TL;DR: OpenAI blocks signups from a list of countries and rejects phone numbers from those regions during verification. The fix is to use a VPN set to a supported country for the signup process, combined with a virtual phone number from a supported country for the SMS verification step. Indian and Indonesian numbers work well for OpenAI and cost $0.10–$0.20. Once the account is created, you typically don’t need the VPN for regular use.
The “ChatGPT is not available in your country” message — or the quieter version, where your phone number gets rejected during signup with no explanation — affects users in a significant portion of the world. OpenAI restricts access to ChatGPT by both IP address and by the country origin of phone numbers used for verification. The two checks work independently, which means you need to address both to get past them.
This guide covers which countries are blocked, why OpenAI blocks them, and the step-by-step process to register from a blocked region.
Why OpenAI blocks certain countries
OpenAI’s geographic restrictions come from a few distinct sources:
U.S. sanctions and export controls. The United States restricts the export of certain technologies to countries under OFAC sanctions. OpenAI, as a U.S. company, is legally required to comply with these restrictions. Countries under comprehensive U.S. sanctions — Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Russia (for some services), and parts of Ukraine — are blocked because OpenAI cannot legally provide services there.
Regulatory compliance. Some countries have enacted AI regulations or data residency laws that OpenAI hasn’t yet built the infrastructure to comply with. Rather than operate in partial compliance, OpenAI blocks registration from those regions until the legal framework is in place.
Fraud and abuse prevention. Certain regions have historically higher rates of account creation for API abuse — running automated queries, reselling API access, or creating accounts specifically to circumvent rate limits. Phone number range blocking is one tool for this.
Operational decisions. In some cases, the restriction is simply a market prioritization choice. OpenAI launched with a focus on English-speaking markets and has been expanding geographically at a measured pace.
The countries commonly affected include Russia (partial), China, several Central Asian countries, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and others. The list changes as OpenAI expands service coverage, so a country that was blocked in 2024 may be accessible now — and vice versa.
The two checks OpenAI runs
Understanding that there are two separate restrictions helps clarify why you need two separate solutions:
IP check. When you visit chat.openai.com, OpenAI checks your IP address against a list of blocked countries. If your IP is from a restricted region, you’ll see the “ChatGPT is not available in your country” message before you even get to the signup form. A VPN changes your apparent location by routing your traffic through a server in a different country.
Phone number check. During account creation, OpenAI sends a verification code to your phone number. It also checks the country associated with that number. If your number is from a blocked country, OpenAI rejects it — even if your IP appears to be from a supported country. A virtual number from a supported country addresses this second check.
Both checks need to be handled for registration to complete.
Which countries work best for ChatGPT verification
Not every supported country is equally reliable for OpenAI verification. OpenAI blocks certain country code ranges — sometimes specific carrier prefixes, sometimes entire country codes — based on fraud signals. The best countries for reliability and cost are:
| Country | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India | $0.10–$0.20 | Highest reliability, consistently accepted |
| Indonesia | $0.10–$0.20 | Very reliable, good availability |
| Brazil | $0.15–$0.25 | Strong acceptance rate |
| USA | $0.30–$0.50 | Reliable but more expensive |
| UK | $0.25–$0.45 | Good option, solid acceptance |
| Philippines | $0.10–$0.20 | Generally works, good availability |
India and Indonesia have the best balance of price and reliability for OpenAI. If a number from one country is rejected, cancel it (free of charge) and try another — most virtual number services, including SMSCode, allow free cancellations within the reservation window.
See choosing the right country for your virtual number for a broader breakdown of how country selection affects success rates across different platforms.
Step-by-step registration from a blocked country
Step 1: Set up a VPN
You need a VPN with servers in a country where ChatGPT is available — USA, UK, India, Indonesia, Brazil, or most of Europe. Free VPNs often have limited server options and inconsistent IP quality. For a one-time registration, a reputable paid VPN or a free tier from a known provider (ProtonVPN, Windscribe) is sufficient.
Connect to a server in your chosen country before navigating to OpenAI’s site. Verify that the IP change is working by checking a site like whatismyip.com — the displayed country should match your VPN exit server.
Step 2: Get a virtual number
Go to SMSCode and create an account. No personal phone number is required to register. Add $1–2 of balance — this covers several attempts if you need to try more than one country.
In the SMSCode dashboard, search for “OpenAI” or “ChatGPT” in the service list. Select a supported country — India or Indonesia for best value. Click “Get Number.” The number is reserved for 15–20 minutes.
Step 3: Navigate to OpenAI signup
With your VPN active, go to chat.openai.com and click “Sign up.” You should see the standard registration form rather than the geographic restriction notice. If you still see the restriction message, try a different VPN server location.
Enter your email address and create a password. You can also sign up via Google, Apple, or Microsoft if you prefer OAuth login. Work through the steps until OpenAI requests phone verification.
Step 4: Enter the virtual number
At the phone verification step, enter the virtual number exactly as shown in your SMSCode dashboard, including the country code (e.g., +91 for India, +62 for Indonesia). Do not add extra spaces or formatting beyond what OpenAI’s form accepts.
