Google enforces strict controls around country-level data within Google Business Profiles. Attempting to update an address that results in a change to the country field—intentionally or not—will trigger the
ADDRESS_EDIT_CHANGES_COUNTRY error. This safeguard prevents accidental or unauthorized moves that could lead to serious verification, visibility, or compliance issues. This article outlines what causes this error and how to resolve it effectively.Common Causes & Solutions
1. Changing the Address Across Borders
If your update modifies the business address from one country to another (e.g., from the U.S. to Canada), Google blocks the change to prevent abuse or fraud.
→ Solution 1:
Create a new Google Business Profile for the location in the new country. Google does not support cross-country moves—each location must have its own dedicated profile within its appropriate region.
2. Postal Code or Region Conflicts
Sometimes, entering a new postal code or state/province causes Google to infer a country change—especially in areas close to international borders.
→ Solution 2:
Double-check the full address details before submitting:
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Use official address formatting
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Confirm the postal code matches the intended country
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Avoid abbreviations or alternate place names that may be interpreted incorrectly
3. Incorrect Autocomplete or Address Parsing
If you manually enter the address and Google's system auto-fills a different country, the platform may unintentionally send an update that includes a country change.
→ Solution 3:
Use Google's address picker tool in the Google Business Profile dashboard to select the address from the map interface. This ensures all components—including the country—are correctly parsed.
How Long Will the Fix Take?
Once the address is properly structured and any error has been resolved, most updates will be accepted within 5 to 20 minutes. If re-verification is required or the listing is flagged for manual review, it may take longer. When in doubt, reach out to our support team for guidance and resolution.
Looking for the Error Code?
If you're working with support or need to reference this issue more technically, the error code associated with this message is: ADDRESS_EDIT_CHANGES_COUNTRY. Sharing this code can help speed up troubleshooting and ensure we’re all speaking the same language when resolving the issue.