Are Microsoft licence keys region-locked?

Retail keys are not locked to a region in the way console games are. A retail key activates a supported-language installation of the matching edition anywhere in the world. Volume and OEM keys carry more restrictions, which is one reason our catalogue focuses on retail and ESD.

Will I be charged VAT?

Consumers in the EU and UK are charged VAT at their local rate. Businesses supplying a valid VAT ID within the EU are handled under the reverse-charge mechanism, so no VAT is added at checkout. The final figure is always shown before payment.

What currency will my card be charged in?

The currency shown on the country page you buy from. If that is not your card's currency, your bank applies its own conversion rate — usually cheaper than accepting a dynamic currency conversion offer at checkout.

How long does delivery take internationally?

There is no shipping. Keys are delivered by email, typically within minutes of payment clearing, wherever you are. Order-hour differences only affect how fast a human replies if something needs manual review.

Can I get a refund if I buy from a different country?

Yes. The statutory window that applies to you is honoured — 14 days in the EU and UK — and our own policy applies on top of it, provided the key has not been activated.

Do I need to buy from my own country's page?

No, but it is usually the better experience: you see the correct tax treatment, the refund rules that apply to you, and prices in the currency your card is denominated in.

Buy Microsoft licenses in your country

Local payment methods, local-tax handling and replies in your time zone — pick your country to see the details.

What actually changes when you buy from another country

A digital licence is the same product everywhere, but the purchase around it is not. VAT or GST is added or excluded depending on where you are and whether you supply a business tax number, the statutory withdrawal period differs by jurisdiction, and the currency you are billed in decides whether your bank adds a conversion fee. None of that changes the key you receive or the software it activates.

These country pages exist so you can see the local answer before checkout rather than after it: the tax rate applied, the refund window that applies to you by law, the currency you will be charged in, and the support hours in your timezone. Microsoft retail licences are not region-locked, so a key bought from one country activates a supported-language installation anywhere.

50+: countries with a dedicated buying page
14–30: day refund window depending on jurisdiction
Minutes: typical delivery time — keys are emailed, not shipped
Local: currency and tax shown before you pay

How the buying experience differs by region

The licence is identical in every row. What changes is tax handling, the statutory cooling-off period and the currency your card is charged in.

Region	Tax treatment	What to check before paying
European Union	VAT charged at your country's rate; reverse charge with a valid VAT ID	14-day statutory withdrawal right applies to consumers
United Kingdom	UK VAT at 20% for consumers	Refund window is 14 days from delivery of the key
United States	Sales tax depends on state nexus rules	No federal cooling-off period; our own 30-day policy applies
Canada & Australia	GST/HST or GST added at checkout	Consumer guarantees law applies in addition to our policy
Rest of world	Usually billed without local tax; local import rules do not apply to digital keys	Confirm your bank's currency conversion fee before paying

Before you check out from abroad

Enter a business VAT or tax ID if you have one — it removes the tax line where reverse charge applies.
Check whether your bank charges a foreign-currency fee; paying in the listed currency is usually cheaper than dynamic conversion.
Confirm your language: keys activate any supported UI language, but installation media is downloaded per language.
Use an email address you control long-term — it is where the key and the invoice are delivered.
Do not activate the key before you have confirmed the edition matches; activation starts the licence binding.
Keep the invoice for the length of the licence, especially for business purchases that may face a software audit.

Buying from abroad FAQ

Are Microsoft licence keys region-locked?: Retail keys are not locked to a region in the way console games are. A retail key activates a supported-language installation of the matching edition anywhere in the world. Volume and OEM keys carry more restrictions, which is one reason our catalogue focuses on retail and ESD.
Will I be charged VAT?: Consumers in the EU and UK are charged VAT at their local rate. Businesses supplying a valid VAT ID within the EU are handled under the reverse-charge mechanism, so no VAT is added at checkout. The final figure is always shown before payment.
What currency will my card be charged in?: The currency shown on the country page you buy from. If that is not your card's currency, your bank applies its own conversion rate — usually cheaper than accepting a dynamic currency conversion offer at checkout.
How long does delivery take internationally?: There is no shipping. Keys are delivered by email, typically within minutes of payment clearing, wherever you are. Order-hour differences only affect how fast a human replies if something needs manual review.
Can I get a refund if I buy from a different country?: Yes. The statutory window that applies to you is honoured — 14 days in the EU and UK — and our own policy applies on top of it, provided the key has not been activated.
Do I need to buy from my own country's page?: No, but it is usually the better experience: you see the correct tax treatment, the refund rules that apply to you, and prices in the currency your card is denominated in.

What actually changes when you buy from another country

How the buying experience differs by region

Before you check out from abroad

Buying from abroad FAQ

Useful next steps