Regulatory licensing
The right licence, in the right jurisdiction.
We assess where your business model fits, plan the capital and local presence each regulator expects, prepare the documents and coordinate the application from structuring to submission.
4Licence types18Jurisdictions33Licensing routes
Where we work
Eighteen jurisdictions, from Singapore to Switzerland.
Start with the jurisdiction, not the paperwork. We compare each route against your clients, products, custody model, capital plan and target markets before you commit to a company structure.
● Jurisdictions covered
Coverage at a glance
Four licence types, eighteen jurisdictions, one team.
Wherever your model fits, the same people take you from assessment to application.
Licensing routes we support, by type
Thirty-three routes across eighteen jurisdictions.
Futures and brokerageDigital assetsPayments and e-walletsBanking
Number of jurisdictions per licence type
Why one project is faster than four
With separate vendors, each waits for the last. In a turnkey launch the platform is built while the licence is in progress.
Separate vendorsCompanyLicencePlatformIntegrationsTurnkey with First PavilionCompanyLicencePlatformIntegrations
Illustrative sequence. Licence timing is set by the regulator.
01 — How we get you licensed
Four stages, one team, from strategy to submission.
01Jurisdiction strategyWe assess your target markets and recommend the jurisdictions that match your commercial goals and risk appetite.You get: a shortlist with reasons
02Regulatory structuringWe design the licence and company structure around how you plan to operate.You get: a structure the application can stand on
03Capital planningWe set out minimum capital, client-money rules and reporting duties, so funding is arranged well before submission.You get: a capital and cost plan
04Application supportWe prepare the documents and coordinate with the regulator from first filing to decision.You get: a complete, tracked application
02 — Licences we support
Four licence types. Every route we cover.
Futures and brokerage
10 jurisdictionsFor FX, CFD and futures brokers. Pairs with FirstMarket.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Licence or registration |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Capital markets services (CMS) licence |
| Indonesia | OJK and Bank Indonesia for financial derivatives; Bappebti for commodity futures | Futures broker licence |
| Labuan, Malaysia | Labuan Financial Services Authority | Money-broking licence |
| Australia | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) | Australian financial services licence (AFSL) |
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | FCA authorisation (Part 4A permission) |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Cyprus investment firm (CIF) authorisation |
| Mauritius | Financial Services Commission (FSC) | Investment dealer licence |
| Seychelles | Financial Services Authority (FSA) | Securities dealer licence |
| Vanuatu | Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) | Financial dealers licence |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Financial Services Authority (SVGFSA) | Company registration only. No brokerage licence is issued here; you need a licence in each country where you operate. |
Digital assets
10 jurisdictionsFor exchanges, brokers and custodians. Pairs with FirstXchange and FirstTokenz.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Licence or registration |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai, UAE | Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) | Virtual asset service provider licence |
| Hong Kong | Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) | Virtual asset trading platform licence |
| Singapore | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Major payment institution licence for digital payment token services |
| Malaysia | Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) | Registration as a digital asset exchange or digital broker |
| Labuan, Malaysia | Labuan Financial Services Authority | Approval for digital asset business |
| Thailand | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) | Digital asset business licence: exchange, broker or dealer |
| Switzerland | Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) | FinTech licence or DLT trading facility licence, depending on the model |
| Australia | AUSTRAC | Registration as a virtual asset service provider |
| Canada | FINTRAC | Money services business registration |
| Vanuatu | Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) | Virtual asset service provider licence |
Payments and e-wallets
8 jurisdictionsFor payment gateways, e-money issuers and wallet operators. Pairs with FirstWallet.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Licence or registration |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) | E-money issuer approval; merchant acquirer registration |
| Singapore | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Major payment institution licence |
| Indonesia | Bank Indonesia (BI) | Payment service provider licence |
| Thailand | Bank of Thailand (BOT) | Payment service licence |
| Labuan, Malaysia | Labuan Financial Services Authority | Payment system operator approval |
| Canada | FINTRAC and the Bank of Canada | Money services business registration; payment service provider registration |
| Seychelles | Central Bank of Seychelles | Payment service provider licence |
| Vanuatu | Reserve Bank of Vanuatu | Payment services licence |
Banking
5 jurisdictionsFor digital banks and financial institutions.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Licence or registration |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) | FinTech licence (deposit-taking within limits; not a full banking licence) |
| Gibraltar | Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) | Banking licence |
| Labuan, Malaysia | Labuan Financial Services Authority | Labuan investment banking or digital banking licence |
| British Virgin Islands | BVI Financial Services Commission | General or restricted banking licence |
| Vanuatu | Reserve Bank of Vanuatu | International banking licence |
Licence names and regulators are summarised for guidance and change over time. Capital, local-presence and eligibility requirements differ by jurisdiction and are set out in your assessment.
03 — Compare what will shape your launch
Four questions decide the right jurisdiction.
| Decision factor | Why it matters | What we assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licence scope | Your permissions must match the services and products you intend to offer. | Authorised activities, products, client categories and operating model |
| Client and market access | Client classification and cross-border rules decide where you may operate. | Target clients, marketing plans and restricted countries |
| Capital and local presence | Funding, governance and local-office expectations affect readiness and cost. | Capital plan, key people, local office and resources |
| Ongoing obligations | Approval is the start of the relationship with the regulator, not the end. | Anti-money-laundering controls, reporting, client-asset rules and audits |
04 — Why license with First Pavilion
Licensing support that continues past the application form.
Strategy before paperwork
We match your commercial plan to the right route first, so you do not pay to restructure later.
Company and governance
We structure the licensed entity, its board, management and local operating model.
Policies and documents
Business plan, compliance manuals, risk policies and financial projections prepared for the application.
Platform built to the licence
The same team delivers your FIRST platform, configured to the permissions you are applying for.
Straight answers
We tell you what a licence does and does not allow, and we do not promise approval dates we cannot control.
Support after approval
Reporting, audits and changes to your permissions as the business grows.
Need the company first?
The corporate structure affects licensing, banking and ownership. We set it up with the licence in mind.
Next step
Get a jurisdiction assessment.
Tell us what you plan to offer and to whom. A licensing specialist replies within one business day.
- A shortlist of suitable jurisdictions with reasons
- Indicative capital, timeline and cost for each
- No obligation
Prefer to talk now? Call +603-2740 3333 or email info@fpgtechnology.com. Singapore office: info@fptech.com.sg.