Opening an Amazon seller account: from application to launch

Choosing a selling plan

Features such as bulk listing, advertising, Brand Registry tools and automated pricing require the Professional plan. You can switch plans later. Referral fees are charged as a percentage of the sale price and vary by category.

What to prepare before you apply

• A valid government-issued ID, such as a passport.
• A chargeable credit card that works internationally.
• A bank account in your name or your company's name. Amazon may accept non-US accounts through its currency converter service.
• If you are registering as a company, the company's registration details and documents.
• Proof of address dated within the last 180 days, such as a bank or credit card statement.
• Your tax information and a phone number including the country code.

Registration steps

• Sign-in details: create a new account or use an existing Amazon customer account.
• Business information: location, business type, registered business name, registration number and address.
• Seller information: full legal name, citizenship, place and date of birth and residential address, plus details of anyone who owns more than 25% of the company or controls it.
• Billing information: credit card and bank account.
• Store information: store name, whether your products have barcodes (GTINs) and whether you own the brand.
• Identity verification.

Identity verification and the video call

Once you upload your ID and proof of address, Amazon's current guide describes two routes: automated verification using a photo of your face and your ID, or a video call with an Amazon representative, either right away or by appointment. Amazon says verification usually takes 3 business days or less if your documents are in order.

Keep your original ID and proof of address at hand for the video call. Amazon may also mail you a postcard with a code to verify your address. Its official pages do not say which sellers have to complete this step.

• Documents must be in color and in focus, with all four corners visible. Screenshots and blurry images are not accepted.
• If the document has a signature field, it must be signed.
• The name, address, date of birth, document number and issuing country you enter must match your documents exactly, character for character.
• The bank account must be in your name or your company's name.

The tax interview

Sellers based outside the US complete the tax interview in Seller Central, which generates the right form from your answers. Form W-8BEN is for individuals; Form W-8BEN-E is for entities. A form generally remains valid until the end of the third calendar year after the year it was signed.

If you are opening the account in the name of a US LLC, the right form depends on how the LLC is classified for tax purposes. Complete this step with your accountant.

After approval: getting ready to sell

• Listings: create a new product page or add an offer to an existing one, and follow the barcode (GTIN) rules.
• Category approval (ungating): some categories are open to everyone, some require the Professional plan or Amazon's approval, and some are closed to third-party sellers. If you see "Apply to sell" when you search for a product in the catalog, you must apply first.
• Approval requests usually require recent invoices from an authorized supplier and, depending on the category, product safety or compliance documents.
• If you sell under your own brand, plan for Brand Registry enrollment.

Unified accounts

• A North America unified account lets you sell in the US, Canada and Mexico (and Brazil).
• Registering in the UK creates a single seller account that also gives you access to Amazon's European stores. You choose later which stores to list in.

UK only: your VAT number

Businesses established outside the UK have no VAT registration threshold, so sellers who plan to hold stock in the UK should arrange VAT registration before they start selling. Seller Central may restrict your account if you do not upload a VAT number when asked. For details, see our UK tax calendar guide.