Key Takeaways
- Relay and Wise each ask for two business addresses: a legal or registered address, where a registered agent address is fine, and an operating or trading address where the work actually happens.
- Both reject PO boxes, virtual mailboxes, mail forwarding services and registered agent addresses as the operating or trading address. Wise also rejects virtual offices and attorney offices.
- The place of work doesn’t have to be in the US for a non-US owner. Relay accepts an international home as the operating address, and Wise accepts a trading address in any country where Wise Business operates.
- Proof of address rules differ: Relay wants an English PDF under 6 months old; Wise wants bills and statements under 3 months, won’t take mobile phone bills or Mercury statements, and rejects any document showing an SSN.
- Both verify every person owning 25% or more plus one person who controls the company, as the federal Customer Due Diligence rule requires.
- Relay’s own help center disagrees with itself on whether non-US owners need an SSN and a US home address. Ask Relay before you apply if you have neither.
Relay and Wise business account requirements at a glance
Relay and Wise business account requirements come down to three things: company documents, identity checks on the people who own or run the company, and addresses. The documents are routine. The addresses need the most care, because both platforms ask for more than one, and each field has its own rules.
Relay is a US business banking platform whose accounts are held at Thread Bank, Member FDIC (source). Wise Business is a multi-currency account that a US company opens for a one-time 31 USD setup fee (source). The table below compares what each one asks a US LLC for, using only their own help pages as checked on 19 September 2026.
| Requirement | Relay | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | US-registered LLCs, corporations, partnerships and sole proprietors with an "operating presence in the U.S." | US businesses except those registered in Nevada or a US territory |
| Tax ID | EIN (SSN for sole proprietors) | EIN (SSN or TIN for sole proprietors) |
| Company documents | Articles of Organization or Incorporation, EIN letter (CP 575 or 147C), signed operating agreement for multi-member LLCs | Asked for only if Wise’s team emails you: formation document, ownership document, proof of trading address |
| Owners verified | Every 25%+ owner and anyone with significant management responsibility | Every 25%+ owner and one controller |
| Owner ID | US citizens: driver’s license or passport. Non-US citizens: passport only | US residents: SSN. Non-US owners: photo ID (passport, national ID or photo driving licence) |
| Legal address | Registered agent address allowed | Registered address; a registration agency or attorney address is allowed |
| Place of work | Operating address: home (US or abroad) or an office where the business is run | Trading address: office, coworking space, shop, studio or home |
| Rejected for the place of work | Registered agent, PO box, virtual mailbox, mailbox rental | PO box, mail forwarding, virtual address or office, registration agency, attorney office |
| Proof of address age | Within 6 months | Under 3 months for bills and statements; under 12 months for tax and insurance documents |
| Review time | Usually 1 to 2 business days | Usually up to 10 working days |
Sources: Relay’s documents by entity type, registered agent and operating address and address documents articles; Wise’s US business verification, business address and how verification works articles.
Why Relay and Wise verify your address and owners
Short answer: federal anti-money-laundering rules. Relay’s accounts sit at a bank, and US banks must run a Customer Identification Program. Before opening an account, a bank has to collect each customer’s address, and for a company that means "a principal place of business, local office, or other physical location" (31 CFR 1020.220). A mailbox that only receives letters isn’t a place where the business operates, which is why both platforms ask for a second, real address.
Relay says so directly: it collects an operating address because of "Know Your Customer and anti-money laundering rules" and because a registered agent address "does not confirm that the business has an actual footprint" (source). Wise puts it more briefly: "As a financial institution, Wise needs to verify where your business operates to comply with regulations" (source).
The 25% owner rule behind both applications
The Customer Due Diligence rule defines who gets checked. It covers every individual who owns 25% or more of the company, plus "a single individual with significant responsibility to control, manage, or direct" it, such as a CEO or managing member (31 CFR 1010.230). Relay and Wise use the same two tests. That’s why a 30% co-founder who never touches the account still has to upload a passport.
Two things follow from these rules. First, nobody is being singled out: every owner of every applicant goes through the same check. Second, the address questions aren’t a formality. A bank has to be able to point to where the business is, so an address that exists only to receive mail won’t satisfy the field that asks where you work.
Relay business account requirements: documents by entity type
Relay says the application takes about 10 minutes online and most reviews finish within 1 to 2 business days (source). Have these ready before you start, per Relay’s entity-type checklist.
| Entity | What Relay asks for |
|---|---|
| LLC | EIN; US business address and phone (physical, no PO boxes); industry and description; Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation; signed operating agreement if the LLC has more than one member |
| C corp or S corp | EIN; US business address and phone; industry and description; Articles or Certificate of Incorporation; bylaws if available |
| General partnership | Signed partnership agreement; EIN; physical US business address and phone; industry and description; formation document |
| Sole proprietorship | SSN; DBA if you trade under another name; business license if applicable; physical US business address. Relay can’t serve sole proprietors without both a valid SSN and a physical US address |
Legal documents can be PNG, JPG, JPEG or PDF. Your EIN letter can be the CP 575 the IRS mailed when it issued the number, or a 147C verification letter. If the EIN you type doesn’t match IRS records, Relay tells you to re-enter it exactly as it appears on the CP 575.
