Applying to Walmart Marketplace: requirements, documents and the approval process
Walmart Marketplace has no monthly fee, but the door isn't open to everyone: it requires a business tax ID, e-commerce history, GS1 barcodes and US fulfillment that accepts returns. We walk through the application step by step. Custombull integration coming soon.
One dashboard
Walmart Marketplace is the online marketplace of one of the largest retailers in the US. It has fewer sellers than Amazon or eBay, which means competition is lower in some categories. On the other hand, Walmart accepts sellers by application; not everyone can sign up and start selling right away.
In this post we cover the application requirements, required documents and approval steps listed on Walmart Marketplace's official pages (marketplace.walmart.com) as of September 2026.
Minimum requirements
Walmart lists the following minimum requirements for applying:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Business tax ID or business license number | An individual SSN is not accepted; you need a number registered to a business |
| Documents verifying business name and address | Must match tax records exactly |
| History of marketplace or e-commerce success | A sales history on other channels is expected |
| GTIN/UPC codes with a GS1 company prefix | Your products must have barcodes obtained from GS1 |
| Catalog compliant with the prohibited products policy | Products Walmart prohibits must not be in the catalog |
| Fulfillment | Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) or another US B2C warehouse that can accept returns |
Fees: no monthly fee
Walmart Marketplace has no setup or monthly subscription fee; a referral fee is charged by category only when a sale happens. Walmart's general rate range is 6% to 15%. In Apparel and Accessories, the rate is tiered by total sales price:
| Total sales price | Referral fee (apparel and accessories) |
|---|---|
| $15 and under | 5% |
| Between $15 and $20 | 10% |
| Over $20 | 15% |
If you use Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), storage and fulfillment fees apply separately. In the POD model the product ships directly from the producer, so WFS is usually not used; but make sure your fulfillment setup meets Walmart's requirements.
Application and approval steps
- Application: submit an application with your business details, tax ID and sales history.
- Business verification: according to Walmart, this step can take anywhere from a few minutes to two business days.
- Payment method: add the account where you'll receive your sales payouts.
- Marketplace details: choose which market you'll sell in.
- Shipping settings: set up your shipping templates and fulfillment setup.
- Catalog setup: upload your products. According to Walmart, inventory setup can take up to four hours to complete.
Your tax details must match IRS records or official documents exactly. A small spelling difference can delay verification.
Applying from outside the US
Walmart states that sellers outside the US can also apply; in that case, additional documents such as company formation documents, proof of address and identity details are required. Because the list of countries accepted and the documents required can change, check the current requirements at marketplace.walmart.com if you're applying from Turkey. If you have a company formed in the US, you apply as a US business.
Two critical requirements for POD sellers: barcodes and fulfillment
GS1 barcodes
Walmart requires products to be listed with GTIN/UPC codes carrying a GS1 company prefix. In POD, every color and size is a separate product (variant), so the number of barcodes you need grows quickly: 10 colors and 6 sizes means 60 barcodes for a single design. Plan your catalog together with your barcode count.
Fulfillment and returns
Walmart requires WFS or a US B2C warehouse that can accept returns, and expects compliance with seller performance standards. In the POD model the product is printed and shipped by a US producer, so clarify during the application how this requirement applies to your setup.
On Custombull, orders are printed in our partner production network in the US. Over the last 60 days, half of all orders shipped in under 2.8 days (median, from order to shipment). Custombull checks and guarantees the quality of every product: if a defective item ships, you get a no-questions-asked refund or a free reprint.
Pre-application checklist
- Do you have your business tax ID (not an SSN) and documents verifying your business name?
- Can you show your sales history on other channels?
- Do you have enough GS1 barcodes for your products?
- Is there anything in your catalog that would run into Walmart's prohibited products policy?
- Does your fulfillment and returns setup meet Walmart's requirements?
- Have your designs been checked for copyright and trademark risk?
Custombull's copyright check compares your design and title against known brands and characters and tells you why something is risky; 1 credit per product.
Custombull Walmart connection: coming soon
Custombull's Walmart connection is in development and is in early access today. Once it opens, Walmart will join the same sync setup as your other channels: Walmart orders will arrive in one dashboard, POD orders will be printed and shipped by our partner producers, and listings can be moved between channels with your approval. Since the Walmart application process takes time, it makes sense to prepare your application now.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell on Walmart as an individual?
Walmart requires a business tax ID or business license number in the application and does not accept an SSN. So you need to apply as a business, not as an individual seller.
Can I apply if I have no sales history?
Walmart lists a history of marketplace or e-commerce success among its minimum requirements. Building a sales history on channels like Etsy, eBay or Shopify first strengthens your application.
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