Yes, you can get an EIN from outside the United States. You do not need a Social Security number, an ITIN, a U.S. visa or a trip to the U.S. What you cannot do is use the IRS online tool: it is open only to entities whose principal place of business is in the U.S. and whose responsible party has an SSN or ITIN. From abroad, the application is made on Form SS-4 by phone, fax or mail. The IRS charges nothing.
Three Ways to Apply From Abroad
| Method | Where | IRS turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time. For international applicants only | Usually during the call |
| Fax | 855-641-6935 if the entity has its principal office in one of the 50 states. With no office or place of business in any state: 855-215-1627 from inside the U.S., 304-707-9471 from outside | About 4 business days |
| Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999, USA | About 4 weeks |
What You Need
- A company that already exists. Form the LLC or corporation with the state first; the IRS says applying earlier can delay the EIN.
- The legal name, formation date and state exactly as they appear on the formation documents
- A mailing address, which may be outside the U.S.
- The name of the responsible party: the individual who owns or controls the company. A foreign owner with no SSN or ITIN is still named here.
- The reason for applying and the business activity
No passport or other identity document is sent to the IRS for an EIN. Each line of the form is explained in what is Form SS-4.
Steps
- Form the company with the state (for example Delaware, Wyoming or New Mexico).
- Complete and sign Form SS-4.
- Send it by fax or mail, or call the IRS with the form in front of you.
- The IRS assigns the EIN and mails Notice CP575 to the address on the form.
What You Need the EIN For
Foreign owners usually need the EIN to open a U.S. business bank account, to be paid through Stripe, PayPal or Amazon, and to file returns such as Form 5472. The EIN belongs to the company. If you also have a U.S. tax return to file in your own name, you need an ITIN as well; see ITIN vs EIN.
Having It Filed for You
Calling or faxing the IRS from another time zone is the part most applicants want to avoid. With our EIN application service we prepare Form SS-4, file it as your third-party designee and e-mail you the EIN. Our fee is $125. More detail for owners without a U.S. tax number is in how to get an EIN without an SSN.
Source: IRS, Get an employer identification number; IRS, About Form SS-4. Checked October 2026.
