Restricted countries — Jurisdictions from which a firm will not accept traders, usually because of sanctions or local regulation.
How restricted countries works in prop trading
Every firm publishes a list of countries it cannot serve. Most lists overlap on sanctioned jurisdictions, and beyond that they diverge based on each firm's payment providers, corporate structure, and legal advice — so a trader refused by one firm is frequently accepted by another.
The check that matters is the one at payout, not at signup. Registration is often automated and permissive, while identity verification before the first withdrawal is manual and strict. Traders who sign up from a restricted jurisdiction, or who move to one mid-account, generally find out when the payout is refused and the account is closed.
Key points
- Lists differ between firms; a refusal at one does not imply a refusal everywhere.
- The binding check is identity verification at payout, not the signup form.
- Residency at signup and residency at payout must normally match.
- Using a VPN to bypass a restriction is a terms violation and forfeits profits when discovered.
Also known as
- country restrictions
- banned countries
- prohibited jurisdictions
Frequently asked questions
Which countries are restricted by prop firms?
Sanctioned jurisdictions are restricted almost universally, and beyond those the lists vary by firm and change over time. Because they differ, check per firm rather than assuming a common list — we maintain per-firm restriction pages for this reason.
Can I use a VPN to trade with a restricted-country prop firm?
No. It violates the terms, and the identity check before your first payout requires documents matching your actual residence. Accounts found doing this are closed and the profits forfeited.
Put this into practice
Restricted countries is described here as a plain-language educational definition. Firms, platforms, and account programs may apply different conditions or calculations. Verify the current official terms before using this definition to make an account decision.