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Form a US LLC as a Non-US Resident
You can own and run a US LLC from Pakistan, India, the UAE, the UK or anywhere else. No SSN, no US visa and no trip to the US. Here is the full path: picking a state, forming the LLC, getting your EIN, opening payment accounts and staying compliant each year.
A non-resident LLC, or LLC for non-US residents, is simply a US LLC owned by someone who lives outside the US. Yes, a non-US resident can own a US LLC without an SSN, a visa or a US visit. You choose a state, file Articles of Organization through a registered agent, and get an EIN from the IRS using Form SS-4. Most founders abroad choose Wyoming or New Mexico. Each year, a single-member foreign-owned LLC files Form 5472 with the IRS.
Reviewed by Arslan Ameer, founder of LLCPronto.
Can a Non-US Resident Own a US LLC?
Yes. No US state requires an LLC owner to be a US citizen or to live in the US. People from Pakistan, India, the UAE, the UK and almost every other country own US LLCs and run them online.
To form one, you need:
- A valid passport, or a national ID such as a CNIC
- Your real home address, plus a document that proves it (a utility bill or bank statement)
- A registered agent with a street address in your LLC’s state (included in our packages)
- An email address and a phone number you check
You do not need an SSN or ITIN to form the LLC or to get its EIN. You never have to travel to the US. Everything is signed and filed online.
Which State Should a Non-Resident Choose?
For most online founders living abroad, Wyoming or New Mexico is the right choice. Both have low yearly costs and no state income tax on an LLC with no local business. Pick another state only when you have a clear reason, such as investors, a warehouse or staff there.
| State | Our package | Yearly state cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $199 | $60 annual report for most small LLCs | Low cost and privacy; the most popular choice |
| New Mexico | $190 | No annual report | The lowest yearly cost |
| Delaware | $274 | $400 annual LLC tax | Raising money from US investors |
| Texas | $450 | Franchise tax report each May 15 ($0 tax for most small LLCs) | A Texas warehouse, office or team |
| Florida | $299 | $138.75 annual report | A business based in Florida |
What about Nevada? Nevada is often suggested online, but for most founders abroad it costs more each year (an annual list plus a state business license) without a real advantage over Wyoming.
If you later rent an office, hire staff or keep stock in another state, that state may require you to register there too. Compare LLC fees in all 50 states.
How to Form a US LLC From Abroad, Step by Step
The whole setup usually takes two to four weeks from order to a working bank or payment account. Most of that time is spent waiting on the state, the IRS and the bank, not on paperwork.
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose a state and name | We check that your LLC name is free in that state | Same day |
| 2. Appoint a registered agent | A US company receives legal mail for your LLC | Same day |
| 3. File Articles of Organization | The state approves and registers your LLC | Same day to 2 weeks (Wyoming online: usually within a day) |
| 4. Get your EIN | We apply with IRS Form SS-4 as a foreign applicant | Within 24 hours |
| 5. Sign the operating agreement | A short document that sets out who owns and runs the LLC | Same day |
| 6. Apply for banking | You apply with your LLC documents and EIN | Usually 1 to 3 weeks; approval not guaranteed |
| 7. Apply for payments | Stripe, PayPal or a marketplace reviews your business | A few days to 2 weeks |
About the EIN: founders without an SSN cannot use the IRS online tool. Applying yourself means long IRS phone queues or waiting a week or more for a fax reply. LLCPronto gets your EIN within 24 hours instead. Read more on our EIN page.
Documents You Need
- Passport or national ID for every owner
- Proof of your home address that matches your ID
- Two or three name choices for your LLC
- One or two lines on what the business will do, for example “selling home decor on Amazon US”
- Each owner’s share of the LLC, if there is more than one owner
Always use your own real address. Banks, Stripe and Amazon compare your address with your ID and your company documents. A borrowed address can pass at first, then get accounts frozen later.
