Opening a Mercury account for your US LLC from abroad: documents and timing

Mercury has become the default account for US LLCs owned from abroad. It is not a bank in the strict sense: deposits sit at its US partner banks, Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., both FDIC members. That detail matters, because it keeps your money inside the American banking system and outside the CRS reporting network. LLC Place handles your company, EIN, US commercial address and Mercury application entirely online, and if Mercury accepts your application, you receive your physical card.

What you need before you apply

Mercury does not open accounts for foreign individuals. You need a US company, its EIN, a US business address and valid photo ID. The order matters: company first, EIN next, account application last.

Mercury asks for five things, no fewer: the articles filed with the state, the IRS letter assigning the EIN (the CP 575, or a 147C letter if you have lost it), the operating agreement naming the owner or owners, a US business address, and for each person holding more than 25% of the company, valid photo ID and a personal address. You also need a website or a professional profile that shows the business, and a description of that business in a few clear sentences: what you sell, to whom, and through which channel. LLC Place provides the first four at formation, and the operating agreement is generated and signed from the dashboard.

Countries Mercury does not accept

Mercury opens accounts for US companies owned from most countries, but not all. At the time of writing, founders living in a country under US sanctions or rated high risk by the FATF are declined outright, and the list changes. Some African and Asian countries are on it, which explains a share of the declines that entrepreneurs blame on their application. Before applying, check the list Mercury publishes in its help center. If your country is on it, Relay or Wise Business are the usual alternatives, with different criteria.

What gets applications declined

Mercury does not explain its declines, and a declined application cannot be resubmitted as is. That is why the first application has to be the right one. In our experience, declines come down to four causes.

• A vague business description, or an industry Mercury treats as high risk.
• A residential address used as the company address where a business address is expected.
• An EIN still pending at the time of the application.
• A country of residence under sanctions, which Mercury declines whatever the company looks like.

What Mercury gives you once the account is open

A dollar checking account with US routing and account numbers, which is all you need for Stripe, PayPal, Amazon or a client paying by ACH transfer. Virtual debit cards as soon as the account is approved, and a physical card shipped abroad on request. Outgoing international wires in dollars or in another currency through a partner, with exchange fees worth comparing with Wise’s. No monthly maintenance fee on the base plan, and an interface that exports statements in the format your accountant expects. What Mercury does not offer: a European IBAN, paper checks or cash deposits.

Mercury from Brazil, France or Morocco: what changes

The file is the same everywhere, but the review is not. A founder living in the European Union, Switzerland or the United Kingdom usually goes through with no extra questions. A founder in Brazil, Turkey or Morocco more often gets a request for details about the business and the source of the first funds: a client contract, an invoice or a screenshot of the online store is enough, as long as you reply quickly. Countries that Mercury declines outright are rare but they exist, and they are the first thing to check before choosing this bank over another. In every case, the founder’s personal address must be their actual residence, not a convenience address: Mercury cross-checks it against your ID and the proof of address, and any mismatch blocks the application.

How long it takes, and what you get

The application takes about twenty minutes and an answer usually lands within a few business days. Once open, the account gives you US routing and account numbers, virtual and physical cards, free ACH and wire transfers, and a direct connection to Stripe.

Virtual cards are available as soon as the account is approved, and a physical card takes two to three weeks to reach you abroad. There is no cap on the account at opening, but the first large incoming transfers can trigger a request for supporting documents, so keep the contract or the invoice at hand.

If you live in Brazil, our dedicated guide US LLC for Brazilian entrepreneurs: Stripe, PayPal and Mercury covers the full setup, from the first invoice in dollars to the Receita Federal.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to travel to the United States to open a Mercury account?

No. The application is online, the identity check too, and the card is shipped to your address abroad. There is no branch appointment, because Mercury has no branches.

Is Mercury a bank?

No, it is a fintech. Deposits are held at US partner banks and covered by federal FDIC insurance through them, which gives the same protection as a regular bank account.

How long does it take to open a Mercury account?

The application takes about twenty minutes to fill in, and the answer usually comes within a few business days, sometimes the same day. An application that triggers a request for details takes one to two weeks.

What if Mercury declines my LLC?

A decline comes with no reason and no appeal. You still have Relay, Wise Business or a traditional bank that accepts non-residents, each with its own criteria. LLC Place points you to the option that fits your country and your business.