A CBC-licensed EMI can issue electronic money and provide payment services across the entire EU through passporting. Cyprus offers competitive costs, an English-speaking environment, and a regulator experienced in supervising e-money institutions.
What does the licence allow?
Issue e-money plus the full range of PSD2 payment services: transaction execution, payment instruments, acquiring, remittance, and PIS/AIS. Full EU passporting across all 27 member states.
Capital and safeguarding
Minimum €350,000 initial capital. All funds received for e-money must be safeguarded — segregated account or insurance. Daily reconciliation expected as operational reality.
Organisational requirements
Head office in Cyprus with at least two resident executive directors. Compliance officer, AMLCO, and risk manager required. Qualifying shareholders need CBC approval.
Timeline
Statutory three months, realistically six to ten months. Professional costs €12,000–€30,000.
Common pitfalls
Inadequate safeguarding, weak local substance, and AML frameworks that don't address e-money and payment-specific risks.
How Complizoom helps
Our CBC EMI packages cover the complete documentation set tailored to your business model and built to CBC standards.
Ready to start your application?
Get submission-ready documentation tailored to your business model.