Distribution country for beta testing in Google Play

Question

For: Google Play Developer console

I have my app to distribute only on USA but I need to test the store version using the beta testing but if I'm outside of USA I can't install it, even if I´m a beta tester.

How can I do this?

Answer 1

Edit (August 2018):

It seems that is possible to do this now. See https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/7550024

Original answer:

We have this problem also. We have an app that is available only in Spain, and we want to have beta testers in Italy to test the app before we make it available to all public. I've just asked this to the support guy on https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/ (there is a chat that appears at the bottom).

My question:

The app is available only in Spain but we want to have beta testers in Italy. Is this possible?

Support answer:

The country distribution refers to the whole app, not individual tracks (like beta or production). As a result, it is not possible to beta test in one country whilst the production version is in another country.

Conclusion:

It seems that you need to make it available to that region before people living on that region can install it and beta-test it.