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Fintech authorisation and ready-made entity acquisitions

SKY7 structures MSB, EMI, VASP and CASP authorisations across Canada, the EU, the UK and the UAE. When speed matters, we support acquisitions of ready-made licensed companies across a wider set of jurisdictions.

50+
Cumulative licensing and regulated-entity mandates supported, based on SKY7's internal delivery record reviewed in July 2026. View licences
82
Jurisdiction dossiers in the current catalogue; the count is generated at build time. View jurisdictions
6 mo
Internal median from kick-off to first approval across completed mandates; a planning benchmark, not a regulator commitment. Reviewed in July 2026. See timelines
14 d
Indicative preparation and handover benchmark for selected ready-made entities; regulator, bank and counterparty steps may take longer. Reviewed in July 2026. View inventory

When does a fintech company need a licence, and how do you get one?

Fintech registration starts with one question: what does your company do with client funds? Regulators assess real activities such as payment processing, FX, crypto transactions and money transfers. The permission scope and application should match the exact transaction flow.

A licence must be backed by real controls. Authorities review governance and responsible officers, AML policies linked to transaction flow, monitoring and escalation procedures, and reporting readiness from day one. A clear compliance status and evidence pack also support bank and provider onboarding.

If you are mapping a route for the first time, start with how a SKY7 mandate runs - five stages from scoping to handover.

You need authorisation before you can:

  1. Onboard users at scale

Process

How a mandate runs

  1. Scope

    Activity, ownership, capital, licensing route and banking fit are mapped before work starts.

  2. Application

    Governance, AML, policies and regulator forms are built into one filing-ready package.

  3. Regulator dialogue

    Clarification rounds, evidence requests and timing pressure are managed in one workstream.

  4. Banking

    Safeguarding, operating accounts and provider selection run alongside the regulatory file.

  5. Handover

    Approval, transfer mechanics, reporting workflows and compliance ownership are packaged cleanly.

FAQ

Founder-level answers, before a licensing call

Straight answers to what founders ask most before we scope a mandate. If yours isn’t here, ask us directly

01 How long does an EMI authorisation actually take?

Plan for 9-12 months in most EU member states: 2-3 months of preparation, 6-9 months of regulator review including at least one round of questions. Lithuania and Malta currently run at the faster end.

02 New authorisation or a ready-made licence?

A new authorisation gives the applicant a purpose-built operating model. A ready-made entity can shorten preparation through a share acquisition and the applicable change-of-control process. We model both against your scope, budget and runway before recommending a route.

03 Which markets can you file in right now?

Filing capacity changes with the route, regulator and applicant profile. Review the current jurisdiction catalogue, then confirm the suitable route and current availability with the team.

04 Do you help with banking after the licence?

Yes. Banking is scoped while the application is still in draft, and we introduce two to three candidate banks per jurisdiction as part of the mandate.

05 Can I buy a ready-made licensed company instead of applying?

Yes. SKY7 brokers share acquisitions of ready-made regulated companies. The transaction includes buyer review, the applicable regulator notification or change-of-control process, and handover of the compliance file. Availability changes - the catalogue shows what is live now.

06 What happened to EU VASP licences under MiCA?

National VASP registrations across the EU have been replaced by MiCA CASP authorisation - the last transition windows closed on 1 July 2026. Operators either upgraded to CASP with their national competent authority or moved to a non-EU route. If you are moving late, both paths are still open - SKY7 maps them before you commit.

07 How much does a fintech licence cost?

Cost depends on the licence type, statutory capital, regulator fees, dossier preparation and the policy pack required for the transaction model. Every mandate is quoted as a fixed fee after scoping; prices are not published before the file is understood.

Next step

Book a 30-minute consultation

Bring your product and target markets. You leave with a recommended route, a realistic timeline and a fixed fee.

Tell us what you need

Discuss Fintech Licensing & Licensed Companies for Sale with SKY7

Tell us the intended activity, target markets, ownership and timing. We will return a focused route and the evidence needed for the next step.

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