Banking for Non-Residents by Country
Opening a bank account as a non-resident is one of the practical hurdles every second-passport applicant, Golden Visa investor, digital nomad, and international property buyer faces. This reference matrix covers 34 jurisdictions: whether non-residents can open accounts, what documents are required, whether an in-person visit is needed, which banks typically accept non-residents, the country's CRS (Common Reporting Standard) status, the level of friction for US persons under FATCA, and typical fees.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-01. Banking policies change frequently — verify current requirements directly with each institution before travelling.
| Country | Non-resident eligible | Documents required | In-person | Typical banks | CRS status | US person friction | Typical fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Conditional | Passport, CDI (Clave de Identificación for non-residents, obtainable at AFIP) or CUIL, Argentine address. Argentina's currency controls (cepo cambiario) make banking complex. Non-residents often open USD savings accounts. CDI is obtainable on arrival at an AFIP office with passport. Mercado Pago is used for daily transactions by most non-residents. | Yes | Banco Nación, BBVA Argentina, Santander Argentina, Galicia. Digital wallets: Mercado Pago widely used. | CRS participant since 2019. | Low — Argentine banks are focused on domestic capital controls and USD availability; FATCA compliance is secondary. | ARS-denominated accounts; USD accounts (cuenta dólar) available at major banks. |
| Belgium | Conditional | Passport, Belgian national number (if resident) or proof of foreign address, proof of income. Non-residents without a Belgian address face significant resistance. Digital alternatives (Wise, Revolut) are commonly used as workarounds. | Yes | BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, ING Belgium, Belfius. | CRS participant. | Very high — Belgian banks are among the strictest in Europe on US-person FATCA compliance; most refuse outright. | €2–€8/month. |
| Brazil | Conditional | Passport, CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas — Brazilian tax ID), proof of Brazilian address, proof of income. CPF is obtainable at Brazilian consulates abroad or Receita Federal offices in Brazil. Non-residents on tourist visas can open limited accounts at Banco do Brasil with CPF. Nubank requires only CPF and a Brazilian address — popular with digital nomads on visto de turista. | Yes | Itaú, Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, Nubank (digital, CPF required), BTG Pactual. | CRS participant since 2018. | Moderate — Brazilian banks accept US persons; CPF required for all banking. | BRL 0–50/month; Nubank is free with CPF. |
| British Virgin Islands | Conditional | Passport, proof of foreign address (certified), proof of income / source of funds, bank reference letter, BVI company documents (if business account). BVI is primarily used for corporate banking associated with BVI Business Companies (BCs). Personal non-resident accounts are rare. BVI-incorporated companies bank outside BVI (typically Singapore, HK, or Switzerland) in practice. | Yes | VP Bank BVI, FirstBank BVI, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico BVI. | CRS participant since 2017. | Very high — BVI personal accounts for US persons are extremely difficult; most banks decline. BVI companies are routinely used by non-US clients for offshore structuring. | USD 25,000+ minimum balance; USD 30–100/month maintenance. |
| Cayman Islands | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address (certified), proof of income and source of funds, professional / bank reference letters (typically 2), business or investment rationale. Cayman is a major offshore financial centre. Personal non-resident accounts require documented wealth (USD 100k+ typical). Corporate accounts for Cayman-incorporated entities are more accessible. Not a tax haven for US persons due to FATCA worldwide income reporting. | Sometimes | Cayman National Bank, Butterfield Bank, CIBC FirstCaribbean, RBC Royal Bank Cayman. | CRS participant since 2017. | High — Cayman banks are FATCA-compliant and US persons are accepted but face extensive PFIC/FBAR reporting obligations; legal advice recommended. | USD 10,000–100,000 minimum deposit; monthly fees USD 20–50. |
| Czech Republic | Conditional | Passport, rodné číslo or foreign TIN, proof of Czech nexus (employer, property, business). Czech banks prefer residents but will open accounts for non-residents with documented Czech connection (e.g. property purchase, employer letter). Branch visit in Prague is typically required. | Yes | Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Komerční banka, Raiffeisenbank CZ. | CRS participant. | High. | CZK 0–200/month. |
