FundingPips restricted countries list covers two categories: jurisdictions under broad financial sanctions (North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, other OFAC-listed regions) and specific regional prop firm regulatory restrictions (certain US states, historically Ontario Canada). As of April 2026 the list is short compared to some competitors. FundingPips serves the UK, EU, most US states, most Canadian provinces, and Asia-Pacific broadly.
Quick answer: FundingPips restricted countries
FundingPips restricted countries list covers two categories: jurisdictions under broad financial sanctions where FundingPips cannot legally operate (North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, other OFAC-listed regions) and specific regional prop firm regulatory restrictions (certain US states, historically Ontario Canada). As of April 2026 the list is relatively short compared to some competitors, FundingPips serves most of the global prop trading market including the UK, EU, US (most states), Canada (most provinces), and Asia-Pacific broadly.
- Sanctions-driven blocks: North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, sanctioned regions
- Regulatory blocks: select US states, historically Ontario Canada
- Most major markets supported: UK, EU, most US states, most Canadian provinces, APAC, Africa, LATAM
- VPN workaround: detected at KYC, results in account closure
- Pre-existing accounts: not retroactively enforced when new restrictions added
- Code VIBES: 20 percent off at checkout if your country is supported
This article walks through the restriction categories, which countries are affected, detection mechanics and workaround warnings.
Restriction categories
Two distinct restriction reasons as of April 2026:
Category 1: Sanctions compliance
Countries under broad US, EU and UK financial sanctions regimes where FundingPips cannot legally process payments or provide services:
- North Korea (DPRK): comprehensive sanctions
- Iran: financial services sanctions
- Syria: comprehensive sanctions
- Cuba: limited US sanctions (policy varies by administration)
- Russia: restrictions escalated post-2022 (exact scope varies)
- Belarus: restrictions tied to Russia sanctions
- Crimea and specific Russian-occupied regions: under geographic sanctions
This category is non-negotiable globally. FundingPips cannot accept accounts from these jurisdictions regardless of individual trader circumstances. Other prop firms have similar restrictions for the same reason.
Category 2: Prop firm regulatory restrictions
Regions where local regulations classify prop trading as a regulated financial activity, blocking non-registered firms:
- Select US states: state-level prop firm regulations vary, some states require prop firms to register as specific financial entities and FundingPips may not hold that registration in every state
- Ontario, Canada: historically had prop firm regulatory restrictions, may or may not still apply depending on current regulatory interpretation
- Quebec, Canada: similar pattern to Ontario
- Specific other jurisdictions: occasional additions as regulators clarify prop firm status
This category changes more frequently than sanctions compliance as regulators update their positions. Watch the FundingPips help center and prop-firm news feeds for clarifications.
How the restriction is enforced
At purchase checkout
When you click 'Purchase' on a challenge, FundingPips' system checks:
- Billing address country
- Payment method origin
- IP address location
- Browser language and locale indicators
If restriction is detected: checkout fails with error message. No charge processed. You see a notification that your location is not supported. This is the fastest signal: if checkout completes, your country is supported at the billing-address level.
At KYC verification
After successful purchase, KYC verification requires:
- Government-issued ID with country of issuance
- Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
- Selfie verification
If your ID country or proof of address falls under a restricted jurisdiction (even if purchase IP was different), KYC closes the account. Refund typically processes for the original purchase. KYC is the second filter and catches VPN-based purchase attempts where the documents do not match the billing country used at checkout.
Ongoing monitoring
After KYC approval, FundingPips continues light monitoring for compliance (IP patterns, payment method origin for payouts). Major red flags (account consistently used from a restricted location post-activation) can trigger closure, but this is uncommon for pre-existing accounts that were properly approved at signup.
VPN warnings
Do not use a VPN to purchase from a restricted country.
Reasons:
- KYC mismatch: Your VPN IP at purchase does not match your KYC documents at verification. FundingPips flags the discrepancy, account closes.
- Payment method origin: Even if purchase IP looks unrestricted, your payment method (credit card, bank transfer) has origin metadata that FundingPips checks. Restricted-country payment methods trigger the same flags.
- Continued usage detection: If approved despite initial VPN use, ongoing trading from the restricted location eventually triggers detection. Account closes at that point, which may be after you have accumulated trading history and unpaid profits.
