Fund manager · Ireland

Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation/Registration (Ireland)

The Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation/Registration is issued by Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 on European crowdfunding service providers for business (ECSPR). It is a national licence: it does not give a passport to other EU/EEA states. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

Last verified 2026-09-24Regulator CBIMarkdown · Data (CC BY 4.0)
Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation/Registration: licenceFM

At a glance

Official nameAlternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation/Registration1
Also known asAIFM · Irish AIFM authorisation · Irish AIFM licence · Central Bank AIFM authorisation · Registered AIFM Ireland
Issued byCentral Bank of Ireland
JurisdictionIreland
Licence familyFund manager
Legal basisRegulation (EU) 2020/1503 on European crowdfunding service providers for business (ECSPR)2
PassportingDomestic only

What it lets you do

Managing alternative investment fundsPerforming portfolio management and risk management for funds that are not UCITS, such as hedge, private equity and real estate funds.

Where it is valid

Ireland licence, domesticIreland
Valid in Ireland.

Buying a company that already holds it

Prior notification with an objection period. Direct or indirect acquisition or disposal of qualifying holdings reaching or crossing 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of capital or voting rights, or resulting in the firm becoming a subsidiary, requires prior written notification to the Central Bank of Ireland; failure to notify renders the acquisition null and void. The Central Bank conducts a statutory assessment within 60 working days of complete acknowledgment (pausable once for 20 working days for EU acquirers or 30 working days for non-EU acquirers) evaluating acquirer reputation, financial soundness, and AML/CFT risks under the European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018, E-Money Regulations 2011, and MiFID Regulations 2017.3

FM in other countries

CountryLicenceRegulatorMin. capitalApplication feeStatutory time
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)Fund manager licenceFinancial Services Permission for Managing a Collective Investment Fund (Category 3C)FSRAn/an/an/a
BermudaFund Administrator LicenceFund Administrator Licence (Part III, Investment Funds Act 2006)BMAn/an/an/a
British Virgin IslandsFund manager licenceBVI mutual fund recognition (private/professional fund), registration (public fund) or approval (incubator/approved fund) - funds are recognised/registered/approved, not 'licensed'BVI FSCn/an/an/a
Cayman IslandsRegulated Mutual FundRegulated Mutual Fund (registered, master, or administered fund under the Mutual Funds Act)CIMAn/an/an/a
Cayman IslandsRegistered Private FundRegistered Private Fund under the Private Funds ActCIMAn/an/an/a
CyprusAlternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) authorisationCySECn/an/a~3 mo
CyprusSub-threshold Alternative Investment Fund Manager registrationCySECn/an/an/a
CyprusUCITS Management Company authorisationCySECn/an/an/a
Czech RepublicSub-threshold Alternative Investment Fund Manager registrationSub-threshold Alternative Investment Fund Manager registration pursuant to Section 15 of AMCIFCNBn/aCZK 10,000~1 mo
Czech RepublicInvestment Company / Fund Manager licenceCNBn/aCZK 50,000~6 mo
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Fund manager licenceFinancial Services Permission for Managing a Collective Investment Fund (Category 3C)DFSAn/aUSD 10,000n/a
EstoniaSmall fund manager registration without activity licenceFIn/an/an/a
EstoniaOperating licence as a fund management companyFIn/aEUR 600n/a
FrancePortfolio management company authorisationAMFn/an/a~3 mo
GermanyInvestment management company licenceBaFinn/an/an/a
IrelandAlternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation/RegistrationCBIn/an/an/a
IrelandUCITS Management Company AuthorisationCBIn/an/an/a
LuxembourgAlternative investment fund manager (AIFM) authorisationCSSFn/aEUR 18,000~3 mo
LuxembourgManagement company authorisedManagement company authorised under Chapter 15 of the Law of 17 December 2010CSSFn/aEUR 18,000~6 mo
NetherlandsAlternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) licenceAlternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) licence under Wft Article 2:65 and Directive 2011/61/EUAFMn/aEUR 200~6 mo
NetherlandsFund manager licenceUndertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS / ICBE) registration under Wft and Directive 2009/65/ECAFMn/an/an/a
PolandInvestment Fund Company licenceKNFn/an/an/a
PolandAlternative Investment Company Manager registration / licenceKNFn/an/an/a
SeychellesFund Administrator's LicenceFund Administrator's Licence (and Restricted Fund Administrator's Licence) under the Mutual Fund and Hedge Fund Act 2008FSAn/an/an/a
SpainFund manager licence (SGIIC)CNMVn/aEUR 10,000n/a
SwitzerlandFund management company licenceFINMAn/an/an/a
SwitzerlandManager of collective assets licenceFINMAn/an/an/a
United KingdomFund manager licenceAlternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) Authorisation / RegistrationFCAn/an/an/a

Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.

Laws behind it

Last verified 2026-09-24Author Danil Marmysh, Founder & CEO, ProtegraReviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova, Head of Licensing, ProtegraReport an errorReference information, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. centralbank.ie: authorisation · retrieved 2026-09-24
  2. EUR-Lex: CELEX 32020R1503 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  3. centralbank.ie: notification process for proposed acquisitions of qualifying · retrieved 2026-09-24

Want the FM licence in Ireland?

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.