Empresa de Asesoramiento Financiero (EAF) licence (Spain)
The Empresa de Asesoramiento Financiero (EAF) licence is issued by National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) under Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments (MiFID II). It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The official register lists 93 current holders. The legal decision period is 6 months from receipt of a complete application. The application fee is EUR 1,000 (Tarifa 4.2.3; plus EUR 300 registration fee under Tarifa 4.3).
At a glance
| Official name | Empresa de Asesoramiento Financiero (EAF) licence1 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | EAF · Empresa de Asesoramiento Financiero · CNMV financial advisory firm licence · Spanish financial advisory firm licence |
| Issued by | National Securities Market Commission |
| Jurisdiction | Spain |
| Licence family | Investment firm / broker-dealer |
| Legal basis | Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments (MiFID II)2 Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 on markets in financial instruments (MiFIR)3 Directive 2009/65/EC on undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS)4 |
| Passporting | EU/EEA passport available |
| Application fee | EUR 1,000 (Tarifa 4.2.3; plus EUR 300 registration fee under Tarifa 4.3)5 |
| Annual fee | 0.1% of own funds (minimum EUR 500) under Tarifa 6.1.2, plus conduct supervision under Tarifa 6.61 |
| Statutory decision time | 6 months from receipt of a complete application1 |
| Public register | official register6 |
| Current holders | 936 |
What it lets you do
| Investment advice | Giving personal recommendations to a client about one or more transactions in financial instruments. |
|---|
Where it is valid
Cost
How long it takes
Statutory: 6 months from receipt of a complete application1. Observed: not published. The statutory clock usually starts only when the regulator treats the application as complete, and pauses while it waits for answers to its questions.
Buying a company that already holds it
Prior notification with an objection period. Any natural or legal person intending to acquire or increase, directly or indirectly, a qualifying holding reaching or crossing 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of capital or voting rights, or to gain control of an ESI, EAF, SGIIC, or CASP, must submit prior written notification to the CNMV under Articles 152-154 of Ley 6/2023 (LMVSI) and MiCA Art. 83. The CNMV assesses acquirer suitability, reputation, financial soundness, and AML/CFT risks within a statutory 60 working days assessment period (interruptible once by up to 20 working days for supplementary filings). Unauthorised acquisitions automatically forfeit voting rights and may trigger administrative intervention or statutory sanctions (Art. 156 LMVSI).1
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.
Laws behind it
- Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments: Directive 2014/65/EU
- Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012: Regulation (EU) No 600/2014
- UCITS Directive: Directive 2009/65/EC
- Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive: Directive 2011/61/EU
Sources
- boe.es: act · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32014L0065 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32014R0600 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32009L0065 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- boe.es: act · retrieved 2026-09-24
- cnmv.es: ListadoEntidad · retrieved 2026-09-24
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