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Financial licences and other permits

We prepare and launch regulated financial businesses: choice of jurisdiction and regime, application, capital planning, AML/CFT framework and technology. Kazakhstan sector permits are covered in a separate catalogue below.

Financial services

Financial licences

Each page explains the regime, where it is available, the main requirements, the stages of the application and what our team does.

EU · UK · UAE · SGKazakhstan · NBKAIFC · AFSA

Payment institution licence

Authorisation or registration of a payment service provider in the EU, UK, UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan or the AIFC — from the choice of regime to launch.

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EU · UK · UAE · HK · SGAIFC · AFSAKazakhstan · bank model

E-money institution licence

Licensing of electronic money institutions and stored value facilities in the EU, UK, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore and the AIFC, and e-wallet models for Kazakhstan.

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PSD2 · PSRs · MSBLicence or registration

Money remittance

Licences and registrations for money transfer businesses: EU and UK payment regimes, Canadian and US MSB registration, US state licences, Hong Kong, UAE, Kazakhstan and the AIFC.

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EU · UK · CHAIFCLicence

Banking licence

Bank and specialised bank licences in the EU, the UK, Switzerland, the AIFC and Kazakhstan: business plan, capital, governance, risk and AML frameworks, regulator dialogue.

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MiFID II · IFDAIFC · AFSAAuthorisation / licence

Investment firm licence

Authorisation for brokerage, order execution, dealing on own account and portfolio services in securities and other financial instruments.

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MiFID II · FCAAIFC · AFSAOffshore options

Forex and CFD broker licence

Licensing for brokers offering forex, CFDs and other leveraged products: execution model, capital class, retail restrictions and offshore options.

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Fiat · cash and non-cashNot crypto, not FX trading

Currency exchange licence

Licences, registrations and list entries for bureaux de change, exchange houses and money changers dealing in fiat currency: Kazakhstan, EU, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, North America.

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Compliance

AML/CFT and compliance

A licence is only the start: the AML/CFT framework has to work every day. Our AML/compliance specialists build it and keep it current.

AML/CFTAML/CFT and compliance

Risk assessment, policies, KYC/KYB, sanctions and transaction monitoring, travel rule and inspection readiness for licensed and to-be-licensed financial and crypto businesses.

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Distinctions

Not every permit is a licence

The type of permit determines the requirements, procedure and consequences. We identify it as the first step.

Licence
Permission to carry on an activity that requires a high level of oversight, granted after compliance with qualification requirements has been checked.
Authorisation
Permission from a financial regulator to carry on specified regulated activities, for example under MiCA, PSD2 or AIFC rules.
Registration
Entry in a regulator's register. Applies, for example, to payment organisations in Kazakhstan and to money services businesses in Canada and the USA. It is not a full financial licence.
Membership
Joining a self-regulatory organisation, as financial intermediaries do in Switzerland under anti-money laundering law.
Notification
Informing a state body that an activity is starting. Any checks follow after the start.
Accreditation
Recognition of an organisation's or specialist's competence for certain work.
Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan sector permits

Licences and permits for gambling, construction, industry, subsoil use and other sectors under Kazakhstan law.

NBK registrationNBK special regime

Payment services

Payment organisations, aggregators, e-money, transfers.

What needs solving

  • determine which payment services are provided
  • choose the settlement model and partners
  • prepare the company for NBK requirements

What we do

  • service classification and structure
  • registration package
  • rules, contracts, AML/CFT
  • financial model and capital
  • technical and information security work where the product requires it

For payment projects involving digital assets, see Payment and fintech solutions.

ARDFM licenceRegistrationAIFC: AFSA

Financial services

Microfinance, brokerage, insurance and other financial market activities.

What needs solving

  • identify the activity type and the regulator
  • meet requirements for capital, management and shareholders
  • build internal control

What we do

  • assessment of the applicable permit
  • structure and registration
  • licence application and internal documents
  • business plan, financial model, capital calculation
  • support through the review

The specific licence or registration is determined by the type of activity.

Licence

Gambling

Gambling activities permitted under Kazakhstan law.

What needs solving

  • determine the permitted activity and location
  • meet requirements for the organiser and the premises
  • set up AML/CFT and record-keeping

What we do

  • activity classification
  • structure and registration
  • licence application
  • AML/CFT procedures
  • financial model
  • support through the review

We do not provide services for obtaining a Kazakhstan licence for online casinos.

LicenceCertification / accreditation

Construction and design

Surveying, design, construction and installation work, and expert review.

What needs solving

  • determine the work sub-types and category
  • confirm staff qualifications and equipment
  • prepare the company's documents

What we do

  • analysis of requirements by sub-type
  • readiness check of staff and equipment
  • licence application
  • internal documents
  • support through the review

Platform development and a financial model are included only on separate request.

LicencePermitNotification

Industrial activities

Industrial activities for which the law provides a permit or notification procedure.

What needs solving

  • determine whether a licence, permit or notification is needed
  • meet requirements for the facility and staff
  • organise document exchange with state bodies

What we do

  • analysis of the permit procedure
  • document package
  • internal regulations
  • support through the review
  • support when circumstances change
LicenceContract

Subsoil use

Rights to explore and extract minerals and to use subsoil space.

What needs solving

  • determine the type of subsoil use right and how it is granted
  • structure ownership and financing
  • meet the subsoil user's obligations

What we do

  • analysis of how the right is granted
  • corporate structure and registration
  • document package
  • project financial model
  • support in meeting obligations
LicencePermitNotificationAccreditation

Other sector licences and permits

Sector permits a business needs to start or expand.

What needs solving

  • identify which permit is needed
  • assess requirements and timing
  • prepare the company

What we do

  • analysis under the Law on Permits and Notifications and sector regulations
  • document package
  • internal documents
  • support through the review
Limits

What we do not do

  • maritime law, yachts and ship registration
  • obtaining a Kazakhstan licence for online casinos
  • guarantees of licences, bank accounts, acceptance by payment providers or review timelines
  • acting as the company's MLRO or performing another regulated function, except under a separate agreement where the law allows it

Let us discuss your model and the right regime

Describe your project in a few sentences. We will give you a substantive reply: which questions need answering and where to start.

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