What every owner provides
- A government photo ID: a driver’s license or passport for US citizens, a passport only for non-US citizens. Scans, temporary IDs and expired IDs are rejected.
- An SSN or passport number (see the non-US section below for the contradiction here).
- A physical residential address. No PO boxes, no virtual mailboxes.
- Title, personal mobile number for two-factor authentication, and email.
- Non-US resident owners also answer four questions: the source of income that started the business, whether it’s new or established, annual personal income, and the countries where it operates.
Identity verification is a selfie, photos of both sides of the ID and a short liveness check, usually 2 to 3 minutes. The name on the ID must match the application exactly (source). If a holding company owns your LLC, you list the person who runs the operating company, not the holding company, and enter 100% if the parent owns all of it (source).
The business profile questions
Every application also asks for source of funds, countries of operation, US nexus (your business ties to the United States), monthly transaction volume, account purpose, industry, description and whether the business is regulated. Answer them the way you’d explain the business to an accountant. Relay says reviews run past 1 to 2 business days when a document is missing or unclear, an owner can’t be verified automatically, an owner hasn’t accepted their invite, or the industry needs extra screening (source).
Relay address requirements: legal, operating, personal and mailing
Relay asks for up to four addresses, and its help center says plainly that one address can’t cover all of them: "A registered agent address cannot double as an operating or personal address, and a personal address cannot be a PO Box or virtual mailbox" (source).
| Address field | What it is | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal (business) address | Where the company is legally reached | US street address, including a registered agent address | PO boxes; non-US addresses |
| Operating address | Where the business actually runs day to day | Your home, in the US or abroad; a physical office or workspace where you run the business | Registered agent, PO box, virtual mailbox, mailbox rental |
| Personal address | Each owner’s home | "A real residential address where you live" | Registered agent, PO box, virtual mailbox, mailbox rental |
| Mailing address | Where physical cards ship | A US address; defaults to the business address | Addresses outside the US |
Sources: registered agent and operating address, business and billing address and mailing address.
Can I use a registered agent address with Relay?
Yes, as the legal business address, including for non-US residents. The sign-up flow then asks for a second address where the business actually operates, and that one can’t be another registered agent address. If your operating address differs from your home address, Relay may ask for a utility bill, lease or bank statement in the business’s name to prove it.
Does Relay accept a virtual address?
Not for the operating address or any personal address. Relay lists "PO Boxes", "Virtual mailboxes" and "Mailbox rental services" as address types that "cannot be used" for verification (source). The rule doesn’t depend on whether the mailbox is properly registered with USPS. A lawful commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) address is still a mailbox. Our CMRA address guide explains how banks spot one.
Team members need a home address too
Anyone you give transaction permissions, such as sending payments or approving bills, must add a residential address. Relay rejects PO boxes, virtual addresses, mail forwarding, registered agent addresses, and coworking or shared office addresses for this field (source).
Relay & Wise Requirements
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Relay for non-US founders: what the help center says
Relay accepts "U.S.-registered businesses owned by non-U.S. citizens or residents, provided the business has an operating presence in the U.S." (source). Its FAQ puts the reach at citizens and residents of "over 200 countries" (source). The company must be a US entity with an EIN; Relay doesn’t serve companies incorporated abroad (source).
Countries Relay can’t serve
Relay can’t open an account if any named owner holds citizenship or residency in one of 31 countries, "regardless of where the business itself is registered". The list, as of 11 August 2026: Afghanistan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe. Thread Bank can make exceptions case by case, so contact Relay before applying if you think yours qualifies (source).
Where Relay’s pages disagree
On two points that matter to non-US founders, Relay’s own pages give different answers. All of them were current on 19 September 2026.
| Question | One Relay page says | Another Relay page says |
|---|---|---|
| Do non-US owners need an SSN? | Owners give an "SSN or passport number" (entity-type article) | "Every beneficial owner must have a valid SSN" (how to open); Relay’s blog says non-US owners need "a Tax ID Number (ITIN) or SSN" (blog) |
| Must an owner’s home be in the US? | Every owner gives a "Physical U.S. address" (entity-type article) | Non-US residents "must provide residential addresses for all beneficial owners", and the operating address can be a home "domestic or international" (address documents, registered agent article) |
| Can Relay ship a card abroad? | "Relay only supports U.S. mailing addresses for shipping physical cards" (mailing address) | Cards "can be shipped to any US or international address" (FAQ) |
If you still need an EIN, our EIN guide for non-US founders covers the SS-4 route without an SSN. If you haven’t formed the company yet, Registate handles US formation for non-US founders.
