International markets

Q: Is there an exchange fee for my international trades?

We have a foreign exchange fee of 1.5% when you trade in pounds sterling – this is reduced for transactions of £25,000 or more. You can avoid paying this every time you trade by holding foreign currency in your account. Find out more .

Q: What is a W-8BEN form?

Completing a W-8BEN form lets you hold US shares in your account – you cannot trade US shares without it unless you are only trading in a SIPP. A W-8BEN also gives you access to a reduced tax rate on any earnings.

Q: How many currencies can I hold in my account?

You can hold up to 9 currencies in your ii SIPP and Trading Account. Only Pounds sterling currency can be held in an ISA and Junior ISA: Pounds sterling (GBP) US dollars (USD) Euros (EUR) Canadian dollars (CAD) Hong Kong dollars (HKD) Singapore dollars (SGD) Australian dollars (AUD) Swedish krona (SEK) Swiss francs (CHF)

Learn more about the range of markets available through ii.

What international markets does ii offer?
How to invest in international markets with ii
Popular companies

Open an account

Please remember, investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. The value of international investments may be affected by currency fluctuations which might reduce their value in sterling.

What international markets do we offer?

ii offers one of the widest choice of international investments on the market, with access to 17 global exchanges:

North America: United States, Canada
Europe: Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden*, Switzerland*
Asia Pacific: Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore

* phone orders only

Buy Japan, India and China shares using ADRs

As well as direct access to the above exchanges, we also offer Japanese, Indian and Chinese shares in the form of ADRs (American Depositary Receipts).

This simply means certain international shares are available on the US stock exchanges. These shares will have 'ADR' in their title.

How to invest in international markets with ii

If you want to invest in US shares, you will first need to complete a W-8BEN form (unless you are only trading in a SIPP) – this lets you save tax on any dividends or interest that you earn.

You will also need to agree to our online Exchange Agreements – this gives you access to live US prices. You can find out more about setting up your account for US trading here.

Trading international shares will involve exchanging currency. With ii you can hold up to 9 different currencies within your account – this can make international trades much simpler, and will save having to pay exchange fees every time you trade. Learn more about our foreign exchange service.

Any international shares can be held in the same account as your UK investments.

Our investment accounts

Whether you are looking for a general trading account, an ISA or a SIPP, we’ve got you covered with a low, flat fee.

SIPP.

Take control of your pension with our £5.99 a month Which? Recommended SIPP.

Open a SIPP

Find out more

ISA.

Make the most of your £20,000 tax-free savings allowance with our award-winning ISA.

Open an ISA

Find out more

Trading.

Our flexible account, where you can invest in all markets in the way you want.

Open a Trading Account

Find out more

FAQs

Is there an exchange fee for my international trades?

What is a W-8BEN form?

How many currencies can I hold in my account?

Popular international shares with ii customers

Here are the non UK-listed shares that were most held by our investors (by GBP value, as at 31 October 2024). Our most popular investments should not be taken as personal recommendations to buy or sell a particular stock or fund, and are not intended to provide advice.