How to Start a US LLC as a Non-Resident (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Sources

Short answer: Yes — you can form and fully own a US LLC without being a US citizen, holding a green card, having a visa, or ever setting foot in the United States. You don't need a Social Security Number. The process is the same one US founders use, plus two extra steps that trip up foreigners: getting an EIN without an SSN, and getting approved for a US bank account from abroad. This guide walks the entire path end to end.

It takes most non-residents 2–6 weeks and $100–$400 in year-one costs, depending on the state and whether you do it yourself or use a formation service.

Why non-residents form US LLCs

A US LLC is the most common way founders outside the US plug into the US (and global) economy. The recurring reasons:

• Access to US payment rails. Stripe, PayPal, and most US payment processors want a US entity + EIN. A US LLC unlocks them.
• A real US business bank or fintech account in USD, which most international clients and platforms prefer to pay into.
• Credibility. "Acme LLC, Wyoming" reads as a real company to US customers, suppliers, and marketplaces.
• Pass-through tax simplicity. A single-member LLC is "disregarded" by the IRS — there's no separate US corporate income tax layer, and if you have no US-connected income, you may owe no US federal income tax (more on the exact rules below).
• Limited liability — your personal assets are separated from the business.

It is not magic: it doesn't make you US tax-resident, doesn't get you a visa, and doesn't eliminate tax in your home country. It's a clean, cheap operating company.

Can a non-resident actually own a US LLC?

Yes, with no restrictions on ownership. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to be a member (owner) of a US LLC, and you can own 100%.

What you genuinely need:

• A company name that's available in your chosen state.
• A registered agent with a physical address in that state (you cannot use a foreign address for this role).
• A US business address (a virtual address/mail service is fine for most purposes; some banks are stricter — see Step 5).
• An EIN (the company's federal tax ID) — obtainable without an SSN.
• Your passport for identity verification when banking.

What you do not need: a US visa, a green card, an SSN, a US co-founder, or a plane ticket.

Step 1 — Choose your state

For a non-resident with no physical US presence (no US office, employees, or inventory), the choice almost always comes down to three states: Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico. You are not required to register where you live — you can pick any state.

Verified 2026 costs:

For the large majority of solo and bootstrapped non-resident founders, Wyoming is the sensible default and New Mexico the cheapest to keep alive. Delaware's prestige is real but mostly matters for venture-backed startups — and those usually want a C-Corp, not an LLC. You can compare the verified, all-50-states filing fees on our LLC state filing-fee table.

This decision deserves its own deep-dive: Best State to Form a US LLC as a Non-Resident →.

Step 2 — Appoint a registered agent

Every US LLC must have a registered agent: a person or company with a physical street address in the state of formation who receives legal and government mail on the company's behalf. PO boxes don't qualify.

As a non-resident you can't be your own registered agent (you have no in-state address), so you'll hire one. Expect $50–$150/year. Most formation services bundle the first year free. A reliable standalone option many founders use is Northwest Registered Agent (often free for the first year when they form the company).

Step 3 — File your formation documents

This is the actual act of creating the LLC: filing Articles of Organization (Wyoming/New Mexico) or a Certificate of Formation (Delaware) with the state, listing your company name, registered agent, and organizer.

You have two routes:

Do it yourself. File directly on the Secretary of State's website, pay the state fee, and act as your own organizer. Cheapest path — you only pay the state fee. The friction for non-residents is everything around filing (registered agent, US address, EIN, bank), which is why many don't go fully DIY.

Use a formation service. Companies like doola, Firstbase, Northwest, Bizee, and ZenBusiness file for you and usually bundle the registered agent, a US address, and EIN application into one package. For non-residents the EIN bundling is the real value — it removes the most confusing step. Prices range from $0 + state fee (ZenBusiness/Bizee base tiers) to ~$297–$399 for non-resident "done-for-you" packages (doola, Firstbase).

We compare them head-to-head, with what each actually includes for non-residents, here: Best LLC formation services for non-residents →. For the three most popular options side by side, see Stripe Atlas vs doola vs Firstbase →

Step 4 — Get your EIN (without an SSN)

The EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your company's federal tax ID. You need it to open a bank account, set up Stripe, and file taxes. This is where foreigners get stuck, because the IRS's fast online tool requires an SSN or ITIN.

