Shopify Payments Countries: Full 2026 List & Setup Guide
See every country where Shopify Payments is available in 2026, eligibility rules, supported currencies, and step-by-step activation tips for US sellers.
Shopify Payments Countries: Full 2026 List & Setup Guide
Knowing which countries support Shopify Payments can save you thousands of dollars in transaction fees every year. This guide covers every supported country, eligibility rules, currency details, and step-by-step activation instructions so you can start accepting payments without unnecessary costs.
What Is Shopify Payments and Why the Country Matters
Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in payment processor. It runs on Stripe under the hood. It lets you accept credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets directly through your store — no separate merchant account, no third-party gateway needed.
Here’s the critical detail: availability depends on where your business is legally registered, not where your customers shop. You can sell to buyers in 190+ countries, but your company must be incorporated in one of the supported nations to activate Shopify Payments.
Why does this matter financially? When you use Shopify Payments, Shopify waives the extra transaction fee it charges for third-party gateways — a fee that ranges from 0.5% to 2% per order depending on your plan (Source: Shopify, 2026). You also get access to Shop Pay (Shopify’s accelerated checkout) and Shopify Balance (a business money management account for US merchants). Both require an active Shopify Payments account.
Real-world example: Brooklyn-based skincare brand Glow Protocol reported saving roughly $1,200 per year in transaction fees after switching from PayPal to Shopify Payments on a Shopify Basic plan. They simply cut the 2% third-party gateway surcharge on $60,000 in annual sales.
Every Country Where Shopify Payments Is Available in 2026
As of mid-2026, Shopify Payments is available in 38 countries and regions. The list has grown significantly from the original handful of markets. Below is the complete roster (Source: Shopify Help Center, 2026):
| Region | Supported Countries |
|---|---|
| North America | United States, Canada |
| Europe | United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg, Greece |
| Asia-Pacific | Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Japan |
| Africa | South Africa |
A few things to keep in mind:
- Newly added since 2025: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg, Greece, Slovakia, and Slovenia were added in late 2025 and early 2026. This expanded coverage across the full EU (Source: Shopify Changelog, 2026).
- This list updates periodically. Always check Shopify’s official payment availability page for the live version before making business decisions.
- Switzerland is supported despite not being an EU member state. Stripe operates independently there.
Countries NOT Supported (and What to Use Instead)
Several high-demand markets still lack Shopify Payments support. These include India, Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China (Source: Shopify, 2026). If your business is registered in any of these countries, you cannot activate Shopify Payments.
Two main workarounds exist. First, use a third-party payment gateway — PayPal, Razorpay (India), PagSeguro (Brazil), Conekta (Mexico), or Paystack (Nigeria). Second, enable Shopify Markets to offer local payment methods to international buyers while processing through your chosen gateway. The downside: Shopify charges an extra transaction fee of 0.5% to 2% on every order through third-party gateways.
One exception is worth knowing. If your business is legally incorporated in a supported country — say, a US-registered LLC — but you physically operate from an unsupported location, you may still qualify. Contact Shopify support directly to confirm. Stripe’s KYC verification still requires matching documentation.
Eligibility Requirements to Activate Shopify Payments
Meeting the country requirement alone isn’t enough. You must satisfy several additional criteria before Shopify Payments goes live on your store.
Business registration: You need a legally registered business in a supported country. In the US, both sole proprietors and LLCs qualify. You’ll provide your EIN (or SSN for sole proprietors) during setup.
Identity verification: Shopify (through Stripe) requires a valid government-issued photo ID that matches the business owner on the account. This follows standard KYC (Know Your Customer) rules. Shopify may also request a utility bill or bank statement for address verification (Source: Stripe, 2026).
Bank account: You must have a local bank account in the supported country for payouts. In the US, that means a checking account that accepts ACH deposits. Some European regions require an IBAN. Certain virtual-only banks are not accepted in all regions — check with Shopify support if you use a neobank.