The safe alternative: if your country is restricted, try competitors. FundingPips is not the only forex or CFD prop firm, FTMO, FundedNext, Alpha Capital, and others have different restriction lists. Some may serve your jurisdiction where FundingPips does not.
Common unrestricted regions
As of April 2026, these regions generally have no FundingPips restrictions (standard KYC applies):
- UK: full access
- EU (all member states): full access, SEPA payments supported
- Canada (most provinces): check your specific province
- US (most states): check your specific state
- Australia: full access
- New Zealand: full access
- Japan: full access with KYC
- South Korea: full access with KYC
- Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia: full access
- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh: full access
- South Africa: full access
- Most Latin American countries (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile): full access
- Most African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco): full access
This list is not exhaustive. If your country is not on the restricted list, it is typically supported.
How to check your eligibility
Three steps to verify:
- Visit the FundingPips purchase page (fundingpips.com with code VIBES for 20 percent off)
- Attempt to start purchase, enter your billing address
- Check for restriction notification, if restricted, the system blocks with a message. If unrestricted, checkout proceeds normally
No need to purchase fully to check eligibility, just start the checkout flow and stop if blocked. No charge or commitment at the pre-payment stage.
What to do if restricted
Try other prop firms
Different firms have different restriction lists. FTMO, FundedNext, Alpha Capital, E8 Markets and MyFundedFX each have different serving regions. A country restricted at FundingPips may be fully supported at one of these alternatives, so do not assume the restriction is universal across the prop space.
Wait for regulatory clarification
Regulatory restrictions sometimes lift when regulators update their positions. Subscribe to prop firm news (including propfirmmatch.com announcements) for updates. The Ontario pattern (2023-2024 restriction, 2025 clarification) is a useful template, regulator changes can flip a region from restricted to supported inside a calendar year.
Do not attempt VPN workaround
Risk of account closure after significant capital accumulation. Not worth the eventual exposure. The detection cost is asymmetric: small upside (cheaper than a competitor) versus large downside (losing accumulated profits after months of trading).
Consider relocation implications
If you are genuinely planning to relocate (not just VPN-spoofing), ensure your new jurisdiction is supported before committing to FundingPips. Standard cross-border banking applies to payouts.
Restricted country list changes
The list changes 1-3 times per year typically.
Additions
- New OFAC sanctions (adding jurisdictions to blocked list)
- Regulatory classification changes (new prop firm regulations in specific states or provinces)
- Rapid regulatory responses (crises or enforcement actions)
Removals (less common)
- Sanctions lifting (rare, usually takes years of diplomatic change)
- Regulatory clarification that prop firms do not require specific registration
- Regional court rulings reversing earlier restrictions
Monitoring the list
- Check FundingPips' current restriction list if your country status changed
- For traders in borderline jurisdictions, verify at purchase attempt (fastest signal)
- Community forums (Reddit r/propfirms, Discord servers) flag restriction changes quickly
Example: Ontario, Canada historical pattern
Ontario historically had prop firm regulatory restrictions under the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) classification system. As of April 2026, the exact status has varied across recent years:
- 2023-2024: some prop firms blocked Ontario residents due to OSC classification uncertainty
- 2025: clarification allowed most prop firms to operate in Ontario with standard KYC
- 2026: check current status at purchase, situation may have evolved further
This pattern (regulation, block, clarification, allow) is typical for prop firm regulatory restrictions globally. Treat any regional restriction as potentially temporary rather than permanent unless it is rooted in sanctions law.
Comparison: FundingPips versus peer firms
| Restriction type | FundingPips | Typical peer |
|---|---|---|
| OFAC sanctions (Iran, NK, Syria, Cuba) | Restricted | Restricted |
| Russia (post-2022) | Restricted | Restricted at most firms |
| US states (some) | Possibly restricted | Varies widely by firm |
| Ontario, Canada | Historically restricted | Mixed status |
| UAE | Generally supported | Often supported |
| UK and EU | Full access | Full access |
The biggest peer-comparison delta sits in the US-state and Canadian-province categories where state-level prop firm regulations are evolving fastest. Check the current FundingPips checkout result against your specific state or province rather than relying on a comparison table that may be 6 months stale.
