I’m a Chartered Management Accountant (CMA) from Pakistan, and I’m interested in becoming a registered agent for U.S. LLCs. What exactly do I need to do to qualify as a U.S. registered agent, and can I offer this service while living outside the U.S.?
Answer by: abdullah-al-naim
2 months ago
To legally serve as a registered agent for a U.S. LLC, you must have a physical street address in the same state where the company is formed (a P.O. box doesn’t count) and be available during normal business hours to receive official mail and legal documents on behalf of the LLC.
Your CMA qualification is valuable, but it doesn’t automatically let you act as a registered agent—the key requirement is a real U.S. presence, not a professional credential.
Most non-residents handle this in one of two ways:
* Partnering with an existing U.S.-based registered agent service, which already meets all legal requirements.
* Setting up a local office with staff in the chosen state to handle legal notices and compliance duties.
Some states also require you to register officially as a “commercial registered agent” if you plan to offer this as a service to others.
Since maintaining compliance can be complex, many foreign professionals work with service providers. Companies like Business Globalizer and Steady Formation already act as registered agents for clients, offering reliable U.S. addresses, mail forwarding, and compliance support.
In short: without a valid U.S. address and in-state availability, you can’t personally act as a registered agent—but you can collaborate with existing providers or open a staffed U.S. office to meet the rules.
