In this blog post, I will be showing you how to open Stripe account for non US residents. It is undeniable that Stripe is one of the most trusted and popular payment gateways in the world.

Many small business and large business owners are using Stripe to receive payment globally. I don’t know your nature of business but whatever you do, you will need a Stripe account if you want to accept payment from customers in other countries.

So before I proceed to show you how to create a US Stripe account, let’s answer some common questions people ask about US Stripe account.

What Is A US Stripe Account?

A US Stripe account is a Stripe account that is registered in the United States. This means that the account holder must be a US citizen or resident, and the account must have a valid EIN or equivalent tax identification number. US Stripe accounts also require a bank account in the US.

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There are a few benefits to having a US Stripe account. First, it allows you to accept payments from customers in the US. Second, it gives you access to Stripe’s full suite of features, including fraud protection and analytics. Third, it makes it easier to comply with US regulations.

If you are a US citizen or resident and you want to accept payments from customers in the US, then you should consider getting a US Stripe account.

What Are The Benefits Of Having A US Stripe Account?

1. Accept payments from customers in the US: With a US Stripe account, you can accept payments from customers in the US using a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.

2. Access to Stripe’s full suite of features: Stripe offers a wide range of features to help businesses grow, including fraud protection, analytics, and customizable checkout pages. With a US Stripe account, you have access to all of these features.

3. Make it easier to comply with US regulations: Stripe is a PCI DSS-compliant payment processor, which means that you can be confident that your customers’ data is secure. Stripe also helps businesses comply with other US regulations, such as those related to taxes and AML.

If you are interested in getting a US Stripe account, then you are in the right place because this post is on how to open Stripe account for non US residents.

Can A Non US Citizen Use Stripe?

Yes, a non-US citizen can use Stripe, but they will need to meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

1. Having a business that is incorporated in a country where Stripe operates.
2. Having a valid EIN (Employer Identification Number) or equivalent tax identification number.
3. Having a bank account in the country where the business is incorporated.
4. Providing Stripe with documentation that verifies the business and its owners.

If a non-US citizen meets these requirements, they can create a Stripe account and start accepting payments from customers around the world. If you are a non US resident who is interested in using Stripe, I recommend that you read the guide to the end.

How Do I Get A US Stripe Account?

To get a US Stripe account, you will need to meet certain requirements which involve:

1. Have a valid EIN (Employer Identification Number) or equivalent tax identification number: Stripe requires that all US accounts have a valid EIN or equivalent tax identification number.
2. Have a US bank account: Stripe requires that all US accounts have a physical bank account in the US.
3. Provide Stripe with documentation that verifies your identity and your business: Stripe will require you to provide documentation that verifies your identity and your business, such as a copy of your driver’s license, passport, or business registration paperwork.

Once you have met all of the requirements, you can create a Stripe account and start accepting payments from customers in the US. This blog post will show you to open a US stripe account, so keep on reading to the very end.

How To Open Stripe Account For Non US Resident

Requirements To Use US Stripe Account As A Non Resident

To create and use Stripe as non US citizen, it is mandatory to form a US company, an LLC (Limited Liability Company).

You might ask why can’t I use a registered company in my country. It is not possible because the documents required to create the Stripe account are not available in your country.

Forming an LLC is not hard and does not require much paperwork. What you need is just an EIN (Employer Identification Number) or Tax ID, a US physical address, a US phone number, and a US bank Account.

Getting these things are not difficult. I will show you how to get them easily in order to be able to use Stripe as a non US resident.

Before I proceed to show you how to form your LLC, you need to get these two things ready; US physical address and a US phone number.

How To Get A US Physical Address

It is entirely free to get a US physical address without having someone over there or using someone’s house address.

Go to Shipito.com and create a US address. You will likely get a California address. Take note that CA means California.

How To Get A US Phone Number

There is no free way to get a US phone number except if you have a trusted someone in that country. It is easy to get the phone number. Go to your app store and download dingtone. You can use dingtone to create a functional US phone number. Another option is Skype.

If you have created the US address and phone number, the next stage is to form your LLC.

Forming an LLC will cost you some dollars. If you are to register your business name or company in your home country, you will spend money. It is the same thing with LLC formation.

If you are to register your LLC using a lawyer, you should be ready to cough out close to $1000. I will show you the cheapest and easiest way to form your LLC.

Let me explain a little about an LLC so you can have a clue of what you want to venture into and spend your money on.

What Is An LLC?

An LLC is also known as a “limited liability company” or “limited liability partnership.”

An LLC is a business structure that allows you to operate as a limited liability company. This means that the owners of an LLC have limited legal responsibility for their actions and are protected from personal liability.

An LLC is a great option if you want to start your own business and keep your personal assets separate from your business assets.

Even though the main purpose of forming this LLC is to use it to open a stripe account for non US residents, it has other benefits for your business.

I mentioned EIN earlier in this post as one of the things you will also need to be able to use a US stripe account in foreign countries.

What Is EIN?

EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. It is a nine-digit number that you will use to identify your business.

