Licences and authorisations
Requirements, capital, fees, timelines and the people each regulator expects, licence by licence, in the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia.
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
UK Authorised Payment Institution licence
FCA Authorised Payment Institution authorisation: services, EUR 20k to 125k capital, own funds, CASS 15 safeguarding, fees, timeline and SPI comparison.
United Kingdom
UK Small Payment Institution registration
FCA Small Payment Institution registration: the EUR 3m threshold, permitted services, GBP 1,130 fee, documents, timeline and when to apply as an API.
United Kingdom
UK Electronic Money Institution licence
FCA EMI authorisation: what counts as e-money, EUR 350,000 capital, 2% own funds, CASS 15 safeguarding, redemption rights, GBP 5,640 fee and timeline.
United Kingdom
UK small electronic money institution registration
UK small EMI registration: the €5m e-money cap, capital from €500,000 float, CASS 15 safeguarding, the £1,130 FCA fee, 3-month decision and moving to EMI.
United Kingdom
FCA Cryptoasset AML Registration (MLR)
FCA cryptoasset MLR registration: who must register, the £11,260 fee, the 3 month decision, why it does not convert and what registered firms must do now.
United Kingdom
FCA consumer credit authorisation
FCA consumer credit authorisation: limited or full permission, £560 to £11,260 fees, CONC, Consumer Duty and the mid-January 2027 BNPL application deadline.
United Kingdom
UK Crypto Licence (FCA Cryptoasset Authorisation)
UK crypto licence: the FCA window runs 30 Sep 2026 to 28 Feb 2027 and the regime starts 25 Oct 2027.
United Kingdom
UK Banking Licence (PRA and FCA authorisation)
How to get a UK banking licence: PRA and FCA pre-application, the mobilisation route, €5m or £1m capital, the £56,300 fee and the 6 and 12 month deadlines.
United Kingdom
FCA Insurance Intermediary Authorisation (Brokers and MGAs)
FCA authorisation for insurance brokers and MGAs: permissions, PII and capital under MIPRU, CASS 5 client money, PROD 4, £2,820 fee and 3 month decision.
United Kingdom
FCA Mortgage Authorisation (Brokers and Lenders)
FCA authorisation for mortgage brokers and lenders: home finance permissions, MCOB, MIPRU capital and PII, FCA fees of £2,820 or £11,260 and timelines.
United Kingdom
FCA Investment Firm Authorisation
How to get FCA authorised as an investment firm: permissions, IFPR capital from £75,000, K-factors, ICARA, CASS, SM&CR, FCA fees and the decision periods.
United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia
European Union
EU MiCA CASP Licence
MiCA CASP licence: €50,000 to €150,000 capital, the Article 63 timetable, the EU passport and ESMA's 8 January 2027 deadline for non-MiCA stablecoins.
Lithuania / European Union
Lithuania CASP Licence (MiCA)
Lithuania CASP licence under MiCA: Bank of Lithuania requirements, €50,000 to €150,000 capital, Lithuanian documents, statutory timeline and EU passport.
Ireland / European Union
Ireland CASP Authorisation (MiCA)
Ireland CASP authorisation under MiCA: the Central Bank engagement meeting and Key Facts Document, €50,000 to €150,000 capital, substance and timeline.
Poland / European Union
Poland CASP Authorisation (MiCA)
CASP authorisation in Poland: why KNF cannot yet grant MiCA licences, what ended on 1 July 2026, and how to serve Polish clients now via the EU passport.
European Union: Lithuania
Lithuania Bank Licence (specialised bank and bank)
Lithuania specialised bank and full bank licences: €1m and €5m capital, the Bank of Lithuania and ECB roles, the 6 month decision rule and EU passporting.
Canada
Canada MSB registration (FINTRAC)
FINTRAC MSB registration in 2026: who must register, the documents needed, no FINTRAC fee, two-year renewal, 2026 revocations and penalties up to C$20m.
Australia
Australia AUSTRAC remittance registration
AUSTRAC enrolment and remittance registration: the three provider categories, geographical link test, three-year term, AML/CTF duties and 2026 reforms.
United States
US FinCEN MSB registration
FinCEN MSB registration: the MSB categories, 180-day Form 107 deadline, biennial renewal, AML programme, SAR and CTR duties and why state MTLs differ.
United States
US Money Transmitter Licence (state MTL)
US money transmitter licensing: no federal MTL, how NMLS works, net worth, surety bonds, permissible investments, timelines and multistate strategy.
Canada
Canada RPAA Registration (Bank of Canada PSP)
Bank of Canada RPAA registration for payment service providers: who must register, the C$2,500 fee, safeguarding duties and the report due 31 March 2027.
Singapore
Singapore Standard Payment Institution Licence
MAS Standard Payment Institution licence: the seven regulated payment services, SGD 100,000 base capital, thresholds, local director rules, process and ongoing obligations.
Singapore
Singapore Major Payment Institution Licence
MAS Major Payment Institution licence: SGD 250,000 base capital, security deposit, section 23 safeguarding, local director rules, DPT obligations and the application process.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong MSO Licence
Hong Kong Money Service Operator licence: Customs and Excise requirements, fit and proper test, premises rules, current fees, AML obligations, renewal and process.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Virtual Asset Trading Platform Licence
SFC virtual asset trading platform licensing in Hong Kong: AMLO Part 5A, responsible officers, HK$5m paid-up capital, cold storage, retail access and ongoing obligations.
United States
US SEC Investment Adviser and Broker-Dealer Registration
SEC registration for investment advisers and broker-dealers: Form ADV, AUM thresholds, foreign private advisers, Form BD, FINRA membership, net capital.
United States
US Insurance Agency and MGA Licensing
How to license an insurance agency or MGA in all 50 US states: resident and non-resident producer licences, the DRLP, NIPR filings, surplus lines and MGA laws.
United States
US Investment Adviser Registration (SEC and State)
How to register as a US investment adviser: the $100m SEC threshold, state registration, Form ADV, Series 65, exempt reporting advisers and filing deadlines.
United States
US Broker-Dealer Registration (FINRA)
How to register a US broker-dealer: Form BD, the FINRA New Member Application and 180-day review, net capital from $5,000, Series 24 and 27, annual audits.
United States
US Consumer Lending Licence (State)
How US lenders get state licences through NMLS: California, New York, Texas and Florida rules and fees, bank partnerships, true lender risk, BNPL and EWA.
United States
US Mortgage Company Licence (NMLS)
How to license a US mortgage broker, lender or servicer through NMLS: state net worth and bonds, SAFE Act MLO rules, the year-end renewal and the call report.
United States
US Payment Stablecoin Issuer Approval (GENIUS Act)
How to become a permitted payment stablecoin issuer under the GENIUS Act: OCC, Fed and state routes, the US$10bn cap, reserves and the 18 January 2027 start.
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