition tools are increasingly being used alongside the broader shift toAI in HR. Then you don't have to manage things like milestone reminders, recipient lists, and tracking compensation in spreadsheets anymore.
Gift Card Tax Rules Differ by Country
Tax is an aspect of international gifting that is rarely covered in gift guides. However, it is the tax that determines how burdensome a $100 thank-you will be to employees. Rules vary from country to country. The two main markets indicate the size of the difference.
In the UK, employers can offer a trivial benefit tax-free only if they meet certain conditions. The benefit must cost £50 or less, cannot be cash or a cash voucher, must not be included in the employee's contract, and must not be a reward for work or performance. A £40 birthday gift card may be eligible, but a £40 card for meeting sales targets is not.
Canada has different standards. The Canada Revenue Agency exempts certain non-cash gifts and prizes up to CAD 500 per year from taxation. Gift cards may qualify as non-cash gifts if they cabe used onlyed at one retailer or a group of retailers listed on the card and cannot be exchanged for cash. The employer must also keep records of each card issued. Prepaid Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards are generally considered near-cash and are taxable.
The practical conclusion is to keep a simple record of all cards. The record includes the recipient, date, reason, card type, amount, and retailer. These records meet Canadian requirements and facilitate reporting in most other countries. In the case of performance-based bonuses, the gift is considered taxable and must be paid through payroll.
Matching the Right Card to the Right Team
There is no single brand of card that works in every country. So the best choice depends on how your team is distributed.
- One or two countries: Locally branded cards purchased in the employee's own currency create a simple, personal impression. For example, an Amazon card purchased from the appropriate storefront or an Uber card in local currency.
- Five or more countries: A card that allows each recipient to choose a local brand. It avoids the trouble of buying dozens of regional cards and keeping track of each one.
- Values-led teams: The Kiva Card works in all countries and also serves as a team charity activity.
- Milestone rewards: Airbnb and MasterClass are suitable for milestones like five-year work anniversaries if the employee's country is supported.
- Tax-sensitive markets: Single retailer cards offered on birthdays or public holidays are more likely to be exempt from local taxes than prepaid network cards.
Gift cards are most effective when they are part of a broader recognition habit. Remote teams that combine small rewards with shared experiences tend to gain more from each action than teams that rely on rewards alone. Shared experiences can be online or moreunconventional team-building activities at annual meetings.
Conclusion
The best gift cards for non-US employees are ones they can actually use in their home country and own currency without paying unexpected fees or taxes. Region-restricted brand cards like Apple or Amazon can work if you can purchase them locally. Meanwhile, cards like the Kiva Card and Steam digital gift cards are easier to use across borders. For teams spread across multiple countries, letting each person choose a local brand takes a lot of the guesswork out. Your gratitude will land exactly as intended if you check the tax rules in the countries where your employees live and keep simple records.
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