How to use shopify payments gateway if i am not living in USA, UK, CANADA

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

Using Shopify Payments while living outside supported countries (e.g., Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia) is possible only under strict conditions and is not guaranteed, even if documents are supplied.

Key requirements (all needed for review):

  • Government-issued photo ID.
  • SSN (US Social Security Number) and/or EIN (US Employer ID), depending on business type.
  • US business registration.
  • Proof the business operates from the US, including a physical US address (not a forwarding service); in some cases, evidence of a brick‑and‑mortar location or proof of living in the US may be requested.
  • A USD checking account at a real US bank located in the US (no virtual banks).

Recent clarifications:

  • Proof of address cannot be bypassed; if missing, submit an explanation, but approval is uncertain and depends on banking partners/Risk team.
  • Even with complete documentation, approval is not guaranteed; many are directed to third‑party gateways available in their country.

Status and next steps:

  • Expansion of Shopify Payments to more countries is in progress, no timelines shared.
  • Merchants unable to meet requirements must use regional third‑party providers (links provided).
  • Open issues: exact document list for “brick and mortar” proof; whether Saudi‑based owners with US operations qualify. An image was shared but is not essential to understanding.
Summarized with AI on January 6. AI used: gpt-5.
7

I have a question for the shopify payments,

I provided all those documents to shopify as following:

  • Government issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc. - non-US ID may be accepted)
  • A Tax ID in the United States:
    1. EIN if you are an LLC/Corp
    2. SSN you are a Sole Proprietor
  • Business registration document (Registered in the US with the government)
  • Proof that the business is actually operating from the US. This can include tracking showing you are shipping from the US or proof of a physical US address (not a forwarding address).
  • A USD checking account, opened with a real US banking institution, located on US soil. Virtual banks and currency services will not work for this, it has to be a real US bank

But here is a big misleading gap cause it is written physical US address, but when i submit all above, we got answer like:

“We would need to see a brick and mortar location, or proof that you are living in the United States.”

And i try to get answer from shopify customer service what is next step for me cause I would like to have a detail answer:

  1. What are the documents to proof brick and mortar location?

  2. What documents do you need to proof you are living in the United States?

  3. Can I have PDF giving me exact info of what is needed to be authorized for US payments?

Please kindly check

Thank you,

Aleksandra