How to Open a Stripe Account in India (2026)

Is Stripe Available in India?

Only partly. Stripe lists India as a “preview” country, which means access is limited and you have to contact Stripe’s sales team. Most freelancers, agencies and small online sellers in India cannot simply sign up and start taking international payments.

Inside India, businesses use local gateways such as Razorpay, Cashfree and PayU. They work well for customers in India, but international payments through them come with extra checks, export paperwork and limits, and many global SaaS customers expect a US or UK billing entity.

India has a huge base of SaaS founders, agencies and D2C brands selling abroad. Many choose a US LLC or a US corporation because foreign clients, US marketplaces and investors expect a US entity.

Why Indian Founders Use a US LLC for Stripe

• Stripe accepts US companies with foreign owners. The business must be registered in the US. Where the owner lives is a separate question.
• Global card payments in US dollars. Customers in the US, UK, Europe and the Gulf pay you by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Subscriptions, invoices and payment links. SaaS, courses, agencies and online stores get all of Stripe’s tools.
• More trust with foreign clients. A US company name, US bank details and a US checkout look familiar to buyers abroad.
• One company for other platforms too. The same LLC can be used for Amazon, Shopify Payments and US marketplaces. See Amazon & Shopify setup.

How to Open a Stripe Account in India: Step by Step

1. Form a US LLC. Most non-residents choose New Mexico (no annual report) or Wyoming (strong privacy, low yearly cost). Compare them in Wyoming vs New Mexico.
2. Get an EIN. The IRS issues an Employer Identification Number to the LLC. Without an SSN it is applied for with Form SS-4, not the online system. Read EIN for non-residents.
3. Get a real US business address. Stripe does not accept PO boxes. Use a proper business address service, not a friend’s home. See US business address.
4. Open a US business bank account. Fintech banks such as Mercury accept many non-US founders online with the LLC documents, EIN and your passport. Approval is never guaranteed and banks change their country rules, so apply with accurate details.
5. Prepare your website. Stripe reviews it. Show what you sell, prices, a refund policy, terms, a privacy policy and real contact details. Your business must not be on Stripe’s restricted list.
6. Apply for Stripe US. Enter the LLC’s legal name, EIN, US address and bank account. As the owner and representative, verify with your Indian passport and your PAN.
7. Get paid and move money home. Stripe pays out to the US bank account in dollars. From there you transfer to your account in India. See the section on getting money home below.

What Stripe Asks For

How Much It Costs

Our all-in LLC package starts at $190. It includes the state filing fee, a registered agent for the first year and the EIN. Stripe itself has no signup fee; it charges a fee on each payment, published on Stripe’s pricing page. After the first year you pay only the state’s yearly fee (if any) and the registered agent renewal. See pricing for all states.

Want help with the Stripe application itself? Our Stripe & PayPal setup service checks your website, prepares the details Stripe asks for and helps if Stripe requests more documents. No company can promise Stripe approval, and we never do; the decision is Stripe’s.

Banking for Your LLC From India

Most founders from India open a US business account online with a fintech bank, using the LLC’s formation documents, EIN letter, US address and passport. India is not on Mercury’s restricted-country list at the time of writing, but banks change these lists without warning, so always check before you apply. Keep the account active with real business transactions; dormant accounts and unexplained transfers are a common reason for closures.

Getting Your Money Home to India

An Indian resident who owns a foreign company must follow India’s Overseas Investment rules (FEMA, 2022). Investing in a US LLC is treated as overseas investment and is routed and reported through your Authorised Dealer bank, and money is sent under these rules, not informally. Income you bring home is taxed in India, and the India-US tax treaty can help avoid double tax. Talk to a chartered accountant before you form the LLC, not after.

On the US side, a single-member LLC owned by a non-US person must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even when no US tax is due. Missing it can bring a $25,000 IRS penalty, so put it in your calendar from day one.

Mistakes That Get Stripe Accounts Closed

• Using a US address or phone number that is not really yours, or someone else’s ID
• Selling something on Stripe’s restricted or prohibited list
• A website with no refund policy, no contact details or prices that do not match your checkout
• Logging in from India while claiming to live in the US. Be honest that you are a non-US owner; Stripe allows it
• Sudden large payments with no history. Start with normal volume and keep invoices and delivery proof
• High refunds or chargebacks. Clear product descriptions and fast support keep disputes low

Stripe (via US LLC) vs Local Options in India

Many founders use both: a local gateway for customers in India and Stripe through the US LLC for everyone else.

Stripe in India: FAQs

Related Guides

• US LLC from India guide
• Stripe & PayPal setup service
• US business bank account for your LLC
• EIN for non-residents
• US LLC for non-residents