Wise business account requirements for a US company
Wise asks for most of what it needs in the sign-up form and only requests documents if its team can’t confirm something. For a US business the form covers the business name, company type, EIN, registered address, trading address, what you sell, your website, why you want the account and your expected monthly volume (source).
Who Wise verifies
- Every person who owns 25% or more directly or indirectly, or who controls the company. You enter the individuals behind any owning company, not the company itself.
- Exactly one controller per account.
- For each owner and the controller: full name, date of birth, full residential address, email and job title.
- SSN for owners who live in the US or hold a US passport. A photo ID copy for non-US owners.
- Each director’s full name, date of birth and country of residence.
- The person opening the account. If that’s not a director, proof of authority such as a letter of authorisation, power of attorney or board resolution.
For owner IDs, Wise accepts a passport photo page, a national ID card (not a US military ID) or a photo driving licence. The document must show the person’s name, photo and date of birth, and the details must match what you typed (source).
Fees, review time and what triggers the review
Signing up is free. The main verification review starts when you pay the one-time fee for account details or set up your first transfer. For US businesses the fee is 31 USD (pricing), and Wise refunds it if it can’t verify the business (source). The review "usually takes up to 10 working days" (source).
Who Wise can’t onboard
- Businesses from Nevada or US territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands), because of licensing limits.
- Businesses in crypto, tobacco, adult content or other prohibited activities.
- Businesses offering goods or services relating to Cuba with US relations, and businesses with bearer shares.
Sources: US business verification and can my business use Wise.
Wise business address rules: registered vs trading address
Wise collects two addresses from every business. The registered address is the one on your formation documents; for a US company, Wise says it "could be the address of the registration agency you used or the one of your attorney" (source). The trading address is "where you actually run your business day-to-day", and it can be an office, coworking space, shop, studio or your home (source).
What your Wise trading address can’t be
- A PO box (military PO boxes are the exception)
- A mail forwarding or receiving service
- A virtual office or virtual address
- A solicitor’s or attorney’s office
- A business registration agency
Can my registered and trading address be in different countries?
Yes. A US LLC run from Lisbon can give its registered agent address as the registered address and the Lisbon home or office as the trading address. Two limits apply: the trading country must be one where Wise Business is available, and Wise only offers the services available in both countries (source). You also can’t move the registered address to another country later; that takes a new business account (source).
Can I use my home address?
As the trading address, yes, and Wise accepts documents in your personal name to prove it if you’re a significant owner or director. As the registered address of a US company, Wise’s US rule allows the personal residential address to match the registered business address only for sole proprietors.
Proof of address documents Relay and Wise accept
Neither platform asks everyone for proof of address up front. Relay asks during review when it needs to confirm an owner’s home or the operating address (source). Wise says "we will eventually ask you for a proof of address document for your business" (source). When they do ask, the rules differ more than you’d expect.
| Rule | Relay | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum age | 6 months for every document | 3 months for utility bills, bank statements and licences; 12 months for tax and insurance documents |
| Format | PDF, in English | PDF, JPEG or PNG |
| Name shown | Full name of the owner and the business | Business name, or the owner’s name for home-based businesses |
| Utility bill | Yes, including mobile phone and internet | Gas, electricity, broadband or landline. Mobile phone bills are rejected |
| Lease | Yes, if still active | Yes, if current and signed by you and the landlord |
| Bank statement | Regulated issuer; a fintech statement must name its sponsor bank | Most banks and neobanks. Mercury statements are rejected |
| Other documents | Pay stub; auto or medical insurance; US driver’s license for personal addresses only | Business licence; IRS or other tax correspondence; business insurance policy |
| Automatic rejections | PO box, virtual mailbox or mailbox rental address; payment-app screenshots; remittance receipts (Relay names Wise as an example); lending-app statements | Document too old, partly hidden, one side missing, details not matching, wrong format, or showing an SSN |
Sources: Relay’s accepted address verification documents and Wise’s business address article.
Two traps when you use one account to open the other
- Wise doesn’t accept Mercury statements as proof of your trading address. If Mercury is your only bank, use a utility bill or lease for Wise.
- Relay rejects remittance and money-transfer receipts and names Wise in that list. It does accept statements from money service businesses that show a physical address, so a formal Wise statement with your address may be treated differently from a transfer receipt. Ask before relying on it.
For the document rules at other banks and platforms, see our proof of address guide. For Mercury’s own address rules, see the Mercury address guide.
Cards, mail and staying verified after approval
Where Relay sends cards and mail
Relay mails one thing: physical cards. Statements are digital, and notices arrive by email. Cards ship to your mailing address, which must be in the US, and a card already in production ships to the old address even if you change it (source). Your business address is used for card billing checks at merchants, not for mail (source).
