Overview
Eligibility is based on both citizenship and residency. OFAC sanctions and partner restrictions apply. Some countries can access Express Funded Accounts® (XFA) but not Live Funded Accounts® (LFA).
Requirements
No US citizenship required
Minimum age: 18
Citizens or residents of OFAC-sanctioned or partner-restricted countries are not eligible to trade, earn funding, or receive payouts
Countries Eligible for an XFA — Not LFA
These Traders can join Topstep, trade and pass the Trading Combine, earn Express Funded Accounts, and take up to $200,000 in total payouts. No Live Funded Account access:
A–E | F–K | L–O | P–Z |
Albania | Germany | Laos | Papua New Guinea |
Bolivia | Ghana | Liberia | Serbia |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Hong Kong | Macedonia | Trinidad and Tobago |
British Virgin Islands | Iceland | Monaco | Vietnam |
Cameroon | Kuwait | Mongolia | Zimbabwe |
Central African Republic |
| Montenegro |
|
Ethiopia |
| Namibia |
|
|
| Nepal |
|
👉 Select Traders from these countries may be considered for the Pro Account track rather than the Live Funded Account, based on performance. Learn more →
Countries Ineligible to Trade
Citizens of these countries can't trade or receive payouts:
A–C | D–L | M–S | S–Z |
Afghanistan | Dem. Rep. Congo | Mali | Somalia |
Algeria | Haiti | Morocco | South Sudan |
Angola | Iran | Nicaragua | Sudan & Darfur |
Belarus | Iraq | Nigeria | Syria |
Burkina Faso | Kenya | North Korea | Turkey |
Burma/Myanmar | Kosovo | Pakistan | Ukraine |
Burundi | Lebanon | Russia | Venezuela |
Chinese Military Companies | Libya |
| Yemen |
Cote d'Ivoire |
|
|
|
Crimea (incl. Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia) |
|
|
|
Cuba |
|
|
|
⚠️ This list can change at any time based on updates from brokerages and other circumstances.
Eligibility FAQs
I'm Canadian — can I earn a Funded Account?
I'm Canadian — can I earn a Funded Account?
Yes. You trade on a sub-account of Topstep's master account, considered a US-based account. Many US brokerages don't open Canadian accounts due to regulations — this structure is how it works.
Citizen of an eligible country but living in an ineligible one — can I trade?
Citizen of an eligible country but living in an ineligible one — can I trade?
No. Residing in an ineligible country makes you ineligible — regardless of citizenship.
Citizen of an ineligible country but living in an eligible one — can I trade?
Citizen of an ineligible country but living in an eligible one — can I trade?
Possibly. Submit a government-issued photo ID proving permanent residency in the eligible country, plus a bank statement from that country. Topstep's Compliance Department reviews it. Contact Trader Support →
What if I'm traveling through an ineligible country?
What if I'm traveling through an ineligible country?
Don't trade while there. Trading from an ineligible country — even briefly — may trigger a compliance review.
Why are some countries XFA-only and not eligible for Live?
Why are some countries XFA-only and not eligible for Live?
Brokerage restrictions prevent Live Funded Account access in certain countries. Those Traders can still earn payouts and build skills in the XFA and Pro Account.
When are more countries being added to the eligible list?
When are more countries being added to the eligible list?
No official timeline. Topstep is actively working on it as partnerships expand.
What about countries with human rights violations?
What about countries with human rights violations?
While we do not control every country's rules and regulations, we will continue to support as many countries as OFAC and our brokers will allow us to.
My country was previously eligible, but now it's ineligible. Am I still eligible to trade with Topstep?
My country was previously eligible, but now it's ineligible. Am I still eligible to trade with Topstep?
A country may be deemed ineligible for several reasons, including, but not limited to, OFAC sanctions and restrictions with our partners. In these cases, traders are unable to trade with, get Funded by, or receive payouts from Topstep.