Opening a bank account abroad​: What do you need?

If you’re moving overseas, travel often or need to send and receive international payments to a different country frequently, you may be wondering how to open a bank account abroad to make transacting easier and cheaper.

Your options to open a bank account abroad online or in person depend on the country or region you’re looking at, as well as the account type and features you need.

This guide looks at how to open a bank account abroad from Ireland, and also touches on handy alternatives if bank products don’t meet your need, such as the Wise Account.

Wise: One account
for 40+ currencies 🌏

Can Irish residents open a bank account abroad?

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to the question “can you open a bank account abroad?”

Instead, your options depend on several key factors - and you could find your options from banks are quite limited in some cases.

Let’s start with the good news.🎉 If you want to open a bank account in another EU country you will be able to do so. In fact, in most cases, banks can not refuse you the option to open a basic bank account even if you’re not a resident of that specific EU country under EU law.¹

Basic bank accounts may not have all the features you want from an account, but this does give you a starting point if Europe is your focus.

But if you’re thinking about accounts outside the EU your options may get more limited. It’s extremely common for banks overseas to require a local residential address for account holders. There are some exceptions - such as in Australia where some banks let you start to open an account if you intend to move there within the next couple of weeks, so you’re ahead of the game.²

If you don’t have a local address in the country you’re targeting you may still be able to open a non-resident account or an offshore account instead.

These account types tend to have high minimum balance requirements and limitations on availability. For example, you could open a Standard Chartered non-resident account in Singapore³ if you choose to - but you need the equivalent of 200,000 USD as a deposit.

Some customers might also want to open an offshore account with a provider like HSBC Expat - but sadly if you’re an Irish resident HSBC can’t help you.⁴

This guide looks at alternative options, as well as the process to open an account abroad from Ireland if you’re eligible.

Requirements for opening international bank accounts

Each bank sets its own requirements for opening an account, but as all banks are subject to financial regulations and laws, there are usually some formalities to complete before you can open your account.

You may need to visit a branch in person to open an account, or you might be able to apply online or in an app. Generally you’ll then need to provide the following:

• Your personal and contact information
• Your proof of ID
• In some cases you’ll need a proof of address, or secondary ID documents.

🔎 Premium account types may ask for proof of income or a large deposit to activate your account.

Online vs. branch applications

The most practical option to open a bank account overseas is to apply online. However this isn't always possible, and the options available to you may depend on the country and specific bank you’re looking at.

If you’re applying in a branch you can visit with your paperwork and have a member of staff guide you through the process. Otherwise you can apply online by entering your information, uploading images of your documents, and completing a security step such as setting up a password.

How to open a bank account abroad from Ireland: Step-by-step

The exact process you'll need to follow to open a bank account abroad from Ireland can depend a little on the country and specific bank or provider. However, the steps followed tend to be relatively similar. Here’s an overview:

Step 1: Research and preparation phase

You’ll want to do a little research into which banks or providers may match your requirements, including looking carefully at the eligibility requirements for any given account.

Consider local banks in the country you're targeting, as well as regional or global banks and non-bank payment institutions like Wise, which allows you to open a multi-currency account from Ireland. More on that later.

Step 2: Document gathering and certification

Once you’ve chosen an account, you can double check the documents and information needed to support your application. Depending on the account type, bank and country, you might need some documents to be certified or translated.

Step 3: Application submission and verification

It’s now time to submit your application online or in a branch depending on the account type you’ve selected.

Banks may ask you to visit a branch in person or nominate a proxy to act on your behalf in opening the account. Or, in the case of multicurrency accounts, like the Wise Account, for example, the process is 100% online.

Step 4: Account activation and setup

Once your account has been verified you can start to transact. For some accounts you’ll need to deposit a specific amount to activate your account and get all your account collateral like a card or passbook.

Challenges and common obstacles for opening an account abroad from Ireland

Before you open an account abroad from Ireland, you’ll want to consider some important pitfalls you might run into along the way. Here are a few things to think about:

• Residency requirements: Before you consider a specific account check if you require a local residential address to apply - generally PO Box addresses are not suitable where this requirement is in place
• High minimum balances: Some expat and offshore accounts have very high minimum balance requirements and are more aimed at high wealth individuals looking to invest abroad
• Cost implications for Irish residents: Managing your money overseas could come with unexpected and high costs - review all of the fees applied to your account before you sign on the dotted line
• Limited features for non-residents: If you select a non-resident account, be aware that some non-resident products do not have full feature access, and may limit access to some services
• Irish reporting requirements: In some cases it’s a requirement to report an overseas bank account to Revenue Ireland - double check if that’s the case for you before you open your account.⁵

Alternative solutions: Multi-currency accounts

For many people, opening an account overseas is a hassle, and can come with high costs. Multi-currency accounts can be a smart alternative.

With a multi-currency account you’ll be able to hold foreign currencies, to exchange, send payments, and in some cases spend with a linked card. As this gives you access to ways of transacting in many different countries, you may find it’s not necessary to open an account abroad at all.

Wise Account: Manage your money in +40 different currencies from Ireland

Check out the Wise Account, that allows you to manage your money in 40+ currencies, converting your money at the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees.

• Open a personal Wise Account with no upfront or ongoing fees to pay to keep your account
• Hold 40+ currencies, send money to 140+ countries, and receive payments in 8+ currencies with local account details - that means you’ll be able to use those details to receive the local currency, without even having to go through an international transfer
• Get a linked Wise debit card to spend and withdraw in 150+ countries (including the option to create free virtual cards)
• Convert your money at the mid-market rate (the one you usually see on Google), without any markups
• Manage your money, review transactions and send payments with just the app or via the website.

You can open a Wise Account with your normal Irish proof of ID and address*, giving you access to ways to hold, send, spend, receive and exchange foreign currencies easily and with no ongoing costs.

Open your Wise Account
for free 🚀

*Eligibility is subject to verification of customers' identity.

Popular destinations for Irish residents

Irish residents looking to experience life overseas, whether to work, study or retire, may pick opportunities in the UK, Australia or Canada - or head to warmer countries like Spain or Portugal. There’s also a big draw to the USA or countries like Dubai for people looking to advance their career in a new country.

If you are interested in specific information about opening account in other countries, read more below:

• How to open a UK bank account from Ireland
• How to open a bank account in Switzerland from Ireland
• Opening a bank account in Australia from Ireland
• How to open a bank account in Northern Ireland

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 09 January, 2026