Payment & EMI Licensing — All Jurisdictions
Zitadelle AG assists payment service providers, electronic money institutions, money service businesses, remittance operators, and FinTech companies in obtaining payment and EMI authorizations across 15+ jurisdictions. Select a jurisdiction or license type to view full requirements, capital thresholds, and application details.
Payment institution, EMI, PSP, and MSB — what's the difference?
Payment Service Provider (PSP) licenses cover payment processing and merchant acquiring. Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licenses add the right to issue electronic money (e-wallets, stored value). Money Service Business (MSB) registrations cover forex dealing, fund remittance, and virtual currency services. Money Transfer Company (MTC) licenses cover cross-border remittances.
The right authorization depends entirely on your business model, target clients, and jurisdictions of operation. Zitadelle AG assesses your specific model and recommends the most efficient regulatory path.
17 Jurisdictions Available
From EU-regulated EMI and PI licenses to cost-effective offshore payment authorizations, we cover the full spectrum of payment and FinTech licensing options worldwide.
Lithuania — EMI License
Bank of Lithuania Electronic Money Institution — €350K capital, 6–12 months, CENTROlink direct SEPA access, MiCA dual-licensing for crypto-fintechs. EU passporting across 30 EEA countries.
View detailsMauritius — PIS License
Payment Intermediary Services Provider (GBL) — ~3% effective tax, 100% foreign ownership, USD $45,000 min. capital. E-commerce, cross-border, merchant acquiring.
View detailsCanada — MSB Registration
Money Services Business (FINTRAC) — FX dealing, remittance, crypto services. No capital requirement. ~6 month registration timeline.
View detailsLabuan, Malaysia — Payment System
LFSA Payment System Operator — offshore PSP/EMI equivalent. MYR 1,000,000 capital (MYR 1,500,000 with e-money/digital assets). E-wallet, remittance, card processing. 3–8 months. ASEAN gateway.
View detailsCyprus — Payment Institution (PI)
CBC-regulated Payment Institution under PSD2 — EU passporting, €125,000 capital for full PI. 15% corporate tax. MiCA dual-licensing available.
View detailsEU EMI License (Lithuania)
Electronic Money Institution under PSD2/EMD2 — EU passporting across 30 EEA states. Bank of Lithuania preferred route. €350,000 min. capital.
View detailsLatvia — EMI / PI License
Latvijas Banka EMI and PI authorization — €350K EMI capital, 0% CIT on undistributed profits, 3-month statutory clock. Baltic EU passport alternative.
View detailsGeorgia — PSP Registration (NBG)
National Bank of Georgia PSP registration — GEL 5,000 fee (~USD $1,800), 60-day timeline, no capital requirement, 0% tax on foreign income. World's fastest payment registration. CIS and MENA gateway.
View detailsHong Kong — HKMA SVF License
HKMA Stored Value Facility license for e-wallets, prepaid cards, and digital payment platforms — HKD $25M capital, world-class HKMA regulation. Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayMe holders. Greater China gateway.
View detailsUAE — CBUAE PSP License (Mainland)
Central Bank UAE RPSCS payment license — AED 100K–3M capital, September 2026 transition deadline. E-wallets, remittance, merchant acquiring for UAE market.
View detailsSingapore — MPI License
Major Payment Institution under PSA 2019 — unlimited transaction volumes, crypto exchange permitted, SGD $250,000 capital. MAS regulated.
View detailsCuraçao — PSP / EMI / MTC
CBCS regulated — PSP/EMI registration (since July 2024) plus MTC full license for remittances. Central bank regulated.
View detailsEl Salvador — SPDE License
Electronic Money Provider (SSF) — Bitcoin legal-tender jurisdiction. USD $232,310 min. capital. Innovative FinTech framework.
View detailsKazakhstan (AIFC) — MSP
AFSA regulated Money Service Provider — new PMS framework 2025. Zero tax. Digital asset payment services permitted. English common law.
View detailsMalaysia — Merchant Acquiring (MAS)
Merchant Acquiring License (Bank Negara Malaysia) — onshore Malaysian merchant acquiring and payment processing authorization.
View detailsSt. Vincent — MSB License
FSA-regulated Money Services Business — offshore payment hub for remittance, FX, and digital payment businesses. 100% foreign ownership.
View detailsUK — FCA Small Payment Institution
FCA SPI registration — no capital requirement, €3M monthly cap. Ideal for startup UK FinTechs scaling toward full API authorization.
View detailsReady to launch your payment business?
Our team will help you select the right license type and jurisdiction for your business model.