European bank account for non-residents — the easy way

Although much of Europe is joined up in terms of banking and financial services, there are some variations in how institutions work across the different countries.

One notable difference is in account products available for non-residents and the processes required to access banking services if you’re not physically there.

This guide covers all you need to know to get you started, as well as an alternative to opening a European account with traditional banks.

Overview of European banking

Europe has a well-developed banking sector, and although each country has its own rules and processes, much of Europe works together to streamline financial payments under a system called the Single Euro Payment System (SEPA).

SEPA exists to make it as easy to make a payment from one European country to another as it might be to make a domestic transfer. All of the euro area countries are part of SEPA, as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom¹.

Make hassle-free payments to Europe with Wise.

Can you open a euro bank account in person as a non-resident?

If you need an EU bank account you might be considering opening a bank account in Germany, or a local account in Portugal for example, to hold your funds easily in euros.

Or you might want to be able to send or save money in pounds, and decide to get yourself a bank account in the UK.

It’s possible to open a bank account in Europe for many US citizens.

However, providers, such as Wise offer multi-currency accounts in several different European currencies. You can also get a card that lets you spend like a local in over 170 countries.

Learn more

Opening a bank account in Europe step by step

Let’s walk through your options to choose and then open a bank account in Europe.

The right approach for you might vary a bit based on the types of transactions you’ll make and whether you’re looking for an account for yourself or a business — but whatever you need, this guide has you covered.

Step 1. Figure out why do you want to open a bank account in Europe

You might want a European bank account for any of the following reasons:

You love to travel and need a simple way to spend across different countries You’re buying a second home or investment property, and need to send and receive international payments to do so You’re an entrepreneur building or expanding a business into Europe You’re a freelancer paid by clients in a range of different currencies and need a simple way to hold and convert your money You want to build a nest egg, invest or increase your pension funds and are looking to diversify and keep some of your savings in a foreign currency

No matter what your specific situation, there is a solution out there for you. However, you’ll find it easier to find the right bank account or financial product for your needs if you’re really clear on how you’ll use your account on a day-to-day basis.

💡 Spend some time thinking about what matters to you in a European bank account. Do you need low fees for payments, convenient account access, or the best available interest rates, for example? You can then check the features and fees of different options against your likely requirements.

Step 2. Understand what's the best European account option for you

Once you’ve figured out the types of transactions you’ll need to make, and what features and services are most important to you, you’ll be able to research more specific account types. Here are some of the most popular options for a European non-resident bank account.

Getting a non-resident physical person account

When it comes to opening a non-resident bank account, each bank will set their own eligibility requirements, based on demand and local competition. That means you can open a bank account as a non-resident in some countries more easily than in others.

If you want to have a euro-denominated account from a traditional European bank, you could try opening a bank account in Estonia, for example.

Several major banks offer non-resident banking, if you can show you have some link to the country, such as property or a business there. You can also become an e-resident, and set up a business based — virtually — in Estonia, to access business banking services remotely. More on that in a moment².

Similarly, other countries like Spain allow non-residents to open a bank account but in practice, banks often require you to call into a local branch to complete the documentation, or provide a signature.

This might be possible if you’re visiting the country — but isn’t practical for everyone.

Check out this guide on opening a bank account in Spain, for details of banks offering non-resident accounts there

Choose a US based bank that offers euro accounts

You’d think that it would be fairly easy to open a euro denominated account in the US if you need to transact in EUR frequently.

However, foreign currency and multi-currency accounts are actually pretty tricky to get hold of from traditional banks in the US if you’re a personal customer.

While some banks like East West³ do offer some limited foreign currency account services, they’re usually focused on ways to save and invest in EUR rather than for day to day spending.

Compare a few options if you’re thinking of choosing a traditional US bank, to see if any suit your specific needs.

Opening an European bank account online

Calling into a bank in Europe may not be very practical as a non-resident. So looking for a specialist provider which can help you set up an account which can be used to hold, exchange, send and spend euros, and which lets you get an account set up online makes sense.

European bank accounts from specialist providers are available for online opening, verification and use — you’ll just need to make sure you’re picking the best provider for your needs.

We’ll look at one popular option for both personal and business services — Wise — in more detail later.

