Do you know how to bypass the limitation if you’re unable to use ChatGPT due to receiving a message stating that OpenAI’s services are unavailable in your country?
ChatGPT, a recently emerged chatbot, has gained popularity worldwide in just a few months. It is now available for free under the name “ChatGPT Free”, and millions of users have already registered and explored its features.
Nevertheless, some users from specific countries are unable to access ChatGPT and are shown a message stating that OpenAI’s services are not available in their country. If you are using ChatGPT online, you will come across the following interface in such cases:
It is apparent that ChatGPT is not available in some countries or areas, including China, Hong Kong, etc., as OpenAI has a list of supported countries, regions, and territories.
Why OpenAI is not available in some countries?
OpenAI, like many other technology companies and online services, may not be available in some countries due to a variety of reasons, including legal restrictions and regulatory compliance. Some countries have strict regulations on data protection and privacy, which may conflict with OpenAI’s operations or may require significant legal and technical resources to comply with.
Additionally, some countries may restrict or block access to certain online services, including OpenAI, due to national security concerns or political reasons. It’s also possible that OpenAI has not yet expanded its services to certain countries due to resource limitations or market considerations.
If your country is not included in this list, you will not be able to use ChatGPT. However, if you are seeking a way to overcome this limitation, you may try the following methods.
How to fix the problem “OpenAI’s services are not available in your country”
If you want to bypass the regional restriction, one possible solution is to use a VPN. I’m using ExpressVPN, which I think it’s working totally fine for me. However, the issue with using ChatGPT is more complex, using a VPN is only the first step.
During the signup process, you also need to use the Incognito mode to open the OpenAI website and change your time zone to Pacific Time (US & Canada). Actually, I think any country’s time zone where OpenAI’s services are available should be fine. I’m using Pacific Time.
After that, you need to verify your phone number, and this number must originate from a supported country. If you have a friend in a supported country, you could ask them for assistance. Personally, I’m using an SMS-activate tool to get a virtual phone number for receiving the security code https://sms-activate.org/en/.
Steps for getting a virtual phone number for receiving the security code
1. Here you need to register an account on the sms-activate platform, just register with your email.
2. After registration, complete verification by email. The next step is to top up. After recharging, go back to the homepage and search for the keyword “open” to find the temporary number purchase link of the OpenAI verification code.
3. Then, you can see the temporary number to be used in the activation area, and copy this number into the verification code receiving area of OpenAI. Click Send Verification Code, so that you can receive the verification code on the code-receiving platform (sometimes it is a little slow and you need to wait patiently), fill in the verification code, and the registration is completed.
After you’ve verified your phone number, you should be able to access the ChatGPT finely!
Best VPN for unblocking OpenAI
| Number of servers | 3,000+ |
| Server locations | 160 |
| Maximum devices supported | 5 |
In my opinion, ExpressVPN is the best all-around VPN for unblocking OpenAI because it offers the best of everything from speed and security to ease of use, compatibility, and customer service.
It’s particularly well suited as it has a whopping 3,000+ servers spread across 160 locations and 94 countries.
As well as getting reliable, above-average speeds (especially when you switch on its proprietary Lightway protocol), with smart selection wizards and 24/7 live chat assistance, that goes for anybody outside the country, too.
ExpressVPN will let you be able to register an OpenAI account freely from anywhere (I know because I’ve tried). You’re secure too with Bitcoin payment, P2P support, industrial-level encryption, a kill switch, DNS protection, and a clear no-logging policy.
The only limitation of ExpressVPN is that its clients are limited to five simultaneous connections, which is fewer compared to other VPN services. However, if you don’t need to connect more than five devices, then ExpressVPN is a nearly perfect choice.
What are the supported countries and territories for OpenAI?
Here are the countries, regions, and territories we can currently support access:
| Antigua and Barbuda |
| Argentina |
| Armenia |
| Australia |
| Austria |
| Bahamas |
| Bangladesh |
| Barbados |
| Belgium |
| Belize |
| Benin |
| Bhutan |
| Bolivia |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Botswana |
| Brazil |
| Brunei |
| Bulgaria |
| Burkina Faso |
| Cabo Verde |
| Canada |
| Chile |
| Colombia |
| Comoros |
| Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) |
| Costa Rica |
| Côte d’Ivoire |
| Croatia |
| Cyprus |
| Czechia (Czech Republic) |
| Denmark |
| Djibouti |
| Dominica |
| Dominican Republic |
| Ecuador |
| El Salvador |
| Estonia |
| Fiji |
| Finland |
| France |
| Gabon |
| Gambia |
| Georgia |
| Germany |
| Ghana |
| Greece |
| Grenada |
| Guatemala |
| Guinea |
| Guinea-Bissau |
| Guyana |
| Haiti |
| Holy See (Vatican City) |
| Honduras |
| Hungary |
| Iceland |
| India |
| Indonesia |
| Iraq |
| Ireland |
| Israel |
| Italy |
| Jamaica |
| Japan |
| Jordan |
| Kazakhstan |
| Kenya |
| Kiribati |
| Kuwait |
| Kyrgyzstan |
| Latvia |
| Lebanon |
| Lesotho |
| Liberia |
| Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania |
| Luxembourg |
| Madagascar |
| Malawi |
| Malaysia |
| Maldives |
| Mali |
| Malta |
| Marshall Islands |
| Mauritania |
| Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Micronesia |
| Moldova |
| Monaco |
| Mongolia |
| Montenegro |
| Morocco |
| Mozambique |
| Myanmar |
| Namibia |
| Nauru |
| Nepal |
| Netherlands |
| New Zealand |
| Nicaragua |
| Niger |
| Nigeria |
| North Macedonia |
| Norway |
| Oman |
| Pakistan |
| Palau |
| Palestine |
| Panama |
| Papua New Guinea |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Poland |
| Portugal |
| Qatar |
| Romania |
| Rwanda |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Saint Lucia |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Samoa |
| San Marino |
| Sao Tome and Principe |
| Senegal |
| Serbia |
| Seychelles |
| Sierra Leone |
| Singapore |
| Slovakia |
| Slovenia |
| Solomon Islands |
| South Africa |
| South Korea |
| Spain |
| Sri Lanka |
| Suriname |
| Sweden |
| Switzerland |
| Taiwan |
| Tanzania |
| Thailand |
| Timor-Leste (East Timor) |
| Togo |
| Tonga |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
| Tunisia |
| Turkey |
| Tuvalu |
| Uganda |
| United Arab Emirates |
| United Kingdom |
| United States of America |
| Uruguay |
| Vanuatu |
| Zambia |
FAQ: About OpenAI
Even though it has not been officially released in the SAR yet, individuals within the sector have been experimenting with it by utilizing virtual private networks (VPNs).
Yes, OpenAI’s services are available in Saudi Arabia. However, certain applications and services provided by OpenAI may have restrictions based on local laws and regulations.
Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and was one of its initial investors. However, he stepped down from the board of OpenAI in 2018 due to potential conflicts of interest with his other companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX. Musk’s share in the company was also donated to charitable causes.
