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Payment institutions entering France gain direct reach into one of the EU’s largest markets, with no application fee and a simplified route for firms below the monthly volume threshold.
Selected engagements from more than 250 licences obtained since 2013, for payment, e-money and cryptoasset firms.
Volkswagen
Payment InstitutionObtained Nexpay’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.
Electronic Money InstitutionObtained Dzing Finance’s FCA Authorised Electronic Money Institution licence.
Obtained Orbital’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.
Our realistic timeline from submission to decision.
Safeguarding, operating and settlement accounts opened alongside the application, so you trade on authorisation.
We assemble your team: two managing directors based in France.
The licence, the requirements, the cost and the timing for your business.
You will need at least two managing directors running the business from France, with a written split of who is responsible for what.
One programme, from scoping to launch. Speak to an expert about this licence.
Requirements, capital, timing, fees and common questions, drawn from the regulator’s own publications.
A business providing a payment service in France or, through passporting, in the EU and EEA needs ACPR authorisation. A business that will also hold customer balances applies for an EMI licence instead.
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Account, card and other services | €125,000 |
| Payment initiation only | €50,000 |
| Money remittance only | €20,000 |
| Simplified authorisation | €40,000; monthly payment volume not above €3 million |
| Ongoing own funds | Method B as a rule |
Tier 2 capital is capped at one third of Tier 1.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory decision period | 3 months from a complete file; silence is refusal | Monetary and Financial Code |
| Regulator’s published figure | Presentation meeting within 2 weeks; clarification requests within 3 weeks of filing; replies within 2 weeks; decision posted within 2 business days | ACPR Fintech Charter |
| Application preparation | 6 to 8 weeks | From instruction to submission, including banking in parallel |
| Our realistic timeline | 6 to 8 months after submission | Our own figure, from the regulator’s published data and our applications |
Regulator figures are quoted as published and converted to months. Our realistic timeline assumes a complete, well-prepared application.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | None | Passport notifications are also free |
| Annual supervision contribution | Set under the monetary and financial code | Amount by institution type |
| Initial capital | €20,000 to €125,000 | €40,000 under the simplified regime |
| Professional fees | Fixed | Quoted after scoping |
A firm whose expected average monthly payment volume stays below €3 million may apply for the simplified authorisation: €40,000 capital and adapted own funds and internal control, with no money remittance, no payment initiation or account information, and no European passport.
A French payment institution passports throughout the EU and EEA by branch, services or agents on notification through the ACPR portal after authorisation. The simplified regime carries no passport.
The ACPR publishes its points of attention.
A payment institution needs a safeguarding account, an operating account and settlement accounts in the currencies it serves. We open each alongside the application, so you trade from authorisation. See banking and payment processing.
Three months from a complete file by statute, extendable by two months; we plan for six to eight months after submission.
€125,000 for account, card and most services; €50,000 for payment initiation only; €20,000 for money remittance only; €40,000 under the simplified regime.
It selects and retains the most demanding, usually Method B on payment volumes including inflows and outflows.
No application fee. An annual supervision contribution applies once authorised.
No. Agent and passport applications are handled after authorisation.
A regulatory advisory firm to payment, e-money and cryptoasset companies since 2013, with more than 250 licences obtained in more than 60 countries. The firm builds licensed payment, e-money, crypto and stablecoin businesses: the licence, the team, the technology, the bank accounts and card issuing.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees change, and the regulator’s own publications take precedence.
The licence, your team, banking and technology, delivered as one programme.