Investment firm / broker-dealer · Cayman Islands
Securities Investment Business Licence / Registered Person (Cayman Islands)
The Securities Investment Business Licence / Registered Person is issued by Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) under Securities Investment Business Act (2020 Revision). The official register lists 45 licensees and 1,337 registered persons current holders. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Securities Investment Business Licence / Registered Person1 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | SIBA licence · Cayman securities investment business licence · CIMA SIBA licence · SIBA registered person |
| Issued by | Cayman Islands Monetary Authority |
| Jurisdiction | Cayman Islands |
| Licence family | Investment firm / broker-dealer |
| Legal basis | Securities Investment Business Act (2020 Revision)2 |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Public register | official register3 |
| Current holders | 45 licensees and 1,337 registered persons3 |
What it lets you do
| Reception and transmission of orders | Receiving client orders in financial instruments and passing them to another firm for execution. |
|---|---|
| Execution of orders on behalf of clients | Concluding agreements to buy or sell financial instruments on behalf of clients. |
| Dealing on own account | Trading financial instruments against proprietary capital, which includes acting as counterparty to client trades. |
| Portfolio management | Managing client portfolios that include financial instruments on a discretionary, client-by-client basis. |
| Investment advice | Giving personal recommendations to a client about one or more transactions in financial instruments. |
Where it is valid
Buying a company that already holds it
Prior approval required. Under s.28(1) of the VASP Act, CIMA's prior approval is required before any issue or voluntary transfer of shares/interests reaching 10% or more of a VASP; the acquirer must file a Personal Questionnaire and fitness documentation. Acting without approval is an offence, and CIMA may also take action against the licence. Other CIMA-regulated entities (banks, trust companies, mutual fund administrators, securities licensees) face a stricter 0% threshold: any transfer needs prior approval.4
IF in other countries
| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2) | FSRA | n/a | USD 40,000 | n/a |
| Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Agent or Matched Principal (Category 3A) | FSRA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Advising on Investments or Arranging Deals in Investments (Category 4) | FSRA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Australia | Australian financial services licence (AFSL) | ASIC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bermuda | Investment Business LicenceInvestment Business Licence (standard licence, under the Investment Business Act 2003) | BMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| British Virgin Islands | Investment Business LicenceInvestment Business Licence (Categories 1-4: dealing, managing, advising, custody/administration of investments) | BVI FSC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cayman Islands | Securities Investment Business Licence / Registered Person | CIMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) authorisation | CySEC | n/a | EUR 7,000 | ~6 mo |
| Czech Republic | Investment Firm licence | CNB | n/a | CZK 20,000 | ~6 mo |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2) | DFSA | n/a | USD 40,000 | n/a |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Agent or Operating an Alternative Trading System (Category 3A) | DFSA | n/a | USD 25,000 | n/a |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Advising on Financial Products or Arranging Deals in Investments (Category 4) | DFSA | n/a | USD 15,000 | n/a |
| Estonia | Authorisation as an investment firm | FI | n/a | EUR 3,000 | ~2 mo |
| France | Financial investment adviser status | AMF | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Germany | Investment firm licence | BaFin | n/a | EUR 6,336 | ~6 mo |
| Hong Kong | Type 1 Licence for Dealing in Securities | SFC | n/a | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| Hong Kong | Type 2 Licence for Dealing in Futures Contracts | SFC | n/a | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| Hong Kong | Type 4 Licence for Advising on Securities | SFC | n/a | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| Hong Kong | Type 6 Licence for Advising on Corporate Finance | SFC | n/a | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| Hong Kong | Type 7 Licence for Providing Automated Trading Services | SFC | n/a | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| Ireland | Investment Firm Authorisation (MiFID II) | CBI | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Italy | Investment firm licence (SIM) | CONSOB | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Latvia | Investment firm licence | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lithuania | Financial brokerage firm licence | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Luxembourg | Investment firm authorisation | CSSF | n/a | EUR 50,000 | ~6 mo |
| Malaysia (Labuan) | Securities Licensee licenceSecurities Licensee licence (dealing in / advising on securities) | Labuan FSA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Malta | Investment services licence (Category 1, 2, or 3) | MFSA | n/a | EUR 7,250 | ~6 mo |
| Mauritius | Investment Adviser Licence | FSC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mauritius | Investment Dealer Licence | FSC | n/a | USD 500 | ~0.5 mo |
| Netherlands | Investment firm licenceInvestment firm licence (Vergunning beleggingsonderneming) under Wft Article 2:96 and MiFID II | AFM | n/a | EUR 200 | ~3 mo |
| Poland | Brokerage House licence (dom maklerski) | KNF | n/a | EUR 4,500 | ~2 mo |
| Seychelles | Securities Dealer's Licence | FSA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Singapore | Capital Markets Services (CMS) Licence | MAS | n/a | SGD 1,000 | n/a |
| Slovakia | Investment firm licence | NBS | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South Africa | Financial Services Provider licence - Category IFinancial Services Provider licence - Category I (advice and/or intermediary services, non-discretionary, incl. crypto assets) | FSCA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South Africa | Financial Services Provider licence - Category II (discretionary FSP) | FSCA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South Africa | Over-the-Counter Derivative Provider (ODP) authorisationOver-the-Counter Derivative Provider (ODP) authorisation under the Financial Markets Act | FSCA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spain | AV) investment firm licence | CNMV | n/a | EUR 10,000 | ~6 mo |
| Spain | Empresa de Asesoramiento Financiero (EAF) licence | CNMV | n/a | EUR 1,000 | ~6 mo |
| Switzerland | Portfolio manager licence | FINMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Switzerland | Securities firm licence | FINMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| United Kingdom | MIFIDPRU Investment Firm Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA) | FCA | n/a | GBP 2,820 | ~6 mo |
Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.
Last verified 2026-09-24Author Danil Marmysh, Founder & CEO, ProtegraReviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova, Head of Licensing, ProtegraReport an errorReference information, not legal advice.
Sources
- cima.ky: securities licensing authorisation requirements · retrieved 2026-09-24
- cima.ky: acts and regulations · retrieved 2026-09-24
- cima.ky: securities statistics · retrieved 2026-09-24
- maples.com: cima change of control process a guide for cayman islands re · secondary · retrieved 2026-09-24
Want the IF licence in Cayman Islands?
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.