Is there a way for a US-based organization to use the card reader while overseas?

[Spoonybard1300]

Hello, 

I'm trying to set up my non-profit organization with Square while stationed in Japan, but I'm unsure which address to use or if this is even feasible. We were successful in setting up the account with an address in the US and the US bank the organization uses. However, we received a "Location invalid" error when we attempted to use the card reader (which was purchased in Japan).

We then tried to set up a mobile location using a PO box with an FPO and AP and received the same error. Our latest attempt was to create an account using Japan as the region, but we were unable to select our bank to process transactions.

[JK_Fiber_Art]

I believe that everything has to be associated with the country you are in - Square's hardware is specific to the country you're in and must match the Account.  For example, if you were in the US (with a US Square Account) and used a reader from another country, it won't work. 

[Breffni]

Hi @Spoonybard1300, thanks for your post. 

@JK_Fiber_Art is correct. Cross-border card payments are unsupported. This means that card transactions attempted outside the country where you activated your Square account can’t be processed with Square.

Square’s hardware is also only approved for use in the country for which it is intended. 

This means that you can only use your US Square account and hardware in the US. 

If you plan to process payments in Japan, you would need to have a Square Japan account and hardware. You would need a registered address there to do so. 

We have more information about this process and regulations here. 

If you have any questions, please let us know.