Business bank accounts for non-UK residents

There are a number of business accounts you can open if you live abroad and are a foreigner.

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Valentina Cipriani

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Jason Loewenthal

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Opening a business bank account if you’re not a UK resident is likely to be more complicated than for residents, but if you’re operating your business in the UK it’s well worth having one. Your ability to open one will depend on a range of factors, so you’ll need to think about what type of account you need.

Although there’s no legal requirement for you to be a UK resident to open a business account in the UK, every bank or account provider will have its own criteria and process. And it can take quite a while, with lots of paperwork. You can try the bigger, established banks or you can look into digital, challenger banks.

In most cases, only the director of a business registered with Companies House will be able to open a business bank account. Tide is an example of a business account provider that will let you open an account as a non-resident, provided you have a UK residential address and phone number. It also provides a service to register your business with Companies House.

Revolut is another digital option that could provide you with a simpler application process, as your company can be registered in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA). Its process is online as well, which might end up being quicker.

You’ll need to think about whether you actually need a full bank account as well, because you might be able to use Wise, Revolut or Airwallex to send and receive money in multiples countries and currencies. One of these could fulfil most of your requirements, so it’s important to understand what you need before you apply. It could save you time, money and paperwork.

You should also consider whether the bank you’re using in your home country has a presence in the UK and whether you’re able to open an account that way.

Latest reviews of business accounts for non-uk residents

Airwallex Multi-Currency Business Account

Airwallex Multi-Currency Business Account

8.3 Great
Account feeFree
£0/month if you deposit £10k+ per month or hold a £10k+ balance.
Arranged overdraft
Requires credit check
Go to site
Read review

Your business does not need to be registered in the UK to qualify for a business account with Airwallex. In fact, you can create local accounts in the UK or foreign currency accounts across the globe without even needing to visit a bank branch. The account enables you to create virtual employee and expense cards for your business in just minutes, as well as track spending and set spend limits. You'll also be able to make faster, cheaper domestic and international payments and integrate your account with invoicing solutions such as Xero. UK domestic transfers are fee-free, providing they are carried out via Airwallex's payment network, but you will need to pay a monthly account fee unless you can deposit at least £10,000 a month (or hold a balance of this size).

Revolut Business Account (Basic)

Revolut Business Account (Basic)

8.7 Great
Account fee£10 per month
Arranged overdraft
Requires credit check
Go to site Read review
£100 bonus when you add at least £0.01 to a new Revolut Business by 31 December 2026.

The basic eligibility criteria to open a Revolut business account is that your company is registered and operates from the EEA, Switzerland, Australia or the US, making it a good option for non-UK residents. You can sign up for a business account in minutes and there are no credit checks to worry about. In addition, you can set up multi-currency sub-accounts to receive, hold and exchange money in more than 25 currencies worldwide with no hidden fees.

Zempler Bank Business Extra

Zempler Bank Business Extra

8.7 Great
Account fee£9 per month
Arranged overdraft
Requires credit check
Read review
No annual or monthly fee when you apply using the Finder link.

You can open a business bank account with Zempler Bank (formerly Cashplus) as a non-resident as long as the business is based in the UK and registered with UK Companies House, with an active business status. You’ll need a confirmation statement from UK Companies House showing everything is up to date and there are some additional checks required to open an account. Zempler offers a Business Go, a Business Extra and a Business Pro account. Go has no monthly fees, while Extra charges £9 a month and Pro charges £19 a month, but these 2 plans come with more inclusions, so might be more suitable for a business that makes lots of payments.

Cathy Hudson's headshot
Our expert says: What are your banking options as a non-resident?

"Opening a business bank account is trickier as a non-UK resident but there is still a range of options to choose from. You can either go with one of the well-established big banks or a newer digital-only one. Either way, there are often monthly account fees for business bank accounts although free options are available.

The newer entrants include Tide, Monese, Revolut Business, Zempler and Airwallex. You can get free bank and e-money accounts from Tide and Zempler but watch out for transaction and other charges, which could make them more expensive for your business than an account with a monthly fee, depending on your needs.