This number is also like an SSN (social security number) and it is used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to track the status of your business’s tax forms.

Do not get worried about this that you will have to start paying heavily on taxes. You can avoid paying taxes by filing your LLC in a tax-free state.

There are some states in the US where it is cheap to form an LLC and has no annual tax fee.

The Cheapest States To Form An LLC

If you are asking what are the cheapest states to form an LLC, here are a few with low state filing fees and annual tax fees.

• Kentucky
  Filing fee: $40
  Annual tax fee: $15
• Mississippi
  Filing fee: $50
  Annual tax fee: $0
• Missouri
  Filing fee: $50
  Annual tax fee: $0
• New Mexico
  Filing fee: $50
  Annual tax fee: $0
• Colorado
  Filing fee: $50
  Annual tax fee: $10

The state filing fee is the fee charged by the state to file a new business entity. The annual tax fee is a tax that you pay to the state government every year. The tax fees that you pay depend on the type of business you have. If you have an LLC, then your annual tax fee is based on the number of members and profits in your company.

The reason I took my time to explain all of these terms is for you to understand what you are paying for and why you are paying for it. They are required for LLC formation whether you are doing it yourself or hiring someone to do it for you.

If you don’t want to be paying taxes every year, then you should choose either of these states: Mississippi, Missouri, or New Mexico. Please do know that things are meant to change over time but at the time of publishing this post, the information above was accurate.

With all of these explained and other requirements ready (US phone number and address), it is time to start your LLC registration.

How To Start An LLC: The Best Guide For Business Formation 2023

How To Form An LLC

To form an LLC, you will need to use an LLC formation service. An LLC formation service is a company that helps you form an LLC (limited liability company).

Many people who want to form an LLC don’t have the time, resources, and knowledge to do it themselves. That is where the service comes in.

They will handle all the paperwork, including filing the articles of incorporation, which is necessary if you want to operate under this type of structure.

The best and cheapest LLC formation service provider out there that will help you with everything is Incfile. They offer free LLC formation. They won’t charge for their services but you only pay the mandatory fee required to form the LLC.

Visit Incfile to get started.

1. Click on form your free LLC now.

2. Select your entity which should be LLC and the state.

3. Choose the gold package.

4. Add your information and contact details.

5. Choose the state filing fee time.

6. Add your company information.

7. Skip the premium service package if you don’t need it.

8. Choose an individual if your LLC member is a person or a business. (Choose a person).

9. Assign Incfile as your registered agent.

10. Indicate that you are a non-US citizen.

11. Fill in the EIN/Tax identification number information (Tick I am a foreigner and do not have social security number).

12. Skip small business banking if you don’t need it.

13. Skip tax strategy / free consultation.

14. Skip business licenses and permit if you don’t need this.

15. Review your order.

16. Make your payment.

If you want other LLC formation services, you can try Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness.

With this, you are just a few steps away from opening a stripe account as a non-US citizen. Your information will be processed and in some weeks’ time, you will get your EIN which will be needed for the Stripe account creation.

If you have gotten your EIN, congratulations again! You are a few steps away from opening a verified stripe account as a non US resident. But first, you need to create your US bank account.

Go to Payoneer.com and create an individual US bank. It is needed during the stripe registration process – they will request for a bank account. If your US bank account is available, then it is time to proceed to Stripe and set up your account.

How To Set Up A Verified Stripe Account For Non US Citizens

It is assumed that at this stage, your LLC has been formed, and your EIN and registered agent details have been obtained. Now it is to proceed to Stripe to set up your account.

Step 1. Visit https://dashboard.stripe.com/register.

Enter your email, full name, and country (leave it in the United States). Enter your password and click create account.

Step 2. Verify your email address.

Step 3. Activate payments on your account. Click on activate payments to start the process of setting up your Stripe account.

Step 4. Choose your business type. The business location should be the United States. The type of business should be a company and business structure single-member LLC.

Step 5. Business details. Your legal business name should be the name of your LLC. Fill in the EIN gotten from Incfile. The registered business address should be the registered agent’s address from Incfile. Choose your industry, and enter your website URL and product description (business description). Click on continue.

Step 6. Business representative. This part is for you to verify your personal details. Your legal name should be your real name. Your email address will automatically be displayed there. Enter your home address. You should use your home address and phone number (not a US phone number). Since you are a non-US citizen, you don’t have an SSN. So choose to provide a government-issued ID number instead.

Step 7. Fulfilment details. This part is to let Stripe know how long it will take for you to deliver to customers the products or services that you are selling after they make payment.

Step 8. Public details. This part is for you to let decide what customers will see on their payment statements, invoices, and receipts. It is recommended that you enter your LLC in the statement descriptor (eg Mazicom LLC). In the shortened descriptor, you can add only the name of your business (eg Mazicom).

Step 9. Add your bank account to receive payouts. For you to be able to move your money out for Stripe, you must add a bank account. If your bank is not listed there, you need to enter it manually.

If you have a Payoneer account, you can go there and add the bank details. If you have any other US bank account from other financial institutions, you can try it too.

