> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.spherepay.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Prohibited Countries and Sanctioned Regions

> Reference list of countries and jurisdictions where SpherePay accounts cannot be opened, plus the regional restrictions that apply for sanctioned regions.

You can open a Sphere account as an individual or business in most countries of the world. This page lists the exceptions — countries where Sphere accounts are unavailable, and regions with partial restrictions.

<Note>
  Applying as a resident of a country not listed below is a requirement, but does **not** guarantee account approval. All applicants must pass [KYC](/concepts/onboarding/individual-kyc) or [KYB](/concepts/onboarding/business-kyb) verification; some countries trigger additional checks.
</Note>

## Prohibited countries (individuals and businesses)

Sphere accounts cannot be opened from these countries. This list includes [OFAC-sanctioned](https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information) jurisdictions and others where Sphere does not operate:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="A–C">
    * Afghanistan
    * Algeria
    * Bangladesh
    * Belarus
    * Burundi
    * Central African Republic
    * Chad
    * China
    * Cuba
  </Card>

  <Card title="D–L">
    * Democratic People's Republic of Korea
    * Democratic Republic of the Congo
    * Eritrea
    * Ethiopia
    * Haiti
    * Iran
    * Iraq
    * Kazakhstan
    * Kenya
    * Kosovo
    * Lebanon
    * Libya
  </Card>

  <Card title="M–Z">
    * Macedonia
    * Mali
    * Morocco
    * Myanmar
    * Nepal
    * Nicaragua
    * Niger
    * Pakistan
    * Palestine
    * Qatar
    * Russian Federation
    * Sint Maarten
    * Slovenia
    * Somalia
    * South Sudan
    * Sudan
    * Syria
    * Ukraine (including Crimea)
    * Venezuela
    * Yemen
    * Zimbabwe
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Restricted for individuals only

Sphere is available in these countries for **business accounts only**. Individual residents cannot currently open a personal Sphere account:

* Finland
* Hungary
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Netherlands
* Slovenia

## U.S. state restrictions

### New York

Sphere can only serve a limited range of products and services to New York residents. If you're applying from or operating in New York, **contact Business Development before integrating** to confirm product eligibility for your use case.

## Additional verification

Some countries not listed above may still trigger enhanced due diligence based on the applicant's profile, transaction patterns, or product mix. If you have questions about a specific corridor or customer base, reach out to [support@spherepay.co](mailto:support@spherepay.co).

## Source and updates

This list mirrors Sphere's published [country availability policy](https://intercom.help/spherepay/en/articles/9516473-which-countries-can-i-use-sphere-from). The canonical source is Sphere's compliance team — if you see a discrepancy between this page and the Help Center article, the Help Center is authoritative.

**Last updated:** December 2, 2025