Learn more about Wise

🗺 For country specific information on getting an euro bank account check our guides below:

Opening a bank account in Austria Opening a bank account in Belgium Opening a bank account in Bulgaria Opening a bank account in Croatia Opening a bank account in Cyprus Opening a bank account in Czech Republic Opening a bank account in Denmark Opening a bank account in Estonia Opening a bank account in Finland Opening a bank account in France Opening a bank account in Germany Opening a bank account in Greece Opening a bank account in Hungary Opening a bank account in Ireland Opening a bank account in Italy Opening a bank account in Liechtenstein Opening a bank account in Lithuania Opening a bank account in Luxembourg Opening a bank account in Malta Opening a bank account in Monaco Opening a bank account in the Netherlands Opening a bank account in Norway Opening a bank account in Poland Opening a bank account in Portugal Opening a bank account in Romania  Opening a bank account in Slovakia Opening a bank account in Slovenia Opening a bank account in Spain Opening a bank account in Sweden Opening a bank account in Switzerland Opening a bank account in Turkey Opening a bank account in Ukraine

Filing for e-residency to get an EU business account

As we've mentioned before, if you're looking to get access to an European account online, one simple way to do it is to become an e-resident of Estonia.

Estonia has an advanced digital infrastructure, allowing residents — including e-residents — to manage their affairs online. You can vote, pay taxes, open a business, sign legally binding documents and much more, all online using a secure digital identity.

This means less paperwork and has allowed Estonia to open its doors to the world, offering e-residency to people who live outside of the country.

💡
Although e-residency has a number of benefits, it’s especially popular with those looking to open a business within Europe. You can set up and manage your business online, including accessing banking and other essential services, without needing to be physically resident in Estonia or Europe.

Interested? There’s more information in this handy guide to the definition, benefits and eligibility requirements for Estonian e-residency.

If you're a business owner or freelancer, then you may be looking to open a business account in Europe. In this case, the Wise Business account is a convenient and low-cost solution that my be worth exploring.

Some key features of Wise Business include:

Better visibility and organization of business finances. This is helpful for account reconciliations and audits Major local account details for a simple one-off fee to receive international payments with ease No monthly account fees or minimum balance requirements Receive payments from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or via Stripe Create invoices using the free Wise invoice generator or invoice templates Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection Batch payment options. Fast payment of up to 1,000 people

Discover the difference between
Wise Business vs Personal

Step 3. Pick the provider or bank that suits you best and get started

Now that you've got the other steps out of the way, it's time to choose where you'll hold your money in Europe.

The most familiar option would be opening an account with a regular bank. The offer for non-residents can be quite limited, so make sure you do a thorough research before signing up for an account.

In addition to banks, there are international multi-currency account solutions, such as Wise or Revolut, that offer you the option of sending, receiving and spending money in Europe like a local — all without having to be an European resident.

Send, spend, hold and receive in EUR like a local with the Wise Account

If you’re looking for a flexible way to send and receive payments in Europe, a Wise Account might be just what you need.

With Wise you won’t need to worry about opening bank accounts in different European countries. It only takes a few simple steps to get set up and you can then manage your money across dozens of currencies.

With a Wise Account you can:

Send money all around the world, in multiple different currencies Send and receive payments fee free from countries in the eurozone Get paid like a local in 9 other currencies — in and outside of Europe Wise payments aren’t usually processed using the SWIFT network — so there are no intermediary fees to pay Get the mid-market exchange rate for all currency conversion Just pay a small, transparent upfront fee Manage your money on the go with the Wise app Get the Wise debit card, to spend like a local wherever you are Have personal and business accounts to fit all your international money needs Wise is registered and regulated by the financial authorities in each country it does business in — that means your money is safe no matter what currency it’s held in

Get started with Wise
in minutes 🚀

Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Or open an account with a traditional bank

If you’ve found a traditional European bank which can offer you a local EUR account you’ll also be able to make your application there. Exactly how the process works will depend on the specific bank you decide to go with.

A handful of traditional banks will allow online applications for non-resident accounts, but it’s pretty common to need to visit a branch in person.

Once you’re ready to apply you’ll have to show or upload the required documents. You’ll usually need to provide:

• Proof of identity — like your passport
• Proof of address
• Business information for business customers
• Tax residency details are often needed

A minimum opening deposit is often required at the point your account is opened.

If you're still not sure of what's the best option for you, make sure to check our full comparison between Wise and traditional banks

---

There are a few different ways you can go about getting a European bank account as a non-resident.

You might choose a traditional account from a regular bank based in one of the European countries, take e-residency to get your business set up in the EU, or consider a modern alternative such as the Wise Account.

With such a range of options out there, you’ll definitely find a solution that suits you.

---

Sources:

1. ECB - SEPA
2. SEB - Business banking
3. East West Bank - Foreign currency accounts

Sources checked on 12.12.2022