An Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence is the practical bridge between a conventional offshore corporate structure and a genuinely regulated European financial company. It allows you to issue e-money, operate IBAN accounts and, via SEPA, support instant euro payments across the Single Market.
The classic licensing routes are the Bank of Lithuania, the Central Bank of Ireland and — for more established operators — the Dutch Central Bank and the Italian and French regulators. Lithuania remains the pragmatic favourite: clear guidance, predictable timelines of roughly six to ten months and a respected regulator.
Capital requirements start at EUR 350,000 for e-money issuance, though most projects we advise retain a multiple of this to evidence prudent financial management. Substance is the real requirement: local directors or management, head office arrangements, AML systems and a plausible business plan must all be in place before the regulator will confirm interest.
The practical sequence we follow with clients is: structure and ownership review, corporate formation, local management and compliance build-out, application preparation and submission, regulatory Q&A and interviews, then go-live and ongoing compliance. If you are already trading through a PSP or acquirer, a licence converts that reliance into independence.
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This article is general information, not advice. If your situation resembles anything discussed here, write to us and we will respond with a clear, practical assessment — free of charge.
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