In 2026, Shopify made one of the most impactful announcements in its history. Shopify Payments is now officially available in 15+ new countries, with the majority being European nations along with Mexico. This expansion is not just a product update; it is a massive opportunity for thousands of merchants across the globe who were previously unable to access Shopify’s powerful built-in payment system.
Before this expansion, merchants in these countries had a frustrating reality: they had to rely on third-party payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal and pay Shopify extra transaction fees on every single sale. This double cost made running a profitable store significantly harder. Now, that barrier has been permanently removed.
In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know, what Shopify Payments is, which countries were added, why this matters, what benefits you now get, how fees work, how to set it up and what the future of Shopify’s global expansion looks like. If you are planning to take full advantage of these new opportunities, it’s the perfect time to hire Shopify developers who understand global payment integrations and can optimize your store for maximum conversions.
What Is Shopify Payments?
Shopify Payments is Shopify’s official, built-in payment processing system. Think of it as the payment engine that runs directly inside your Shopify store no third-party account needed, no external setup required.
Launched in 2013, Shopify Payments was designed to give merchants the simplest possible way to accept payments online and in person. It is powered by Stripe’s underlying technology but is deeply integrated into the Shopify ecosystem in ways that a standalone Stripe account cannot match.
What Can You Do With Shopify Payments?
- Accept all major credit and debit cards Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Access Shop Pay Shopify’s one-tap accelerated checkout used by 200M+ buyers globally
- Enable Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital wallets
- Offer local payment methods specific to each country (e.g. IDEAL in Netherlands, Vipps in Norway, BLIK in Poland)
- Manage payments, refunds, payouts and disputes all from one Shopify dashboard
- Access built-in fraud detection and chargeback management tools
- Receive payouts directly to your bank account in 1-3 business days
- Eliminate all third-party transaction fees charged by Shopify
Key Fact:
Without Shopify Payments, merchants using third-party gateways are charged an additional transaction fee by Shopify ranging from 0.5% (Plus plan) to 2% (Basic plan) on every single order. Shopify Payments eliminates this fee completely.
The 15+ New Countries Now Supported by Shopify Payments
Here is the complete list of countries newly added to Shopify Payments in 2026. The expansion covers 15 European countries plus Mexico, bringing Shopify’s total Payments coverage to over 50 countries worldwide:
| Country | Region | Key Opportunity |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Central Europe | Rapidly growing eCommerce market with 38M+ population |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Baltic Region | Tech-savvy population and strong digital economy |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Scandinavia | One of Europe’s highest online spending per capita |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | Baltic Region | Rising digital economy with high internet penetration |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Central Europe | Fast-growing retail and eCommerce sector |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | Baltic Region | Most digitally advanced country in the EU |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | Mediterranean | Strategic EU business and commerce hub |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Southeast Europe | Booming tourism + growing online commerce |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Southern Europe | Rapidly expanding eCommerce adoption |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Central Europe | High internet penetration and tech adoption |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Mediterranean | Strategic EU business location |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Eastern Europe | Emerging market with strong growth potential |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Central Europe | High-income market with affluent consumers |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Western Europe | Finance and international commerce hub |
| 🇬🇮 Gibraltar | Southern Europe | Strategic Atlantic trade location |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Latin America | Massive market with 130M+ population |
This expansion reflects Shopify’s clear strategy: dominate the European eCommerce market while simultaneously opening the door to Latin America’s 650 million+ consumer base, starting with Mexico.
Why This Expansion Is a Game-Changer for eCommerce Sellers
1. Zero Third-Party Transaction Fees, More Profit on Every Sale
This is the single biggest financial impact of this expansion. Every merchant in these 16 newly added countries who was previously using a third-party gateway was paying Shopify an extra transaction fee on top of their gateway’s own processing fees.
2. Access to Shop Pay, The World’s Highest-Converting Checkout
Shop Pay was previously unavailable to merchants in these countries. Now every seller in Poland, Norway, Mexico, Greece and all newly added nations can offer it to their customers.
Shop Pay securely saves customer shipping and payment information, allowing returning buyers to complete a purchase with a single tap. According to Shopify’s own data, merchants who use Shop Pay see conversion rates up to 18% higher compared to standard checkouts and mobile checkout speeds are nearly 1.72 times faster. For a store receiving 500 orders per month, an 18% conversion boost could mean dozens of additional sales at zero extra marketing cost.
