How Long to Get an EIN for a Foreign-Owned LLC?

How long does it take to get an EIN without an SSN?

According to the IRS, a faxed Form SS-4 is answered by fax in about four business days when you give a return fax number, and a mailed application takes approximately four weeks. Applicants whose business is outside the US can also apply by phone. Without an SSN or ITIN, the online application is not available.

These are the times the IRS publishes on its employer identification number page (accessed 31 October 2026). They describe the IRS side only. LaunchUS does not control IRS timelines, and the times the IRS publishes can change.

Why can't a non-resident apply for an EIN online?

The IRS online application asks for the responsible party's Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number. A founder who has neither cannot use it, so the application goes on paper: Form SS-4, sent by fax or mail, or completed over the phone for an international applicant.

The SS-4 instructions tell a responsible party without an SSN or ITIN to write "foreign" or N/A on line 7b. Our post on Form SS-4 without an SSN walks through the other lines.

How do the IRS routes compare?

The table summarises the four routes the IRS describes and who can use each one. For a founder without an SSN or ITIN, only the paper routes and the international phone line are open, and by the IRS's own figures fax is the faster of the two paper routes.

How long does the whole process take with LaunchUS?

The IRS step is only part of it: the company must exist first, then the SS-4 is prepared and signed. The block below shows LaunchUS's typical estimate for each step, from the same configuration your dashboard uses. It is an estimate, not a commitment.

Why is my EIN taking so long?

Most delays come from the application itself, not from the IRS queue. A form that does not match the state record, lacks a signature or names the responsible party incorrectly is sent back, and the wait starts again. These are the causes we see most often, in the order to check them:

1. Name mismatch. The company name on the SS-4 must match the approved state filing exactly, including "LLC".
2. Missing signature or title. An unsigned form, or a signer without a title such as "Member", is sent back.
3. Responsible party details. Line 7a and 7b must name a real person and say "foreign" where no SSN or ITIN exists.
4. State approval not yet in hand. The application needs the legal name and the formation date, so it waits for the state.
5. Mail instead of fax. A mailed application is slower by the IRS's own figures.

Can I get an EIN before the state approves my LLC?

No. Form SS-4 asks for the company's exact legal name and its start date, and both come from the formation document the state approves. An application sent before approval would carry details the IRS cannot match, so LaunchUS prepares the SS-4 only after the state has approved the company.

The order of these steps is explained in what happens after you order. If you are still choosing a state, the Wyoming vs Delaware comparison covers how each state's review differs.

What can I do while I wait for the EIN?

Prepare the applications that need the number, so they can go out on the day it arrives. Banks and payment providers usually ask for the formation documents, the EIN confirmation, a business address and your identity documents, and most of that can be gathered while the IRS processes the form.

Our Stripe documents checklist and the post on a US bank account for a non-resident LLC list what each side asks for. If your company needs a street address of its own, see the US business address service; the step-by-step guide to forming a US LLC from abroad shows where the address fits.

How do I check whether my EIN was issued?

The IRS confirms a new number with notice CP 575 or with the fax it sends back to the number on the form. If the confirmation is lost, the IRS business tax line can confirm the number to an authorised person and send Letter 147C, titled "EIN Previously Assigned".

The IRS describes the CP 575 on its notice page. With LaunchUS, the confirmation goes into your document vault as soon as it arrives.

How does LaunchUS prepare and track the SS-4?

We prepare the SS-4 from your order once the state has approved the company, you sign it, and it goes to the IRS by fax or mail. The status is in your dashboard, and the confirmation is uploaded to the vault. See the EIN service page for each step and who does it.

An EIN for a company you already formed is also available as a separate service on the pricing page. For the basics of the company type, read what is a US LLC?.