How to Register a US LLC from Pakistan in 2025 — Step by Step
Why would a seller in Pakistan need a US LLC?
A US LLC is the entity most Pakistani Amazon sellers use to open a US seller account, because Amazon's US marketplace pays out to a US bank account tied to a US business. It is also how you access tools and categories that are not available to individual international sellers, and it keeps your business and personal finances legally separate. The LLC itself does not make you a resident of the US and does not require you to travel there — it is a filing, not a physical presence. You do not need a US partner, a US address of your own, or a US visa to form one.
Can you really register one from Pakistan without travelling?
Yes. The whole process is done online through a registered agent, which is a company with a physical US address that receives legal mail on your behalf. Every US state requires an LLC to have a registered agent with an address in that state, and that agent's address is what appears on the public filing — not your home address in Pakistan. You file the articles of organisation, the agent accepts service of process, and the state issues your LLC. None of this requires a plane ticket.
What are the actual steps, in order?
The sequence is: choose a state, appoint a registered agent, file the articles of organisation, obtain an EIN, then open a bank account. Choosing a state matters mainly for filing fees and annual costs, and different services recommend different states for different reasons — the right choice depends on your situation rather than a single "best" state that this guide will not claim exists. The registered agent is mandatory. The articles of organisation is the core filing. The EIN is the employer identification number from the IRS, and it is what Amazon and your bank will ask for — you can apply for it online as the owner of a foreign-owned LLC. The bank account is usually the slowest step, because most US banks want to verify your identity and your business, and many Pakistani sellers end up using a fintech or payment provider that accepts foreign-owned LLCs. Requirements change, so before you rely on this outline, check the current rules with your formation service — this guide describes the shape of the process, not this month's fee schedule.
US LLC or UK LTD — which should you choose?
The choice depends on which marketplace you are targeting. Sellers targeting Amazon US lean toward a US LLC; sellers targeting Amazon UK lean toward a UK LTD, because a UK marketplace seller normally needs a UK entity and a UK bank account. Some sellers form both over time as they expand. This guide focuses on the US LLC because it is the most common first step, but the principle is the same for the UK: a remote filing, a registered address service, a tax number, and a bank account. Our company formation service covers US, UK and UAE entities, so the same team can handle whichever market you are going into first.
What documents and identity do you need?
You need proof of identity for the owners — a passport is standard — and basic details about the business such as its name and the registered agent's address. You do not need a US social security number: a foreign owner applies for the EIN by paper or fax in some cases, or through a service that files it electronically for you. The company name must be unique within the state and end with an LLC designator such as "LLC". Keep the paperwork organised from day one, because Amazon's seller verification will ask for the same documents again.
Common mistakes that delay the process
The most common mistakes are procedural, not legal. Filing the LLC under a name that is already taken, which gets rejected. Appointing a registered agent you cannot actually reach. Applying for the EIN before the LLC is approved, or using the wrong form. Opening a bank account with a bank that does not accept foreign-owned LLCs and waiting weeks to find out. And, at the Amazon stage, submitting documents whose names do not match the LLC name. Each is avoidable if you do the steps in order and keep one consistent business name across the LLC, the EIN, the bank account and the seller account. Mismatched names are the single most common reason a seller verification gets stuck.
What does it cost, and where does the money go?
Formation has a few distinct costs, and they are paid to different parties rather than as one fee. The state charges a filing fee to create the LLC. The registered agent charges a yearly fee for receiving official mail at a US address. Obtaining the EIN is free, though a formation service may bundle it into their price. Then there is whatever you pay a service to handle the paperwork for you, and later the annual report or franchise fee your state charges to keep the LLC in good standing. This guide deliberately does not print figures, because state fees differ and change — the honest instruction is to ask your formation service for a written breakdown of these separate items, so you can see exactly what each payment covers rather than one opaque number.
What comes after the LLC is formed?
The LLC is the foundation, not the finish line. After it, you open the bank account, register for Amazon Seller Central with the LLC documents, then consider a trademark if you plan to enrol in Amazon Brand Registry. You will also have ongoing obligations: most states charge an annual report or franchise fee, and you are responsible for US tax filings even if the business owes little or nothing in a given year. This is where a formation service or an accountant pays for itself, because the penalties for missing a filing are real. If you would rather not manage the steps yourself, our company formation service handles the LLC, the EIN and the bank guidance, and our trademark service covers the Brand Registry side.