Step 5: Receive and enter the code
Check your dashboard. The verification code from OpenAI typically arrives within 20–30 seconds. If more than two minutes pass, use OpenAI’s “Resend code” option — don’t request a new virtual number yet.
Enter the code into OpenAI’s form. Your account is now created.
Step 6: Verify that everything works
Log in to chat.openai.com and send a test message. For many blocked countries, regular usage after signup works without the VPN — the geographic restriction primarily applies to the signup process. Others may find they need the VPN for consistent access depending on how aggressively their country’s IP ranges are blocked.
Web access vs. API access
OpenAI’s geographic restrictions apply differently to web access (ChatGPT) and API access (platform.openai.com):
ChatGPT web. The signup process requires the VPN + virtual number combination described above. Once the account exists, many users find that regular use works without the VPN, though this varies by country.
OpenAI API. The API is at platform.openai.com and requires the same account. However, API usage has stricter payment requirements — you must add a payment method before generating API keys. Accepted payment methods include major credit cards and some regional options. A Visa or Mastercard that’s enabled for international transactions works in most cases.
Rate limits and quotas. API rate limits and usage quotas are based on your account tier (free, pay-as-you-go, plus tier). They’re not affected by the phone number type or signup method.
ChatGPT Plus. The $20/month ChatGPT Plus subscription is available on any verified account. You pay via a regular credit card — the subscription payment process doesn’t check phone number origin or VPN usage.
What happens after you’re registered
The account operates exactly like any other OpenAI account. There’s no secondary review or reduced functionality for accounts created from blocked regions.
You can:
- Use ChatGPT Free, Plus, or Team
- Access all GPT-4 models (with appropriate plan)
- Generate and use API keys
- Use DALL-E, Sora, and other OpenAI products through the same account
- Upgrade your plan at any time via standard payment methods
The virtual number is not needed again after registration. Standard logins use email and password. Phone re-verification can occur if OpenAI detects unusual account activity (new country login, suspicious patterns) — in those cases, having a fresh virtual number available is useful, since you wouldn’t be able to receive messages on the original virtual number.
For a detailed breakdown of the verification flow specifically, see how to use ChatGPT without a phone number.
Troubleshooting
“ChatGPT is not available in your country” persists with VPN on. The VPN server’s IP may itself be flagged. Try a different server in the same country, or try a different country entirely. Some VPN IP ranges are known to OpenAI and blocked separately.
“This phone number is not supported.” The number’s country code or carrier prefix is blocked. Cancel the number (no charge) and try a different country — India and Indonesia are the most reliable fallbacks.
“The phone number you entered doesn’t appear to be valid.” OpenAI rejected the format. Ensure you entered the full number with country code, exactly as shown in your dashboard. Avoid adding spaces or dashes.
Code never arrives. Wait two full minutes before using the resend option. If still nothing after a resend, release the number and try a different country — some numbers are real but not receiving properly on OpenAI’s carrier routes.
Account deactivated shortly after creation. OpenAI occasionally reviews and deactivates accounts flagged by its systems. Use realistic profile information during setup. Avoid creating multiple accounts in quick succession from the same IP.
Finding the right virtual number service
Not all virtual number services work equally well for OpenAI. The main differentiator is whether numbers are SIM-based or VoIP-based.
OpenAI — like several other platforms — runs VoIP detection and rejects numbers from VoIP ranges. SIM-based numbers, which are provisioned through actual mobile carrier infrastructure, pass this check. When evaluating a service, look for explicit mention of SIM-based numbers. See number quality and reliability for a detailed breakdown of what this means and how to evaluate it.
For a broader comparison of services, best virtual number services in 2026 covers the major options with pricing and reliability notes.
If you’re interested in automation or need to provision multiple accounts programmatically, SMSCode’s API lets you request numbers, poll for incoming messages, and manage the full lifecycle without manual dashboard interaction.
FAQ
Do I need the VPN every time I use ChatGPT?
Usually only for the initial signup. Most users from blocked countries find that regular ChatGPT access works without the VPN after the account is created. Whether you need it ongoing depends on how your country’s IP ranges are treated — some are blocked only at signup, others are restricted entirely.
Can I use ChatGPT Plus from a country where ChatGPT isn’t officially available?
Yes. Once you have a verified account, upgrading to ChatGPT Plus is a payment transaction — it requires a credit card but doesn’t re-check your geographic location. A Visa or Mastercard enabled for international transactions works in most cases.
Which virtual number country gives the best results for ChatGPT?
India and Indonesia have the highest success rates for OpenAI verification and are among the cheapest options. If one is rejected, the other is the first alternative to try. Brazil, the Philippines, and the UK are reliable backups.
Does this work for the OpenAI API?
Yes. The same account gives you access to platform.openai.com where API keys are generated. API usage requires adding a payment method separately from your ChatGPT plan, but the account creation method doesn’t affect this.
Will my account be banned for signing up this way?
Account bans are based on platform behavior — spam, API abuse, creating accounts to circumvent rate limits, terms of service violations — not on signup method. Signing up with a virtual number while using a VPN is not itself a ban trigger. Using the account for prohibited activities is.