How to Register an LLC as a Non-Resident or Foreigner: Step by Step

If you live outside the United States, you can still register a US LLC. No US state requires the owner to be a citizen, a resident or to hold a visa, and the whole process can be done online. This guide is written for non-residents and foreigners. It covers who can register, what you need, the steps in order, what it costs and what you must do each year after. If you want us to handle it, see our LLC registration in the USA for non-residents.

Key takeaways

• A non-resident or foreigner can own 100% of a US LLC.
• You do not need a Social Security Number, a US visa or a trip to the US.
• You do need a registered agent with a street address in the state, and an EIN from the IRS.
• The LLC has yearly duties, including an IRS filing for foreign-owned LLCs even when there is no income.
• Your own country may tax the profit too, so plan for that before you start.

Who can register a US LLC?

Anyone aged 18 or over, from any country, and also companies. You can be the only owner (a single-member LLC) or share ownership with partners (a multi-member LLC). Read can a foreigner own a US LLC? for the few limits that exist, and can two foreigners form a US LLC together? if you have a partner.

What you need before you start

• A company name that is available in the state and ends with "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company".
• A registered agent with a physical street address in the state. A founder abroad cannot act as their own agent. See registered agent service.
• Your details and ID: full name, address and a copy of your passport.
• A state to form the LLC in. See step 2 below.

You do not need your own US address. Read do you need a US address to form an LLC? to see how the agent's address is used.

Step by step

1. Decide the business

Know what the company will sell, to whom and where you will be when you do the work. This decides which taxes apply, so decide it before you pick a state. A founder from India can also read our guide to registering a company in the USA from India.

2. Choose the state

Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico and Florida are popular with non-residents, each for different reasons such as low cost, privacy or the legal system. The right state depends on your plans. Compare the filing fee and the yearly cost in our LLC filing fees by state table, and read the best state for company registration in the USA.

3. Check the name

Search the state's business records to see that the name is free, and keep a second choice ready. If you are unsure, our guide to choosing an LLC name explains the rules.

4. Appoint a registered agent

The agent receives legal papers and state notices at its street address in the state and passes them to you. The first year is included in every Jupiter Filing package.

5. File the formation document

The state calls it the Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Organization or Formation. We prepare it and file it with the state, and you receive the approved document. Read Articles of Organization explained. Approval takes from about a day to a few weeks, depending on the state and the filing speed.

6. Write an operating agreement

An operating agreement sets out who owns the company and how it is run. Most banks ask for it, even for a single owner. See the operating agreement for a single-member LLC with foreign owners.

7. Get the EIN

The EIN is the company's tax number, issued by the IRS. A foreign owner applies without a Social Security Number, and it usually takes longer than for a US owner. Read how to get an EIN without an SSN, or see our EIN service.

8. Open a business bank account

Keep company money apart from your own. The bank usually asks for the formation document, the EIN letter, the operating agreement and your passport. We help eligible founders apply with Payoneer, Mercury, Wise Business and Relay. Approval is decided by each provider. See US business bank account help and Payoneer for a US LLC.

What it costs

You pay two things: the service fee and the state's filing fee. Our packages start at $49 (Basic), $100 (Standard) and $250 (Premium), plus the state fee, which runs from about $40 to a few hundred dollars. See our pricing for what each package includes. After the first year there are yearly costs such as the registered agent renewal, the state's annual report and the IRS filing. They are listed in what a US LLC costs each year for a non-resident.

What you must do every year

• File the state's annual or biennial report and pay its fee, where the state asks for one. See our annual report service.
• Make the yearly IRS filing. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, even with no income. A missed filing carries a $25,000 penalty. See our US LLC tax filing service.
• Renew the registered agent.
• Report the income in your home country as its rules require. See do non-residents pay US taxes on a US LLC?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a state only because it is cheap, without checking the yearly cost.
• Mixing personal and company money.
• Ignoring the yearly IRS filing because there was no income.
• Skipping the operating agreement.
• Forgetting the tax rules in your own country.

More are listed in mistakes non-residents and foreigners make registering a US LLC. For the full path from idea to bank account, see our roadmap for opening a company in the USA as a non-resident.

Frequently asked questions

Can I register an LLC without visiting the US?

Yes. Everything can be done online. See form a US LLC without visiting the US.

Do I need a Social Security Number?

No. The LLC's EIN can be obtained without one.

How long does it take?

The state approval takes from about a day to a few weeks, then the EIN and the bank account take longer. Treat these as a guide, not a promise.

Are the owners' names public?

It depends on the state. Some states do not require member names on the formation filing. See are LLC owners' names public?

Should I choose an LLC or a C-corp?

An LLC is simpler and usually avoids double taxation. A C-corp suits companies that plan to raise investment. See LLC vs C-corp taxes explained and compare options on our company formation page.

Ready to start? Register your LLC online with Jupiter Filing.

This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by state and by your home country and change over time, so confirm your own position with a qualified professional before you act.