Issues with Shopify Payments for Non-US Residents – Seeking Advice

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment
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Topic summary

Main issue: A Pakistan-based merchant cannot use Shopify Payments because they’re not physically in the US, and common third-party options (Payoneer, Revolut, Airwallex) aren’t available locally.

Suggested path: Form a US LLC (limited liability company) and obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number). Consult an accountant to assess US tax exposure; an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) may be needed. One poster cites a service that delivered an EIN in ~10 days and includes a “verified” Stripe (payment processor) account in its bundle.

Constraints noted: Even with a US entity, Shopify Payments reportedly still requires physical proof in the US. The suggested workaround targets activating Stripe instead, not Shopify Payments.

Status and open questions: No confirmation of success from the original poster and no alternative providers specific to Pakistan were identified. Key unknowns include legal/tax implications, compliance with platform policies, total costs, and long-term viability of using a US entity from Pakistan. The discussion remains open without a definitive solution.

Summarized with AI on December 14. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello everyone,

I’m based in Pakistan and recently encountered an issue with Shopify Payments. Shopify has informed me that since I’m not physically located in the USA, I can’t use their payment services like Visa, MasterCard, or other payment methods that Shopify supports. Instead, I’ve been advised to use third-party payment providers.

The problem is that in Pakistan, many popular payment methods like Payoneer, Revolut, and Airwallex aren’t available. This is making it really challenging to find a reliable way to accept payments from my customers.

Has anyone else faced a similar situation? What alternatives are available for those of us in countries where access to payment providers is limited? I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions on how to navigate this situation and ensure a smooth payment experience for my customers.

2

Hey, the solution for your situation will require a little bit of investing. What you could do is form an LLC in the US and obtain an EIN. Theres a great company that does this and they did it for me within two weeks, its https://app.privatily.com/a/68b76c4d34 . You need first to consult with an accountant to know if you would be subject to US income tax or not because if you do, you will also need to obtain an ITIN after you form your company and get your EIN. They can get that for you too but at additional cost. EIN usually taxes months to obtain but this service delivered it to me within 10 days. You wont be able to use Shopify Payments without any physical proof in the US but you can activate Stripe without that requirement. This company also gets you a verified Stripe account included in the bundle. Hope that helps.