| Denmark | No | CPR number (civil registration) required. Non-residents with CPR from property ownership may qualify. Non-residents purchasing Danish property can obtain a CPR number and then open a bank account. Without property or employment nexus, Danish banking is inaccessible. | Yes | Danske Bank, Nordea Denmark, Jyske Bank — all require CPR. | CRS participant. | Extreme. | DKK 0–50/month. |
| Estonia | Yes | Passport, e-Residency card (strongly recommended), business registration or proof of economic connection to Estonia. Estonia's e-Residency programme (€100–€120 card fee) enables EU company formation and LHV bank account remotely — popular for digital nomads and EU market access. Personal (non-business) accounts for non-residents are not offered. | No | LHV Bank (e-Resident business accounts), Coop Pank, SEB Estonia. LHV is the primary e-Residency bank. | CRS participant. | High — LHV declines US persons for e-Residency business accounts. US persons should use Wise or Revolut Business. | LHV e-Resident business account: €0–€10/month + transaction fees. |
| Finland | No | Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) required by all major banks. Finland is effectively closed to non-resident banking. Henkilötunnus requires registered Finnish address. Wise serves as the primary non-resident alternative. | Yes | OP Financial Group, Nordea Finland, Danske Bank Finland. | CRS participant. | Extreme. | €2–€5/month for resident accounts. |
| France | Conditional | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income, sometimes a French guarantor or employer letter. Non-residents can access a compte non-résident but product range is limited. Banque Postale may open accounts for Francophone African non-residents more readily. | Yes | BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole (French residency preferred), Wise for day-to-day. | CRS participant. | High — French banks have largely exited US-person relationships post-FATCA. | €2–€10/month for standard accounts. |
| Germany | Conditional | Passport, proof of foreign address, tax identification number (TIN) from home country. Most German retail banks require a German registered address (Anmeldung). Non-residents are better served by private banking arms or pan-European fintechs. | Sometimes | Deutsche Bank (non-resident possible with appointment), N26 (EU address required), DKB (residence required), Commerzbank. | CRS participant. | High — German banks generally decline US persons or require complex FATCA paperwork. | N26: free. Deutsche Bank: €6–€10/month. |
| Hong Kong | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income and source of funds, possibly a reference letter. HKID not required for non-residents. Hong Kong remains a key Asian financial centre but non-resident account opening has become more due-diligence-intensive post-2019 and post-COVID. In-person branch visit required; some banks now allow video KYC. | Yes | HSBC Hong Kong, Hang Seng Bank, Bank of China (HK), Standard Chartered HK, ZA Bank (digital). | CRS participant since 2018. | High — HK banks have tightened US-person onboarding significantly post-FATCA. HSBC accepts with W-9; smaller banks decline. | HKD 50–200/month or minimum balance HKD 10,000–50,000 to waive. |
| Hungary | Conditional | Passport, Hungarian tax number (adóazonosító jel) or foreign TIN, proof of Hungarian nexus. Hungary's Guest Investor Programme (launched 2024) has increased non-resident account demand. OTP Bank is the most accessible for property-buying non-residents. | Yes | OTP Bank, K&H Bank, Raiffeisen Hungary, Budapest Bank. | CRS participant. | High. | HUF 0–3,000/month. |
| Ireland | Conditional | Passport, PPS number (if available), proof of foreign address, proof of income. Non-EU residents struggle to open retail accounts without an Irish address. Ireland's banking sector remains concentrated post-2008 crisis. | Yes | Bank of Ireland, AIB, KBC (wind-down), N26 (EU residents), Revolut. | CRS participant. | High — Irish retail banks generally decline US persons. | €4–€6/month for standard accounts. |
| Israel | Conditional | Passport, Israeli ID number (Teudat Zehut) for citizens/residents, or foreign TIN + proof of Israeli economic connection for non-residents. Non-resident Jews can leverage the Law of Return to obtain Israeli banking more easily. Non-Jewish non-residents require property ownership, Israeli company, or employment connection. | Yes | Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Discount Bank, Mizrahi Tefahot. | CRS participant since 2018. | Moderate — Israeli banks are used to dual US-Israeli citizens and are more experienced with FATCA than most. | ILS 15–40/month plus transaction charges. |
