Authorisation for providing trust and company services (Estonia)
The Authorisation for providing trust and company services (Tegevusluba usaldushaldusteenuse ja äriühinguteenuse osutamiseks) is issued by Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (Rahapesu ja terrorismi rahastamise tõkestamise seadus). It is a national licence: it does not give a passport to other EU/EEA states. The legal decision period is 60 working days as of the date of submission of the application. The application fee is EUR 345.
At a glance
| Official name | Authorisation for providing trust and company services1 |
|---|---|
| Local name | Tegevusluba usaldushaldusteenuse ja äriühinguteenuse osutamiseks |
| Also known as | TCSP · Estonian TCSP licence · Estonian trust and company service provider licence · Estonian FIU TCSP authorisation |
| Issued by | Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit |
| Jurisdiction | Estonia |
| Licence family | Trust and corporate service provider (TCSP) |
| Legal basis | Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (Rahapesu ja terrorismi rahastamise tõkestamise seadus)2 Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (AMLD IV)3 Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (AMLR)4 |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Application fee | EUR 3455 |
| Annual fee | EUR 0 (no annual supervisory fee; no state fee applies for licence amendment)5 |
| Statutory decision time | 60 working days as of the date of submission of the application6 |
What it lets you do
| Trust and company services | Forming companies, acting as or arranging directors, nominee shareholders and trustees, and providing a registered office. |
|---|
Where it is valid
Cost
How long it takes
Statutory: 60 working days as of the date of submission of the application6. 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
Notification only. Under Section 30 of the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act and Section 70 of the MLTFPA, licensees must notify changes in beneficial owners (>25% shareholding or control), management board members, procurators, or compliance officers via the Register of Economic Activities (MTR). The FIU conducts fit and proper checks on new owners and managers to ensure impeccable reputation and absence of criminal convictions; failure to satisfy requirements initiates licence revocation proceedings under MLTFPA Section 76.6
TCSP in other countries
| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayman Islands | Trust Licence / Nominee Trust Company LicenceTrust Licence / Nominee Trust Company Licence under the Banks and Trust Companies Act | CIMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cyprus | Administrative Services Provider (ASP) authorisation | CySEC | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Estonia | Authorisation for providing trust and company services | FIU | n/a | EUR 345 | ~2.8 mo |
| Malta | Company service provider authorisation (Class A, B, or C) | MFSA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Netherlands | Trust office licence (Vergunning trustkantoor) | DNB | n/a | EUR 4,500 | n/a |
| Seychelles | International Corporate Service Provider (ICSP) LicenceInternational Corporate Service Provider (ICSP) Licence under the International Corporate Service Providers Act 2003 | FSA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Singapore | Trust Company Licence | MAS | n/a | SGD 1,000 | n/a |
| Switzerland | Trustee licence | FINMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.
Laws behind it
- Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (as amended by the fifth, 2018/843): Directive (EU) 2015/849
- Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (single rulebook): Regulation (EU) 2024/1624
Sources
- fiu.ee: authorisation economic activity · retrieved 2026-09-24
- Estonian State Gazette (Riigi Teataja): current · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32015L0849 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32024R1624 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- fiu.ee: state fee · retrieved 2026-09-24
- fiu.ee: process application · retrieved 2026-09-24
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