Licensing & Authorisation
End-to-end regulatory licence application management across the UK, EU and global financial markets.
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Whether you need licensing support, compliance advice or regulatory strategy, our team is ready to help. Free initial consultation — no obligation.
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What We Do
Licensing and authorisation is the foundation of any regulated financial services business. Without the appropriate regulatory permissions, firms cannot lawfully provide payment services, issue electronic money, operate crypto exchanges, or accept deposits.
Our licensing service covers every stage of the authorisation process — from initial regulatory strategy and jurisdiction selection through to application drafting, submission, and management of the regulator review process. We have secured over 250 licences across 65+ jurisdictions with a 99% success rate.
We work with the FCA, Bank of Lithuania, Central Bank of Ireland, DNB, MFSA, HMRC, FINTRAC, FinCEN, VARA, MAS, and other global regulators. Our deep relationships with these authorities enable us to prepare applications that meet the highest standards.
Regulatory Assessment
We analyse your business model and determine the appropriate licence type and jurisdiction.
Application Preparation
We draft the complete application including business plan, programme of operations, and compliance frameworks.
Submission & Management
We submit the application and manage all regulator communications and information requests.
Authorisation & Launch
Upon approval, we support your transition to live operations.
What's Included
Business Plan & Programme of Operations
Comprehensive regulatory business plan tailored to the target jurisdiction and licence type.
Compliance Framework
Full compliance monitoring programme, policies and procedures ready for day-one operations.
AML/CFT Framework
Complete anti-money laundering framework including risk assessment, CDD procedures and monitoring.
Financial Projections
Regulatory capital adequacy calculations and three-year financial projections.
Governance Documentation
Board terms of reference, committee structures, and individual fitness and propriety assessments.
Regulator Liaison
Full management of all regulator communications, information requests and remediation.
Who This Service Is For
Firm Types
- —Fintech startups seeking initial authorisation
- —Established firms expanding to new jurisdictions
- —Banks launching new regulated business lines
- —Crypto firms requiring MiCA or FCA registration
Situations & Triggers
- —Launching a new payment or e-money service
- —Entering the UK, EU or global market
- —Requiring multiple parallel licence applications
- —Needing to meet tight go-to-market timelines
Why Work With Us
Financial Services Only
We operate exclusively within regulated financial services. Every member of our team has direct regulatory experience in this sector.
Senior-Led Delivery
Every engagement is led by a senior consultant with hands-on regulatory experience — not delegated to junior staff.
Practical, Not Theoretical
We build frameworks that work in practice, not just on paper. Our advice is grounded in what regulators actually expect.
Global Reach
We advise across 65+ jurisdictions, combining local regulatory knowledge with a consistent, high-quality approach.
Related Insights
How to Get an FCA Payment Institution Licence: The Complete Guide
Everything firms need to know about FCA payment institution authorisation — API vs SPI thresholds, capital requirements, assessment criteria and common failure modes.
Lithuania vs Ireland for a Payment Institution Licence: Which Should You Choose?
A detailed comparison of Lithuania and Ireland for EU payment institution licensing — speed, cost, substance requirements and passporting after Brexit.
FCA Electronic Money Institution Authorisation: What You Need to Know
Complete guide to FCA EMI authorisation — AEMI vs SEMI thresholds, capital requirements, safeguarding, business plan expectations and common application failures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Timelines vary from 6 weeks (Canada FINTRAC) to 36 months (UK banking). Most PI and EMI applications take 3 to 12 months. We provide realistic timeline guidance for every jurisdiction.
We have a 99% success rate across 100+ licence applications. Our track record reflects the quality of our application preparation and our understanding of regulatory expectations.
Yes. We manage the end-to-end process from regulatory strategy through to authorisation, including all documentation, regulator communications, and any required remediation.
We cover all major financial services jurisdictions including UK, Lithuania, Ireland, Netherlands, Malta, UAE, Singapore, Canada, USA, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Yes. Many of our clients require licences in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. We manage parallel applications efficiently, leveraging common documentation across jurisdictions.
Fees depend on the licence type, jurisdiction, and complexity of the application. We provide transparent fixed-fee proposals after an initial assessment of your requirements.
Yes. We offer ongoing compliance support, regulatory reporting, and operational assistance to help firms transition smoothly from authorisation to live operations.
Our 99% success rate means refusals are extremely rare. If an application faces challenges, we work with the regulator to address concerns. We also advise on appeal options where appropriate.