| Italy | Conditional | Passport, codice fiscale (tax code), proof of foreign address. Codice fiscale can be issued at Italian consulates abroad. Non-residents in Italy for property purchase or business must obtain one. | Yes | Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Banca Mediolanum, FinecoBank (investment-led). | CRS participant. | High — most Italian banks decline US persons. FinecoBank and some private banks may accept with full FATCA documentation. | €3–€10/month; codice fiscale issuance is free. |
| Latvia | Conditional | Passport, proof of economic connection to Latvia (property, business, EU company), proof of source of funds. Latvia tightened non-resident banking drastically after FinCEN action against ABLV Bank in 2018. Non-resident accounts now require documented economic substance in Latvia or the EU. | Yes | Citadele Bank, Rietumu Bank (private, non-resident focused), Industra Bank. | CRS participant. | High — post-2018 MONEYVAL recommendations made Latvian banks substantially more cautious; US persons face extra scrutiny. | €10–€50/month for non-resident business accounts. |
| Lithuania | Conditional | Passport, Lithuanian company registration or EU business address, proof of source of funds. Lithuania has emerged as a fintech hub (EMI licences). Paysera is widely used by EU non-residents for SEPA payments. Traditional bank accounts require Lithuanian business or residence nexus. | Sometimes | Swedbank Lithuania, SEB Lithuania, Luminor, Paysera (fintech, non-resident friendly). | CRS participant. | High. | Paysera: €0–€3/month. Swedbank: €5–€10/month (company accounts). |
| Mauritius | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income / source of funds, sometimes a reference letter. AfrAsia Bank is specifically known for non-resident and international banking services. Mauritius has a Global Business Licence (GBL) structure making it popular for offshore structuring. USD and EUR accounts widely available. | Sometimes | Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), SBM Bank, AfrAsia Bank (non-resident specialised), Standard Chartered Mauritius. | CRS participant since 2018. | Low-Moderate — Mauritius banks are relatively accommodating of US persons compared to European alternatives. | MUR 0–500/month; USD accounts available. |
| Mexico | Conditional | Passport, RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes — Mexican tax ID), proof of Mexican address (CURP / utility bill), proof of income. RFC is obtainable at SAT offices; a Mexican address is needed for registration. Expats on FM3/FM2 visas find banking straightforward. BBVA México has a non-resident account product (Cuenta Express) for lower-KYC initial access. | Yes | BBVA México, Santander México, Banamex (Citibanamex), HSBC México. | CRS participant since 2017. | Moderate — Mexican banks are used to cross-border US-Mexico relationships; W-9 required but generally processed. | MXN 0–200/month. |
| Netherlands | Conditional | Passport, BSN (burgerservicenummer) if registered, proof of foreign address for non-BSN accounts. Bunq is the most accessible option for EU non-residents; no BSN required for basic tier. Dutch banks require BSN for residents. | Sometimes | ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, Bunq (EU-based fintech, non-resident friendly). | CRS participant. | High — Dutch banks generally decline US persons post-FATCA. | Bunq: €2.99–€17.99/month. ING/ABN: €2–€7/month (resident accounts). |
| Norway | No | D-number (non-resident tax ID) or fødselsnummer; proof of Norwegian connection (property, employment, business). A D-number is obtainable without Norwegian residence but requires a Norwegian connection (e.g. property purchase, employer). Even then, banks may decline non-residents. | Yes | DNB, SpareBank 1, Nordea Norway. Non-residents almost universally redirected to Wise. | CRS participant. | Extreme — Norwegian banks routinely close US-person accounts. | NOK 0–60/month for resident accounts. |
| Panama | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income / source of funds, bank reference letter(s), professional reference. Due diligence requirements are substantial. Panama uses the US dollar. Non-resident accounts require bank reference letters (typically 2) from your existing bank. Panama's FATF grey-list history (removed 2023) means enhanced due diligence is standard. | Yes | Banistmo (Bancolombia subsidiary), Global Bank, MultiBank, Balboa Bank, Credicorp Bank. | CRS participant since 2018. | Very high — Panama banks are FATCA-registered but US-person accounts trigger extensive compliance review; many banks decline US persons entirely. | USD 5,000–25,000 minimum deposit to open; USD 10–30/month maintenance. |
