# Money transmitter / money services business (MSB)

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/

A money services business (MSB) or money transmitter authorisation covers transferring funds, currency exchange and, in many regimes, dealing in virtual currency. In the United States and Canada it is mainly an anti-money-laundering registration with FinCEN or FINTRAC, which in the US is layered with separate state money transmitter licences where the business serves customers.

## Where the MSB licence is available

_Jurisdictions in the Atlas that issue a MSB licence. Click a country for its page._

## Comparison by country

| Country | Regulator | Min. capital | Statutory time | Passport |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Australia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/australia/) | [AUSTRAC](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/austrac-australia/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [British Virgin Islands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/bvi/) | [BVI FSC](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bvi-fsc/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Canada](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/canada/) | [FINTRAC](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fintrac-canada/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/difc/) | [DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dfsa-difc/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Netherlands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/netherlands/) | [DNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dnb-netherlands/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [United States](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/united-states/) | [FinCEN](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fincen-usa/) |: | 5.9 mo | Domestic |

Values come from each country's page, where every figure has its source.

## Activities this family typically covers

- [Money remittance](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/money-remittance/)
- [Virtual asset exchange (FATF)](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/vasp-exchange/)
- [Virtual asset transfer (FATF)](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/vasp-transfer/)
- [Currency exchange](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/currency-exchange/)

## All licences in this family

- [MSB · AustraliaRegistration as a remittance service provider (remittance network provider or independent remittance dealer)AUSTRAC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/australia/)
- [MSB · British Virgin IslandsMoney Services Business Licence, Class A (money/electronic/mobile money transmission) or Class B (money orders, traveller's cheques, cheque cashing, currency exchange)BVI FSC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/bvi/)
- [MSB · CanadaMoney 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](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/canada/)
- [MSB · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Providing Money Services restricted to Money Transmission only (Category 4)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/difc/)
- [MSB · NetherlandsExchange institution licence (Vergunning wisselinstelling)DNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/netherlands/)
- [MSB · United StatesRegistration of Money Services Business (Form 107 / RMSB)FinCEN](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/united-states/)

## Sources

1. [FinCEN: MSB registration](https://www.fincen.gov/money-services-business-msb-registration): retrieved 2026-09-24
2. [FINTRAC: MSB registration](https://fintrac-canafe.canada.ca/msb-esm/msb-eng): 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.