GCash users can now use the popular financial technology application in Japan, Australia and Italy after securing the go-ahead from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to make the e-wallet available abroad.

In a statement on Thursday, the fintech company said the regulator approved the beta launch of GCash Overseas, allowing users in the mentioned countries to sign up for the app using international SIM (subscriber identity module) cards.

At beta stage, the new feature has 1,000 users across the countries at the moment. This will eventually enable GCash users from outside the country to send money to their recipients in the Philippines for free.

"We continue to make a difference in Filipinos' lives by making financial services easier and more accessible to our now 76 million-strong registered users. With around 10 million Filipinos living abroad, we want them to also be able to take advantage of GCash services even as they use international SIMs," GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said.