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January 13, 2026Moving with Family: A Parent’s Guide to Revolut Accounts Across the US, UK, and EU
January 13, 2026“`html
My Revolut Reality Check: Why Your Account Location Matters More Than You Think
Look, dealing with banking bureaucracy is tough enough without your fintech app playing geographical mind games. Here’s how I learned the hard way…
My cousin in Canada called me last month: “Why can’t I get a proper USD account? And why do my American clients think I’m laundering money through Lithuania?”
Turns out I didn’t know Revolut at all.
After weeks of research, forum deep dives, and accidentally locking myself out of my own account (oops), here’s everything expats need to know about Revolut’s hidden location rules.
My Step-by-Step Revolut Setup Survival Guide
1. Choosing Your Battlefield: Location Dictates EVERYTHING
Revolut literally changes its personality based on where you open it. My hard-earned lessons:
- EU-Based Magic: Signed up from Portugal? You’ll get that Lithuanian IBAN (LT**) – perfect for EUR transactions. Pro tip: All currencies share the same LT IBAN except GBP!
- UK Power Plays: Opened from London? Enjoy free UK-UK GBP transfers. My Dublin friend uses this for her London rental income – saves her €15/month.
- US Limitations: American accounts get proper USD routing numbers… but kiss EUR accounts goodbye. My Texas expat can receive USD like a local but can’t even create EUR balances.
2. Document Diplomacy: KYC War Stories
Brace yourself – paperwork varies wildly:
- In Spain? They demanded my residency card and EU tax ID
- Digital nomads: Visa stamps matter! Learned this helping a Brazilian on a French visa
- Americans: Prepare for the full FATCA interrogation (SSN required)
3. The SIM Card Trap That Blocked My Application
Here’s where I messed up BIG time…
Tried opening an Irish account with my Canadian SIM still inserted. Revolut immediately flagged me as Canadian despite my Dublin address.
Cue panic: Tried restarting with an Irish SIM? “This phone already registered.”
My recovery hack: Messaged Revolut on Facebook. They wiped my partial application in 48 hours. Second attempt with Irish SIM plus Irish VPN? Smooth sailing.
The Cost Breakdown: What Your Revolut Location Really Charges
The Hidden Weekend Tax
That “interbank rate” promise? Weekends add 1% markups. On my €5,000 monthly transfers, that’s €50 disappearing every Sunday!
Transfer Fee Minefields
- EU → UK GBP: €3 fee (waived on Ultra)
- UK → EU EUR: Free via SEPA
- US receiving USD: Free via ACH
- SWIFT transfers: €5-20 (common pain point for CAD/USD from EU)
The Premium Plan Gamble
Metal (€9.99/month) gives unlimited exchanges. But Ultra’s €45/month? Only worth it if you’re moving £10k+ monthly or need their travel insurance.
Non-Negotiable Requirements I Wish I Knew Earlier
Documentation Dead Ends
Revolut doesn’t mess around:
- EU residents: National ID or biometric passport ONLY
- US persons: SSN + driver’s license combo
- Visa holders: Clear residency permit photos (took three tries for my Thai friend in Frankfurt)
Unlike Wise: They won’t accept utility bills as backup proof. Brutal.
The SIM Card Rulebook
After my disaster and forum digging:
- SIM country code = account type
- Dual-SIM? Disable non-local numbers during setup
- Traveling? Use a VPN matching your tax residency
Post-July 2022 EU Upgrade
All EU accounts now have Lithuanian deposit insurance (€100k guarantee). My Spanish friend’s IBAN stayed the same but her money became protected – nice upgrade!
5 Costly Expat Mistakes (And How To Dodge Them)
1. The Currency Assumption Trap
“All accounts get local details for all currencies?” Nope. My Canadian friend paid €15 per USD transfer via SWIFT – Wise would’ve charged $4.50 via ACH.
2. Phone Number Roulette
British expat in Thailand used his UK SIM for account access. Revolut flagged him as UK-resident – account frozen when he couldn’t provide UK bills.
3. Transfer Type Confusion
American in Germany wasted €35 sending USD via SEPA instead of SWIFT to her LT IBAN. Always check:
- EU accounts: SWIFT for non-EUR/GBP
- US accounts: ACH for USD
4. The Invisible AML Block
My Brazilian contact couldn’t open SEK wallets. Why? Sweden’s AML rules required extra verification he couldn’t complete remotely.
5. Plan Mismatch Mayhem
French freelancer used Metal (£12.99) for monthly GBP transfers to UK clients. Switching to UK Premium (£6.99) saved €3/transfer PLUS £6/month!
My Verdict: When Revolut Wins (And When To Jump Ship)
After testing three accounts, here’s my battle-tested strategy:
- EU-based? Revolut rocks for EUR/GBP. Use Bunq for obscure currencies like SEK
- UK-focused? Revolut UK dominates GBP/SEPA. Avoid for heavy USD use
- US-primary? Revolut for USD + Wise for EUR/GBP local accounts
That confused Canadian cousin? Now runs EU Revolut for EUR invoices and US Revolut for North America. Monthly savings: $127.
Golden rule: Revolut isn’t truly borderless. Your signup location = your financial superpowers. Choose based on your main currency, and always use a local SIM during setup!
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