> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fusioncore.us/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Stripe Unsupported Countries and Reasons

> Check which countries Stripe supports, why some are unsupported, and what workarounds exist before you connect an org.

## Overview

**Stripe** is the payment processor that fusionCore uses to charge cards and bank accounts. Stripe can only operate in the countries where it is licensed and legally permitted to move money. If your organization is based in a country Stripe does not support, you cannot connect a Stripe account there, no matter how the fusionCore integration is configured.

This restriction comes from Stripe, not from fusionCore. fusionCore does not maintain its own list of allowed or blocked countries, and nothing in the integration blocks a country on its own. Use this page to check coverage before you plan a Stripe connection.

As of early 2025, Stripe supports businesses in roughly 46 countries, mainly in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. Many countries remain unsupported because of legal barriers, international sanctions, limited banking infrastructure, high fraud risk, or limited market opportunity.

<Note>
  Stripe updates its supported-country list frequently. Always confirm the current list at [Stripe global coverage](https://stripe.com/global) before you assume a country is or is not supported. The lists below reflect publicly available information as of early 2025 and may be out of date.
</Note>

## Why Stripe Excludes Some Countries

Stripe groups unsupported regions into two broad categories:

* **High-risk or sanctioned countries.** Regions where legal restrictions or international sanctions prohibit financial operations.
* **Other unsupported countries.** Regions facing regulatory, operational, or technical barriers that have prevented Stripe from launching there.

Most exclusions come down to a mix of the following factors:

* **Economic sanctions and embargoes.** Stripe cannot operate where US, EU, or UN sanctions apply, such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. Sanctions block access to banking systems and carry legal consequences.
* **International conflict and instability.** Areas affected by war or political turmoil often lose support. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine led Stripe to withdraw from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Myanmar make payment operations too risky.
* **Regulatory and licensing barriers.** Many countries require local licenses, specific banking rules, or partnerships with local banks. Where the regulatory environment is restrictive or bureaucratic, Stripe may delay or decline entry. Mainland China and Saudi Arabia are common examples.
* **Limited banking infrastructure.** Stripe relies on robust banking and card networks. Countries with low card usage or unreliable banking systems, such as Afghanistan, are difficult to serve.
* **Fraud and compliance risk.** Stripe manages fraud and money-laundering risk closely. Regions with high card fraud or weak identity verification face extra scrutiny. Stripe entered Nigeria only after acquiring the local processor Paystack to handle fraud and compliance locally.
* **Currency controls and economic instability.** Strict currency controls or hyperinflation make it hard to move and convert funds. Argentina and Venezuela are examples where currency restrictions complicate payment processing.

## High-risk or Sanctioned Countries

Stripe does not operate in these regions because of sanctions or active conflict.

| Country or region        | Reason for exclusion                                                                                                                                         |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Cuba                     | Comprehensive US trade embargo and sanctions prohibit Stripe's services.                                                                                     |
| Iran                     | US and international sanctions related to the nuclear program bar Stripe from operating.                                                                     |
| North Korea (DPRK)       | Heavily sanctioned by the UN and US; no international payment services are allowed.                                                                          |
| Syria                    | US and EU sanctions tied to civil war and regime abuses make it high-risk and prohibited.                                                                    |
| Russia                   | Broad financial sanctions since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine; major card networks withdrew. Stripe does not support users in Russia.                         |
| Belarus                  | Sanctioned for its role in the Ukraine conflict; Stripe has halted support.                                                                                  |
| Ukraine (conflict areas) | Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk are under occupation and international sanctions. Stripe is also unavailable in Ukraine as a whole due to the ongoing conflict. |
| Myanmar (Burma)          | US sanctions after the military coup, plus political instability, make it high-risk. Stripe does not operate here.                                           |
| Sudan and South Sudan    | Sanctions and ongoing conflict prevent Stripe's presence.                                                                                                    |
| Venezuela                | US sanctions and hyperinflation create compliance and operational risk, so Stripe is unavailable.                                                            |
| Afghanistan              | Sanctions and banking instability.                                                                                                                           |
| Yemen                    | Banking infrastructure gaps and sanctions.                                                                                                                   |
| Zimbabwe                 | Currency instability and financial risk.                                                                                                                     |

These exclusions align with [OFAC sanctions programs](https://orpa.princeton.edu/export-controls/sanctioned-countries) and Stripe's published [restricted businesses list](https://stripe.com/restricted-businesses).

## Other Unsupported Countries

These countries are not under sanctions, but Stripe has not launched there because of regulatory, banking, or fraud-related barriers.

| Country            | Reason for exclusion                                                                                                                               |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Mainland China     | Strict financial regulations and local licensing requirements. Stripe operates only in Hong Kong, and local systems (Alipay, WeChat Pay) dominate. |
| Saudi Arabia       | Not yet available; likely awaiting regulatory approval and local bank integration. Middle East coverage beyond the UAE remains limited.            |
| Israel             | Not officially supported, due to compliance complexity and a smaller market. Israeli businesses often incorporate abroad to use Stripe indirectly. |
| Turkey             | Not supported; a volatile currency and strict local regulations pose challenges. Businesses often need a foreign entity.                           |
| Pakistan           | Not supported, due to local regulatory hurdles and fraud and money-laundering concerns. Many entrepreneurs incorporate in the US or UK.            |
| Bangladesh         | Not supported; digital payment infrastructure is still developing and local bank integration is difficult.                                         |
| Nigeria (direct)   | Direct sign-up was historically unavailable due to fraud concerns. Stripe now serves Nigeria through its Paystack network.                         |
| Egypt              | Not launched; strict currency controls require foreign processors to partner with local banks.                                                     |
| Argentina          | Not supported for local merchants; capital controls and inflation complicate operations.                                                           |
| Colombia and Chile | Not yet supported; Stripe has focused on Brazil and Mexico first in Latin America.                                                                 |

## Workarounds for Unsupported Countries

If your organization is in an unsupported country, consider these options:

* **Stripe Atlas.** Stripe's own program helps you incorporate a company in the US so you can legally use Stripe.
* **Alternative payment providers.** Providers such as [Rapyd](https://www.rapyd.net/) serve merchants in over 70 countries, including parts of Latin America.
* **Multi-currency accounts.** Some businesses use a [Wise multi-currency account](https://wise.com/) to access Stripe in unsupported regions.

<Warning>
  Even in supported countries, some industries (such as gambling and cryptocurrency) face additional restrictions. Confirm both country and industry eligibility on [Stripe global coverage](https://stripe.com/global) before you commit to a Stripe connection.
</Warning>

## Limitations and Common Pitfalls

* **fusionCore does not enforce the country list.** The integration relies entirely on Stripe to allow or reject an account. If a country is unsupported, the block happens on the Stripe side when you create the account, not inside Salesforce. Do not assume the integration will warn you.
* **The supported list changes.** A country supported when you planned a rollout may change, and vice versa. Always re-check [Stripe global coverage](https://stripe.com/global) close to go-live.
* **Workarounds carry their own rules.** Incorporating abroad or using a third-party provider can affect tax, banking, and compliance obligations. Confirm these arrangements are legal and viable for your organization before relying on them.