International Investors

		The U.S. financial markets are truly unmatched in every way. Major corporations from many countries list their stocks on U.S. exchanges, U.S. government bonds directly impact global interest rates, and the U.S. Dollar is the premier currency in the world.

1. Do I qualify to open an International Account?
You may sign up for an international account if you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, do not have a Social Security Number or Tax-ID Number, and do not live in an unauthorized country*.

2. Complete the Application Process
To apply for an international account with Firstrade, please complete our Online Application, which will assist you in completing the Account Application and Online Service Agreement. These documents must be signed and mailed to Firstrade.

(Note: Online application cannot accept accounts with a U.S. mailing address.)

You must also complete a W-8 BEN form, which is required by the Internal Revenue Service for non-U.S. residents.

W-8 BEN Form (20K) Note: Do not use the W8-BEN form if you are a non-resident alien present in the United States for over 183 days in a year, except for F, J, M, and Q visa holders.

To open a margin account, please also complete the Margin Application.

Margin Application Form (1.5 MB)

For option trading privileges, please complete the Option Application and Agreement.

Option Application and Agreement Form (48 K)

In order to properly view these forms, you may need to download the latest free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

If you do not have access to a printer, please go to our Forms Center and select the appropriate forms. Complete the mailing address at the bottom of the page, and we will send the forms to you.