Four separate questions
Eligibility has four parts. Can you buy the product from your country? Can you pass identity verification with your documents? Can you receive a payout by a supported method in your region? And do any bonuses or features exclude your country? A yes to the first does not imply yes to the others.
Citizenship and residence
Some firms check both citizenship and permanent residence. The pack's note for Topstep says to check both, and its payout page lists an FAQ on countries that cannot receive payouts and another on eligibility. A resident with a second citizenship can be treated differently from a citizen who lives abroad. Ask which one the firm uses and for which stage.
FundedNext KYC in detail
FundedNext uses a single profile-level KYC. You verify once, and it applies to every account you own. After passing, a pop-up prompts you to start KYC, and you choose a QR code or an SMS link. You submit a photo of a physical national ID, passport or permanent residence permit, plus a liveness check. A driving licence is accepted only for traders in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. A proof of address issued in the last three months may be requested. Review takes about 48 hours. Submission attempts are limited to five for Iraq and Nigeria and three for all other countries. If you pass but do not complete KYC within 30 days, your account can be deactivated. Once approved, the name and date of birth are locked.
Payout regions at Topstep
Topstep lists prop-to-brokerage payouts for the US only, Aeropay and ACH for US banks only, Wise for China, Canada and the United Kingdom, and wire or SWIFT internationally with a 30 dollar fee and 5 to 10 business days. The page also records that Wise was restored for select regions in August 2026 and remains unavailable elsewhere. Your payout route may differ from the route of a trader in another country, so cost and speed differ too.
Country-specific exceptions
FundedNext states that traders from Iran can only request a reward through TC Pay, and that the 15% reward from the challenge is not available to US traders. Topstep lists an FAQ on countries that cannot receive payouts. Such exceptions sit in help articles, not in headlines. Read the payout and rules articles for the exact plan.
Tax and legal
Rewards may be taxable in your country, and firms may require forms. Topstep's payout page lists an FAQ on required tax forms. This site cannot give tax or legal advice. Ask a qualified adviser, and keep records of fees and payouts.
A pre-purchase checklist
Ask the firm in writing: is my country eligible for this exact product, which documents do you accept, which payout methods work for my country and what fees apply, and do any features exclude my country. Check the firm's list of restricted countries and its terms. Save the replies with their dates, since the rules change.
Why to verify before paying
A rejection at KYC after you passed an evaluation is the costliest surprise, because the fee and the time are spent. FundedNext's article says a funded account can be declined if the risk team finds a violation or if verification is incomplete. Confirming eligibility first removes a whole class of avoidable loss. See how to vet a firm for more.
A worked example of a failed plan
A trader buys an evaluation, passes both phases and then learns that their identity document type is not accepted, or that the chosen payout method is not available in their country. The fee and weeks of trading are spent and the funded account may be deactivated if verification is not completed in time. A ten-minute check of the KYC article and the payout methods before purchase would have shown it.
Keeping documents ready
Prepare scans of a valid ID, a recent proof of address and the bank or wallet details you will use, so that verification can be completed within the firm's deadline. Make sure names match across documents.
How this was sourced
Official material checked for this draft on 2026-10-27. Product terms, residence eligibility, promotions, payout rules and fees can change. Reverify before publishing or purchasing.
Editorial disclosure
QuantProp has no verified commercial relationship with the firm(s) discussed in this article. This is an independently drafted rules comparison, not an endorsement or proof of payout reliability. No affiliate links are active. Trading evaluations can involve fees and substantial loss or failure risk.
Revision log
2026-10-28: imported from the editorial pack dated 2026-10-27; approved for publication by the owner. Facts are as of 2026-10-27 and were not independently tested. 2026-10-28: Dropped the empty 'Worked example or implementation note' heading. 2026-10-28: Dropped 'Operational example': its text duplicated an earlier section word for word. 2026-10-28: Rewritten from a 229-word stub. Added KYC document, attempt-limit, payout-region and country-exception facts read on official pages on 2026-10-28 (FundedNext, Topstep), a verification checklist and Q&A. No country is stated as eligible or excluded unless a page said so.
Frequently asked questions
Which ID does FundedNext accept for KYC?
A photo of a physical national ID, passport or permanent residence permit, plus a liveness check. A driving licence is accepted only for traders in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
How long does FundedNext KYC take?
Review takes about 48 hours. You have 30 days after passing to complete verification, or the account can be deactivated.
How many KYC attempts do I get?
FundedNext allows five attempts for Iraq and Nigeria and three for all other countries. After that you contact support.
Which payout methods does Topstep offer outside the US?
Wise for China, Canada and the United Kingdom, and wire or SWIFT internationally with a 30 dollar fee and 5 to 10 business days. ACH and Aeropay are for US banks.
Is eligibility the same for evaluations and payouts?
Not necessarily. Buying, verification and receiving payouts are separate checks, and some features exclude certain countries. Ask in writing about each.