Payment Institution Licence in Ireland
EU-wide passporting, common law jurisdiction, English-speaking. Central Bank of Ireland regulated. Capital from €20k to €125k. Typical timeline 6 to 12 months.
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Tell us the business, the markets and your timing. Every enquiry is answered the same business day, with a written proposal: the licence, the requirements, the cost and the timeline.
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Why Ireland for Your Payment Institution Licence?
Ireland offers a common law legal system familiar to UK firms, an English-speaking business environment, and a strong reputation as a European financial services hub. Post-Brexit, many UK-based firms have chosen Ireland as their EU base.
Ireland is a leading EU jurisdiction for payment institution licensing, particularly attractive to UK firms seeking continued EU market access post-Brexit. The Central Bank of Ireland is the competent authority.
Licence requirements
Detailed requirements
Standard PSD2 capital requirements apply. Ireland requires substance, including local directors and a physical office presence. Comprehensive governance, compliance, and AML documentation is required.
Application process
Regulatory Strategy
We assess your business model and regulatory position to develop a clear licensing strategy.
Business Plan
We prepare a comprehensive business plan meeting the regulator's expectations.
Programme of Operations
Detailed programme of operations covering governance, compliance, and operational arrangements.
Compliance Framework
Full AML/CFT framework, compliance monitoring programme, and risk management policies.
Application Submission
We compile and submit the complete application package to the regulator.
Regulator Review
We manage all regulator communications and information requests during the review period.
Authorisation
Upon approval, we support your transition to live operations.
Process detail
The application process typically takes 6 to 12 months. The Central Bank conducts a thorough review with multiple rounds of information requests.
Ireland vs United Kingdom
| Criteria | Ireland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | €20k to €125k | £20k to £125k |
| Timeline | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland | FCA |
| Key Feature | EU-wide passporting, common law jurisdiction, English-speaking | UK market access: no EEA passporting post-Brexit |
Related services
Licensing & Authorisation
Full-service licensing advisory from strategy to authorisation.
Compliance Support
Ongoing compliance frameworks tailored to your regulatory obligations.
Financial Crime
AML, KYC and financial crime prevention programmes.
Ready to get started?
Every enquiry is answered the same business day, with a written proposal.
Speak to a licensing expertFrequently asked questions
The capital requirement for a payment institution licence in Ireland is €20k to €125k. Standard PSD2 capital requirements apply. Ireland requires substance, including local directors and a physical office presence. Comprehensive governance, compliance, and AML documentation is required.
The typical timeline for a payment institution licence in Ireland is 6 to 12 months. The application process typically takes 6 to 12 months. The Central Bank conducts a thorough review with multiple rounds of information requests.
Ireland offers a common law legal system familiar to UK firms, an English-speaking business environment, and a strong reputation as a European financial services hub. Post-Brexit, many UK-based firms have chosen Ireland as their EU base.
After receiving your payment institution licence in Ireland, you must maintain ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements including safeguarding of customer funds, regular regulatory reporting, maintaining adequate capital, updating AML and compliance frameworks, and cooperating with supervisory reviews and inspections.
Most jurisdictions require local substance for a payment institution licence. In Ireland, you will typically need a registered office, at least one locally resident director, and potentially additional operational staff. We can advise on the exact requirements and help you establish the minimum viable local presence.
Yes, a payment institution licence obtained in Ireland provides EU-wide passporting rights across all EEA member states. This allows you to operate across 30 European countries from a single authorisation.