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International forex and CFD brokers use a Seychelles company for low running costs, a 1.5% business tax rate where real substance is in place and a regulator whose service standard runs in weeks.
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.
Client money and liquidity provider accounts opened alongside the application, so you trade on authorisation.
We assemble your team: a resident director, dealer’s representative and compliance officer.
The licence, the requirements, the cost and the timing for your business.
You will need two directors, one living and working full time in Seychelles, a licensed securities dealer’s representative and a compliance officer.
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.
Any person carrying on business as a securities dealer in or from Seychelles, or holding out as one, needs a licence under section 45 of the Securities Act 2007: arranging or entering into securities transactions, soliciting securities business, executing orders and managing securities portfolios where client property may be held. Forex and CFD brokers serving international clients are the main applicants; the licence is held by a Seychelles company with a local office. A recognised overseas dealer with exchange membership may apply as an exempt overseas securities dealer instead.
| Licence | Scope |
|---|---|
| Securities dealer licence | Full dealing; licence conditions state whether the dealer may hold client assets |
| Restricted securities dealer licence | Limited by number of clients, named clients or minimum client investment, at the FSA’s discretion |
| Securities dealer’s representative licence | Each individual who deals on the licensee’s behalf; US$500 on application and US$750 a year |
| Exempt overseas securities dealer | Recognised overseas dealers with exchange membership |
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum paid-up capital | US$100,000 |
| Insurance | Policy covering the securities business; quotation at application |
| Substance for the tax concession | Resident staff and local operating expenditure, assessed case by case |
The insurance cover is sized to the business plan and the quotation is submitted with the application; the FSA publishes no fixed sum.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory decision period | No statutory decision period | Securities Act 2007 |
| Regulator’s published figure | 30 working days, about 1.5 months, from a complete application; an incomplete application is returned for resubmission within 3 months | FSA securities dealer application guidelines, September 2024 |
| Application preparation | 4 to 6 weeks | From instruction to submission, including banking in parallel |
| Our realistic timeline | 2 to 3 months after submission, allowing for the completeness check and information requests | 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 | US$3,000 | Securities (Forms and Fees) (Amendment of Second Schedule) Regulations 2024; processing starts once the fee and a complete pack are received |
| Annual licence fee | US$6,000 | Late renewal adds one twelfth of the annual fee for each month or part month unpaid |
| Representative licence | US$500 | Application; US$750 a year |
| Older figures in FSA guidance | US$1,500 / US$2,500 to US$3,000 | The application guidelines and indicative fee sheet still show the pre-2024 figures; the fee sheet states that the legislation prevails |
| Minimum capital | US$100,000 | Paid up |
| Professional fees | Fixed | Quoted after scoping |
The licence covers business in or from Seychelles; there is no passport. The FSA advises licensees to obtain the approvals required in the jurisdictions where their clients are located. Brokers use the Seychelles licence for international clients alongside an EU or UK authorisation for European clients; we obtain each.
The FSA publishes what it looks for. Each section 46 criterion must be met: the company, two fit and proper directors, a licensed representative, US$100,000 of capital, insurance, a compliance officer and premises. Processing starts only when the fee and a complete pack are received; an incomplete application is returned and lapses unless resubmitted within three months. The FSA states that full disclosure of all necessary information is expected and that its discretion extends to the reputation of the applicant’s advisers. False information carries a fine of up to US$25,000.
A dealer needs segregated client money accounts, an operating account and settlement accounts in the currencies it serves, and liquidity provider relationships before it trades. Banks and liquidity providers review the licence, the client money arrangements, the substance in Seychelles and the financial crime framework before onboarding. We open each alongside the application, so you trade on licensing. See banking and payment processing.
The FSA’s service standard is 30 working days from a complete application, about 1.5 months. We plan for two to three months after submission, allowing for the completeness check and information requests.
US$3,000 on application and US$6,000 a year under the 2024 regulations; FSA guidance documents still show the older US$1,500 and US$2,500 to US$3,000 figures, and the legislation prevails.
The FSA’s March 2026 guidelines set no residency rule for directors. The company needs at least two natural-person directors, at least one licensed representative, a compliance officer and a physical office in Seychelles.
Yes, evidenced by title deed or lease: furnished, with a local telephone line, internet, computer equipment and space for records.
The licence covers business in or from Seychelles only. The FSA advises obtaining approvals in client jurisdictions; we obtain the EU or UK authorisation alongside it.
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.