Form a UK Ltd from Iraq remotely — ACSP & Arabic support

How do I form a UK company from Iraq, Libya or Yemen?

You can form remotely if a valid passport and acceptable proof of address are available and you pass identity verification through an ACSP. These countries are usually not directly supported by Stripe — so a UK Ltd + Wise + Stripe is one of the strongest legal solutions for receiving international payments.

Bank reviews may be longer depending on nationality and activity; prepare a clear description of the work and clean documents. Do not use a VPN to hide your location when registering with Stripe. Contact Eteform to review your case before paying if your activity is sensitive.

Egypt/Libya/Yemen are not supported by Stripe — does a UK company solve this?

Stripe does not open accounts directly in Egypt, Libya, Yemen and a number of Arab countries, but it accepts companies registered in Britain. The order is: form the Ltd, then the Citi Bank accounts from the Founder package, then apply to Stripe. This is a lawful path when the company is genuine.

Stripe decides when its requirements are met. You must declare tax in Britain and in your country of residence.

Can a non-UK resident form a UK company?

Yes. You can form a Private Limited company in the UK while living in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt or any other Arab country — UK residency and British nationality are not required. Thousands of Arab entrepreneurs form UK companies every year for e-commerce, freelancing, consulting and export.

You need at least one director (which can be you), a registered office in the UK, and identity verification through a formation agent as required by Companies House rules since 2024. At Eteform we handle the name check, prepare the IN01 form, complete identity verification, and submit the whole application remotely.

Legal formation does not give you a UK visa or residency, but it does give you an internationally recognised business entity through which you can open bank accounts, payment gateways, and issue invoices under a British company name.

How long does it take to form a UK company?

Standard incorporation at Companies House usually takes 24 to 48 working hours once the application and identity verification are complete. The Same-Day Incorporation option is available if the application is submitted before 3pm UK time on a working day, at an extra government fee of £78.

The most common delay is not from Companies House but from completing your verification documents (passport + selfie) or choosing a name that needs review. At Eteform we send you the Certificate of Incorporation and the Company Registration Number as soon as it is approved.

Right after formation you can start opening a bank account and connecting Stripe — but some banks take two to four weeks to approve.

Can I open a Stripe account with a UK company?

Yes. After the accounts are open you can apply to Stripe with a Citi Bank account in the company name, plus a website or a clear activity description. Stripe’s decision comes when its requirements are met — Stripe decides when its requirements are met. Details are on Stripe path.

Do I need a UK address to form the company?

Yes, every UK company must have a Registered Office within England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland — you cannot incorporate without one. This address is used for correspondence from Companies House and official bodies and is not necessarily your actual place of business.

If you are not a UK resident you will need an address through a service provider such as Eteform in London. The address must be a real address where official mail can be received — not merely a PO Box in most cases. Eteform's Privacy package and above include a registered London office.

Without a valid address, the incorporation application will not be accepted.