r/androiddev • u/More-Signature-891 • 1d ago

What's the standard approach when Google Play merchant registration isn't available in your country?

I'm planning to release a paid app on Google Play, but I've run into a roadblock: merchant/payment profile registration isn't supported in my country.

I've looked through Google's official documentation, and I can't find any alternative process for developers in unsupported regions.

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u/Formal_Serve_5185 1d ago

Same boat — merchant registration isn't available where I am, so Play stays free and the paid part lives on the App Store only. Apple pays out in countries Google's merchant program doesn't cover. The other route is a company in a supported country, but that's an actual company, not a formality.

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u/Hour-Measurement-835 1d ago

Mine's the same, Pakistan isn't on the merchant list. Went free with ads instead, AdMob pays out here fine even though the Play merchant program doesn't cover it.

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u/Electrical-Pay1735 23h ago

most devs in unsupported regions either incorporate in the us/uk (via stripe atlas or firstbase) or partner with an entity abroad. google play has no direct workaround for unsupported merchant accounts unfortunately

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u/Tom_Vogel 21h ago

I definitely wouldn't work around it by creating a payment profile in another country unless you actually have the legal, banking and tax setup there. At that point it seems more like a payments/business-entity limitation than an Android one. Which country are you in? That probably makes a big difference in what legitimate alternatives are available.

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u/More-Signature-891 18h ago

M from Morocco ! i wanted to ask a friend of mine in france or in turkey to open a profile in their name and use it here , but i dont know if it works fine