LLC, EIN, Bank and Stripe: Four Separate Approvals
Forming an LLC does not guarantee a bank account or a Stripe account. Each step is approved by a different organisation, and each one has its own rules. This is the part most founders misunderstand, so here it is in one table.
| Approval | Who decides | Does your country matter? |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | The state (Secretary of State) | No. Anyone can form a US LLC. |
| EIN | The IRS | No. Non-residents apply with Form SS-4. |
| US bank or fintech account | Each bank or fintech | Often yes. Some providers do not accept founders living in certain countries. |
| Payment processor (Stripe, PayPal) | Stripe or PayPal | It checks the LLC, EIN, US bank account and your business details. |
Why your country of residence matters
Banks and fintechs decide based on where you live, not only your citizenship. Mercury, one of the best-known online banks for US startups, publishes a list of countries where it cannot open accounts for founders who live there; as of October 2026 it includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Vietnam and Ukraine. Founders in the UAE, the UK, Canada, Australia, India and most of Europe are not on that list, though every application is still reviewed. Other providers have their own rules, and they change often.
So we never promise a specific bank. Before you order, we tell you which options are realistic for your country and business, and we help you prepare a clean application. See our business bank account guide for the current options, and our full guide to forming a US LLC from Pakistan.
What Stripe needs
Stripe US accepts businesses registered in the US, even when the owner lives abroad. It verifies the LLC’s legal name, its EIN and a physical business address, and it does not accept PO boxes. Payouts go to a US bank account in the LLC’s name. The usual order is: form the LLC, get the EIN, open the bank account, then apply to Stripe.
What a Non-Resident LLC Files Each Year
| Filing | Who it goes to | When |
|---|---|---|
| State annual report or fee | Your LLC’s state | Depends on the state; New Mexico has none, Wyoming is $60 for most small LLCs, Delaware is $400 |
| Registered agent renewal | Your registered agent | Once a year; we tell you the price before it is due |
| Form 5472 with pro forma Form 1120 | IRS | By April 15 for a calendar-year LLC; a 6-month extension is available with Form 7004 |
| BOI report | FinCEN | Not required for US-formed LLCs (FinCEN final rule, August 2026) |
How much does a non-resident LLC cost per year? In New Mexico, only the registered agent renewal. In Wyoming, $60 for the annual report plus the agent renewal. Add Form 5472 filing if you use a service for it. Form 5472 is the filing founders forget most. It applies to a single-member LLC owned by a non-US person, even when the LLC owes no tax and had no sales. The IRS penalty for not filing starts at $25,000. We can file it for you each year: see Form 5472 filing.
Non-Resident LLC Taxes: Do You Pay US Tax?
It depends on what the LLC does. By default, a single-member LLC owned by a foreign person is a “disregarded entity,” so the IRS looks at the owner, not the LLC. If the business has no US office, staff or stock, its income is often not connected with a US trade or business, and no US federal income tax is due.
Some setups change that. Keeping products in US warehouses, for example with Amazon FBA, or having a dependent agent in the US can create US tax. You may also owe tax in your home country. Our team includes M. Hassan, CPA, who handles Form 5472, the pro forma Form 1120 and related US tax questions for foreign-owned LLCs. Tax in your home country depends on local law, so check that with a local adviser.
Common Mistakes We See
- Applying for Stripe before the bank account. Stripe needs a US bank account in the LLC’s name for payouts.
- Names that do not match. Your LLC name must be spelled the same way on the EIN letter, bank account, Stripe and Amazon.
- Using a virtual or borrowed address as the business address everywhere. Some banks reject registered-agent and virtual addresses.
- Choosing a state for the wrong reason. Florida or Texas can cost more and add filings if you have no business there.
- Missing Form 5472. The penalty is far higher than the cost of filing.
Who This Is For, and Who It Is Not For
A good fit: freelancers, agencies, SaaS founders and online sellers outside the US who want a US company to invoice US clients, sell on US marketplaces or apply for US payment processing.
Not the right fit: anyone who needs a US visa (an LLC does not give one), anyone hoping to avoid tax in their home country, and businesses that payment processors do not allow, such as some gambling or adult services.
US LLC Guides by Country
Forming the LLC works the same everywhere. Banking, payments and home-country tax do not. Read the guide for where you live:
Country guides: forming a US LLC from the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, Nigeria.
Comparing services? See how our all-in price compares with other providers: best LLC service for non-residents, LLCPronto vs doola, LLCPronto vs Stripe Atlas and LLCPronto vs Firstbase.
