Obtaining an Electronic Money Institution or Payment Institution licence — or the equivalent AML supervision arrangement in Switzerland — is a project in its own right. We advise you through jurisdiction choice, application build and the regulator relationship that follows, so the licence you end up with actually fits the business you're running.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Route |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA | EMI / PI |
| Lithuania | Bank of Lithuania | EMI / PI |
| Cyprus | CySEC | EMI / Investment Firm |
| Switzerland | FINMA (via SRO) | SRO affiliation / Fintech licence |
| Wider EU | Local NCA | EU passporting |
Switzerland is structured differently from the EU and UK — see our compliance page for how SRO affiliation and FINMA licensing actually work.
The "best" jurisdiction depends on where your customers are, how you plan to move funds, your capital position and your appetite for ongoing supervisory engagement. A UK FCA authorisation still carries strong credibility with banking partners, but no longer grants EU passporting post-Brexit. Lithuania has become a common EU base for exactly that reason, with a regulator well used to fintech applicants. Cyprus suits certain investment-adjacent models. Switzerland is a different conversation entirely — many founders assume they need an "EMI licence" there and are surprised to learn the real requirement is SRO affiliation under the AML Act, with a full FINMA licence only relevant above certain thresholds. We walk through this trade-off with you before you spend months building an application for the wrong regulator.
AML policy and operational documentation for licensed entities.
Learn more →Considering buying into an existing licence instead of applying fresh?
Learn more →Tell us your target markets and we'll advise on the fastest realistic route.
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