| Poland | Conditional | Passport, PESEL number (where available) or foreign TIN, proof of Polish nexus. Some Polish banks open accounts for non-residents without PESEL using passport only, especially for property buyers. mBank has been more flexible historically. | Yes | PKO Bank Polski, mBank, ING Bank Śląski, Santander Poland. | CRS participant. | High. | PLN 0–15/month. |
| Portugal | Yes | Passport, NIF (fiscal number), proof of foreign address, proof of income. A NIF is easily obtained online or via Portuguese consulate abroad. NHR tax regime made Portugal a popular non-resident banking destination for EU expats. | Yes | Millennium BCP, Novo Banco, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Activobank. | CRS participant. | Moderate — Portuguese banks are more US-person-friendly than most of Europe; still requires W-9 and FATCA disclosure. | €5–€15/month for non-resident accounts. |
| Singapore | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income or employment, sometimes a reference letter. Digital banks may require Singapore phone number. Singapore is one of Asia's most accessible jurisdictions for non-resident banking. DBS Treasures and OCBC Premier are popular with regional high-net-worth non-residents. | Sometimes | DBS (non-resident welcome), OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered Singapore, Citibank Singapore. | CRS participant since 2018. | Moderate — Singapore banks accept US persons but require full FATCA W-9 documentation and FBAR-reportable disclosure. | SGD 0–30/month; SGD 5,000–30,000 minimum balance common to waive fees. |
| Spain | Yes | Passport, NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), proof of foreign address, proof of income. Spain is unusual in legally requiring banks to open a non-resident account (cuenta de no residente) if you hold an NIE. Popular with Golden Visa applicants. | Yes | Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell — all offer cuentas para no residentes. | CRS participant. | Moderate — some Spanish banks accept US persons if NIE is obtained; others decline. | €0–€10/month; non-resident accounts sometimes carry higher fees. |
| Sweden | No | Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) required by all major banks. Sweden is one of the most difficult banking jurisdictions for non-residents. Personnummer requires registered Swedish address. Wise EUR/GBP accounts serve as a common workaround. | Yes | Swedbank, SEB, Nordea, Handelsbanken — all require personnummer. Wise / Revolut for non-residents. | CRS participant. | Extreme — even residents with personnummer face refusals if US person status is disclosed. | Effectively unavailable without personnummer. |
| Switzerland | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income / source of funds, possibly a reference letter. Private banks require investment minimums (CHF 250k–1M+). Switzerland remains attractive for wealth management despite CRS. Entry threshold for a basic retail account is rising; CHF 100k+ is now common. | Yes | UBS, Credit Suisse (now UBS), Julius Bär, Pictet (private), Neon / Yuh (digital, residents only), Swissquote (brokerage-led). | CRS participant since 2017 — Swiss banking secrecy is effectively ended for CRS purposes. | Very high — most Swiss banks categorically refuse US persons post-FATCA 2014. Julius Bär and a handful of private banks still accept with substantial minimums and full FATCA documentation. | UBS non-resident: CHF 30–60/month. Private banks: annual retainer or AUM fee (0.5–1.5% p.a.). |
| Thailand | Conditional | Passport, non-immigrant visa (tourist visas often insufficient), proof of Thai address (hotel letter sometimes accepted initially), proof of income or funds transfer. Tourist visa holders can open savings accounts at Bangkok Bank and KBank branches in tourist-heavy areas (Sukhumvit, Phuket, Chiang Mai) with minimal documentation. Non-immigrant visa makes the process smoother. Long-term resident visa (LTR) holders get premium banking access. | Yes | Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank (KBank), SCB (Siam Commercial Bank), Krungsri. | CRS participant since 2023. | Low — Thai banks are among the least FATCA-sensitive in Asia; US persons generally accepted without issue. | THB 0–100/month; THB 500 minimum balance typical. |
