EIN for non-U.S. residents
Get an EIN for your U.S. LLC from anywhere in the world
You don't need an SSN or ITIN to get an EIN — but you do need an SS-4 prepared exactly as the IRS Instructions for Form SS-4 describe. We've filed thousands of these on behalf of founders across 60+ countries.
- No SSN or ITIN required
- Specialist-prepared and reviewed SS-4
- Submitted via the correct IRS channel for international applicants
- EIN confirmation delivered by email
- Reply within one business day
- Private service, not the IRS — read our disclaimer
- LLC formation documentsVerified
- Responsible party identifiedVerified
- Mailing address verifiedVerified
- Business activity descriptionNeeds review
- SS-4 formatted for non-U.S. filerPending
This service is built for these situations
If any of these describe you, an EIN is almost certainly part of your setup.
You formed a U.S. LLC remotely
Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico, or another state — your LLC needs an EIN to operate.
You need a U.S. business bank account
Mercury, Relay, Wise, Payoneer and others typically ask for your LLC's EIN before they'll open one.
You're selling on U.S. platforms
Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Stripe — your EIN unlocks seller registration and payouts.
You have foreign owners only
The IRS online tool needs a U.S. principal place of business and a responsible party with an SSN or ITIN. Without those, you apply by phone, fax or mail.
You hire U.S. contractors
Paying U.S. contractors means filing Form 1099 information returns — and those require your business’s EIN.
You're building U.S. credit history
Your LLC's EIN is the first step toward establishing business credit in the U.S.
Getting an EIN as a non-U.S. founder is full of small traps
The IRS process wasn't designed with international applicants in mind. Most rejections and multi-month delays come from a handful of avoidable mistakes.
Common pitfalls
What usually goes wrong when filing alone
- Line 7b left blank or filled with a made-up number instead of the “foreign” or N/A entry the IRS asks for.
- Mailing address formatted to U.S. standards confuses IRS systems if you're overseas.
- Business activity description that's too vague triggers manual review.
- Fax/mail submitted to the wrong IRS office for international applicants.
- No follow-up — and no idea who to call from outside the U.S.
Our approach
How we prevent each of those problems
- SS-4 prepared specifically for non-U.S. applicants, with every line audited.
- Name matching verified across passport, Articles, and SS-4 — the #1 cause of bank rejections later.
- Filed to the IRS international office via the correct channel.
- Status updates by email throughout the IRS processing window.
- 147C re-confirmation request if your EIN confirmation goes missing.
What we actually do for you
Document review
We check your Articles of Organization and the responsible party’s passport details against what the SS-4 will say — catching the mismatches that cause bank rejections later.
SS-4 preparation & filing
Your SS-4 is prepared in the exact format the IRS expects from non-U.S. applicants, then submitted via the international channel.
EIN delivery & next steps
You receive your EIN confirmation by email along with banking-readiness guidance for Mercury, Wise, and other platforms.
Compare what each package includes on our EIN service pricing page.
EIN for Non-U.S. Residents
Prepared and filed by an EIN specialist
How the IRS accepts applications from outside the U.S.
Applicants whose business is based outside the U.S. can’t use the IRS online tool. These are the three channels the IRS lists for them. You can use any of them yourself — the EIN is free.
| Method | Where | When | IRS-stated timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone | +1 267-941-1099 (not toll-free) | Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Eastern | EIN issued during the call if the application is complete |
| Fax | +1 304-707-9471 from outside the U.S. · 855-215-1627 from within the U.S. | Any time | Generally within 4 business days (IRS Fax-TIN target) |
| Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999 | — | Approximately 4 weeks |
- Line 7b without an SSN or ITIN. Enter “foreign” or N/A if the responsible party doesn’t have, and is ineligible to obtain, an SSN or ITIN.
- Daily limit. The IRS issues only one EIN per responsible party per day, across all application methods. Don’t send duplicate applications while you wait.
