Licensing

Licensing for regulated financial firms

A licence application is judged on detail: the business plan, the governance, the policies and the people. We prepare the file with you and stay with you through the regulator's questions until the licence is granted.

Licences we work on

  • Crypto-asset service providers under MiCA (described on a separate page).
  • Electronic money institutions.
  • Authorised payment institutions.
  • Investment firms under MiFID II.
  • Alternative investment fund managers and alternative investment funds.

Where

  • The EU and the EEA, and Switzerland.
  • The Middle East: the UAE, in Dubai (DWTC and DMCC) and Abu Dhabi (ADGM).
  • Asia: Hong Kong and Singapore.

In Greece, payment and e-money institutions are licensed by the Bank of Greece, and investment firms, fund managers and crypto-asset service providers by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission.

What an application usually covers

  • A business plan and a programme of operations, with financial projections.
  • The governance: board, management, organisation chart and key functions.
  • The policies: anti-money laundering, risk management, compliance and outsourcing.
  • The documents that show managers and owners are fit and proper.
  • The IT and security arrangements.

After the licence

A licence comes with duties from the first day: a compliance function, anti-money laundering controls, risk management and internal audit. We can take these on as well, so the firm starts with its functions already in place.

Our projects are coordinated by Sotirios N. Kavvathas, CFE, CICA, MBA, Project Manager.

Frequently asked questions

Who grants these licences in Greece?

The Bank of Greece for payment and e-money institutions. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission for investment firms, fund managers and crypto-asset service providers.

How long does a licence take?

It depends on the licence, the regulator and how complete the file is. Most take several months from the date a complete application is filed.

Do you work outside Greece?

Yes: across the EU and the EEA, Switzerland, the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Hong Kong and Singapore.

Planning to apply for a licence?

Tell us what you plan to do and where. We will tell you which licence fits and what it takes.

Book a free consultation