Guide to Registering for ChatGPT Service Using Your Own Country’s Credit Cards (such as Chinese or Hong Kong)

Introduction

This tutorial explains one way to subscribe to ChatGPT when your local credit card, such as a Chinese or Hong Kong card, cannot be used directly. The workflow is to create a U.S. PayPal account, link your Chinese Visa or Hong Kong Mox credit card to that PayPal account, create a U.S. Apple ID, set PayPal as the Apple ID payment method, and then subscribe through the ChatGPT app on iOS.

Before starting, check the current requirements of PayPal, Apple, and OpenAI in your region. Payment rules, identity checks, phone verification, and supported billing methods can change, so verify each step on the official service pages while you work.

Step One: Use SMS-Man to Receive Text Messages for U.S. PayPal Registration

  1. Visit the SMS-Man or SMS-Activate website: <https://sms-activate.org/?ref=7018875>.
  2. Select Receive SMS.
  3. Under Select country, choose USA.
  4. Under Select a service, search for and select PayPal.
  5. Click Buy SMS and pay for the text message service.
  6. Keep the provided phone number available until the PayPal verification code has been received and entered.

Step Two: Register a U.S. PayPal Account and Link Your Chinese or Hong Kong Credit Card

  1. Use the phone number obtained in Step One to register a U.S. PayPal account.
  2. When adding a payment method, choose Credit Card.
  3. Enter your Chinese Visa card or Hong Kong Mox credit card information.
  4. Complete any verification requested by PayPal.
  5. Confirm that the card appears successfully in your PayPal wallet before continuing.

Step Three: Use SMS-Man to Receive Text Messages for Apple Services

  1. Repeat the phone number purchase process from Step One.
  2. Choose USA as the country.
  3. Under Select a service, choose Apple.
  4. Keep the number open until the Apple ID verification code has been received.

Step Four: Register a U.S. Apple ID and Choose PayPal as the Payment Method

  1. Register a U.S. Apple ID using the phone number obtained in Step Three.
  2. Set the Apple ID region to the United States.
  3. In the payment method settings, choose PayPal.
  4. Sign in to the U.S. PayPal account created in Step Two.
  5. Follow Apple’s prompts to finish the account setup.
  6. Confirm that PayPal is listed as the active payment method for the Apple ID.

Step Five: If SMS-Man Does Not Work, Use SMS-Activate

  1. Visit SMS-Activate: <https://sms-activate.org/?ref=7018875>.
  2. Choose the country and service you need.
  3. Obtain a virtual phone number.
  4. Use that number to complete the registration or verification process.
  5. If a number fails to receive the verification code, cancel or retry according to the service’s own instructions.

Step Six: Download ChatGPT from the App Store and Subscribe In-App

  1. Sign in to the App Store using your U.S. Apple ID.
  2. Search for the official ChatGPT app.
  3. Download and install the app.
  4. Open ChatGPT and sign in to your OpenAI account.
  5. Choose the subscription plan you want.
  6. Confirm the purchase through Apple’s in-app purchase interface. If PayPal has already been set as the Apple ID payment method, Apple should charge through PayPal automatically.
  7. After payment succeeds, return to the ChatGPT app and confirm that the subscription status has updated.

“Your Purchase Could Not Be Completed” Solution

If Apple shows the message “Your purchase could not be completed”, download the Apple Support app and contact Apple customer service. Explain that you cannot complete the ChatGPT subscription purchase through your Apple ID. According to a friend’s feedback, Apple Support resolved this issue within about an hour.

If the issue continues, check the following items before trying again:

  1. The Apple ID region is set to the United States.
  2. PayPal is still listed as the active Apple ID payment method.
  3. The credit card linked to PayPal has not been declined by the card issuer.
  4. The ChatGPT app was downloaded while signed in to the same Apple ID used for the subscription.
  5. There are no pending Apple ID billing problems under Settings > Apple ID > Payment & Shipping.

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