Fintech licensing in Ireland
In Ireland, fintech and crypto licences are issued by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). The Atlas covers 12 licence types there, in 8 families: bank, crypto-asset service provider (MiCA), electronic money institution, fund manager, investment firm, lending, payment institution and virtual asset service provider. Because Ireland is in the EU/EEA, passportable licences issued there can be extended to the other member states by notification. Crypto-asset service providers are authorised under MiCA.
Financial regulators in Ireland
Fintech licences available in Ireland
Bank / credit institution
Crypto-asset service provider (MiCA CASP)
Electronic money institution (EMI)
- EMI · Ireland
Small Electronic Money Institution Registration
CBI
- EMI · Ireland
Electronic Money Institution Authorisation
CBI
Fund manager
- FM · Ireland
Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation/Registration
CBI
- FM · Ireland
UCITS Management Company Authorisation
CBI
Investment firm / broker-dealer
- IF · Ireland
Investment Business Firm Authorisation (Section 10 IIA 1995)
CBI
- IF · Ireland
Investment Firm Authorisation (MiFID II)
CBI
Lending / consumer credit
Payment institution (PI)
- PI · Ireland
Account Information Service Provider Registration
CBI
- PI · Ireland
Payment Institution Authorisation
CBI
Virtual asset service provider (non-MiCA)
Path to market
Start by mapping the activities you plan to offer onto the licence types above; the activity pages show which licence permits each one. CBI offers pre-application meetings, an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox; the regulator page explains how to use them. The application goes to CBI, together with the capital, governance and AML documentation the licence page lists. Once authorised, an EU/EEA licence can be extended to other member states by passport notification rather than a new licence.
Need this licence, or a different one?
Tell us your business model and target markets. We check the fit before you spend on an application, then handle the licence end to end.
A free preliminary assessment: we check your business model against the licence before you spend on an application. We handle this licence and any other fintech licence, including jurisdictions the Atlas does not cover yet.