Wise cards for a US business
The Wise Business card is offered in the US (source), but US cards are delivered "only within the US for personal and business customers" (source). For a US card, Wise asks for an SSN and ID, or a non-US ID plus proof of address under 1 year old; the card costs 10 USD and can only be activated while you’re in the US (source). A founder who never visits the US should plan on using a digital card.
Periodic re-verification
Verification doesn’t end at approval. In 2026 Relay asked existing customers to reconfirm 8 business details, including source of funds, US nexus and countries of operation. Accounts that missed the 31 August deadline froze, and those still unconfirmed on 15 September were closed, with the balance mailed by check to the mailing address on file (source). A real prompt appears inside your account after you sign in; Relay says it never asks you to enter credentials through an emailed link.
Wise may ask for a new proof of address when you change your address, for example when you move to or from the US, and a business address can only change within the country the business is registered in (source).
Where a virtual address fits, and where it doesn’t
A virtual mailbox, ours included, is a mailbox. It has a street address and a PMB number, and it’s run by a USPS-registered commercial mail receiving agency. Relay and Wise both reject that kind of address for the operating or trading address and for every personal address. No mailbox provider can change that, and one that says otherwise is setting you up for a rejection.
What a mailbox is good for is everything else a US company receives by post: IRS notices, state filings, legal papers and bank letters from institutions that do mail. If you use a registered agent for the legal address, a virtual mailbox that scans each letter the day it arrives means you see IRS mail without waiting for a forward.
Do you need a US office at all?
Often not. Relay accepts your home abroad as the operating address, and Wise accepts a trading address in any country where Wise Business works. If you run the company from your home in Berlin, that’s your honest answer, and it’s one both platforms say they accept.
A US office matters when the business really does operate in the US, or when another bank or platform insists on a US physical address. Our Office plan is a real office in a staffed building, with a signed 12-month lease and a utility account opened in your company’s name. Leases and utility bills are document types both Relay and Wise list, but each platform decides case by case and sets its own rules, so check theirs before you rely on any address.
Relay and Wise application checklist
Frequently asked questions
What are the Wise business account requirements in the US?
An EIN, the business’s registered and trading addresses, details of what it does and its expected volume, and personal details for every 25% owner and one controller. US-resident owners give an SSN and non-US owners a photo ID. The one-time setup fee for US businesses is 31 USD.
What documents do I need to open a Relay account?
An EIN, your Articles of Organization or Incorporation, a signed operating agreement if the LLC has several members, and a government photo ID for each beneficial owner. Relay may also ask for proof of address dated within the last 6 months.
Can I use a registered agent address for Relay or Wise?
Yes, as the legal or registered address only. Both then ask for a separate operating or trading address where the business actually runs, and a registered agent address isn’t accepted there or as anyone’s personal address.
Does Wise accept a virtual address or PO box?
Not as the trading address. Wise rejects PO boxes (except military ones), mail forwarding services, virtual addresses and offices, attorney offices and registration agencies for that field.
Can a non-US resident open a Relay account?
Relay says yes for US-registered businesses with an operating presence in the US, unless an owner is a citizen or resident of one of 31 prohibited countries. Its pages disagree on whether non-US owners need an SSN or a US home address, so ask Relay before applying.
Can a non-US resident open a Wise Business account for a US LLC?
Yes. Wise asks non-US owners for a photo ID instead of an SSN, and the trading address can be in another country if Wise Business is available there. Wise then offers only the services available in both countries.
What is the difference between a registered address and a trading address on Wise?
The registered address is the one on your formation documents, which can be your registration agency. The trading address is where you run the business every day: an office, coworking space, shop, studio or home.
What proof of address does Wise accept for a business?
A utility bill (not a mobile bill), a signed current lease, a bank or credit card statement (not from Mercury), a business licence, a tax document or a business insurance policy. Bills and statements must be under 3 months old.
Does Relay accept a Wise statement as proof of address?
Not a transfer receipt: Relay names Wise among remittance receipts it rejects. Relay does accept statements from money service businesses that show a physical address, so ask Relay before relying on a formal Wise statement.
Can I use my home address as my business address?
Yes, as the operating or trading address on both platforms, and Relay accepts a home abroad. On Wise, a US company’s registered address can match the owner’s home only for sole proprietors.
How long do Relay and Wise take to approve a business account?
Relay reviews most applications within 1 to 2 business days. Wise’s main review usually takes up to 10 working days after you pay the setup fee or fund a first transfer.
Can Relay or Wise ship a debit card outside the US?
Relay’s help center says it ships physical cards to US mailing addresses only. Wise delivers US cards only within the US, and a US Wise card can only be activated in the US.