Step 10. Secure your account. You can use SMS or an authenticator app. With two-step authentication, no one else will be able to log in to your account. Once you are done, click continue.

Step 11. Tax calculation. Click No thanks.

Step 12. Climate contributions. Ignore this part.

Step 13. Review and submit. Check to see that all details you have entered are correct. If all information is correct, click on submit.

Should I say finally? Maybe!

You need to check your email for any further information from Stripe. Sometimes they ask you for proof of certain details you submitted if they are finding it hard to verify the information.

If you follow this guide step-by-step, and you live in a country where Stripe is not supported, you should be able to start using Stripe legally. This method is accepted by Stripe. You won’t get banned by Stripe as long your business is not restricted or prohibited.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Open A Stripe Account For A Non US?

To open a Stripe account as non US citizen, you will need to register your business in the United States and use the details to open a business Stripe account. This is the only means many people from Stripe-unsupported countries are using Stripe.

Do I Need SSN For Stripe?

No, you do not need a Social Security Number (SSN) to open a Stripe account. SSN is a specific identification number used in the United States.

While Stripe may require personal identification or business documentation for verification purposes, it typically does not mandate an SSN for non-US users.

You can only avoid providing SSN if you are creating a business Stripe account as a non US citizen but you will need to provide your business documents like an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a US bank account and phone number. You can get an EIN when you form an LLC in the United States.

Can I Use Stripe Without SSN?

No, you cannot use Stripe without an SSN if you are a US citizen or resident. Stripe requires a verifiable tax ID number (SSN or EIN) for all US accounts, as part of their mandatory identity verification requirement. This is to comply with regulations and to help prevent fraud and money laundering.

If you are a US citizen or resident and you do not have an SSN, you may be able to use Stripe if you have an EIN. However, you will still need to provide Stripe with documentation that verifies your identity and your business.

If you are not a US citizen or resident, you may be able to use Stripe without an SSN. However, the requirements for creating a Stripe account vary depending on the country where you are located. You should contact Stripe’s support team for more information.

What Documents Do I Need To Verify My Stripe Account?

The documents you need to verify your Stripe account will vary depending on your country of residence and the type of business you have. However, some common documents that Stripe may require include:

Proof of identity: This could be a scan of your driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID.

Proof of address: This could be a scan of a utility bill, bank statement, or other document that shows your current address.

Proof of business ownership: This could be a scan of your business registration paperwork, articles of incorporation, or other document that shows that you are the owner or authorized representative of the business.

Proof of tax ID: This could be a scan of your taxpayer identification number (TIN) or equivalent document.

If you are not sure what documents you need to verify your Stripe account, you can contact Stripe’s support team for more information. 

How Long Does It Take For Stripe To Verify Your Account?

The time it takes for Stripe to verify your account can vary depending on a number of factors, including the country where you are located, the type of business you have, and the completeness of the information you provide. However, in most cases, the verification process takes 1-3 business days.

What Can Cause Delay In Stripe Verification Process?

Here are some things that can delay the verification process:

Incomplete information: If you do not provide all of the required information, Stripe will not be able to verify your account.

Fraudulent activity: If Stripe suspects that you are engaging in fraudulent activity, they may delay the verification process to investigate further.

High volume of requests: If there is a high volume of requests for account verification, Stripe may take longer to process your request.

If you are concerned about the time it is taking for Stripe to verify your account, you can contact their support team for more information. They can help you determine the status of your request and provide an estimated timeframe for completion.

How To Speed Up Stripe Verification Process?

Here are some tips to help speed up the verification process:

Provide complete and accurate information: Make sure that you provide all of the required information, and that the information you provide is accurate.

Upload clear and legible documents: Make sure that the documents you upload are clear and legible, and that they match the information you have provided on your Stripe account.

Be patient: The verification process can take a few days, so be patient and do not contact Stripe’s support team multiple times.

Why Won t Stripe Verify My Identity?

There could be several reasons why Stripe is unable to verify your identity. Here are a few possibilities:

1. Incorrect or incomplete information: Double-check the information you provided during the identity verification process. Make sure you’ve entered accurate and up-to-date details, including your name, address, and identification document information.

2. Document quality issues: If you submitted identification documents for verification, Stripe may have encountered issues with the quality or readability of the documents. Ensure that you’ve uploaded clear and legible copies of the required documents, such as a valid government-issued ID or passport.

3. Mismatched information: Stripe compares the information you provide during the identity verification process with various databases to confirm your identity. If there are discrepancies between the information you’ve provided and the records in those databases, it may result in a failed verification.

4. Restricted regions or unsupported documents: Stripe’s availability and supported document types may vary based on the country or region where you’re located. Certain regions may have additional regulatory requirements, or Stripe may not support specific types of identification documents from your country.

5. Technical issues: It’s possible that technical glitches or temporary system outages could hinder the verification process. In such cases, it’s advisable to reach out to Stripe’s customer support for assistance.

To resolve the issue, you should contact Stripe directly for more information. Their support team will be able to provide specific details about the reason for the verification failure and guide you on the next steps to take.