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Stages of publishing paid utilities in the App Store and valuable tips for developers from Russia

10.05.2024

No matter what happens in the world, there are no fewer people wanting to create a Developer Apple account and make money on mobile applications for iOS devices. Developers from Russia who previously registered have to look for ways to renew their subscription, and newcomers have to find a working registration option.

Nova.Shop experts will tell you how best to act, and from our article you will also learn what specific restrictions were introduced earlier and will be in effect in 2024.

Russian individual entrepreneurs and companies do not have the opportunity to work with clients abroad; publishing only free utilities is allowed. Monetization of access only from clients from the Russian Federation. That is why the issue of an alternative approach to opening an account is very relevant.

Apple store – what is it and who can get Developer status

Owners of Apple brand devices can download and install applications exclusively from the official store. It has been operating for 16 years, has more than 160 billion downloads per year and delights users with a huge selection of utilities, including instant messengers, real estate aggregators, grocery delivery and purchase services, online banking software, etc. iOS Developer status holders can post paid and free developments after passing multi-stage moderation.

You can become part of the Apple ecosystem by paying an annual fee of $99 or $299, depending on the type of account (individual or corporate). The commission is 15 or 30%, which is determined by the amount of annual income – less or more than $1 million. Money is automatically debited not only upon downloading, but also if clients pay for any goods or services. The subscription price includes technical support.

Difficulties with registration in the Apple Developer program from Russia

Starting in March 2022, software creators and ordinary users of equipment from the American manufacturer have faced restrictions. Initially, the platform stopped accepting payments from banks that were under sanctions, but programmers continued to receive income from downloads and paid options for already published utilities. The subscription could be renewed using gift cards or a mobile account. But in mid-2023, the rules changed, and owners of Apple enterprise and individual Developer accounts lost the opportunity to earn money; only free software was allowed to be published.

Some relaxations were announced on 10/17/2023. Monetization became possible with the involvement of external systems provided:

providing the creator of the software with special permission (issued upon special request);
lack of integration of the payment systems used with Apple shopping services;
payment of a commission of 27% for transactions and downloads;
submitting monthly company reports for billing purposes;
registration in Russia and orientation of the digital product to the domestic market.

How to register and pay for an Apple Developer account

The fact that the store is not completely blocked does not particularly please programmers targeting the global market (within the Russian Federation one cannot count on a solid audience reach and large profits). The only way to earn money by publishing applications in the App Store without restrictions is to create a legal entity abroad, which will be subject to general monetization rules.

Let’s tell you in more detail how to register an Apple developer account and not miss the opportunity to build a successful business:

The first step is registering a company abroad. Optimal locations for opening a company are Cyprus, USA, UAE, UK. There are special companies that will help you arrange everything remotely.
Then you should go to the official website and start creating an account. You will need an Apple ID, an iPhone or iPad, or a Mac device, as well as activated two-factor identification. All entered data should be double-checked several times, because in case of an error, the process will have to start again.
After specifying the telephone number, first and last name, DUNS, name, address, mobile and website of the organization, you will have to wait for an email with an activation code and further instructions. Once you click the link, you will see a license agreement that you must read, check to agree, and then pay $99.
For payments, a developer from the Russian Federation will need a corporate Internet bank account, since withdrawal to cards of national financial organizations is not available. Neobank, Payoneer, Wise have good reviews.

After successful registration, verification and payment, all that remains is to connect payment services (PayPal, Stripe, Braintree, 2Checkout, Square or another) and publish the utility in the store.

Despite various restrictions, payment for the Apple Developer program for residents of the Russian Federation, as well as creating a profile on the platform, remain available. If you cannot resolve organizational and financial issues the first time, you can make it simpler – purchase a verified Apple Developer account with a subscription.