Payment and Financial Licence Application Guides

From preparation to continuing duties

1. Describe activities, customers and funds flow before choosing the entity and permissions to research.
2. Organise ownership, officers, business and operational evidence against the official local requirements.
3. Verify filing channels and provider responsibilities; separate fees, capital and service costs.
4. Retain submissions and correspondence, then plan ongoing records, filings and changes.

Choose a jurisdiction or preparation guide

• Hong Kong MSO Application Documents

  Describe the service, customers, markets and flow of funds before collecting documents. Use that description to check consistency across the company profile, banking arrangements and controls. This is a preparation aid; the current Customs forms govern the filing.

• Hong Kong MSO Licence Cost

  Separate regulator fees, launch preparation and recurring operations. Obtain itemised quotations for premises, staffing, systems and advice. An all-in quote should still explain what it includes and what you must pay separately.

• Hong Kong MSO vs SVF vs VATP

  The Customs MSO regime concerns money services. Start with what the business actually does rather than its marketing label.

• How to Check a Hong Kong MSO Licence

  Use the Customs MSOS register for verification. Use this site to discover candidates, then check the regulator source and record the date.

• Payment Licence Application Documents

  List remittance, acquiring, e-money, account-information and virtual asset activities separately. Assess customer locations, funds handling and establishment against each relevant framework.

• Payment Licence Budget

  Separate regulator fees, capital and safeguarding arrangements, preparation costs and continuing operations. Required capital and protected customer funds are not interchangeable with filing fees.

• Company Registration vs Payment Licensing

  A company identifier, tax number or bank account does not establish permission to provide regulated financial services. Assess the activity separately.

• Hong Kong MSO Licence

  Running a remittance or money changing business in Hong Kong requires an MSO licence from Customs. Covers scope, fit and proper tests, the MSOS online process, and 2026 fees.

• Hong Kong SVF Licence

  Issuing e-wallets or multi-purpose prepaid cards in Hong Kong requires an HKMA SVF licence with paid-up capital of at least HKD 25 million. Scope, criteria and register.

• Hong Kong VASP Licence

  Operating a centralized virtual asset trading platform in Hong Kong requires an SFC VATP licence. Capital and cold storage rules, WINGS filing, and licensed platform lists.

• Hong Kong Stablecoin Licence

  Hong Kong's Stablecoins Ordinance took effect 1 August 2025: issuing fiat-referenced or HKD-pegged stablecoins needs an HKMA licence, HKD 25 million in financial resources, fully segregated reserves.

• Singapore MPI/SPI Licence

  Singapore's SPI and MPI licences under the Payment Services Act cover 7 service types including remittance, e-money and DPT. Thresholds, capital rules, Form 1 and fees.

• Japan Funds Transfer Service

  How non-banks register as funds transfer service providers in Japan: Type I (over JPY 1M), Type II (up to JPY 1M) and Type III (up to JPY 50K), plus safeguarding rules.

• Australia AUSTRAC

  Remittance and virtual asset businesses must register with AUSTRAC before operating in Australia: registration types, 90-day approval and the 2026 DCE to VASP transition.

• Dubai VARA Licence

  Virtual asset business in Dubai (outside DIFC) needs a VARA licence covering 8 activity types. Covers the two-stage IDQ and ATI process, Rulebooks and the public register.

• US MSB / MTL

  US money transmission and crypto firms face two layers: free FinCEN MSB registration within 180 days, plus state Money Transmitter Licenses. Covers scope, BSA E-Filing and NMLS.

• Canada MSB

  FX, remittance and crypto firms in Canada register free with FINTRAC as MSBs; foreign firms serving Canadian clients register as Foreign MSBs. Covers scope and the registry.

• EU EMI / PI License

  EMI and PI are the EU's two core non-bank payment licenses; one national license passports across the EEA. Covers capital (EUR 350,000 for EMI), the EBA register and PSD3.

• Lithuania EMI License

  Lithuania is the EU's EMI/PI licensing hub: official fees of EUR 1,463 (EMI) and EUR 898 (PI), a statutory 3-month review once the file is complete, and EEA passporting.

• UK FCA EMI / PI

  Post-Brexit, e-money and payments business in the UK needs FCA authorisation: EUR 350,000 initial capital for an authorised EMI, fees up to GBP 5,640, 3-month review.

• EU MiCA / CASP

  MiCA is the EU's unified crypto regulation: CASPs are licensed under three capital tiers (EUR 50,000 to 150,000) with EU passporting. Transition ended 2026-07-01.