Overnight trading
Trade over 10,000 U.S stocks and ETFs as the U.S sleeps. Overnight trading is open between 8pm and 3:50am EST, Sunday to Friday.
Invest in global markets
Buy your piece of the world’s leading companies from 13 international share markets - all from one account.
Overnight trading
Fractional shares
Own your piece of the world’s biggest stocks. Fractional shares allow you to invest smaller amounts in big companies.
24-hour support
The help you need, when you need it. Our International Desk is open 24 hours on U.S trading days.
Trade with Aussie dollars
Buy and sell international shares using AUD with foreign currency exchanges conducted on your behalf.
Access to the U.S and 12 other global markets
A world of investing, at your fingertips. Invest in 13 global markets, including the largest share markets in the U.S, Europe and Asia.
Investing in global markets has never been easier
With a CommSec International Shares Account, you can:
Buy a piece of the world’s biggest companies like Apple, Shell, NVIDIA and Toyota, and diversify your portfolio.
Gain more control over when you trade - trade with funds from a Sell order before it settles.
Invest at the click of a button - access real-time fund transfers in and out of your account.*
Set it and forget it - set up Recurring Investments to automatically invest in international shares on a schedule that suits you.
We all start from somewhere
We all start from somewhere. Learn everything you need to know about investing, all in one place.
Regular international investor? We’ve got you
Gain more control over your global investments and switch your account to an International Shares Plus Account for free.
- Trade in multiple currencies from a single International Wallet
- Manage your foreign exchanges, controlling how much and when you convert
- Access flexible order expiries
International Shares vs International Plus
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Feature |
International Shares |
International Plus |
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Access to trade online in 13 global markets |
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Transfer AUD in and out of your International Wallet |
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Set up recurring investments |
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Access to U.S overnight trading |
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Foreign exchange conversion fee |
0.55% |
0.55% |
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Automatic foreign exchange conversions |
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Manage your own foreign currency conversions |
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Multi currency conversions |
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U.S brokerage fee |
USD$5 or 0.12% |
USD$9.95 or 0.20% |
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Order Expiry |
Day orders only |
Day orders, good until cancel or at the open |
Invest anytime, anywhere
Everything you need, all in the palm of your hand - monitor the markets, keep an eye on your portfolio and invest in Aussie and international stocks.
Download the app
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Signing up is easy
Here’s what you need to get started.
✔ Your personal and contact details
You’ll need your full name, residential and postal address to verify your identity, and your mobile number and email address to receive notifications and application updates.
✔ Your CommSec credentials and account details
You’ll need your CommSec Client ID and password and a CommSec Australian Share Trading Account to open an International Shares Account.
✔ Your tax residency details
You’ll need to supply your tax residency to complete your account application. This account is available to and for the benefit of Australian residents only.^
✔ A valid photo ID
You’ll need a valid Australian Drivers Licence, Passport or Medicare card to verify your details.
Joining CommSec is free - sign up for instant access to our full range of trading tools, news and stock data.
If you're not a CommSec customer, you'll first need to apply for a CommSec Australian Shares Account.1
Our rates and fees
Opening a CommSec account is free and there are no ongoing account-keeping fees.
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Share market |
Cost |
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United States |
USD$5 or 0.12% |
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Canada |
CADS$40 or 0.40% |
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United Kingdom |
GBP£12 or 0.40% |
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France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands |
EUR€12 or 0.40% |
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Hong Kong |
HKD$130 or 0.40% |
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Foreign Exchange (FX) fee |
0.55% |
Your questions, answered
Find the answers to your questions about investing with CommSec.
Investing comes with some risks that can be managed through diversification. Diversifying your portfolio internationally doesn't eliminate all risks. Additional risks include economic and currency fluctuations, tax implications and political and regulatory risk.
Learn more about the risks of investing.
Your international trades will be funded by your International Wallet. Before placing your first trade, transfer funds to your International Wallet by logging into CommSec and heading to Portfolio. Then, locate your International Shares Account and select Transfer funds.
Learn more about how to pay for your shares.
W-8 forms are a requirement for setting up an International Shares Account. They are a U.S IRS form that allows foreign investors to declare their tax residency, which may allow them to claim tax treaty benefits relevant to their country of residency, including a reduced rate of withholding tax.
Learn more about W-8 form.
You can trade Australian shares online or using the CommSec app. Simply log into CommSec and head to Trade (if investing through our website) or Trading (if investing through the CommSec app.
Learn more about placing a trade with CommSec.
Help when it matters
Find the support you need, when you need it.
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Send us your question Fill in our online form and hear from one of our experts within two business days |
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Call us 13 15 19 for calls within Australia Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (Sydney time) |
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Reach out to us on X Tag @CommSec in your question on X |
*Transferring funds out of your International Shares Account will only be available on settled funds.
^If you are a U.S. Person, or not residing in Australia, we will not be able to open an International Shares Account for you at this time. Limitations may also apply to applicants with citizenship or tax residency in countries not accepted by our International Custodian.
1. To operate an International Shares Account, you must have and link a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) as your nominated settlement account. The target market for the CDIA can be found within the product’s Target Market Determination, available at commbank.com.au/tmd.
2. The share markets listed are the most-traded by CommSec customers. To see the rates and fees for all available share markets, see our rates & fees.
3. The FX fee is charged per currency conversion. Currency conversions are automatically performed for each trade unless the Plus feature enabling the foreign currency wallet has been activated and there are sufficient funds in the local currency to settle the trade.
4. For currency pairs that cannot be directly converted, an intermediate conversion to USD or another eligible currency will be necessary to facilitate the currency conversion. You will be charged FX fees for each leg, which is each individual currency conversion necessary to obtain the required currency pair conversion.
You can view the International Shares Terms and Conditions, and Financial Services Guide (FSG), and should consider them before making any decision about these products and services.
Investing in overseas markets exposes you to risks including those related to movements in foreign currency exchange rates and market prices.