Unable to redeem gift cards due to region mismatch with Apple ID

1. No, there isn't.

2. People can access previously-downloaded content from their original country, but would need to supply a payment method for the country they're travelling to to use its store.

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Your friends did not waste any money, you can send the code back to them and they can use it. Every Gift Card is locked to the region and there is no currency conversion. You would find the same thing for the Google Play Gift Card if you switched platforms. Here is the same question on the Google Support site, just so you know.

Cards are locked to the country they are sold in and can only be redeemed to accounts that are registered in that same country.

Google will not refund or exchange that card for you.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/133482786/change-the-gift-card-code-for-my-region?hl=en

And the restrictions for global use on a Android phone are much worse with a limit on changing your region to once per year.

• You can only change your Google Play country or region annually. After you initially set up or change your Google Play country or region, you must wait 12 months before you can make another change.

The other points on region use with the Android platform are the same as Apple.

• Your Google Play balance is linked to your Google Play country. When you change your country or region, you can't use the Google Play balance from your old country or region in your new country or region.
• When you change your Google Play country or region, you may lose access to some books, movies, TV shows, games, and apps.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7431675?hl=en