Non-US residents can form a Wyoming LLC with no SSN, no US address, and no visa. The full stack: formation, EIN by fax, US bank account, Stripe, and US tax obligations.
By Omer Aydin ·
Yes — you can form a Wyoming LLC from anywhere in the world, with no US citizenship, residency, visa, SSN, or US address. Wyoming has no residency requirement; what you need is a Wyoming registered agent (rented, ~$25–$300/year or bundled in a service), an EIN obtained by fax with Form SS-4, and a fintech-friendly bank like Mercury for the account. The whole stack is standard practice: non-resident founders are a large share of Wyoming's formation volume.
This guide walks through the full sequence — formation, EIN, banking, payments — plus the US tax reality non-residents most often misunderstand.
| Requirement | Needed? |
|---|---|
| US citizenship or green card | No |
| US visa | No |
| SSN or ITIN | No — EIN via Form SS-4 fax route |
| US address | No — registered agent + digital mailbox cover it |
| US phone number | No (helpful for some platforms) |
| Travel to the US | No — everything is remote |
| Wyoming registered agent | Yes — mandatory |
| Passport | Yes — for bank KYC |
Identical to the standard Wyoming process: pick a distinguishable name, appoint a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address, file Articles of Organization ($100–$102). Your own address can be anywhere in the world — Wyoming accepts foreign principal/mailing addresses, and members don't appear on the public filing anyway.
This is the step that intimidates founders unnecessarily. Complete Form SS-4, write "Foreign" on line 7b where an SSN would go, and fax it to the IRS international SS-4 number. The IRS faxes the EIN back — advertised at about four business days, realistically one to two weeks. No SSN, ITIN, or US address required. Line-by-line instructions: How to get an EIN.
The persistent myth that "foreigners need an ITIN first" is wrong — the EIN is independent and is what your bank and Stripe need.
Fintech platforms changed this from the hardest step to a routine one:
With the EIN and a US bank account, your LLC qualifies for Stripe US — for many founders, access to Stripe and US payment rails is the entire reason the LLC exists. PayPal Business, Amazon US marketplace, and app store payouts follow the same pattern: US entity + EIN + US account.
Lovie's plan bundles this entire stack — formation, agent, SS-4 EIN handling, digital mail, compliance tracking — which is precisely the set of things a non-resident can't easily provide alone.
A Wyoming LLC is not automatically tax-free for non-residents, but it can be highly tax-efficient. The honest version:
Get a cross-border tax professional to confirm your specific situation; the $200 consultation is cheap insurance against the $25,000 form.
For a non-resident running an online business, Wyoming beats Delaware on every operating dimension: $60/year maintenance vs. $300, stronger privacy posture, same zero state tax. Choose Delaware only if you are raising US venture capital — and then as a C-Corp, not an LLC.
Yes — 100% foreign ownership is allowed. There is no citizenship, residency, or visa requirement, and you never need to visit the US. You must maintain a Wyoming registered agent and obtain an EIN for banking.
File Form SS-4 by fax with "Foreign" written on line 7b. The IRS issues EINs to foreign-owned US LLCs as a matter of routine — no SSN, ITIN, or US address required. Expect the return fax in one to two weeks.
Yes, through fintech platforms like Mercury or Relay, which verify your LLC documents, EIN, and passport remotely. Traditional brick-and-mortar banks generally require visiting a branch. Availability varies by country of residence.
It depends on whether the LLC is engaged in a US trade or business. Services performed entirely outside the US are generally not US-taxed even with US clients; US inventory, employees, or offices change that. Regardless of tax owed, foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 annually — a $25,000 penalty applies for failure.
Usually for access: Stripe US, US bank accounts, Amazon US, US clients who prefer paying a US entity, and the liability shield. The LLC is the legal wrapper that unlocks US financial infrastructure from anywhere.
Wyoming for online businesses and agencies — cheaper to maintain ($60 vs. $300/year) with stronger privacy. Delaware only if US venture capital is the goal, in which case investors will want a C-Corp.
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Lovie was built for exactly this: form your US company from anywhere — $29/month including Wyoming registered agent, SS-4 EIN handling, digital mail, and compliance tracking. No SSN needed.
Form your company with Lovie — $29/month, registered agent and EIN application assistance included.