Prohibited business types: Regardless of country, certain high-risk industries are banned from Shopify Payments. These include firearms and weapons, adult content, CBD/cannabis (in most regions), cryptocurrency exchanges, and multi-level marketing (Source: Shopify Acceptable Use Policy, 2026).
Example: A US-based supplements seller was denied Shopify Payments activation because their product line included CBD oils. They switched to Authorize.net and accepted the additional 1% Shopify transaction fee on their mid-tier plan.
Supported Currencies and Multi-Currency Selling
Shopify Payments supports over 130 presentment currencies when paired with Shopify Markets (Source: Shopify, 2026). Your customers can browse and pay in their local currency — EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, Brazilian reals, and more.
Know the difference between presentment currency and payout currency. Presentment currency is what your customer sees at checkout. Payout currency is what lands in your bank account. US merchants always receive USD. UK merchants receive GBP. You cannot choose a payout currency different from your business country’s local currency.
When a customer pays in a currency different from your payout currency, Shopify applies a 1.5% currency conversion fee on top of the standard processing rate (Source: Shopify, 2026). To avoid this eating into your margins, set fixed prices per market inside Shopify Markets instead of relying on automatic exchange rates. This lets you bake the conversion cost into your pricing directly.
Tip: Use Shopify Markets’ automatic exchange rate feature for low-volume international markets. For your top three to five foreign markets — where you have real order data — set prices manually.
How to Set Up Shopify Payments Step by Step
Activating Shopify Payments takes about 10 minutes if you have your business documents ready. Here’s the exact process:
Step 1: Log into your Shopify Admin and navigate to Settings → Payments.
Step 2: Click the “Activate Shopify Payments” button. This option only appears if your store’s registered country is on the supported list. If you don’t see it, go to Settings → Store details and verify your country is set correctly.
Step 3: Enter your business details — legal business name, physical address, and tax ID. US merchants provide an EIN or SSN. European merchants may need a VAT number.
Step 4: Add your bank account information. US merchants enter their ACH routing number and account number. European merchants enter their IBAN.
Step 5: Upload identity verification documents if prompted. This typically means a photo of your passport, driver’s license, or national ID card.
Step 6: Set your payout schedule. Options include daily, weekly (choose a day), or monthly. Most merchants start with daily payouts for better cash flow.
Step 7: Enable the card brands you want to accept — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are the defaults in the US. Toggle on Shop Pay for accelerated checkout.
Approval is typically instant, but some accounts require manual review that can take up to 48 hours (Source: Shopify, 2026).
[Screenshot placeholder: Shopify Admin → Settings → Payments showing the “Activate Shopify Payments” button and payout schedule selector]
Payout Schedules by Country
How quickly you receive your money depends on where your business is located. Here’s a breakdown of standard payout timelines:
| Region | Standard Payout Speed |
|---|---|
| United States | Daily, with a 2-business-day rolling period |
| United Kingdom | 3–5 business days |
| EU countries | 3–5 business days |
| Australia / New Zealand | 3 business days |
| Canada | 3 business days |
| Japan / Singapore / Hong Kong | 4–5 business days |
(Source: Shopify Help Center, 2026)
Weekends and bank holidays delay payouts in every region. If you’re counting on Friday sales hitting your account by Monday, factor in that processing doesn’t run on non-business days.
New account hold: Shopify may impose a 7-day payout hold during your first 90 days as a fraud precaution. This is standard across Stripe-powered platforms. It lifts automatically once your account builds a transaction history.
US-only perk: Shopify Balance lets you receive payouts into a Shopify-managed account with a linked debit card. Funds typically appear the next business day. No monthly fees (Source: Shopify, 2026).
Fees by Country: What You’ll Actually Pay
Processing fees vary by plan tier and country. Here are the current 2026 rates for US merchants:
| Plan | Online Rate | In-Person Rate | Third-Party Gateway Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 0¢ | 2.0% |
| Shopify (mid-tier) | 2.6% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 0¢ | 1.0% |
| Shopify Advanced | 2.4% + 30¢ | 2.4% + 0¢ | 0.5% |
| Shopify Plus | Custom negotiated | Custom negotiated | 0.2% |
(Source: Shopify Pricing, 2026)
For UK merchants on the mid-tier plan, online rates sit around 1.7% + 25p per transaction. That reflects lower interchange costs in Europe (Source: Shopify UK, 2026).