3. Local Payment Methods That Customers Actually Trust
One of the most overlooked conversion killers for eCommerce stores is showing payment methods that customers do not recognize or trust. Each country in this expansion has its own preferred local payment methods:
- Norway: Vipps mobile payment used by 4 out of 5 Norwegians
- Poland: BLIK instant mobile payments used by 15+ million users
- Estonia: Local bank transfers and ID-based payments
- Croatia and Slovenia: Popular local card networks and bank redirects
- Mexico: OXXO cash payments, SPEI bank transfers, and local card networks
When customers at checkout see familiar local payment options, they feel safe. When they see only international cards they may not own, they leave. Shopify Payments makes offering these local methods seamless and automatic. To fully leverage features like Shop Pay, local payment methods and seamless checkout experiences, partnering with a reliable Shopify development company can help you implement advanced optimizations and scale faster.
4. One Unified Dashboard for All Your Money
Previously, merchants using third-party gateways had to juggle multiple accounts logging into Stripe for payouts, PayPal for refunds and their bank separately for reconciliation. With Shopify Payments, every financial operation lives inside your Shopify admin. Transactions, refunds, disputes, payouts and detailed financial reports are all in one place, saving significant time and reducing accounting errors. Faster Payouts to Your Bank Account
Many third-party processors hold merchant funds for 7 to 14 days. Shopify Payments dramatically improves this most merchants receive payouts in 1 to 3 business days and merchants with Shopify Balance accounts can receive payouts in under one business day. Faster access to your money means better cash flow management and more flexibility to reinvest in inventory and growth.
5. Enterprise-Level Security Included
Shopify Payments is fully PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant the highest security standard available for payment processing. It includes built-in fraud detection using AVS (Address Verification System) and CVV checks, plus 3D Secure authentication which requires customers to verify purchases with their bank. All of this is included automatically, with no extra setup or cost.
Fee Comparison: With vs. Without Shopify Payments
Here is exactly how fees break down across different Shopify plans, showing the clear financial advantage of using Shopify Payments:
| Plan | Processing Fee | 3rd Party Fee (without SP) | With Shopify Payments |
| Basic Plan | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2% | Eliminated with Shopify Payments |
| Shopify Plan | 2.6% + 30¢ | 1% | Eliminated with Shopify Payments |
| Advanced Plan | 2.4% + 30¢ | 0.5% | Eliminated with Shopify Payments |
| Shopify Plus | 2.15% + 30¢ | 0.15% | Eliminated with Shopify Payments |
Step-by-Step: How to Activate Shopify Payments in Your Store
If you are a merchant in one of the 15+ newly supported countries, here is exactly how to get Shopify Payments activated:
Step 1: Log Into Your Shopify Admin
Go to your store’s Shopify dashboard. In the bottom left corner, click on Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Payments
In the Settings menu, click on Payments. If Shopify Payments is now available in your country, you will see an option to Complete account setup or Activate Shopify Payments at the top of the page.
Step 3: Complete Business & Identity Verification
For financial compliance, Shopify requires you to verify your identity and business. You will need to have ready: your business type and legal name, your national identification document, your business bank account details for receiving payouts and your tax identification or VAT number applicable to your country.
Verification typically takes 2 to 5 business days after submitting your documents.
Step 4: Set Your Payout Currency and Schedule
Choose the currency in which you want to receive your payouts and configure your payout schedule. Most merchants choose the fastest available frequency to maximize cash flow.
Step 5: Enable Local Payment Methods
Once Shopify Payments is active, go to the payment settings and turn on the local payment methods specific to your country. This is critical offering familiar local options dramatically increases checkout conversion rates for your customers.
Step 6: Enable Shop Pay
Within your Shopify Payments settings, make sure Shop Pay is enabled. This activates the one-tap accelerated checkout for your store and can immediately improve your conversion rates.
Step 7: Run a Test Transaction
Before going fully live, use Shopify’s built-in test mode to run a few simulated transactions. Confirm that payments process correctly, that your selected currencies display properly, and that Shop Pay appears at checkout.
What This Means for Global eCommerce in 2026
1. Europe Is the World’s Second Largest eCommerce Market
Europe’s eCommerce market is projected to generate over $750 billion in revenue in 2026, making it the world’s second largest after Asia-Pacific. By expanding Shopify Payments across Central, Eastern, Southern, and Northern Europe, Shopify is removing one of the biggest remaining barriers for European merchants to compete globally on equal footing.
