Two steps, then it runs itself.

What you'll see on Vantage, screen by screen

Worth keeping this open in another tab while you do it. Most of it is quick, but two of the choices can't be undone afterwards, and those are marked.

1. 1
   Start from the button above

   The invitation code only attaches to your account if you arrive through this link. If you go to Vantage separately, or already have their site open in another tab, close it and come back to this button.

2. 2
   First screen: your email and two tick boxes

   Enter your email, tick both boxes and press Proceed. In the UK you are also offered vantagemarkets.co.uk. Do not take it. That is a separate Vantage company, and FCA rules cap its retail accounts at 1:30 leverage where the strategy needs 1:500, so an account opened there cannot be connected at all. Vantage's own screen sets out how the two companies differ.

3. 3
   Paste the code into "Referred By"Get this right

   The registration form asks for your country, email and a password. The Referred By box arrives empty and nothing can fill it in for you, so paste LiAZi9rx into it by hand. Leave the account type as Individual, tick the three boxes and press Create Account.

4. 4
   Confirm your email, then verify who you are

   Vantage sends a confirmation link. After that the Client Portal asks for photo ID, passport or driving licence, and a proof of address dated within the last three months such as a utility bill or bank statement. Approval usually takes minutes, sometimes a day or two.

5. 5
   Open the trading account with these exact settingsGet this right

   In the portal: the Home tab, then Open Live Account. Platform MetaTrader 5, not MT4. Account type Raw / ECN. Currency USD, which cannot be changed later. Leverage 1:500. An account on the wrong platform or type cannot be connected and a second one has to be opened, so check this screen before you submit it.

6. 6
   Fund it with at least $1,000

   Deposit is the button in the top right of the portal. Card, bank transfer and the usual wallets are all there. The money stays in your account, in your name.

7. 7
   Keep the welcome email

   It carries your MT5 account number, the trading password and the server name. Those three are what you enter in step 2. You do not need to install MetaTrader yourself.