Money transmitter licence (Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC))
The Financial Services Permission for Providing Money Services restricted to Money Transmission only (Category 4) is issued by Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) under DFSA Rulebook: Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions Module (AML). The legal decision period is No statutory decision period: the Regulatory Law (Art. 48) only requires the DFSA to notify the applicant of its decision without undue delay. The application fee is USD 10,000.
At a glance
| Official name | Financial Services Permission for Providing Money Services restricted to Money Transmission only (Category 4)1 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | DIFC money services licence · DFSA money transmission licence · Providing Money Services (Category 4) · Money transmission only permission |
| Issued by | Dubai Financial Services Authority |
| Jurisdiction | Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) |
| Licence family | Money transmitter / money services business (MSB) |
| Legal basis | DFSA Rulebook: Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions Module (AML)2 |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Application fee | USD 10,0001 |
| Annual fee | USD 10,0001 |
| Statutory decision time | No statutory decision period: the Regulatory Law (Art. 48) only requires the DFSA to notify the applicant of its decision without undue delay3 |
What it lets you do
| Money remittance | Receiving funds from a payer solely to transfer them to a payee or another provider, without opening payment accounts. |
|---|---|
| Currency exchange | Buying and selling foreign currency for customers, in cash or electronically, as a bureau de change or FX service. |
Where it is valid
Cost
Buying a company that already holds it
Prior approval required. Under Regulatory Law 2004 Article 59 and DFSA Rulebook General Module (GEN) Section 11.8, prior written approval from the DFSA is required before any person becomes a Controller, or increases their holding across 30% or 50% thresholds. A Controller is defined as someone holding 10% or more of shares or voting rights, or exercising significant influence over management. Under GEN 11.8.6, the DFSA must determine an application for approval of a change of control within 90 days of receipt of a duly completed application.4
MSB in other countries
| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Registration as a remittance service providerRegistration as a remittance service provider (remittance network provider or independent remittance dealer) | AUSTRAC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| British Virgin Islands | Money Services Business Licence, Class A or Class BMoney Services Business Licence, Class A (money/electronic/mobile money transmission) or Class B (money orders, traveller's cheques, cheque cashing, currency exchange) | BVI FSC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Canada | Money services business (MSB) registrationMoney services business (MSB) registration (covers foreign exchange dealing, money transferring, virtual currency dealing, crowdfunding platforms and related services; a separate foreign-MSB registration applies to businesses without a place of business in Canada that direct services at Canadians) | FINTRAC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Money transmitter licenceFinancial Services Permission for Providing Money Services restricted to Money Transmission only (Category 4) | DFSA | n/a | USD 10,000 | n/a |
| Netherlands | Exchange institution licenceExchange institution licence (Vergunning wisselinstelling) | DNB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| United States | Registration of Money Services Business (Form 107 / RMSB) | FinCEN | n/a | n/a | ~5.9 mo |
Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.
Sources
- DFSA Rulebook: fees module fer ver3504 26 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- DFSA Rulebook: anti money laundering counter terrorist financing and sancti · retrieved 2026-09-24
- DFSA Rulebook: regulatory law 1 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- DFSA Rulebook: general module gen ver7207 26 · retrieved 2026-09-24
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