Stripe is one of the most trusted payment processors for online businesses. However, Stripe officially supports only a limited number of countries. For entrepreneurs and freelancers outside these regions, accepting global payments can seem challenging. Fortunately, there are legitimate ways to access Stripe through registered U.S. entities and verified partnerships — here’s how to do it properly.

1. Understand Stripe’s Country Restrictions

Before you begin, it’s important to know that Stripe requires your business to be legally established in one of its **supported countries**. This means your business must have:

- A local business address in a supported country.

- A local bank account in that country’s currency.

- A registered business tax ID (for example, an EIN in the U.S.).

If your current country isn’t on Stripe’s list, you can consider registering a **U.S. business entity** (such as an LLC) to legally operate under U.S. jurisdiction. This approach allows international entrepreneurs to open a compliant Stripe account.

2. Setting Up a U.S. Entity

Here’s what you’ll typically need to open a U.S.-based Stripe account:

- U.S. Mail Address: Services like USAMail or ShoptomyDoor can provide a genuine U.S. forwarding address for official correspondence.

- U.S. Phone Number: You can obtain a legitimate business number through platforms like Skype or Google Voice.

- EIN (Employer Identification Number): This is your business tax ID, issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Non-U.S. residents can apply for an EIN by contacting the IRS directly.

- U.S. Bank Account: Payment solutions like Payoneer Global Payment Service, Wise Business , or Mercury Bank offer business accounts that integrate with Stripe.

3. Applying for an EIN

Non-U.S. residents can obtain an EIN even without a Social Security Number (SSN). To do this:

- Download IRS Form SS-4 from the official IRS website.

- Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line and apply as a foreign entity.

- Within minutes, you’ll receive your EIN by phone and later receive confirmation by mail.

Keep your EIN secure — it will be required when activating your Stripe account.

4. Registering and Activating Your Stripe Account

Once your business is legally registered and you have your EIN and bank details:

1. Visit [stripe.com](https://www.stripe.com) and create a new account.

2. When prompted for business details, enter your registered U.S. information.

3. Verify your business identity using your EIN, bank account, and phone number.

4. Stripe will send a code to your U.S. phone number for verification.

5. Activate your account and set payout preferences (manual payouts are sometimes recommended for new accounts).

5. Maintaining Account Compliance

After activating your account:

- Accept a legitimate transaction or test sale within the first week.

- Keep your U.S. phone number active for at least 30 days to ensure smooth communication.

- Avoid inconsistent business data or cross-border access that could trigger compliance checks.

Remember — always provide accurate information to Stripe. Misrepresenting your location, identity, or business structure can result in account suspension.

Final Thoughts

While opening a Stripe account from an unsupported country requires extra effort, doing it the right way helps you build a sustainable business presence. Using legitimate business formation services, verified EIN registration, and compliant banking options gives you access to Stripe without risking your account

Building a global online business is entirely possible — it just requires careful setup and transparency.