If you live abroad and want one brokerage account that follows you, Interactive Brokers is the default choice for most nomads: no minimum deposit, no inactivity fee for individual accounts, and US stock trades from $0.005 a share. Schwab One International suits non-US residents who want a US broker, Saxo and Swissquote suit people who want a European or Swiss bank-style broker. Before you move, check what your current broker allows: Fidelity, for example, does not open accounts for new customers living outside the US and stops existing ones buying mutual funds.
This is a wiki: members can edit this first post to add options, prices and experiences. Please keep it factual and say when you last used a service.
Last checked: October 2026
In short:
- IBKR Pro charges $0.005 a share on US stocks (minimum $1, maximum 1% of trade value), with no minimum deposit. Schwab One International has a $0 minimum and $0 online commissions on US-listed stocks.
- If you become an EU resident and are classed as a retail client, you generally can’t buy US-domiciled ETFs, because their issuers don’t publish the Key Information Document (KID) that EU PRIIPs rules require.
- Moving abroad from the UK: you can keep your ISA and its tax relief, but you can’t pay new money in. US citizens abroad face PFIC rules on most non-US funds.
Comparison table
From each broker’s official pricing or help pages, checked 6 October 2026. This is not investment advice.
| Service | What it’s for | Price from (checked 6 Oct 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers (IBKR Pro) | Global multi-market account for most nationalities | US stocks $0.005/share, min $1, max 1% of trade value. $0 minimum deposit. $0 inactivity fee (individual accounts) | IBKR Lite is for US residents only. Runs through regulated affiliates in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and others |
| Schwab One International | US brokerage for non-US residents | $0 minimum. $0 online US-listed equity trades; options $0.65 per contract; broker-assisted trades $25 | Schwab says not all products, services or investments are available in all countries. Outgoing domestic wires $25 ($15 online) |
| Saxo | Multi-asset broker with local entities in Europe, UK and Asia | UK Classic: annual custody fee 0.12% on stocks and ETFs. US stock commission not confirmed (table didn’t load) | Pricing varies by Saxo entity and country of residence. Retail clients can’t buy US ETFs without a KID |
| Swissquote | Swiss bank and broker | Custody fees CHF 20 to CHF 50 a quarter, depending on holdings. US stock commission not confirmed | Digital onboarding for residents of a list of countries; others use video ID. Deposits must come from a bank account in your name |
| Your existing US broker (e.g. Fidelity) | Keeping an account after moving | n/a | Fidelity: no new accounts for non-US residents, no mutual fund purchases, and some countries are limited to selling and withdrawing |
How to choose
Check eligibility first. Brokers decide by country of residence, not passport. Each one asks for your country at sign-up and some will refuse or restrict accounts. Have a residential address and tax residence you can document.
EU residents and US ETFs. The EU PRIIPs Regulation (No 1286/2014) requires a KID, of at most three A4 sides, before a retail investor buys a packaged product. US ETF issuers generally don’t produce one. Saxo told partners that retail clients “will NOT be able to” buy US ETFs, while professional clients can. LYNX says retail clients can still hold or sell existing positions. Ask your broker which EU-compliant funds with a KID it offers as alternatives.
US citizens anywhere. The IRS defines a PFIC as a foreign corporation with 75% or more passive income, or at least 50% of assets that produce passive income. Non-US funds can meet these tests, and a separate Form 8621 is generally required for each PFIC. Talk to a US expat tax adviser before buying non-US funds, and see the US expat tax guide.
UK residents moving abroad. GOV.UK says you can keep your ISA open and keep UK tax relief on it, but you can’t add money (unless you’re a Crown employee overseas or their spouse or civil partner). Tell your provider you are non-resident. You can still transfer the ISA to another provider. Check how your new country treats ISA income and gains; don’t assume the UK tax-free status carries over.
Cost structure. Per-share commissions (IBKR) favour larger trades in cheap shares. Custody fees (Saxo, Swissquote) cost more as your portfolio grows. Also check FX conversion and withdrawal fees, which we haven’t compared here.
Downsides to know
- Account restrictions after a move. Brokers can restrict or close accounts when you change address. Fidelity spells this out; others may do it after a routine address review. Update your address honestly; a “home” address you don’t live at can cause problems with tax reporting.
- Professional client status. Opting up to professional status to buy US ETFs means losing some retail protections, and brokers set high tests for portfolio size and trading experience.
Member experiences
Reply below with which one you use and why. Please include your residence country, the broker entity you were placed with, and the date you opened.
Related guides: US expat taxes (2026): filing, FEIE, FBAR and catching up · Leaving the UK (2026): Statutory Residence Test, split year and FIG regime · Exit tax explained: which countries charge it when you leave · Best banks for digital nomads (2026): travel cards, fees and closure risk · Cheapest way to send money internationally (2026): providers compared
Quick answers
Q: Which brokers accept non-residents and expats?
Interactive Brokers and Schwab One International both open accounts for many non-US residents, with no minimum deposit at either. Saxo and Swissquote accept residents of many countries through their own entities. Each broker restricts some countries, so check eligibility for your country of residence before applying.
Q: Why can’t I buy US ETFs as an EU resident?
The EU PRIIPs Regulation requires a Key Information Document before a retail investor buys a packaged product. US ETF issuers generally don’t publish one, so brokers block new purchases for EU retail clients unless they are classed as professional. You can usually still hold or sell existing positions.
Q: Can I keep my ISA if I move abroad?
Yes. GOV.UK says you can keep your ISA open and keep UK tax relief on the money and investments in it, but you can’t add new money while non-resident, unless you are a Crown employee overseas or their spouse or civil partner. You can still transfer it between providers.
Sources
- Interactive Brokers: Stock commissions
- Interactive Brokers: Required minimums
- Charles Schwab: Pricing guide for individual investors
- Charles Schwab International
- Saxo UK: Stocks commissions and rates
- Saxo: ETF KID solution under PRIIPs (partner update)
- Swissquote: Trading FAQ
- Fidelity: Investors who reside outside the United States
- European Parliament Legislative Observatory: PRIIPs key information documents summary
- LYNX: Key Information Document
- GOV.UK: Individual Savings Accounts, if you move abroad
- IRS: Instructions for Form 8621
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before acting.
Over to you: Which broker kept serving you after you moved, and which one restricted or closed your account? If you’re an EU resident, how did you handle the switch from US ETFs to UCITS?