For founders in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
Worried Mercury won't approve you? Here's exactly what they check.
Mercury approves non-resident founders every day — when the entity, EIN and application are structured the way their compliance team expects. We prepare yours against that checklist before it's ever submitted.
$499 flat · filed in 24–48h
State filing, EIN, registered agent, banking introduction
Not included: state annual fees (from $60/yr), ITIN, tax return preparation. See the full cost breakdown →
Reviewed personally by Francis Marielle — usually within 3 hours
First reply time
Within 24h, business days
Track record
500+ companies formed since 2024
Start where it hurts.
Which one is you?
60 seconds · no signup · verdict on screen
Rails we file for
MercuryRelayShopify PaymentsTHE LEGAL ROUTE, NOT A LOOPHOLE
Everything named up front — including what it costs you later.
01/03
Compliant by construction
A real US entity filed with the state, an EIN issued by the IRS, a registered agent on file. Nothing about this is a workaround.
02/03
The two ongoing obligations
State annual report from $60/yr. IRS Form 5472 with a pro-forma 1120. Both go on our compliance calendar the day you sign.
03/03
What DIY gets wrong
Missing Form 5472 carries a $25,000 penalty — the most common mistake founders make after a cheap formation.
Mercury approves GCC founders every day.
None of the 6 GCC countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman — appear on Mercury's prohibited-countries list. Account eligibility isn't the obstacle most GCC founders assume it is.
What actually determines approval is whether the application looks like a real operating business: a US entity with a confirmed EIN, a consistent founder identity across documents, and a plausible, described use of funds. We assemble all of that before you ever submit.
One honest caveat
Mercury has currently paused physical card shipments to all 6 GCC countries, citing the regional conflict — this is a shipping restriction, not an account restriction. Accounts open normally, and a virtual card works immediately as a workaround while physical shipping is paused.
Before You Apply — Answered Honestly
Is my GCC country actually eligible for a Mercury account?
Yes — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman are all absent from Mercury's published prohibited-countries list. That list includes countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Russia and Syria — no GCC country is on it.
What if Mercury still declines my application?
We prepare Relay and Wise applications in parallel groundwork, so if Mercury declines, a backup application goes out the same week — no new paperwork required from you.
Why would Mercury decline a legitimate business?
Usually a mismatch: an entity without a confirmed EIN yet, inconsistent founder details across documents, or a vague description of what the business actually does. These are exactly what we check before you submit.
Can I still get a physical debit card?
Card shipments to the GCC are currently paused due to the regional conflict — this affects physical cards only, not account access. A virtual card works immediately and covers most online/Stripe-adjacent use cases in the meantime.
Do I need the LLC and EIN before I apply to Mercury?
Yes — Mercury requires a formed US entity with a confirmed EIN before an application can be submitted. We sequence this for you: LLC filed in 24–48h, EIN in 3–5 business days, then the Mercury application.
Get an application Mercury's team expects to see.
$499 all-inclusive: state filing, EIN, registered agent, and a banking introduction prepared against the checklist. Filed in 24–48h.
Check if I qualify — free, 60 seconds