The big savings come from that third-party gateway fee column. Use Shopify Payments and those fees drop to $0. On a Basic plan processing $5,000/month, that’s $100/month — or $1,200/year — staying in your pocket.
American Express may carry a slightly higher rate in certain regions. US merchants generally see the same rate across all card brands. Chargeback fees are $15 per dispute in the US, but Shopify refunds the fee if you win (Source: Shopify, 2026).
Fee Comparison: Shopify Payments vs. Alternatives (US Mid-Tier Plan)
| Provider | Online Rate | Shopify Transaction Fee | Effective Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments | 2.6% + 30¢ | 0% | 2.6% + 30¢ |
| PayPal Braintree | 2.59% + 49¢ | 1.0% | 3.59% + 49¢ |
| Stripe (direct) | 2.9% + 30¢ | 1.0% | 3.9% + 30¢ |
(Source: Shopify, PayPal, Stripe, 2026)
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
“Shopify Payments not available” message: This almost always means your store’s registered country doesn’t match a supported country. Go to Settings → Store details and confirm your country is correct. If you recently moved your business registration, update it there first.
Account placed on hold: A sudden spike in sales volume — common during product launches or viral social posts — can trigger a fraud review. Contact Shopify support immediately with order invoices, shipping tracking numbers, and proof of fulfillment. Most holds resolve within 1–3 business days.
Payout delayed beyond expected window: Check two things. First, verify your bank account details are entered correctly — a single wrong digit stalls payouts. Second, look for a banner in your Payments settings asking for identity verification. Unfinished KYC checks pause all payouts.
Currency not converting for international customers: Make sure Shopify Markets is enabled and the target market is set to active. Go to Settings → Markets, add the country or region, and enable the local currency. If automatic rates look off, switch to manual pricing for that market.
Pro tip: Keep your business registration documents, tax ID, and bank statements current in your Shopify account. Outdated information is the number-one cause of mid-operation account holds, especially after annual business license renewals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries can use Shopify Payments in 2026?
As of 2026, Shopify Payments is available in 38 countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, South Africa, and most EU member states including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and more. The list is updated regularly on Shopify’s official help center.
Can I use Shopify Payments if my business is in an unsupported country?
No. Eligibility is based on where your business is legally registered, not where your customers are. If your country isn’t supported, you can use third-party gateways like PayPal or Razorpay, though Shopify charges an extra transaction fee of 0.5%–2% depending on your plan.
Does Shopify Payments support multiple currencies?
Yes. With Shopify Markets enabled, you can display prices in 130+ currencies. Your payout is always made in your local currency (e.g., USD for US merchants). A 1.5% currency conversion fee applies when a customer pays in a different currency than your payout currency.
How long does it take to get approved for Shopify Payments?
Most merchants are approved instantly or within 48 hours. You may need to submit identity verification documents under Stripe’s KYC requirements. New accounts sometimes have a 7-day payout hold during the first 90 days.
What happens to my Shopify transaction fees if I use Shopify Payments?
Shopify waives its third-party transaction fee entirely when you use Shopify Payments. On the Basic plan, that saves you 2% per transaction. On the Advanced plan, you save 0.5%. You only pay the standard credit card processing rate.
Is Shopify Payments available in India or Brazil?
No. As of 2026, Shopify Payments is not available in India, Brazil, or Mexico. Merchants in these countries can use supported local gateways like Razorpay (India), PagSeguro (Brazil), or Conekta (Mexico) through Shopify’s payment providers list.
Can I sell to customers in unsupported countries even if my store uses Shopify Payments?
Yes. Your store’s registered country determines eligibility for Shopify Payments, but you can accept card payments from customers anywhere in the world. Shopify Payments processes international cards without restrictions as long as your merchant account is based in a supported country.