The country select box is prepared by the block - To change its behavior you just need override the function to you local folder like below. Just copy the core\Mage\Checkout\Block\Onepage\Billing.php to you local folder like local\Mage\Checkout\Block\Onepage\Billing.php First Method - public function getCountryHtmlSelect($type) { $countryId = $this->getAddress()->getCountryId(); if (is_null($countryId)) { $countryId = Mage::helper('core')->getDefaultCountry(); } $select = [...]