Compliance review: what FundingPips actually checks
FundingPips' compliance pipeline runs three filters in sequence. Understanding each filter helps borderline-jurisdiction traders predict where their application will succeed or fail.
| Filter | What it checks | When it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout block | Billing address country, IP geolocation, browser locale | Pre-payment |
| KYC verification | Government ID country, proof of address, selfie match | Post-payment, pre-funded |
| Ongoing monitoring | IP patterns, payment method origin, account-use behaviour | Continuous post-approval |
The strictest filter is KYC verification because it inspects original-issued documents rather than self-reported addresses. A trader who passes the checkout block but fails KYC loses the eval fee minus refund processing time. A trader who is unsure should start the checkout flow with their actual billing address rather than guessing eligibility from forum threads or community reports.
Payment method origin and country detection
FundingPips' second-pass check is payment-method origin. The bank issuing a credit card or processing a bank transfer carries country metadata that travels with the transaction. Even if billing address looks unrestricted, a payment instrument from a restricted-country financial institution triggers a flag.
Practical implications for cross-border traders: a trader living in an unrestricted country but holding only a restricted-country credit card cannot purchase via that card. The right approach is to fund the purchase through a payment instrument matching the actual country of residence. Crypto purchases bypass the bank-routing metadata but introduce their own KYC questions about source of funds.
Refund expectations when a purchase is reversed at compliance
If KYC review rejects an account after the eval fee has been paid, FundingPips processes a refund minus any payment-processor fees. The refund timeline depends on the original payment rail: credit card refunds clear inside 5-10 business days, bank transfers can take 2-3 weeks for cross-border returns. Crypto refunds settle quickly on-chain but the exchange-rate exposure during the holding period belongs to the trader.
The bottom line
FundingPips restricted countries fall into two categories: sanctions compliance (North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba and other OFAC-listed jurisdictions, non-negotiable) and prop firm regulatory restrictions (select US states, historically Ontario Canada, varies periodically). The list is relatively short compared to some competitors, FundingPips serves most of the global prop trading market including the UK, EU, most US states, most Canadian provinces, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. Restriction enforcement happens at purchase checkout or KYC verification; pre-existing accounts are not typically enforced retroactively when new restrictions are added. VPN workarounds are detected at KYC and result in account closure, not a viable strategy. Use promo code VIBES at checkout for 20 percent off if your country is supported.
Common trader scenarios and outcomes
Real-world scenarios from traders attempting to navigate the FundingPips restriction list illustrate how the three-filter compliance pipeline behaves in practice. Each scenario maps to a different outcome at the checkout, KYC or monitoring stage.
- Trader in a clearly supported country (UK, Germany, Japan): checkout passes, KYC clears with passport plus utility bill, account activates inside 24 hours
- Trader in a borderline-state US jurisdiction: checkout may block or may pass depending on state-level prop firm regulation, KYC then confirms or rejects based on document state of issuance
- Trader in a sanctions country (Iran, Russia): checkout blocks immediately at billing address detection, no path forward
- Dual citizen with non-restricted passport but restricted-country residence: checkout may pass on billing address, KYC may reject on proof-of-address country mismatch with passport
- Trader relocating mid-funded-life: existing account survives, KYC update with new address may be required at next payout cycle
The pattern is consistent: clearly supported countries flow through all three filters cleanly; clearly restricted countries fail at checkout or KYC; borderline cases require case-by-case compliance review and benefit from emailing FundingPips support before paying eval fees.
Affiliate context: VIBES discount eligibility
The VIBES code applies at checkout regardless of country, but only succeeds on accounts that pass the underlying compliance pipeline. A restricted-country trader cannot apply VIBES to bypass restrictions; the code is a discount, not a compliance exception.
Practical use of the code: confirm country eligibility via the checkout flow, then apply VIBES at the payment step for 20 percent off the eval fee. The code rotates periodically, verify the current discount percentage at fundingpips.com if VIBES does not apply at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are restricted from FundingPips?
FundingPips restricts account access from countries under broad financial sanctions (North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and other OFAC-listed jurisdictions) plus specific regulatory-restricted regions (certain US states with prop firm laws, historically Ontario Canada). The full list changes periodically based on regulatory environment. If your country is restricted, purchase fails at checkout or KYC blocks account activation.
Can US traders use FundingPips?
Most US states can use FundingPips as of April 2026. A small number of US states have prop firm regulatory restrictions that may block account registration. The restriction pattern changes as state-level prop firm regulations evolve. Check the FundingPips purchase page with your specific state address, if blocked, the system displays the restriction. Use code VIBES at checkout for 20 percent off.
