Fintech licensing in South Africa
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) issues the licences in South Africa. The Atlas covers 4 licence types here. They sit in 2 families: investment firm and virtual asset service provider. Each licence page sets out the legal basis and fees, plus the decision period, with sources.
Financial regulators in South Africa
Fintech licences available in South Africa
Investment firm / broker-dealer
- IF · South Africa
Financial Services Provider licence - Category I
Financial Services Provider licence - Category I (advice and/or intermediary services, non-discretionary, incl. crypto assets)FSCA
- IF · South Africa
Financial Services Provider licence - Category II (discretionary FSP)
FSCA
- IF · South Africa
Over-the-Counter Derivative Provider (ODP) authorisation
Over-the-Counter Derivative Provider (ODP) authorisation under the Financial Markets ActFSCA
Virtual asset service provider (non-MiCA)
Main laws
- Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002: Act No. 37 of 2002
Path to market
Match your activities to the licence types above; the activity pages show which licence permits each one. The application goes to FSCA. It must include the capital and governance information and the AML file that the licence page requires.
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.