Payment institution license

Published:
March 21, 2025
Payment institution license

A PI permit gives the business-company the right to conduct various types of financial transmissions related to remittance actions, including bill payments, money transfers and other similar transmissions.

Normative base

The regulatory framework for the licensing of remittance establishments in the UK is regulated by law and determined by relevant rules and regulations adopted by the FCA. The main regulations are the PSD2 and EMD. These rules regulate the activities of payment establishments and firms that issue electronic valutes.

According to these adjustments, companies that have received a payment establishments permit must comply with certain demands and standards to ensure the safety and protection of clients and their funds. These demands include proper risk management, ensuring a sufficient level of fund and financial stability, and maintaining appropriate reporting.

Regulator of Payment institutions in Britain

Great Britain has its own supervisory system for remittance establishments, called the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of the UK financial system by supervising monetary institutions that deal with customer money.

The FCA is responsible for supervising different types of remittance establishments , including banks, virtual money and electronic payment systems. They ensure compliance with various rules and standards governing the work of these establishments, in particular in the field of combating fraud and money laundering.

One of the key tools used by the FCA is the licensing of payment establishments. Every payment establishments operating in the UK must be licensed by the FCA. This allows the FCA to ensure compliance with capitalization demands, custody of customer funds and other rules governing the operation of payment establishments.

To ensure the safety of clients, the FCA also supplies a number of recommendations to ensure the protection of personal data and monetary information of customers. In addition, they supply monitoring of transmissions and detection of suspicious transmissions.

All remittance institutions in the UK must be regularly inspected and audited by the FCA to ensure that they comply with all demands and standards.

Types of licenses

The UK has few types of permission for payment establishments, which provide distinctive rights and limitations. Here are some of the most common license types:

  1. Payment Institution (PI) Permit – Permission for making payments. Allows firms to conduct settlement operations within the Europe and transfer funds without the mandatory participation of banks. PI licenses are divided into two categories: Small Payment Institution (SPI) and Authorized Payment Institution (API).
  2. Electronic Money Institution (EMI) Permission – Permission for electronic money. Allows firms to issue electronic valutes and supply electronic remittance favors , as well as to transfer funds in real time between users.
  3. Small Electronic Money Institution (SEMI) Permission – Permission for small electronic money. This permit is intended for companies that issue small volumes of virtual money.
  4. Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) Permissions – Permission for payment initiation favors. Enables firms to supply remittance initiation favors, i.e. trigger payments from users’ bank accounts using an API.
  5. Account Information Service Provider (AISP) Permissions – Permission for providing information about accounts. Allows firms to supply services to supply information about customers’ bank accounts, including balances and transfers.

Authorized Payment Institution permission

The responsibilities of authorized remittance establishments include ensuring the safety and protection of client funds, compliance with legislation on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as providing favors in accordance with client requirements.

With an authorized remittance institution permission, firms can make various types of remittance, including money transfers, bill payments, mobile phone top-ups, online purchases of goods and favors, and more.

In order to achieve a permission as an authorized payment institution, firms must meet the demands set by the Financial Conduct Authority of Great Britain. These requirements relate, in particular, to the firm’s capitalization, monetary stability, anti-money laundering procedures and other issues of security and protection of client funds.

Benefits of obtaining permission

Acquiring a payment establishment permission has several advantages for firms that supply payment favors:

  • Legality: Acquiring a payment institution permit confirms the legality of the company’s activity in the field of remittance favors. This allows the company to ensure the trust of customers and partners and mark them on the market.
  • Opening of new markets: The permit of the remittance institution allows the firm to work in different jurisdictions of the world and expand its services to new markets.
  • Protection of client funds: firms that have a remittance establishment permission are required to ensure the safety and protection of their clients’ funds. This allows you to ensure the trust and loyalty of clients, which in turn can positively affect the company’s biz.

Demands for obtaining

Obtaining a payment establishment permission in Great Britain is associated with compliance with a number of demands and standards established by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). To obtain a payment establishment permission, a firm must have a sufficient level of capitalization and monetary stability, ensure conformity with standards and demands for risk administration, custody of client funds and adequate reporting.

In addition, companies holding a remittance institution license must comply with all laws governing funds transfer and electronic payment transfers, including anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing laws.

Firms must also ensure a high level of protection of clients’ personal data and financial information, monitor operations and detect suspicious transactions.

In addition, companies must comply with biz and ethical standards set by the adjuster.

Acquiring a remittance establishment permission is a complex and costly process that requires firms to take a responsible and transparent approach to managing their finances and money transfer operations.

Table of contents

Related insights

Shelf companies in the UK: potential risks and benefits

Term “ready-made company” refers to firm that is already already recorded with Companies House, has not been actively trading prior to sale, and is formally considered “empty”. Such firm has legal existence, registration number and date of incorporation, but, according to supplier’s assurances, has no trading register, obligations or accounts. After acquisition, new owner receives...

FCA annual work programme 2025/26

Financial Conduct Authority’s annual work programme sets out the regulator’s priorities for the planned period and serves as a guide for financial market participants, government agencies and other interested parties. The programme links FCA’s strategy to specific actions that the regulator intends to implement over the coming period and reflects a combination of tasks aimed...

Opening accounts for UK entities with non-UK UBOs: what really moves the needle

Setting up firm in UK in 2026 remains accessible to non-residents: legal regulations do not prohibit foreigners from registering legal entity here. However, existence of firm itself and opening bank account are two different processes. While organizations registration is highly standardized, banking practices for legal entities with non-British ultimate beneficial owners present practical barriers and...

The Retail Payment Activities Act: the changing regulatory landscape for Canadian MSBs

The landscape of monetary restriction in Canada has experienced a significant transformation with the introduction of the Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA). For money services firms (MSBs) operating in the country, this act represents a paradigm shift in how remittances are regulated and how MSBs must conduct their activities. Understanding the nuances of the RPAA...

Make Use of Cook-Islands Trust to Safeguard Your Assets Abroad and Feel Secure about Protecting Your Wealth

In an increasingly globalized world, asset-protection is a top priority for individuals and enterprises alike. Defending your wealth from lawsuits, creditors, and conceivable economic instability is crucial for economic security and peace of mind. One of the most effective and lawfully sound strategies for safeguarding your acquisitions abroad is the use of a Cook-Islands Trust....

Five Compelling Reasons to Set Up a Cook-Islands Trust

Acquisitions protection is a concern for many individuals and businesses looking to maintain their wealth. In a world of ever-increasing litigation, financial instability, and potential liability issues, many are turning to off-shore trust structures to safeguard their acquisitions and services. Among the various off-shore options, the Cook-Islands Trust stands out as one of the most...

Apply for EMI in the UK

Innovative technologies make it possible to improve many processes in various areas of business. In the financial industry, one of the most recent breakthroughs is considered to be the emergence of e-money. This has led to the fact that in many countries begun to appear regulators on the circulation of such funds. The emergence of...
Prev
Next

Feel free to contact us

Send your request for any info