Licensing support
Licensing support covers preparation and coordination for virtual asset, payment and related applications. The regulator decides whether a licence is granted. The fee covers our work, not the licence itself.
Fees by jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Licensing support fee | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Lucia | $8,200 to $12,000 | Confirm with local counsel |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | $8,200 to $13,000 | Confirm with local counsel |
| Mauritius | $10,000 to $15,000 | Financial Services Commission |
| Seychelles | $18,000 to $22,000 | Confirm with local counsel |
Which activities need a licence
Whether you need a licence depends on the exact activity: for example, operating a virtual asset exchange, providing custody, or offering payment services. Each jurisdiction sets its own definitions and thresholds. Before you apply, we recommend a written opinion from local counsel on your specific model.
How the process works
Pre-assessment
We review your business model and identify the likely authority.
Application pack
Business plan, compliance policies and fit-and-proper files.
Submission
We coordinate with local counsel and the regulator.
Follow-up
We answer regulator questions and prepare the first-year filing calendar.
Licensing support includes
- Regulatory pre-assessment of your business model
- Application pack: business plan, compliance policies, fit-and-proper files
- Coordination with local counsel and the regulator
- Compliance manual and first-year filing calendar
Not included in the fee
- Government, registry and stamp duties
- Regulator application and annual licence fees
- Minimum capital, deposits, bonds or guarantees required by the regulator
- Local office, substance, staffing and director costs
- Accounting, audit and tax filing fees
- Legal work beyond the listed scope, and any dispute handling
Before you pay
Licence approval, timing and any capital or substance requirement are decided by the regulator and local law. Ask us for a written scope and a written quote before you commit to any payment.
After approval: ongoing obligations
- Annual returns, renewals and regulator fees on the dates the regulator sets.
- Anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing reporting, and staff training.
- Prompt notice to the regulator of changes in ownership, directors or activity.
- Record keeping for the period the law requires, and audits where the regulator requires them.
Questions
Can you guarantee approval?
No. Approval, timing and conditions are set by the regulator. We prepare and coordinate the application, and we tell you early if we see a problem.
Do you open bank accounts?
We provide introduction support only. Bank decisions are made by the bank, and we cannot guarantee an account.
Who pays the regulator's fees?
The client pays them directly or reimburses them. They are listed as excluded from our fee in every quote.
Documents we usually prepare for an application
- Business plan with a description of the activity, customers, flows of funds and risk controls.
- Anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing policies, with a named compliance officer.
- Fit-and-proper files for directors, controllers and key staff.
- Technical or operational description, where the activity involves systems or custody.
Questions regulators usually ask
- Who owns and controls the business, and where the money comes from.
- How customers are verified and how suspicious activity is spotted and reported.
- Where the business is run from, and who is responsible for each function.
Licensing by activity
Each activity is judged on its own facts. The table is a general guide to what is usually involved. Confirm the requirements for your case with local counsel before you apply.
| Activity | What it usually involves | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual asset exchange or broker | Customer onboarding, transaction monitoring, custody arrangements and a clear risk policy. | Business plan, AML policies, technology description and a list of customer flows. |
| Virtual asset custody | Safeguarding of client assets, key management and segregation of client funds. | Custody policy, security description, insurance or capital arrangements if required. |
| Payment services | Handling and transfer of client funds, settlement and reconciliation. | Flow-of-funds map, safeguarding plan, bank partner details and reconciliation process. |
| Investment or advisory activity | Advice or management of client assets, conduct rules and client disclosure. | Conduct policies, disclosure documents and fit-and-proper files for key persons. |
Stages of a licensing application
Pre-assessment
We map your activity to the rules and identify the likely authority.
Pack
Business plan, policies, fit-and-proper files and a flow-of-funds map.
Submission
We file with the regulator, through local counsel where required.
Questions
We answer regulator questions in writing and update the pack as needed.
Decision
The regulator grants, refuses or attaches conditions. We explain each outcome.
Ongoing
Renewals, returns and notices of change, set out in the filing calendar.
What we need from you
- A one-page description of the business: customers, products, geography and revenue model.
- Who owns, controls and manages the business, with supporting identity documents.
- Where the money comes from and how client money will move through the business.
- Any previous regulatory history, refusals or investigations, disclosed in full.
Why the regulator matters in the timeline
Regulators set their own timing and may ask follow-up questions at any stage. Those questions are outside our control, so we plan the pack to answer the most common ones before they are asked.