Can Canadian traders use FundingPips?
Most Canadian provinces can use FundingPips as of April 2026. Ontario historically had prop firm regulatory restrictions that may still apply. Quebec, BC, Alberta, and other provinces typically have fewer restrictions. Check the purchase page with your specific province, if restricted, registration blocks. If unrestricted, standard KYC applies.
Why does FundingPips restrict some countries?
Two reasons: sanctions compliance (OFAC-listed jurisdictions, financial crimes compliance with US, EU, UK sanctions regimes) and prop firm regulatory restrictions (specific state-level or regional laws treating prop trading as regulated activity). Sanctions compliance is non-negotiable globally. Regulatory restrictions vary by jurisdiction and change as regulators update prop firm classification.
Can I use a VPN with FundingPips?
Do not. FundingPips flags VPN connections at KYC verification. Using a VPN to purchase from a restricted location creates a mismatch between purchase IP (VPN location) and KYC documents (your actual country). This mismatch triggers account closure at verification. The risk is not worth it. If your country is restricted, FundingPips is not a viable option, try competitors with different restriction lists.
What happens if my FundingPips account is purchased from a restricted country?
If restriction is detected at purchase: checkout fails, no charge processed. If restriction is detected at KYC after purchase: account closes, refund typically processes minus any processing fees. If restriction is detected later (address change, IP patterns): account closes, funds returned to trader where regulations permit. FundingPips does not enforce after-the-fact for countries that became restricted while you were already trading.
Does FundingPips serve the UK?
Yes. UK traders can use FundingPips as of April 2026 with standard KYC and no unusual restrictions. The UK has well-established prop firm operations and FundingPips operates normally there. Use code VIBES at checkout for 20 percent off.
Does FundingPips serve the EU?
Yes. All EU countries can use FundingPips as of April 2026 with standard KYC. Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Poland, and other EU jurisdictions operate normally. Payment methods include SEPA for efficient EU bank transfers.
Does FundingPips serve India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia?
Generally yes. India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and most Southeast Asian markets typically have FundingPips access. Some crypto payment restrictions may apply in specific regions. Check the purchase page with your specific country for current access.
How often does the FundingPips restricted list change?
Periodically, typically 1-3 updates per year based on regulatory environment changes. Sanctions additions (new OFAC designations) add countries to the list. Prop firm regulatory clarifications can add or remove regional restrictions. The list does not typically shrink rapidly; additions are more common than removals.
Are FundingPips payouts affected by my country?
Yes indirectly. Restricted countries cannot open accounts in the first place, so payout-rail access never becomes relevant. Supported-country traders pick from FundingPips' published rail list (crypto stablecoin, bank transfer, e-wallet depending on region). Some rails are region-specific even within the supported-country list.
What is the fastest way to confirm my country is supported?
Run the checkout flow with your real billing address. If the system accepts the address and proceeds to the payment step, your country is supported. If the system blocks with a restriction message, your country is restricted. The pre-payment check is free and unambiguous, unlike contacting support and waiting for a response.
Does FundingPips publish an official restricted-country list?
The firm's terms of service and help center reference the restriction categories but the firm relies on the checkout flow as the operational signal. Compliance teams update the list based on regulatory environment changes, so a static published list would be stale within weeks. Treat the checkout block (or pass) as authoritative.
What happens if my country moves to the restricted list during my eval?
Existing accounts in good standing are typically grandfathered rather than retroactively closed when a new restriction is added. KYC review at the next payout cycle confirms residence; if the trader has not moved, the account continues. New eval purchases after the restriction date are blocked for that country.
Is the FundingPips affiliate VIBES code valid in my country?
The VIBES code applies at checkout in any supported country and gives 20 percent off the eval fee. Restricted-country traders cannot complete checkout regardless of code use. Verify the current discount percentage at fundingpips.com because affiliate codes can rotate periodically.
Can I get a refund if KYC rejects my account after eval purchase?
Yes. FundingPips processes refunds on KYC-rejected accounts minus payment-processor fees. The refund timeline depends on the original rail: credit cards clear inside 5-10 business days, bank transfers can take 2-3 weeks for cross-border returns. Crypto refunds settle on-chain quickly but exchange-rate exposure between purchase and refund belongs to the trader.
