Shopify Payments for a Non-Resident LLC: What You Need to Get Approved

You have a US LLC, an EIN and a dollar account - and Shopify Payments still wants an SSN or proof that your business has an office in the US. Here is exactly what Shopify asks for when a company has a non-resident owner, where applications most often get stuck, and what to set up if Shopify Payments never opens up for you.

Step 01Be honest about whether your business has a US presence

The key thing to understand before you apply: Shopify Payments looks not only at the LLC itself, but at where the business actually operates. Registering a company in Delaware or Wyoming is not enough.

In a thread on the Shopify forum, a support rep put it plainly in November 2023: you need to be able to prove you have physical operations in the region. The examples given were a store, employees, or a leased or owned warehouse.

In March 2024, support gave the same answer in another thread: if the business has no physical operations in the US, such as an office, you should choose a third-party payment provider.

If you run your store from Almaty or Tbilisi and all you have in the US is a registered agent, your chances are slim. Better to know that up front and prepare a plan B right away than to wait weeks for an answer.

Step 02What single-member and multi-member LLCs will be asked for

The core set is the same for both types. According to Shopify support on the forum, you need:

• proof of business registration - an SS-4 or CP 575 letter from the IRS showing the company's legal name, EIN and address;
• photo ID for the account representative and any foreign owners, preferably a passport;
• a US bank account for payouts;
• two-factor authentication on your Shopify account - you can't turn on Shopify Payments without it.

Single-member LLC. If there is one owner and they are a non-resident, the company is usually "transparent" for tax purposes (a disregarded entity). The team at NVinc points out that such an LLC should submit a W-8 series tax form, not a W-9. A mismatch between the form and the company's real status causes problems with 1099-K reporting. Check with a tax advisor which form applies in your case.

Multi-member LLC. Here Shopify asks for details on every co-owner, and each owner without an SSN becomes a separate problem. In a December 2024 thread, the owners of an LLC partnership couldn't complete the application precisely because one co-owner was a non-resident without an SSN. No official answer ever appeared there.

A separate note on annual filings: an LLC with a single foreign owner usually files Form 5472 together with a pro forma 1120. According to NVinc, the penalty for each missed form is $25,000. This isn't a Shopify requirement, but reviewers may take a closer look at a company whose tax paperwork isn't in order.

Step 03SSN, ITIN or passport: what works and when

This is the most contested point, and even the Shopify forum has no single answer. Here is what can be said for certain.

The business must have an EIN. It goes in the company tax ID field. You can't submit an application without one.

The representative's SSN or ITIN. In March 2024, a Shopify employee wrote that US merchants must provide an SSN or ITIN even if the business has an EIN. A non-resident can get an ITIN by filing Form W-7 with the IRS. An ITIN covers that particular field, but it doesn't solve the US presence question. If the business has no office or warehouse, the application can still be stopped by the check from Step 01.

Passport. You upload it when Shopify asks you to verify your identity, usually via a yellow or red banner in the admin. One merchant on the forum said he passed automatic onboarding with an EIN and a passport, but during manual review he was asked to prove a US presence. A passport confirms who you are, but it doesn't replace an SSN or ITIN and doesn't prove that the business operates in the US.

A third-party gateway is the only option if you have neither an SSN nor an ITIN, and no office, warehouse or employees in the US. Users have been complaining about this situation since 2024 and still are, and in these cases support points them to third-party providers.

Step 04Address, bank and documents: where rejections happen most

Even when everything is technically filled in, applications usually get rejected or payouts get held for the same handful of reasons.

Address

In NVinc's experience, a registered agent address, a virtual office, a PO box or a mail forwarding service doesn't count as a US presence. What works is a lease on a warehouse, retail space or staffed office in the company's name. Some agreements with fulfillment warehouses (3PLs) can also work, but that depends on the contract and how the service is set up.

Bank account

• The account must be in the LLC's name, not yours personally. If the account holder name doesn't match the company name, verification may fail.
• Shopify accepts payouts to a checking account that meets the requirements for your country.
• NVinc notes that Payoneer gets stricter scrutiny, Mercury and a Wise USD account are treated more leniently, and accounts at traditional US banks have the best approval rates. This is an observation from practitioners, not an official Shopify rule.

Documents

• The name, EIN and address in your application must match the CP 575 letter character for character.
• If you've lost the original CP 575, request a 147C letter from the IRS and upload that instead of submitting the application without EIN confirmation.
• Your passport must be valid, and the scan must be legible, with no cropped edges.

Keep in mind that Shopify can re-review your account even after approval. So everything you provided when you signed up should still be true six months later.

Step 05Plan B: which gateways to use instead of Shopify Payments

If Shopify Payments isn't available, you can launch your store with an external provider. There's one downside: on top of the provider's own fees, Shopify charges its own fee for using a third-party gateway. According to 2026 pricing reviews, it's 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus. Check the current numbers for your plan under Settings → Payments in the admin.

Stripe for a US LLC

This is the most common option for a non-resident with an LLC. According to NVinc, Stripe approves faster and asks for fewer documents upfront, but is more likely to freeze the account once you're up and running. Stripe usually can't be connected directly as a gateway in a US store, so it's integrated through apps or an external checkout. We covered how to do this in our article on integrating Stripe with Shopify. And to keep your account from getting blocked, see our guide on Stripe account freezes.

PayPal Business

PayPal connects to Shopify as a separate payment method and may approve a foreign-owned company. In NVinc's observation, new merchants are often put on a 20-30% rolling reserve on revenue, so factor that into your working capital.

Other providers

The list of available gateways depends on your store's country and plan. Open Settings → Payments to see which providers Shopify offers you specifically. Before connecting, ask the provider whether it works with LLCs that have a non-resident owner and what documents it will require.

SummaryChecklist before you apply

1. Does the business have a real US presence: a warehouse, office or employees? If not, prepare a third-party gateway right away.
2. You have an EIN and a CP 575 or 147C letter.
3. The account representative has an SSN or ITIN. If not, decide whether you'll file a W-7 or go with an external provider.
4. For a multi-member LLC: every co-owner has their details and documents ready.
5. A valid passport and a clear scan.
6. A checking account in the LLC's name, with the name matching your documents.
7. The address isn't a registered agent or a PO box.
8. Your tax forms match the company's status, and Form 5472 is filed on time (our guide on Delaware LLC taxes can help).
9. Two-factor authentication is enabled in Shopify.

Requirements change, and Shopify's official help center doesn't publish a full list for foreign owners. If you're unsure about your situation, ask Shopify support before you apply. It takes a day, but it can save you weeks of waiting on a manual review.