Since the Nintendo Switch is region free, it is possible to buy games from other regions to save more money. This post should hopefully guide you through the process and will be updated should anything change or when other regions become accessible. I'll attempt to support the thread with answers to questions and will welcome corrections and suggestions.
This is not against Nintendo's terms of service and is referred to in their support pages.
Generally speaking, Nintendo Switch games are cheaper in other regions, this can be seen when viewing eShop-prices.com.
Unfortunately, South American regions are usually cheaper by far but due to the complex nature of some of these stores, buying from Argentina, Brazil and (probably) Mexico won't be covered here.
Currently, Russia and South Africa are usually cheaper than the UK for most games, sometimes Norway or Poland too. The process for buying from these regions is the same and is detailed below.
Bear in mind that some stores accept PayPal and others not.
Please read the complete guide before proceeding.
Buying from EU regions (including South Africa and Russia):
1.On a browser, select your game
2.Sign in with the same account as is on your console
3.Click profile picture
4.Click User Information
5.Click Profile
6.Change region
7.Buy game with Credit card or PayPal (depending on region)
*Check that English language support is present
8.Game will download automatically
9.Switch region back to UK
*It's advisable to use a translator such as the one built into Google Chrome on foreign sites
NB.
If you have credit on your eShop account you may lose it or be unable to change regions, spend the balance before switching.
If you have a Nintendo network id linked to your account, unlink it to change regions (can be linked back after).
Also, if you have an active NSO membership set to auto renew, you will need to cancel auto renew. Same applies to Pokémon home.
Gold Coins will stay in the region you gained them, so if you purchase from a foreign store you will gain coins to be used at that specific region. These will not be lost by switching.
Note* If the account is registered to a child, it may not be possible to change back to UK after switching. Please consider this prior to changing region.
Payments by PayPal and credit cards will be charged a conversion fee, it is preferable to use a fee free card such as Revolut or Monzo.
PayPal conversation rates.
Buying from the US eShop
For buying from the US eShop it is advisable to create a US account and buy US eShop credit (it is technically possible to change regions as for EU shops, but due to the payment method you'll very likely be 'stuck' in the US until you spend all of your bought credit).
1.Create a US account here
2.Register this US account on your console, using the same email address you used to create the account.
3. UK payment methods won't work on the US eShop, you'll need to buy US eShop credit, eg:
pcgamesupply
CDKeys
BestBuy
Offgamers
Playasia
When buying from these retailers, you'll likely need a US address. Use an address with an Oregon or Alaska zip code for tax free purchases.
4.Add the credit to your US eShop account: How to Add Funds to Nintendo Switch US eShop account.
5.Buy the game from Nintendo eShop USA
6.You should now have a US account on your console, the games from this account can be accessed in the same way as your UK account by selecting your new profile.
Buying from Japanese eShop
1.Create a Japanese Nintendo account.
2.Register the account on your console with the same email address.
3. UK payment methods won't work on the Japanese eShop, you'll need to buy eShop Yen credit eg:
Offgamers
Playasia
4.Add the credit to your new Japanese account.
5.Buy the game from Japanese eshop
6.You should now have a Japanese account on your console, the games from this account can be accessed in the same way as your UK account by selecting your new profile.
*It's advisable to use a translator such as the one built into Google Chrome on foreign sites
Always check that the game you are buying from Japan has English Language support.
Links:
Nintendo eShop South Africa
Nintendo eShop Poland
Nintendo eShop Russia
Nintendo eShop Switzerland
Nintendo eShop UK
Nintendo eShop USA
Nintendo eShop Norway
Nintendo eShop Japan
Nintendo eShop region select page
Revolut
Monzo
pcgamesupply
CDKeys
BestBuy
Offgamers
Playasia
Japanese eShop games with English language support
Nintendo Switch US Tax Free Zip Code for Nintendo eShop
Currency Converter
eShop-prices.com
This is not against Nintendo's terms of service and is referred to in their support pages.
Generally speaking, Nintendo Switch games are cheaper in other regions, this can be seen when viewing eShop-prices.com.
Unfortunately, South American regions are usually cheaper by far but due to the complex nature of some of these stores, buying from Argentina, Brazil and (probably) Mexico won't be covered here.
Currently, Russia and South Africa are usually cheaper than the UK for most games, sometimes Norway or Poland too. The process for buying from these regions is the same and is detailed below.
Bear in mind that some stores accept PayPal and others not.
Please read the complete guide before proceeding.
Buying from EU regions (including South Africa and Russia):
1.On a browser, select your game
2.Sign in with the same account as is on your console
3.Click profile picture
4.Click User Information
5.Click Profile
6.Change region
7.Buy game with Credit card or PayPal (depending on region)
*Check that English language support is present
8.Game will download automatically
9.Switch region back to UK
*It's advisable to use a translator such as the one built into Google Chrome on foreign sites
NB.
If you have credit on your eShop account you may lose it or be unable to change regions, spend the balance before switching.
If you have a Nintendo network id linked to your account, unlink it to change regions (can be linked back after).
Also, if you have an active NSO membership set to auto renew, you will need to cancel auto renew. Same applies to Pokémon home.
Gold Coins will stay in the region you gained them, so if you purchase from a foreign store you will gain coins to be used at that specific region. These will not be lost by switching.
Note* If the account is registered to a child, it may not be possible to change back to UK after switching. Please consider this prior to changing region.
Payments by PayPal and credit cards will be charged a conversion fee, it is preferable to use a fee free card such as Revolut or Monzo.
PayPal conversation rates.
Buying from the US eShop
For buying from the US eShop it is advisable to create a US account and buy US eShop credit (it is technically possible to change regions as for EU shops, but due to the payment method you'll very likely be 'stuck' in the US until you spend all of your bought credit).
1.Create a US account here
2.Register this US account on your console, using the same email address you used to create the account.
3. UK payment methods won't work on the US eShop, you'll need to buy US eShop credit, eg:
pcgamesupply
CDKeys
BestBuy
Offgamers
Playasia
When buying from these retailers, you'll likely need a US address. Use an address with an Oregon or Alaska zip code for tax free purchases.
4.Add the credit to your US eShop account: How to Add Funds to Nintendo Switch US eShop account.
5.Buy the game from Nintendo eShop USA
6.You should now have a US account on your console, the games from this account can be accessed in the same way as your UK account by selecting your new profile.
Buying from Japanese eShop
1.Create a Japanese Nintendo account.
2.Register the account on your console with the same email address.
3. UK payment methods won't work on the Japanese eShop, you'll need to buy eShop Yen credit eg:
Offgamers
Playasia
4.Add the credit to your new Japanese account.
5.Buy the game from Japanese eshop
6.You should now have a Japanese account on your console, the games from this account can be accessed in the same way as your UK account by selecting your new profile.
*It's advisable to use a translator such as the one built into Google Chrome on foreign sites
Always check that the game you are buying from Japan has English Language support.
Links:
Nintendo eShop South Africa
Nintendo eShop Poland
Nintendo eShop Russia
Nintendo eShop Switzerland
Nintendo eShop UK
Nintendo eShop USA
Nintendo eShop Norway
Nintendo eShop Japan
Nintendo eShop region select page
Revolut
Monzo
pcgamesupply
CDKeys
BestBuy
Offgamers
Playasia
Japanese eShop games with English language support
Nintendo Switch US Tax Free Zip Code for Nintendo eShop
Currency Converter
eShop-prices.com
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