You don't need either. As a non-resident with no SSN/ITIN you get an EIN by submitting Form SS-4 to the IRS the manual way:

• On line 7b, write "Foreign" (this is the line that signals you have no SSN/ITIN).
• Fax the SS-4 to the IRS international fax line — this is the fastest route, typically ~4 business days for the EIN to come back.
• Or phone the IRS international applicants line, where an agent can issue the EIN on the call.
• Or mail it — slowest, around 4 weeks.

If you use a formation service's EIN add-on, they handle this filing for you. Full instructions, the exact fax number and phone number, and the SS-4 line-by-line are in our dedicated guide: How to get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN →.

Step 5 — Open a US business bank account

You can open a US business account from abroad — but approval depends heavily on your country of residence. This is the single most variable part of the process, so plan for it.

Your realistic options as a non-resident:

• Fintech business accounts (Mercury, Relay) — true US accounts with US account/routing numbers. Fast, online, no US visit. The catch: each maintains a list of countries it won't serve. Mercury, for example, prohibits roughly 50 countries (and added Philippines to that list) — so check your country before relying on it.
• EMIs / multi-currency accounts (Wise Business, Payoneer) — technically electronic money institutions, not banks, but they reliably onboard non-resident-owned US LLCs with just an EIN + passport (no SSN), and they support founders in many countries that the fintech "banks" reject.

Because acceptance is country-dependent and the providers change their rules often, we maintain a live comparison of which ones actually accept non-residents (and from where): Best business bank accounts for a non-resident LLC →. For a country-by-country breakdown of which accounts accept founders from your specific country, see the bank acceptance by country matrix →. Or compare the providers head-to-head in Mercury vs Wise vs Relay vs Payoneer →

Practical tip: have your formation documents, EIN confirmation letter, passport, and proof of address ready before you apply — incomplete applications are the top reason for rejection.

Step 6 — Set up payments (Stripe, PayPal)

Once you have a US LLC, EIN, and a US bank/fintech account, you can apply for Stripe (via Stripe Atlas or directly) and PayPal Business. This is usually the reason founders wanted the LLC. Use your US entity details, EIN, and US bank account on the application. Approval is generally straightforward once the entity and banking are in place.

Step 7 — Stay compliant (the part people forget)

A US LLC is cheap to run but not zero-maintenance. Missing a filing is how a $100 company turns into a $25,000 problem. Your recurring obligations:

• Federal (the big one): a foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 + a pro forma Form 1120 every year — even with no income and no activity. The penalty for missing it is $25,000. This is the most important compliance fact for non-residents, and it's widely missed.
• Income tax: you only owe US federal income tax if you have income effectively connected to a US trade or business. Many purely-online non-resident founders with no US staff or office owe $0 in US federal income tax — but you still must file the 5472/1120 above. The rules are nuanced; don't guess.
• State: file your annual report / pay the franchise tax (Wyoming ~$60/yr; Delaware $300/yr; New Mexico none).
• FinCEN BOI: as of 2026, US-formed LLCs are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting — a March 2025 rule limited BOI to entities formed outside the US. So a US-state LLC owned by a foreigner currently files nothing with FinCEN. (This rule is still interim; verify at fincen.gov/boi before relying on it.)

The full picture — what you file, when, and how to know if you owe income tax — is here: US LLC taxes for non-residents: Form 5472, 1120 & what you actually owe →.

What it actually costs

A realistic year-one budget for a non-resident:

Ongoing: state annual fee (Wyoming ~$60, Delaware $300, New Mexico $0) + registered agent renewal + your annual 5472/1120 filing (DIY or ~$200–$500 with a cross-border accountant).

Common mistakes non-residents make

• Picking Delaware by reputation when Wyoming or New Mexico is cheaper and better for a bootstrapped LLC.
• Assuming the online EIN tool will work — it won't without an SSN/ITIN. Use the fax/phone SS-4 route.
• Choosing a bank before checking the country list — and getting rejected after forming. Check banking acceptance first if you're in a frequently-restricted country.
• Forgetting Form 5472 — the single most expensive mistake at $25,000.
• Using a virtual address a bank rejects — some providers won't accept certain mail-forwarding addresses. Confirm before applying.

Sources

• IRS – Instructions for Form SS-4 (EIN application; international applicant fax/phone)
• IRS – Instructions for Form 5472 (foreign-owned disregarded entity filing & $25,000 penalty)
• Wyoming Secretary of State – LLC Fee Schedule
• Delaware Division of Corporations – Fee Schedule
• New Mexico Secretary of State – Start a Business
• FinCEN – Beneficial Ownership Information (March 2025 rule exempting US-formed entities)

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.