Unlock US Netflix, Netflix Japan, Australia, Canada and South Korea from the UK. Our step-by-step guide shows you exactly how -- and which VPNs actually work in 2026.
Which VPNs unlock which Netflix regions right now
This error appears when Netflix detects your VPN connection. It means the IP address you're using has been flagged and added to Netflix's blocklist. Free VPNs and budget VPNs are almost always detected. Premium VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark maintain large IP pools that rotate regularly to stay ahead of Netflix's detection systems.
These three VPNs are the most reliable for unlocking foreign Netflix content in 2026. We've tested them from the UK this month -- here's how they performed.
NordVPN is the only provider we've tested that reliably unlocks all five major foreign Netflix libraries from the UK. US, Japan, Australia, Canada and South Korea all work consistently, with no buffering and full 4K quality. NordVPN maintains dedicated streaming server clusters for each region, with fresh IPs that rotate out of Netflix's blocklist before they can be flagged.
Why it's #1: SmartPlay technology automatically routes streaming traffic through the optimal server. You don't need to configure anything -- just connect to the country you want and open Netflix. It's the simplest, most reliable solution we've found.
ExpressVPN unlocks US, Japan, Australia and Canada Netflix from the UK. South Korea is currently inconsistent, but everything else works reliably. The Lightway protocol delivers the fastest streaming speeds we've measured -- crucial if you're watching 4K HDR content, which needs about 25 Mbps sustained.
Surfshark unlocks US, Japan and Australia Netflix from the UK at the lowest price of any reliable option. Canada and South Korea are hit-and-miss right now, but for the core three regions it's rock solid. Unlimited simultaneous connections means every device in your home is covered under one subscription.
Different countries have different content due to licensing agreements. Here's what you can expect from each major library, and what makes them worth accessing from the UK:
| Library | Approx. titles | Best for | UK difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US Netflix | 5,800+ | Broadest catalogue overall | ~400 extra titles |
| 🇯🇵 Netflix Japan | 6,000+ | Anime, J-drama, exclusive anime | Exclusive anime not in UK |
| 🇦🇺 Netflix Australia | 5,200+ | Some US shows, regional content | Varies by title |
| 🇨🇦 Netflix Canada | 5,500+ | Canadian originals, some US content | Varies by title |
| 🇰🇷 Netflix Korea | 4,800+ | K-dramas, Korean variety shows | Exclusive K-content |
Note: These are approximate figures as of March 2026. Netflix rotates content monthly as licensing agreements expire and renew. The key takeaway: US Netflix generally has the most, Netflix Japan is the anime destination, and Netflix Korea is essential for K-drama fans.
| VPN | Price/mo | US | Japan | Australia | Canada | Korea | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 NordVPN | £2.99 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ExpressVPN | £5.52 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Surfshark | £1.69 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Proton VPN | £3.99 | ⚠️ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| CyberGhost | £1.99 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Free VPNs | £0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Once you've signed up with a reliable VPN like NordVPN, switching between Netflix libraries takes less than two minutes:
Download NordVPN (or your chosen VPN) on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV Stick or Android TV. Log in with your account credentials.
In the VPN app, click on the country you want to access -- for example, United States, Japan, or Australia. NordVPN shows all available servers for each country.
Once connected, open Netflix in your browser or the app. You'll see the target country's library. If you previously had Netflix open, close the tab and reopen it -- this clears any cached location data.
If Netflix still shows the UK library, clear your browser cookies and reload. Netflix uses cookies to remember your previous location. A quick clear fixes this in seconds.
To change regions, simply disconnect from your current server and connect to a server in the new country. Netflix will automatically load that country's library. You can switch between US, Japan, Australia, Canada and Korea in under a minute.
If you want foreign Netflix on a Smart TV or games console that doesn't support VPN apps, use NordVPN's SmartPlay SmartDNS feature. Configure it in your TV's DNS settings -- no app needed, and it doesn't affect your main connection speed.
This is the most common issue when watching foreign Netflix. It means Netflix has flagged your VPN's IP address. Here's how to fix it:
The UK Netflix library is decent, but it's far from the best. Here's why UK viewers regularly switch to foreign libraries:
US Netflix has roughly 400 more titles than the UK library. That doesn't sound like much, but it includes major American productions that haven't been licensed for UK distribution, older classics, and certain exclusives. Shows like The Office (US), various Studio Ghibli films, and older HBO content often appear on US but not UK.
Netflix Japan has by far the best anime catalogue of any region. Series that haven't been licensed for international release -- or are delayed by months -- appear first (and sometimes only) on Netflix Japan. If you're an anime fan, this alone justifies a VPN.
Korean content is massively popular, but many K-dramas have staggered release schedules. Netflix Korea often gets episodes and entire series earlier than other regions. Korean variety shows and reality TV are also exclusively available there.
Netflix sometimes staggers global releases by 24-48 hours. US Netflix frequently gets new seasons before the UK version. If you want to binge the moment something drops, a VPN gives you instant access.
Some popular content is only available in specific regions due to licensing deals. For example, certain BBC shows are on US Netflix but not UK (because they're on iPlayer in the UK). Similarly, some Universal or Warner Bros films have different regional availability.
Technically, yes. Netflix's terms of service state that you should only access content available in the region where you're located. Using a VPN to bypass this counts as a violation. However, Netflix has never banned or penalised an individual user for this -- the worst outcome is the error M7111-5059 if your VPN's IP gets flagged. Millions of UK users watch foreign Netflix every day without consequences.
NordVPN opens US, Japan, Australia, Canada and South Korea — all from one subscription. 30-day money-back guarantee, no risk.
Affiliate links -- we may earn a commission. Prices correct as of March 2026.