Checking Country and VPN Restrictions Before Signing Up

I almost signed up for an evaluation last spring while working from a hotel in Southeast Asia. Something made me open the terms page first, and there it was: a list of countries where accounts couldn’t be opened at all, plus a line about IP addresses that made me close the tab and wait until I was home.

Since then, eligibility has become the first thing I check, before prices or rules.

Start with the restricted country list and read it as written rather than as you assume it works. Some firms list country of residence, others list citizenship, and a few care about both. If you hold one passport and live somewhere else, that distinction matters. I keep a screenshot of the list with the date I checked it, because these pages change quietly.

Then think about where you actually connect from. If you travel for work, log in from a different country each month, or use a shared office network, the IP attached to your account may not match the country you registered under. Most firms frame this as a verification concern rather than a travel ban, but the practical result can be a document request or a temporary block while they review.

VPN wording is the part people misread most. Some terms prohibit VPN use outright while trading; others only prohibit using one to hide your location or reach the platform from a restricted country. Those are different rules with different consequences. Read the exact sentence, and if it’s ambiguous, ask support in writing and keep the reply.

Payouts are where eligibility problems tend to surface. Signup can go through fine and a compliance check at withdrawal can still hold funds while residency is confirmed. I’d rather settle that before paying a fee than after a good month.

A few habits that have saved me trouble:

• Save a dated copy of the restricted-country list and the VPN clause
• Keep the country on your ID and proof of address consistent
• Ask support about travel plans before you leave, not after
• Keep the ticket number with your account notes

I also lean on dated eligibility notes like the ones at prop firm eligibility notes to see what changed and when, though I still confirm everything against the firm’s own current terms page.

— Alex Morgan