Money stack basics
Opening a Bank Account Abroad: What to Bring
To open a bank account abroad, bring your passport, proof of your local address, proof of lawful residence such as a visa or residence permit, your tax identification number and tax residence details, proof of income or source of funds, and a phone number and email the bank can reach. Ask the bank for its own list first, because requirements differ by bank and country, and check whether your current account or Wise, Revolut or N26 already does the job.
By DmytroUpdated 8 min read
Short answer
- Bring: passport or national ID, proof of address, residence permit or visa, tax ID and tax residence, proof of income or source of funds, and a phone number and email the bank can reach.
- Ask the bank for its written checklist: whether non-residents can apply, online or in person, and which formats, translations or apostilles it accepts.
- You may not need a local account: in the EU, a payer cannot reject a SEPA transfer only because your IBAN is from another member state. N26 offers a free Standard euro account to residents of its supported countries (EU, as of 26 Sep 2026).
- Anyone legally resident in the EU has a right to a basic payment account, with exceptions such as anti-money-laundering rules.
What to bring to open a bank account abroad
Six things most banks ask for; the bank’s own list decides.
Banks check four different things: who you are, where you live, whether you live in the country lawfully, and where your money comes from. One document rarely covers all four: a passport proves identity, not your address.
Ask the bank for its checklist before the appointment: whether non-residents can apply, whether the process is online or in person, and which document formats, dates and languages it accepts. Pay for certified translations or apostilles only if the bank asks for them, and ask whether it needs originals at the branch, secure uploads or a live identity check.
Tax details matter too. Under the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard, your self-certification must list every country where you are tax resident. Citizenship or a residence permit does not by itself decide tax residence. Give the tax numbers you have, or follow the bank’s procedure if one has not been issued yet.
Checklist
- Passport or national ID card, valid for the period the bank requires.
- Proof of address the bank accepts, such as a lease or a utility bill.
- Proof of lawful residence: visa, residence permit or registration, where required.
- Tax identification number and every country where you are tax resident.
- Proof of income or source of funds: employment contract, payslips, invoices or statements.
- A phone number and email the bank can reach, plus an address for card delivery.
Do you need a local account at all?
Open one to solve a specific payment need.
Write down the payment you cannot make today: receiving a salary, paying rent by direct debit, depositing cash or using a local service. Ask the employer or landlord which currency and payment scheme they use, then check whether your current account handles it.
Inside the EU, rejecting a SEPA transfer or direct debit only because the account is in another member state is IBAN discrimination, and the European Commission points consumers to their national authority. For salary and rent paid by SEPA, a euro account from another EU country can therefore be enough.
Accounts you can open without a local branch: Wise holds 40+ currencies, with availability depending on your country of residence (as of 21 Sep 2026). Revolut serves the UK, the EEA, the US and many other countries, and its Standard plan is free (UK, as of 26 Sep 2026). N26 is a euro bank account for residents of its supported European countries, including Switzerland; Standard is free, and SEPA and Instant SEPA transfers cost nothing (EU, as of 26 Sep 2026).
Check who holds your money. A bank holds deposits under a deposit guarantee scheme, while an e-money firm safeguards client money instead. In the UK, the FCA explains that safeguarding is different from FSCS deposit protection.
| Need | Question to answer first |
|---|---|
| Salary or rent transfer | Does your current account support the currency and scheme the payer uses? |
| Cash deposits | Can you deposit cash, where, and at what cost? |
| Monthly cost | Example: an account at €8 a month costs €96 a year before card, transfer and exchange fees. |
| Access recovery | Can you get back into the account without your only phone? |
Price the account against the job it must do
A new account should pass one named payment test.
Write one test, such as receiving payroll in the employer’s currency or paying the landlord’s direct debit. Ask the payer or payee whether your current account passes it, then ask the new bank the same question. A local account number is useless if the payment type is not supported.
Example: €8 a month in maintenance, €15 for card delivery and €10 for opening documents make €96 of yearly fees and €121 in the first year. If your current account already passes the test, the new one adds cost without solving anything. If it fails, compare the accounts that pass, including cash and transfer charges for your planned use, and confirm which legal entity you would contract with.
Applying, and what to do if the bank says no
In the EU, legal residents have a right to a basic payment account.
Book an appointment if needed and keep the document list and application reference. Read the contract before signing, and ask for an explanation or help with translation without sharing passwords or verification codes. Approval, card delivery and online access can come on different days, so keep another way to pay meanwhile.
Anyone legally resident in an EU country has the right to a basic payment account, subject to conditions and refusal grounds such as anti-money-laundering rules. The right covers a basic account, not credit, savings or premium accounts. If you are refused, ask specifically about the basic account procedure and the national complaint route.
After opening: test the account, then plan for moving on
Update your details when you move and move payments before closing.
After approval, check the account details in the official app, send a small transfer and confirm the amount credited before you give the details to your employer or landlord. Save statements and look at the charges each month.
When you move, update your residential and tax details and ask whether the bank can keep serving you. A relative’s address can be a correspondence address only if the bank allows it, and it must not stand in for where you live.
Before closing, move salary and direct debits, settle outstanding charges, wait for pending refunds, download statements and follow the bank’s closing process. Keep the confirmation. Leaving a country does not by itself mean closing every account there.
FAQ
What do I need to bring to open a bank account abroad?
Usually your passport, proof of address, proof of lawful residence such as a residence permit, your tax ID, and proof of income or source of funds. Ask the bank for its own list; it decides which documents it accepts.
Do I need a local bank account to get paid abroad?
Not always. Check the payer’s currency and payment scheme. In the EU, a SEPA payment cannot be rejected only because your account is in another member state.
Can I open an account before I arrive?
Only if the bank accepts your current residence and remote applications. E-money accounts such as Wise and Revolut also verify your identity and residence.
Can I keep my home-country account after moving?
Ask whether the bank serves your new country of residence and update your details. Give your real home address, not a relative’s, as your residential address.
What if the bank refuses my application?
Ask for the reason and the complaint procedure. In the EU, legal residents have a right to a basic payment account, with exceptions set by law.
Sources
- Basic bank accounts in the EU — European Union
- IBAN discrimination — European Commission
- Payment Accounts Directive: basic account refusals — European Union
- Tax residency for CRS self-certification — OECD
- Using payment service providers — FCA
- Multi-currency account uses — Wise
- What countries are supported? — Revolut
- Revolut pricing plans — Revolut
- Can I open an N26 account in my country? — N26
- N26 plan comparison (EU) — N26
- What are instant transfers? — N26
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