- Form the LLC first. An LLC or corporation should be formed with its state before applying, or the EIN application may be delayed.
IRS timings are the IRS’s own targets. In practice, fax and mail applications from outside the U.S. often take longer — and an application with an error may get no reply at all, which is the problem our review is designed to prevent.
What to expect, week by week
The IRS determines its own processing times, which may vary depending on application volume. Faxed applications requiring a response by mail can take 1–3 months to process. We simplify the process by following up with the IRS on your behalf and keeping you informed of your application status. Once your EIN is assigned, we notify you promptly. While processing times cannot be guaranteed, we strive to make the experience as smooth and straightforward as possible.
Day 1 · Onboarding
You share your documents. We review them and confirm your case fits our service.
Within 2–3 business days · SS-4 preparation
A specialist prepares your SS-4 and walks you through anything that needs clarification.
On your approval · Submission
We file with the IRS via the appropriate international channel.
Weeks 1–2 · IRS processing & follow-up
We check your application status with the IRS; most clients receive their EIN within 1–2 weeks (the IRS’s own fax target is 4 business days).
After EIN issuance · Banking
You receive your EIN. We share banking-readiness guidance so your accounts open first try.
Get a clear next step for your case
Share your situation and a specialist will reply within one business day. No payment requested upfront.
- No payment upfrontFixed package prices. We confirm your case fits before you pay anything.
- Honest directionIf we're not the right fit, we'll say so and point you elsewhere.
- Private by defaultYour details stay with us. We don't sell or share data.
Common questions from non-U.S. applicants
If your question isn't here, contact us — we'll answer honestly, even if the answer is 'this isn't a fit for our service.'
Can a non-U.S. resident really get an EIN?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs to foreign-owned entities all the time. You just can't use the IRS online tool. Instead you apply by phone, fax or mail using Form SS-4 — and the SS-4 is where most non-U.S. applicants stumble.
How long does it take for a non-U.S. applicant?
The IRS’s own targets are about 4 business days for fax and about 4 weeks for mail; by phone the EIN is issued during the call. With our status follow-up, our clients typically receive their EIN within 1–2 weeks; without follow-up, faxed applications can take 1–3 months because the IRS often replies by mail. We make sure your SS-4 is right the first time so you don't start the wait again.
Do I need a U.S. address?
No. The IRS accepts a foreign mailing address on Form SS-4. Many of our clients use their home address abroad. If you want a U.S. address for banking purposes, that's a separate conversation — but you don't need one for the EIN itself.
What if my passport name doesn't match my Articles of Organization?
This is the most common reason banks reject EIN-holder accounts later. We catch it before submission and help you align the names across all three documents (passport, Articles, SS-4) so banking goes smoothly.
Is this legal? It feels strange to apply from abroad.
It's entirely legal. The IRS explicitly accommodates foreign applicants on Form SS-4 — line 7b, for example, tells applicants without an SSN or ITIN to enter “foreign”. What's not legal is providing false information (e.g. claiming an SSN you don't have).
Can I get an EIN before I form my LLC?
Form it first. The IRS says to form the entity with the state before applying — applying early may delay your EIN. The SS-4 asks for the LLC's exact legal name, which is only final once the state has approved the filing.
Do I need to file a BOI report with FinCEN after getting my EIN?
Not for a company formed in the United States. FinCEN's rules (an interim final rule in March 2025, made permanent in August 2026) exempt U.S.-created companies from beneficial ownership reporting. Companies formed abroad and registered to do business in a U.S. state still report. See fincen.gov/boi for the current rules.
Related EIN guides
Ready to stop guessing and get your EIN right the first time?
Tell us about your LLC and the platforms you need an EIN for. A specialist will respond within one business day with a clear plan.
Or email support@einnumber.io
- Reply within one business dayA specialist reviews your case and outlines a clear plan.
- Resubmission guaranteeFree resubmission if the IRS does not assign your EIN.
- Refund before submissionChange your mind before we file? Full refund, no questions.