Countries like Estonia have already built reputations as some of the world’s most digitally advanced nations. Poland’s eCommerce market has been growing at double-digit rates year over year. Norway’s consumers spend among the highest per capita on online purchases in the world. These are not small, niche markets they are mature, high-value commercial opportunities.
2. Mexico Opens the Door to Latin America
The inclusion of Mexico is particularly significant. With a population of over 130 million people and an eCommerce market that has been growing rapidly following accelerated digital adoption since 2020, Mexico is one of the world’s most exciting emerging commerce markets. Importantly, Mexico serves as a gateway Shopify’s expansion here signals a clear intention to push further into Latin America, a region with 650 million+ consumers and rapidly growing internet and smartphone penetration.
3. The Bigger Picture: Shopify’s Global Domination Strategy
This expansion is part of Shopify’s clearly stated mission: to make global commerce accessible to any merchant, anywhere in the world. Each country added to Shopify Payments is not just a geographic milestone it represents thousands of new merchants who can now build serious businesses without the friction and extra cost of third-party payment infrastructure.
For sellers already on Shopify in supported countries, this expansion also matters. It means new potential customers in these 16 countries now have access to Shop Pay meaning when they buy from your store, their checkout experience will be faster and more seamless than ever before.
Who Should Act on This Expansion Right Now?
1. New Shopify Sellers in Newly Supported Countries
If you have been waiting to launch your Shopify store in any of the 16 newly supported countries because Shopify Payments was unavailable, now is the perfect time to get started. You can build your store with full payment infrastructure from day one, with no extra transaction fees and access to all of Shop Pay’s conversion-boosting features.
2. Existing Merchants Using Third-Party Gateways
If you are currently running a Shopify store in one of these countries and using Stripe, PayPal or another you should evaluate switching to Shopify Payments as soon as possible. The cost savings from eliminating Shopify’s third-party transaction fee alone will likely justify the switch immediately, even before counting the benefits of Shop Pay and local payment methods.
3. International Sellers Targeting European or Mexican Markets
If your store targets customers in these newly supported countries, this expansion indirectly benefits you too. Your customers in these regions now have access to Shop Pay, which means faster, more seamless checkouts for them when they purchase from your store regardless of where your store is based.
What’s Next? The Future of Shopify Payments Expansion
With 15+ countries added in a single expansion, the clear question is: which countries are next? Based on Shopify’s expansion patterns and market data, the most likely candidates for future Shopify Payments expansion include:
- India One of the world’s fastest growing eCommerce markets with 1.4 billion consumers
- Brazil Latin America’s largest economy, a natural follow-on after Mexico
- Turkey A significant European and Middle Eastern commerce hub
- UAE and Saudi Arabia High-income Gulf markets with sophisticated digital consumers
- Philippines and Malaysia Fast-growing Southeast Asian markets
- South Africa The gateway to Africa’s rapidly expanding eCommerce opportunity
Shopify has been clear that its long-term vision is to make global commerce as accessible as local commerce. Each expansion of Shopify Payments is a step toward that goal.
Conclusion: A New Era for Shopify Sellers Worldwide
The expansion of Shopify Payments to 15+ new countries in 2026 is genuinely one of the most significant developments in the Shopify ecosystem in recent years. For merchants in Poland, Lithuania, Norway, Latvia, Hungary, Estonia, Malta, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and Mexico this changes everything.
No more double fees. No more juggling multiple payment platforms. No more missing out on Shop Pay’s conversion-boosting power. No more losing customers at checkout because familiar local payment methods were unavailable. This is your moment to upgrade your store and unlock global growth potential. Do not miss out Contact us today! and let’s help you activate Shopify Payments, optimize your checkout and boost your revenue.
Whether you are a new entrepreneur just starting out, an experienced seller looking to cut costs and optimize conversions or an international brand expanding into new markets this expansion has something meaningful for you. The global eCommerce playing field just became a little more level and Shopify is leading the charge.
If you are in one of these newly supported countries, do not wait. Activate Shopify Payments today, enable Shop Pay, turn on your local payment methods and start saving money and converting more customers from the very next sale.
Ready to Get Started?
Log into your Shopify Admin > Settings > Payments to check if Shopify Payments is now available in your country. The setup takes less than 15 minutes and the financial benefits begin immediately on your very first sale.
