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Payment institutions choose the Netherlands as their EU base for a regulator that publishes its success factors and a market access team that meets applicants before they file.
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 directors based in the Netherlands.
The licence, the requirements, the cost and the timing for your business.
You will need at least two directors who work mainly from the Netherlands, each assessed by DNB for suitability and integrity.
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 the Netherlands or, through passporting, in the EU and EEA, needs a DNB authorisation. A business that will also hold customer balances applies for an EMI licence instead.
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Account, card and other services (1–5) | €125,000 |
| Payment initiation only | €50,000 |
| Money remittance only | €20,000 |
| Account information only | None |
| Ongoing own funds | Higher of initial capital and Method B |
DNB applies the deductions in the capital requirements regulation.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory decision period | 3 months from a complete application, suspended during information requests | Financial Supervision Act (Wft) |
| Regulator’s published figure | DNB states the total period tends to be longer than three months | DNB application process timeline |
| 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 | €10,400 | Payable on application; non-refundable |
| Annual supervisory fee | Set annually | DNB’s regular supervision costs are charged to licensed institutions |
| Initial capital | €20,000 to €125,000 | By the highest service |
| Professional fees | Fixed | Quoted after scoping |
A firm whose monthly payment volume averages below €3 million over twelve months, providing services other than remittance, payment initiation and account information, serving the Netherlands only, may register under the exemption through DNB’s supervisory applications portal. It is registered but not supervised and must say so; funds are safeguarded through a foundation, insurance or guarantee.
A Dutch payment institution passports throughout the EU and EEA on notification to DNB after authorisation.
DNB publishes its success factors for market access.
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 application by statute, suspended for each information request. DNB may stop considering an application within four weeks if requested information is not supplied. We plan for six to eight months after submission.
€125,000 for account, card and most other services; €50,000 for payment initiation only; €20,000 for money remittance only; own funds thereafter under Method B as a rule.
An exemption applies below €3 million of monthly volume, for the Netherlands only, without supervision or passporting.
At least two natural persons in day-to-day management, working substantially from the Netherlands.
DNB’s approval of each shareholder holding 10% or more, decided within 62 business days and run in parallel with the licence application.
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.