Can You Use E*TRADE in Europe? Key Facts
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European citizens can open brokerage accounts at E*TRADE only in limited situations.
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E*TRADE requires a permanent residential address in the United States from every applicant.
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U.S. citizenship is not required to open an E*TRADE account.
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ZacksTrade does not require a residential address in the United States or a U.S. ID number.
European citizens who want to open an investing account with E*TRADE can do it if they satisfy a narrow set of requirements.
Requirements to Open an E*TRADE Account
E*TRADE has fairly strict requirements for Europeans and other foreign nationals who want to open accounts. Still, foreigners can qualify at E*TRADE if they meet the following conditions:
First, applicants must have a U.S. address, which can be in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or an outlying U.S. territory. A U.S. military base address overseas can also work, including one located in Europe.
Second, applicants must have either an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) or an SSN (Social Security Number). Tax ID numbers issued by European countries are not accepted. A checking or savings account with E*TRADE’s parent company Morgan Stanley requires an SSN.
Third, applicants must be
at least 18 years old for non-custodial accounts.
So U.S. citizenship is not required, but
a U.S. residential address and a U.S. tax ID number are. E*TRADE could also ask for documents that verify both.
Opening an E*TRADE Account
E*TRADE’s software makes the application process fairly simple, so an account can be opened from almost anywhere in the world. On the broker’s website, just look for the purple button at the top to open an account. Enter the requested information, including the U.S. address and tax number, and submit the application.
On the mobile app, tap the Menu tab in the lower-right corner and scroll until you find the link to open an account. The mobile app uses the same digital application.
Funding an E*TRADE Account
After an E*TRADE account is opened, it must be funded before any investing can begin. Money can be added by ACH transfer, paper check, ACATS transfer (if the other financial institution is located in the United States), or wire transfer. That last method can be used with a bank in Europe.
Only U.S. dollars can be transferred in. On the wire-transfer form from the outgoing foreign bank, use the following receiving details:
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
PO Box 484
Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
Account number: Your 9-digit E*TRADE account number
Name and address: Account holder’s name and address
ABA Routing Number: 056073573
Available Assets
Once the E*TRADE brokerage account is open and funded, it can trade on U.S. exchanges. E*TRADE
does not provide direct access to European or other foreign exchanges. Still, there are many
U.S.-listed funds that invest in European securities, and these can be bought at E*TRADE. Examples include:
- SPDR® Portfolio Europe Fund (SPEU)
- iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap Fund (IEUS)
- WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund (HEDJ)
Some of these funds hedge swings between the euro and the U.S. dollar, while others leave that currency exposure in place.
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Updated on 4/14/2026.
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