Is Charles Schwab (ex-TD Ameritrade / thinkorswim) available in Europe in 2025?

Schwab is one of America's biggest brokers, so Europeans are wondering:

Is Charles Schwab available in Europe?

Partly. Schwab does let many - but not all - European residents open a “Schwab One International” cash account.

I have opened a Charles Schwab account from Portugal, as you can see here:

Schwab’s application wizard shows a master list of ~100 countries. EU states like Portugal, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands appear in green (I managed to open from Portugal).

However, certain European countries are restricted from opening an account - e.g. Croatia, Estonia, France, Greece - these are rejected outright at the country-picker stage.

Account opening

Schwab advertises US $0 account minimum and US $0 online equity commissions for international clients - good news for starters.

In practice you will need:

• Passport + proof of address (utility bill or bank statement).
• Tax ID (e.g., NIF, Steuer-ID).
• W-8BEN form (Schwab prompts you during onboarding).
• A printer/scanner – some forms still require a wet signature.
• Plan on 15–30 minutes online plus a few business days for manual review. Funding is by USD wire; Schwab converts EUR/GBP with an FX spread of roughly 0.50-1 %.

All in all, account opening is quite hard, especially when compared with other European brokers.

Fees

Schwab International charges:

• 0 fees on deposits, custody, or inactivity;
• No fees for investments in US stocks and ETFs
• 50 USD fee for trading in international exchanges
• Currency conversion fees apply (~1%, depends on currency)
• 25 USD fee for wire transfers

All in all, Schwab is good for investing in US stocks and ETFs.

But if you need to convert your currencies and invest in European-traded products, it probably won't be your best choice. The currency conversion fees, international trading fees, and withdrawal fees are above-average.

Benefits of using Schwab

• $0 stock commissions, robust US-market coverage.
• No minimum deposit requirements anymore - in the past there was a minimum deposit of $25,000 to open an account.
• SIPC protection, U.S. tax documents.
• Solid research (Morningstar, CFRA) bundled free.
• Access to thinkorswim charts and options tools.

Downsides of Schwab for European/international accounts

• No margin, no short-selling, no futures for non-US residents. A Schwab disclosure states EU residents (except Switzerland) are “not eligible for margin.” That eliminates short-selling and leveraged trades.
• No fractional shares.
• The signup process is hard. You'll need to download a 10-page PDF, print, sign, scan. Passport + recent utility bill required.
• USD only. Deposits arrive via $ wire; Schwab converts EUR/GBP at bank-desk FX spreads (≈ 0.7%). That's quite a lot! The platform itself is 100 % USD-denominated.
• PRIIPs still blocks US ETFs. Even inside Schwab, you’ll see the same “Not available to EU residents” banner on SCHD and other US ETFs.

What about U.S. expats in Europe?

Schwab actively courts American citizens abroad:

• Your existing margin/option levels stay intact, but fresh upgrades may be frozen once you switch your address to the EU.
• SIPC protection (up to $500 k) travels with you.
• Schwab issues 1099s and consolidates tax docs to keep IRS filing simple.

Is thinkorswim available in Europe?

Yes, European investors who are able to signup to Charles Schwab should also be able to use thinkorswim.

Best like-for-like alternatives you can open today

• Interactive Brokers (IBKR): The closest match to Schwab's product depth: stocks, options, futures and bonds in 150+ markets from a single account, with commissions from $0 and FX spreads around 0.2%. ‍
• eToro: A well-known social trading platform that lets you trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more with zero commission on stock trades. It’s available in many European countries and users can also see and copy the trades of other investors on eToro (social trading feature).‍‍‍
• XTB: 0% commissions on stocks and ETFs for monthly turnover up to €100,000 (above this amount, a 0.2% commission applies, min. €10)‍‍‍
• DEGIRO: EU-licensed, ultra-low equity fees, no custody charges; good for buy-and-hold ETFs but fees higher than some competitors.‍
• Saxo Bank: Multi-asset access plus strong research, though fee tiers rise quickly for active traders.‍‍
• Revolut: A digital banking app that also offers an investing feature. With Revolut, users in Europe can buy stocks (limited selection), cryptocurrencies, and commodities in the same app.‍
• Trading 212: A free stock trading app available in Europe (including the UK and EU countries). Trading 212 offers commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs and has a simple, intuitive interface like Robinhood or Webull. It’s a popular choice for European investors seeking a Robinhood-like experience.

All listed alternatives hold EU licences and allow access to U.S. stocks and ETFs.

Schwab is fine for pure USD stock investing, but these alternatives win for most Europeans, thanks to multi-currency and broader markets.

Want to compare them side-by-side? Check our article comparing the best trading platforms in Europe.

Bottom line

Schwab operates in Europe, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Confirm your country’s eligibility, weigh the USD-only setup and margin limitations, and decide if the brand-name peace of mind outweighs the flexibility offered by rivals.

For most Europeans, we believe that a European-regulated broker such as the ones mentioned before are a better choice.

Hope we helped, and contact us to let us know about your experiences with Schwab!

Country-by-country quick FAQ

Is Schwab International available in Germany? 🇩🇪 Yes – cash account only, USD wires, no margin.

France? 🇫🇷 Not at this time - application rejected at country screen.

Italy? 🇮🇹 Yes – onboarding via PDF + wire; no shorting.

Spain? 🇪🇸 Yes – supported; platform English-only.

Netherlands? 🇳🇱 Yes, supported.

Ireland? 🇮🇪 Yes.

Estonia, Greece, Croatia? Not at this time - application rejected at country screen.