The Schwab Way

The minimum to open an individual or joint account is US$25,000. Online equity trades are US$0 per trade¹ and there is no charge to work with a Schwab Financial Consultant. Although other account fees, fund expenses, and brokerage commissions may apply, we believe in keeping our fees low as a way to provide greater value to you. We strive to keep fees low so that you have more to invest. 

Get details about our fees and commissions.

Satisfaction Guarantee:

At Schwab, we believe every investor deserves to work with a firm they can count on. Our commitment is backed by a guarantee.² If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, we'll refund your eligible fee or commission and work with you to make things right.

To apply for a Schwab International account, simply prepare the required supporting documents and go through the online account opening process. Once the account is fully established, you can fund your account and start investing. 

In order for us to efficiently process your application for an account in accordance with relevant industry regulations, please begin by telling us your country/region of residence.

As a general rule, non-U.S. persons with no U.S. business operations are typically not obligated to file a U.S. tax return. Current U.S. estate tax laws also provide significant advantages to international investors. You should consult your legal and tax advisor(s) with any questions. Here is some basic information about U.S. tax and estate considerations which can be taken into account as part of your investment decision-making process. 

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with U.S. federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. The Schwab Security Guarantee is our commitment to cover 100% of any losses in any of your Schwab accounts due to unauthorized activity. To learn more about security at Schwab, please contact us.

We provide access to the U.S. market to help international investors take advantage of investment opportunities with a variety of products, including:

• Stocks and options
• Fixed income
• American depositary receipts (ADRs)  

For investors looking for guidance, we offer investment advice that enables you to work one-on-one with a dedicated Schwab Financial Consultant on an ongoing basis to grow and preserve your wealth. 
 

Trading with Schwab means getting innovative tools, premium insights, robust education, and specialized support—all of which help give you what you need to make informed and timely trading decisions. And all with no trade minimums or platform fees (other account fees, fund expenses, and brokerage commissions may apply; see our pricing guide for details. You can trade with powerful web, software, and mobile trading platforms featuring advanced tools that are intuitive to use. 

Schwab offers financial education specially designed for its international clients. Our live webinars are designed to help investors learn more about topics around U.S. investing. We also offer regular updates and insight into the state of the U.S. market. Use these resources to improve your investing knowledge and enhance your trading skills.

Browse our workshops and webinars.

At Schwab, we believe in putting investors first. We’re here to help international investors get the most out of their U.S. investments.

The U.S. is home to the world’s largest financial market.* Our financial consultants, tools, and resources are all available to provide insight into American market trends. Together, we can help you understand the U.S. market to help achieve your financial goals.

*Source: World Federation of Exchanges. Data as of December 31, 2018. Based on market capitalization.

We offer a variety of ways to help you stay up to date on U.S. markets. Daily Updates offers the latest U.S. market news, commentary and analysis from Schwab as well as respected sources. U.S. Market Commentary is a constantly updated collection of insights and ideas from Schwab's market experts.

Schwab was built around a simple purpose: champion every client's goals with passion and integrity. This purpose drives us to help our clients take ownership of their financial futures, helping people at all levels of income and every stage of life.
 
For international investors, Schwab's innovative tools and resources as well as the benefit of decades of U.S. market experience help make the U.S. market even more accessible.

As an American living outside the U.S., Schwab aims to make your financial transition as smooth as possible. Below are a few ways we can help you invest in U.S. markets and manage your account while living abroad.

• Professional support to help guide you through the account opening process and answer your questions
• An international wire team to facilitate currency exchanges and money movement
• Competitive rates of exchange when moving into or out of U.S. dollar with other major currencies
• All accounts are U.S.-domiciled dollar accounts, which can simplify your U.S. tax reporting
• Clear online reporting and a 1099 tax form to help your U.S. Internal Revenue Service filing

 
Explore more information on Schwab’s services for U.S. expatriates.