Some accounts require your business to be registered in the UK but you can open a Revolut Business account if your business is registered and has a physical presence in the EEA, Switzerland, Australia and the US too. You can also get an account with Airwallex if your business isn’t UK registered."

Cathy Hudson's headshot
Money expert

Can you open a business bank account in the UK as a non-resident?

There are no laws or rules against it, but it’s also true that most banks will only accept applications from company directors living in the UK. They will ask for proof of address too.

This is because anti-money laundering regulations are quite strict and accepting overseas clients can be a bit of a compliance nightmare for banks.

So, you will need to shop around a bit, and perhaps try a couple of different banks before getting it right. It might also take quite a bit longer than usual while the bank carries out the necessary checks.

What options do I have?

Unfortunately, there is no straightforward list of banks that do or do not accept business account applications from non-UK residents; much depends on the business and on the bank, on a case-by-case basis.

But here are some options you can try:

  • Big UK banks. Think big brands like Barclays, Lloyds and so on. They might accept your application, but expect it to take time (maybe a few months) and quite a bit of paperwork. You might also need to visit a branch in the UK as part of the application process.
  • Digital providers. Digital-only banks are known to let you open a business account online without too much administration. Some only accept UK residents, while others are more flexible as they carry out all their checks online. Revolut, for example, doesn’t have being a UK resident as part of its eligibility criteria for business accounts, although your business does need to have a “physical presence” in the United Kingdom or in the rest of the EEA.
  • Your own bank. This is such a simple solution that it may not have crossed your mind. Does your current business bank have branches in the UK? Can it help you open an account there?
  • International accounts. Rather than an actual UK business account, you could look at a business account that supports pounds (as well as other currencies). Many big banks offer international accounts, but the exchange rate and fees are not always the most advantageous.

Digital-only providers can be an especially good solution if your business is relatively small and does not need to deal with much cash. They’re often cheaper too, and in some cases you might be able to secure a multi-currency business account with one of them, which can be great for international trade.

How do you open a business bank account in the UK?

Traditional banks may require you to visit a branch to open a business account, although more and more are accepting online applications. You should be able to do everything online with a digital-only provider.

Normally, these are the basic details and documents you need to open a business account in the UK:

  • Your business name and address
  • Companies House registration number if you’re a limited company
  • Certificate of incorporation
  • Your own personal details and contact information
  • A form of ID
  • Proof of address
  • Estimated business turnover
  • Personal bank or financial statements

As you are not a UK resident, some of these may vary. For example, you might be asked to provide proof that your business has a physical presence in the UK through your office’s rental agreement or bills.

How to compare business accounts for non-UK residents

You can find more information on UK business accounts and how to compare them on this page. However, as a non-UK resident, your options will likely be reduced and you might have to compromise on some things.

Taking this into account, these are our top 3 factors to consider before committing to a bank:

  • Fees and charges. Business accounts can be quite expensive, and even more so if there’s currency exchange involved. Make sure you are fully aware of how much maintaining the account and carrying out transactions will cost you.
  • Application process. Ask how long it’s likely to take to get your account up and running – if it’s going to be several months, it can be worth looking elsewhere first.
  • Managing the account online. Even if you choose a traditional bank, there is really no good excuse for poor digital services these days.

Pros and cons of opening a business account as a non-UK resident

  • Simplify payments and expenses. Opening a UK account will make it a great deal easier for your international business to make and receive payments in the UK.
  • Decent choice of banks. Your business is likely to be able to choose from a fairly wide range of banks.
  • Extensive paperwork. The process for opening a business account is likely to involve a fair amount of documents and form-filling.
  • It can take time. The application process for opening a business account as a non-UK resident may take a few months.

Bottom line

You may have to jump through some extra hoops to get a business bank account in the UK as a non-resident due to anti-money laundering rules but as long as you are able to provide all the documents the bank needs to verify your details, you should be able to open one. It’s worth looking into the accounts from the digital-only challenger banks as they can have less strict requirements. Just make sure you weigh up all the fees and charges to get the best deal for your business.

Frequently asked questions

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Valentina Cipriani was a writer at Finder UK. She wrote news, features and guides about banking and credit cards, helping people to improve their financial lives. She holds an MA in International Journalism. See full bio

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Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio

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