Yes—you can open and contribute to a Roth IRA while you are a nonresident alien on OPT if you have eligible taxable compensation and stay within the 2026 contribution and income limits.

2026 contribution limit

For 2026, the total contributions you make each year to all of your traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs can’t be more than: $7,500 ($8,600 if you’re age 50 or older), or If less, your taxable compensation for the year

Section 408A(c)(3)(A) adjustments

In light of the changes to the adjusted gross income limitations, under section 408A(c)(3)(A), the adjusted gross income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is between $242,000 and $252,000 for married couples filing jointly, increased from between $236,000 and $246,000. For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is between $153,000 and $168,000, increased from between $150,000 and $165,000. For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.

What Is Compensation?

Generally, compensation is what you earn from working. Wages, salaries, tips, professional fees, bonuses, and other amounts you receive for providing personal services are compensation. Compensation doesn’t include any of the following items. Earnings and profits from property, such as rental income, interest income, and dividend income. Any amounts (other than combat pay) you exclude from income, such as foreign earned income and housing costs.

When Can You Make Contributions?; What if You Contribute Too Much?

You can make contributions to a Roth IRA for a year at any time during the year or by the due date of your return for that year (not including extensions). A 6% excise tax applies to any excess contribution to a Roth IRA. For purposes of determining excess contributions, any contribution that is withdrawn on or before the due date (including extensions) for filing your tax return for the year is treated as an amount not contributed. This treatment only applies if any earnings on the contributions are also withdrawn.

Can You Move Amounts Into a Roth IRA?—Conversions

You can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The conversion is treated as a rollover, regardless of the conversion method used. You must include in your gross income distributions from a traditional IRA that you would have had to include in income if you hadn’t converted them into a Roth IRA. To designate contributions as nondeductible, you must file Form 8606.

Individual retirement arrangement (IRA)

If you made contributions to a traditional IRA for 2025, you may be able to take an IRA deduction. But you must have taxable compensation effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business to do so. But you can still make contributions to a traditional IRA even if you cannot deduct them. If you made nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA for 2025, you must report them on Form 8606.

Exempt Individuals—Students

You will not be an exempt individual as a student in 2025 if you have been exempt as a teacher, trainee, or student for any part of more than 5 calendar years unless you meet both of the following requirements. You establish that you do not intend to reside permanently in the United States. You have substantially complied with the requirements of your visa. If you qualify to exclude days of presence as a student, you must file a fully completed Form 8843 with the IRS.

Substitute Form W-9; How Do I Know When To Use Form W-9?

A foreign person, including a U.S. branch of a foreign person that is treated as a U.S. person under Regulations section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) or a foreign branch of a U.S. financial institution that is a QI, may not provide a Form W-9. Advise foreign persons to use the appropriateForm W-8 or Form 8233, Exemption From Withholding on Compensation for Independent (and Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual.

Who Must Provide Form W-8BEN; Giving Form W-8BEN

You must give Form W-8BEN to the withholding agent or payer if you are a nonresident alien who is the beneficial owner of an amount subject to withholding, or if you are an account holder of an FFI documenting yourself as a nonresident alien. Do not send Form W-8BEN to the IRS. Instead, give it to the person who is requesting it from you.

(a)(1)

Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, returns of income required under sections 6012, 6013, 6014, and 6017 of individuals, estates, domestic trusts, and foreign trusts having an office or place of business in the United States (including unrelated business tax returns of such trusts referred to in section 511(b)(2)) shall be filed on or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the taxable year.

Opening Your Account

To open brokerage and retirement accounts, please follow the instructions provided for the Webull mobile app, website, and intuitive desktop application below: Identification : Must have a social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Residency : Must be a permanent resident of the United States or its territories, or hold one of the accepted visa types if you are not a permanent resident - U.S. residential address At this time, E1, E2, E3, F1, H1B, TN1, O1 and L1 VISAs are accepted.

Account application requirements

Have a valid Social Security Number (not a Taxpayer Identification Number) Have a legal United States (US) residential address within the 50 states, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands (exceptions may apply for active US military personnel stationed abroad) Be a US citizen, US permanent resident, or have a valid US visa*

IRA availability

The Robinhood IRA is available to any of our US customers with a Robinhood brokerage account in good standing.