Consumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA) (United Kingdom)
The Consumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA) is issued by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8). It covers lending and consumer credit. It is valid in United Kingdom only; each other market needs its own authorisation. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Consumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA)1 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | FCA consumer credit licence · UK consumer credit licence · Consumer credit full permission · Consumer credit permission (FCA) |
| Issued by | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Licence family | Lending / consumer credit |
| Legal basis | Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8)2 |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
What it lets you do
| Lending | Granting loans, including consumer credit, mortgage credit, factoring and financing of commercial transactions. |
|---|---|
| Consumer credit | Granting or promising credit to consumers, including buy-now-pay-later, subject to consumer protection rules on information, creditworthiness and withdrawal. |
Where it is valid
Buying a company that already holds it
Prior approval required. Acquirers must obtain FCA approval prior to acquiring or increasing control in an FCA or PRA authorized firm; acquiring control without approval constitutes a criminal offence under FSMA 2000 Section 191F. For Directive firms (including banks, MiFID investment firms, UCITS Mancos, payment institutions, and electronic money institutions), control thresholds are 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50% of shares or voting rights, or becoming a parent undertaking. For non-Directive firms (such as non-MiFID investment firms, general insurance intermediaries, and full-scope AIFMs), a single 20% or more threshold applies. For cryptoasset firms under MLRs Schedule 6B (amended 30 June 2026), a 25% beneficial owner threshold applies, alongside FSMA bands if no beneficial owner exists. The statutory assessment period is 60 business days from complete notification acknowledgment (FSMA Section 189), pausable once for up to 30 business days if further information is requested.3
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
- Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: 2000 c. 8
Sources
- fca.org.uk: fees · retrieved 2026-09-24
- legislation.gov.uk: contents · retrieved 2026-09-24
- fca.org.uk: control thresholds bands · retrieved 2026-09-24
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