Non-US residents can apply for Mercury through a US-formed company with existing or planned US operations; founders need not be US citizens or residents. As of 21 October 2026, Mercury excludes founders living or businesses operating in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria; Egypt is not listed.
Can a non-US resident open a Mercury account?
A non-US resident can apply if the company meets Mercury’s requirements and the founder’s residence and business operations pass its country restrictions. Mercury’s eligibility page does not require US citizenship or US residence, as of 21 October 2026. A US company is a requirement for this route, but company formation alone does not establish eligibility or guarantee approval.
Separate your personal circumstances from the company’s circumstances. Your citizenship, where you live, where the academy is registered and where the business operates answer different questions. A US registration does not override the residence rule.
Check the payment route before spending money on formation. Our guide to registering a business in the UK or US covers the broader decision; Mercury access should be part of that decision, rather than its entire purpose.
What are Mercury’s eligibility rules in plain English?
Mercury requires a company formed and registered in the US or a US territory, with existing or planned US operations, according to its eligibility page as of 21 October 2026. For an academy owner abroad, the practical task is to check the company requirement alongside the residence and operating-country rules before treating Mercury as an available payment route.
Work through the decision in this order:
- Confirm where your company is formed and registered.
- Identify existing or planned US operations.
- Check every founder’s residence and the business’s operating locations against Mercury’s list.
- If the requirements fit, apply and leave approval to Mercury’s review.
Company structure also has consequences beyond payments. The US Small Business Administration’s business-structure guide says LLCs protect owners from personal liability in most instances and pass profits through to personal income; registration may also be needed in states where you do business.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice; check with an adviser in your country.
Which countries are excluded?
Mercury’s prohibited-countries list includes Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, as checked on 21 October 2026. Mercury says the restriction covers founders living in those countries and businesses operating there. Egypt is not listed on that date. Use the complete linked list for other locations; an omitted country in this post is not a statement that Mercury accepts it.
The distinction is residence, rather than citizenship. Do not treat a US LLC as a way around the restriction, or assume an overseas mailing address changes where you live or operate.
For local payment planning, see receiving payments in Pakistan or receiving payments in Egypt. Recheck Mercury’s list before committing to a route.
How does eligibility change by scenario?
Mercury eligibility depends on the whole application, so the scenarios below show whether a stated rule blocks the route, rather than predicting approval. The table uses Mercury’s eligibility and country rules as of 21 October 2026. Stripe acceptance and Wise (wise.com) USD details require separate checks; Mercury eligibility does not establish eligibility with another provider.
| Academy scenario | Mercury eligible? (rule) | Stripe option | Wise (wise.com) USD details? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK-resident founder with a US LLC | Potentially; US operations required | Separate eligibility check | Check provider eligibility | Application review still applies |
| Egypt-resident founder with a US LLC | Potentially; Egypt not listed | Separate eligibility check | Check provider eligibility | US operations still required |
| Pakistan-resident founder with a US LLC | No; residence restriction | Separate eligibility check | US entity with Pakistan address excluded | US LLC does not remove restriction |
| Bangladesh-resident founder | No; residence restriction | Separate eligibility check | US entity with Bangladesh address excluded | Formation does not resolve residence |
| Academy registered in the UK without a US entity | No; US formation required | Separate eligibility check | Check separately | UK registration alone does not qualify |
According to Wise (wise.com)‘s USD account-details rules, as of 21 October 2026, US business entities with addresses in Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Nigeria or Pakistan cannot get USD account details. That is an address rule, distinct from Mercury’s residence restriction.
How does Mercury invoicing work for tuition?
Mercury says its free plan includes unlimited invoices, with customers able to pay by ACH, wire or through Mercury for free, as of 21 October 2026. That can suit an academy needing straightforward transfer-based invoices. Recurring invoices and ACH-debit invoicing require a paid plan, making the paid route more suitable when repeated invoices or bank-account collection matter.
According to Mercury’s pricing page, as of 21 October 2026:
- Mercury costs USD 0 per month.
- Mercury Plus costs USD 29.90 per month and includes recurring invoices, with ACH-debit invoicing at USD 1 per transaction.
- Mercury Pro costs USD 299 per month.
Cards are a separate payment path. According to Mercury’s guide to Stripe invoice payments, cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay require a connected Stripe account. As of 21 October 2026, the standard domestic Stripe fee is 2.9% plus USD 0.30, and Mercury adds no card fee.
Mercury’s guide also gives a 7–14 day wait for the first Stripe payout. Account for that delay when planning collections. Free invoice creation does not mean every payment method is free, and a family’s payment method affects the collection cost.
Is Mercury a bank?
Mercury describes itself as a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank, on its invoicing page, as of 21 October 2026. Mercury says banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. Keep Mercury’s role distinct from the role of the banks providing those services when assessing the account.
For your academy, account eligibility and invoice features answer different questions from banking arrangements. Read the account terms alongside the invoicing details. A convenient collection workflow should not replace understanding which organization provides the banking services.
What can you do if you are not eligible?
An academy that fails Mercury’s residence or company requirements needs another eligible collection route. Wise (wise.com) is not an automatic substitute: its USD account-details restrictions can also affect US entities with addresses in excluded countries. Check the exact provider product you need, rather than assuming access to a provider means access to USD details or card collection.
Start with the academy’s actual registration, address, operating locations and family payment needs. Check provider eligibility before comparing fees. A route that cannot accept your business is not useful, however attractive its invoice pricing looks.
Keep invoice creation, receiving funds and reconciling payments separate in your plan. An invoice records what a family owes; the collection route must still be available to your business.
How Halqora handles this
Halqora, management software for online academies, can sync Mercury invoice payments for an academy using Mercury, with USD-only Mercury sync; Halqora does not change Mercury’s eligibility rules, and you do not need to form a US LLC for Halqora.
Sources
- Mercury eligibility requirements, checked 21 October 2026
- Mercury prohibited countries, checked 21 October 2026
- Mercury invoicing overview, checked 21 October 2026
- Mercury plan pricing, checked 21 October 2026
- Mercury invoice payments through Stripe, checked 21 October 2026
- Mercury invoicing and banking disclosure, checked 21 October 2026
- SBA guide to choosing a business structure, checked 21 October 2026
- Wise (wise.com) USD account-details eligibility, checked 21 October 2026