Benefits of a US LLC for Non-Residents
- Sell to US customers as a US company: clients, marketplaces and suppliers deal with a registered business
- Get paid in dollars: a US business account in the LLC’s name for client payments and marketplace payouts
- Stripe and PayPal US: payment tools many countries cannot access locally
- Personal asset protection: business debts stay with the LLC
- Simple yearly filings: a foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 and a pro forma Form 1120 each year
Visa and Residency: What a US LLC Does and Does Not Give You
Owning a US LLC does not require any visa, and it does not give you one either. You can own and manage the LLC from your home country. Working physically inside the US is a separate immigration question that depends on your visa, not on the LLC. An LLC alone is not a route to a green card.
US Bank Account Problems for Non-Residents, and How to Solve Them
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Traditional US banks want an in-person visit | Use online business banks and fintech providers that onboard non-residents |
| The bank rejects a registered-agent address | Use a US business address the provider accepts; see US business address |
| Names or addresses do not match across documents | Make the Articles of Organization, EIN letter and passport match exactly |
| No website or unclear business | Have a live website or store with clear products, prices and contact details |
| Lost EIN letter | Get an IRS 147C letter; see 147C letter |
Yearly Compliance Calendar for a Non-Resident LLC
| When | What | Who files |
|---|---|---|
| Every year by April 15 (calendar-year LLC) | Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120 | LLCPronto files both for up to $60 |
| On your state’s due date | Annual report or yearly state fee, if your state has one | See annual report by state |
| Every year | Registered agent renewal | $20 service fee plus the state fee |
| Whenever details change | Update the IRS and state with a new address or owner | We can file the change for you |
Non-Resident LLC FAQs
Can a foreigner own a US LLC?
Yes. No US state requires LLC owners to be US citizens or residents. You need a passport, your home address, and a registered agent in the state where you form the LLC.
Do I need an SSN or ITIN to form a US LLC?
No. You can form the LLC and get its EIN without an SSN or ITIN. Non-residents apply for the EIN with IRS Form SS-4 through the IRS international phone line, fax or mail.
How long does it take to form a US LLC from abroad?
State approval takes from the same day to about two weeks, depending on the state. Wyoming online filings are usually approved within a day. We get your EIN within 24 hours. Bank and payment accounts usually take one to three more weeks.
Which state is best for a non-resident LLC?
Most non-resident founders choose Wyoming ($60 yearly report for most small LLCs, no state income tax) or New Mexico (no annual report). Delaware is the usual choice if you plan to raise money from US investors.
Can I open a US bank account from Pakistan with my LLC?
Sometimes, but not with every provider. Mercury does not open accounts for founders who live in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria and several other countries. Other banks and fintechs decide case by case. Your LLC and EIN make you eligible to apply, not guaranteed to be approved.
Can I use Stripe with a US LLC as a non-resident?
Stripe US accepts businesses registered in the US even if the owner lives abroad. It checks the LLC, its EIN, a US bank account for payouts and a physical business address. A PO box is not accepted. Approval is decided by Stripe.
What does a foreign-owned LLC file each year?
Three things: the state annual report or fee (if your state has one), the registered agent renewal, and IRS Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 for a single-member foreign-owned LLC. The IRS penalty for not filing Form 5472 starts at $25,000.
Does my US LLC need to file a BOI report?
No. FinCEN’s final rule, effective August 14, 2026, permanently removed BOI reporting for companies formed in the United States, including LLCs owned by non-US founders. Only foreign companies registered to do business in a US state still report. We will tell you if the rules change again.
Do non-residents pay US tax on LLC income?
It depends on the business. Many foreign-owned single-member LLCs that sell services online, with no US office, staff or stock, owe no US federal income tax. Keeping inventory in the US, for example in Amazon FBA warehouses, can change that. Our tax team, including M. Hassan, CPA, can look at your setup before you start.
How much does it cost to form a US LLC from abroad?
Our packages start at $190 for New Mexico and $199 for Wyoming. The price includes the state filing fee, a registered agent for one year and your EIN.
Related Services
- US LLC from the UK
- US LLC from India
- US LLC from the UAE
- US LLC from Pakistan
- LLC formation in all 50 states
- EIN for non-residents
- Registered agent service
- Business bank account help
- Form 5472 filing
- Prices for every state
Does owning a US LLC give me a US visa?
No. A US LLC can be owned from anywhere without a visa, but it does not give you a visa or work rights in the US.
Can I manage my US LLC from my home country?
Yes. You can run the LLC, sign contracts, invoice clients and manage its accounts entirely from abroad.
Start Your US LLC From Anywhere
One price with the state fee, registered agent and EIN included. We reply on WhatsApp from Lahore.
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