Worldwide Index

Licensing countries & jurisdictions

Licensing requirements for money transmitters and payment institutions vary from country to country — and in some jurisdictions, from state or territory to state or territory. Select a jurisdiction below for its regulator, license categories, capital and ownership requirements, application process, and downloadable guides.

Coverage spans North America, Europe, the Gulf, and Asia-Pacific, with new jurisdictions added as our research expands. Larger jurisdictions such as the United States lead to a further state-by-state index, since licensing there is handled at state rather than federal level.

18Published guides72Jurisdictions worked51US sub-jurisdictions4Entry pathways each

Most Requested

Start with these four

By Enquiry Volume

USAUnited StatesState-by-state licensing, plus FinCEN registration. The deepest market and the slowest gateway.51 Jurisdictions GBRUnited KingdomFour FCA permissions — AEMI, API, SEMI, SPI. The choice between them decides your capital.FCA CANCanadaA two-track regime: FINTRAC for AML, Bank of Canada for retail payments. Most operators need both.FINTRAC + BoC EUEuropean UnionOne authorisation, thirty markets — where passporting still works and where it does not.National NCAs

Region A

North & South America

04 Jurisdictions

USAUnited StatesState regulators + FinCENMoney Transmitter License · 50 states + D.C. · BitLicense CANCanadaFINTRAC + Bank of CanadaMSB registration · RPAA payment service provider BRABrazilBanco Central do BrasilPayment Institution · VASP PRIPuerto RicoOCIFInternational Financial Entity (IFE)

Region B

Europe

04 Jurisdictions

GBRUnited KingdomFinancial Conduct AuthorityAEMI · API · SEMI · SPI EUEuropean UnionNational competent authoritiesEMI · API · SPI · passporting across the EEA CHESwitzerlandFINMA + SROSRO membership · FinTech license TURTurkeyCentral Bank of the Republic of TurkeyEMI · Payment Institution

Region C

Middle East & Africa

04 Jurisdictions

AREUnited Arab EmiratesCBUAE · VARA · DIFC · ADGMSVF · Retail Payment Services · VASP SAUSaudi ArabiaSaudi Central Bank (SAMA)Payment Service Provider · EMI ZAFSouth AfricaSouth African Reserve BankAuthorised Dealer in foreign exchange (ADLA)MUSMauritiusFinancial Services CommissionPayment Intermediary · PSP · Investment Dealer

Region D

Asia-Pacific

06 Jurisdictions

SGPSingaporeMonetary Authority of SingaporeMajor Payment Institution · Standard PI HKGHong KongHKMA + Customs & ExciseMSO · Stored Value Facility · stablecoin issuer JPNJapanFinancial Services AgencyFunds Transfer Service Provider AUSAustraliaAUSTRACRemittance provider · Digital Currency Exchange NZLNew ZealandFinancial Markets AuthorityFinancial Service Provider registration MYSMalaysiaLabuan FSA + Bank NegaraMoney broking · Credit token · Payment system

Jurisdiction not listed?

This index covers the jurisdictions we have published research on. We work in considerably more — 72 at last count. If your target market is not here, ask: the answer is usually that we have the relationships but have not written the page yet.

Not sure which jurisdiction wins?

Most operators arrive with a jurisdiction already chosen and leave with a different one. Bring your corridors, your customers, and your capital position — the right answer usually follows from those three.

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Page Last Updated: 20/Jul/2026 (4920193)