Crowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (Czech Republic)
The Crowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (povolení k činnosti poskytovatele služeb skupinového financování) is issued by Czech National Bank (CNB) under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 on European crowdfunding service providers (ECSPR). It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The official register lists 5 current holders. The legal decision period is 3 months from receipt of a complete application. The application fee is CZK 20,000. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Crowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR1 |
|---|---|
| Local name | povolení k činnosti poskytovatele služeb skupinového financování |
| Also known as | ECSP · ECSPR authorisation · Czech crowdfunding licence · Czech ECSP licence · Czech crowdfunding service provider authorisation · ČNB crowdfunding authorisation |
| Issued by | Czech National Bank |
| Jurisdiction | Czech Republic |
| Licence family | Lending / consumer credit |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 on European crowdfunding service providers for business2 Act No. 257/2016 Coll. on Consumer Credit3 |
| Passporting | EU/EEA passport available |
| Application fee | CZK 20,0004 |
| Statutory decision time | 3 months from receipt of a complete application2 |
| Public register | official register5 |
| Current holders | 55 |
What it lets you do
| Crowdfunding services | Matching business funding interests of investors and project owners through a platform, by facilitating loans or placing securities. |
|---|
Where it is valid
Cost
How long it takes
Statutory: 3 months from receipt of a complete application2. 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. Under Section 18 of the Payment Systems Act (Act No. 370/2017 Coll.), any person or persons acting in concert intending to acquire, dispose of, or increase a qualifying holding in a payment institution or electronic money institution reaching or exceeding 20%, 30%, or 50% of voting rights or capital, or become the controlling person, must notify the CNB in advance via electronic filing. The CNB assesses the trustworthiness and suitability of the proposed acquirer within a statutory 60-working-day window and may initiate proceedings to issue a formal objection (vyslovení nesouhlasu). In the absence of an objection or upon affirmative notification, the acquisition may proceed. Acquiring qualifying holdings in breach of notification or objection leads to statutory forfeiture of voting rights. In contrast, for banks and investment firms under Act No. 21/1992 Coll. and Act No. 256/2004 Coll., prior approval (předchozí souhlas) is required subject to a CZK 20,000 fee under Item 66 of Act No. 634/2004 Coll. Small-scale providers (PPSMR/VEPMR) are exempt from change-of-control clearance.6
Credit in other countries
| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian credit licence (ACL) | ASIC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cyprus | European Crowdfunding Service Provider authorisation | CySEC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Czech Republic | Non-bank Consumer Credit Provider licence | CNB | n/a | CZK 50,000 | n/a |
| Czech Republic | Crowdfunding Service Provider authorizationCrowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR | CNB | n/a | CZK 20,000 | ~3 mo |
| Estonia | Operating licence as a credit servicer | FI | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Estonia | Operating licence as a creditor | FI | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Estonia | Authorisation as a crowdfunding service providerAuthorisation as a crowdfunding service provider under ECSPR | FI | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Estonia | Authorisation for operating as a financial institution | FIU | n/a | EUR 3,300 | ~2.8 mo |
| Estonia | Operating licence as a credit intermediary | FI | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| France | European crowdfunding service provider authorization | AMF | n/a | n/a | ~3 mo |
| Ireland | Crowdfunding Service Provider Authorisation (ECSPR) | CBI | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Italy | European crowdfunding service provider authorization (ECSPR) | CONSOB | n/a | n/a | ~3 mo |
| Latvia | Crowdfunding service provider authorization | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lithuania | Crowdfunding service provider authorization | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lithuania | Peer-to-peer lending platform operator | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Luxembourg | Crowdfunding service provider authorisation | CSSF | n/a | EUR 30,000 | n/a |
| Netherlands | European Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSPR) authorisationEuropean Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSPR) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 | AFM | n/a | EUR 200 | ~4.2 mo |
| Poland | Crowdfunding Service Provider authorizationCrowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR | KNF | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Poland | Lending Institution registration | KNF | n/a | PLN 616 | n/a |
| Slovakia | Crowdfunding service provider authorisationCrowdfunding service provider authorisation under ECSPR | NBS | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spain | European crowdfunding service provider authorization | CNMV | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spain | Specialized lending credit institution authorization | BdE | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| United Kingdom | Consumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA) | FCA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.
Laws behind it
- European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation: Regulation (EU) 2020/1503
Sources
- cnb.cz: licensing and approval proceedings · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32020R1503 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- Czech legislation (Zákony pro lidi): 2016 257 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- Czech legislation (Zákony pro lidi): 2004 634 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- cnb.cz: fms 2024 (PDF) · retrieved 2026-09-24
- Czech legislation (Zákony pro lidi): 2017 370 · retrieved 2026-09-24
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