# Consumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA) (United Kingdom)

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/united-kingdom-consumer/

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] |
| --- | --- |
| Issued by | [Financial Conduct Authority](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fca-uk/) |
| Jurisdiction | [United Kingdom](https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/united-kingdom/) |
| Licence family | [Lending / consumer credit](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/) |
| Legal basis | Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8) [2] |
| Passporting | Domestic only |

## What it lets you do

- [Lending](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/)
- [Consumer credit](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/consumer-credit/)

- **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

_Valid in United Kingdom._

## 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]

## Laws behind it

- [Financial Services and Markets Act 2000](https://protegra.io/licensing/laws/gb-fsma-2000/): 2000 c. 8

## Sources

1. [fca.org.uk: fees](https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/authorisation/how-to-apply/fees): retrieved 2026-09-24
2. [legislation.gov.uk: contents](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/8/contents): retrieved 2026-09-24
3. [fca.org.uk: control thresholds bands](https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/change-control/control-thresholds-bands): retrieved 2026-09-24

Last verified 2026-09-24 · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.