Guides
Forex licence guides
Practical knowledge for founders choosing, applying for and keeping a forex licence.
How to Choose a Forex Licence Jurisdiction in 2026
A practical framework for choosing a forex licence: target clients, business model, recognition, speed, substance, banking and total cost of ownership, applied to 16 jurisdictions.
Read the guideHow to Get a Forex Licence: Step by Step
The steps to obtain a forex or CFD brokerage licence: choosing a jurisdiction, forming the company, preparing the business plan and manuals, fit-and-proper checks, regulator review, capital and launch.
Read the guideForex Licence Application Documents: The Complete Checklist
The documents regulators usually ask for in a forex licence application: corporate documents, business plan, manuals, fit-and-proper files, source of funds, organisation chart and more.
Read the guideMarket Maker vs STP Licence: Which Do You Need?
The difference between a market-maker (dealing on own account) and an STP/agency forex licence: permissions, capital, risk management, conflicts of interest and how regulators classify them.
Read the guideOffshore vs Onshore Forex Licence: Pros, Cons and Who Needs Which
How offshore forex licences (Mauritius, Seychelles, BVI, Comoros) compare with onshore licences (Cyprus, UAE, South Africa) on market access, recognition, speed, substance and running costs.
Read the guideForex Licences Without Local Substance: What Really Exists in 2026
Which forex licence routes still work without a local office or resident staff, what the trade-offs are, and why regulators keep tightening substance requirements.
Read the guideBank Accounts and Payment Providers for Licensed Forex Brokers
How licensed forex brokers open corporate bank accounts and payment provider accounts, what banks check, how the jurisdiction affects onboarding, and how to prepare.
Read the guideLicences for Crypto CFD and Multi-Asset Brokers
Which licences cover crypto CFDs, when spot crypto needs a separate virtual-asset registration, and how multi-asset brokers structure their permissions.
Read the guideAdding a Second Forex Licence: Group Structures That Work
Why brokers add a second licence, common group structures (offshore plus onshore), how clients are allocated between entities and what regulators expect.
Read the guideHow Long Does a Forex Licence Take? Timelines for 16 Jurisdictions
Indicative forex licence timelines in 2026, from days for company-only routes to over a year for onshore regulators, and the factors that slow applications down.
Read the guideAre Comoros Forex Licences Recognised? Mwali and Anjouan in 2026
The facts on Mwali (MISA) and Anjouan (AOFA) forex licences: the Central Bank of the Comoros position, what banks and platforms do, and how to use them responsibly, if at all.
Read the guideSeychelles vs Mauritius Forex Licence: Which Is Better in 2026?
Seychelles FSA Securities Dealer vs Mauritius FSC Investment Dealer: speed, substance after the 2024 Seychelles reforms, recognition, tax and which suits which broker.
Read the guideNot sure which licence is right for you?
Tell us your business model and target markets. We will shortlist jurisdictions and send a fixed, itemised proposal.