| UAE | Yes | Passport, UAE entry visa or residency visa, proof of foreign address, proof of income / source of funds, Emirates ID (for residents — non-residents use passport + visa copy). UAE is one of the most accessible non-resident banking destinations globally. Tourist visa holders can open savings accounts (not current accounts) at some banks. RAK Bank is historically most flexible for new arrivals. | Yes | Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, RAK Bank, HSBC UAE, FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank). | CRS participant since 2018. | Moderate — UAE banks accept US persons more readily than European banks; W-9 required, FATCA-compliant. | AED 25–100/month; AED 3,000–25,000 minimum balance to waive. |
| United Kingdom | Conditional | Passport, proof of UK or foreign address, proof of income or employment. Some banks require a UK address. UK non-resident accounts are typically offered through the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Channel Islands) rather than mainland UK branches. | Sometimes | HSBC Premier (global transfer), Barclays International, Lloyds International (Isle of Man), Starling / Monzo (UK address required). | CRS participant — reports account info to account holder's tax residence country. | High — most UK high-street banks decline US persons due to FATCA compliance cost. HSBC Premier and some private banks still accept with W-9. | Barclays International: £15/month. HSBC Premier: free with £50k+ relationship. Lloyds International: £10/month. |
| United States | Conditional | Passport, ITIN or SSN, foreign proof of address (utility bill or bank statement), in some cases a US address (PO box insufficient). Non-residents without an SSN can use an ITIN. Some fintechs (Wise, Mercury) serve non-residents with only a passport and foreign address. | Yes | Citibank (non-resident welcome), HSBC Premier, Chase (with referral), some credit unions. Wise / Revolut as alternatives. | FATCA origin country — US does not participate in CRS as a sender; however, US banks report foreign-account holders' interest income to the IRS and treaty partners. | N/A — this IS the US. Foreign banks opening accounts for US persons face FATCA obligations. | Monthly maintenance $0–$25 (often waived with balance). Wire fees $15–$35 outbound. |
| Uruguay | Yes | Passport, proof of foreign address, proof of income / source of funds, RUT (Registro Único Tributario — Uruguayan tax ID, obtainable remotely). Uruguay has consistently been rated the most financially stable and transparent country in Latin America. Non-residents with Cédula de Identidad extranjera have easier access. RUT can be obtained remotely through a local accountant (contador). | Sometimes | BROU (state bank), Santander Uruguay, Itaú Uruguay, HSBC Uruguay (limited), Scotiabank Uruguay. | CRS participant since 2018. | Moderate — Uruguayan banks accept US persons more willingly than most Latin American jurisdictions; FATCA-registered. | USD 0–15/month; USD and EUR accounts available. |
How to read this
- Non-resident eligibleindicates whether the country's banking system in general allows non-resident account opening. "Conditional" means it is possible but requires a documented connection (property, company, employment) or specific visa status.
- CRS (Common Reporting Standard)is the OECD multilateral automatic information-exchange framework. CRS participant countries instruct their banks to collect tax residency information and report account balances and income annually to the account holder's home tax authority. This effectively ends banking secrecy for tax purposes between participating countries.
- FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) is the US unilateral equivalent. Foreign banks that are FATCA-registered must report US-person accounts to the IRS. Many banks find the compliance cost prohibitive and decline US persons entirely — particularly in Europe and the offshore Caribbean.
- US person friction reflects how difficult it is for a US citizen or permanent resident to open and maintain an account in that jurisdiction. US persons face FBAR reporting (FinCEN 114) and FATCA Form 8938 filing obligations for foreign accounts regardless of where they live.
- Minimum balance requirements are in addition to monthly fees and are frequently the mechanism by which banks deter low-value non-resident accounts without explicitly refusing them.
- Digital alternatives — Wise, Revolut, and N26 serve as practical workarounds in many jurisdictions where retail banks are inaccessible to non-residents. These are e-money institution (EMI) accounts, not licensed bank accounts, and are not covered by national deposit guarantee schemes in the same way.
See also: Tax residency matrix · Apostille by country · Foreign property buyers · Driving licence exchange.