- Most regulators do not let a licence change hands without their prior approval of the new owners.
- Several “licences” sold online come from places whose own regulators say no forex licence exists: Saint Lucia, SVG, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Cabo Verde.
- The Central Bank of the Comoros stated in December 2025 that no forex “Brokerage License” has been issued in the Comoros.
- Always verify the company and the licence on the regulator’s own register before paying anything.
What “forex licence for sale” offers usually are
Search for “buy forex license” and you will find marketplaces and agents offering ready-made licences. In practice they fall into four groups:
- A shelf company with a real licence, sold by an existing licensee. This can be genuine, but the regulator must approve the change of control.
- A company in a place with no forex licence, presented as “licensed”: for example a Saint Lucia IBC, an SVG business company, an Antigua and Barbuda IBC, or a “Dominica licence”.
- An island licence whose recognition is disputed, such as Mwali or Anjouan in the Comoros.
- Something that does not exist, such as an offshore “Cape Verde forex licence”, after Cabo Verde abolished its offshore bank regime in 2020.
Why a real licence rarely “transfers” cleanly
Regulators license people as much as companies. Recognised regimes require prior approval before anyone acquires control of a licensee. For example, the Seychelles FSA must approve share transfers and changes of key persons, and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority must approve share issues and transfers of a securities licensee. The buyer goes through the same fit-and-proper checks as a new applicant, and the regulator may refuse.
So a “ready-made licence” saves time only on the parts that are not about you: the company history, the office set-up and sometimes the manuals. It does not let you skip the regulator’s assessment, and you inherit the company’s past: its clients, complaints, liabilities and reporting record.
Licences from places that say they issue none
Several jurisdictions that appear in “licence for sale” listings have said publicly that they do not license forex:
- Saint Lucia: the FSRA warns that “forex business is not licensed in Saint Lucia”.
- St Vincent and the Grenadines: the FSA “does NOT issue licences for Forex trading or brokerage activities”, and since January 2023 requires a foreign licence for forex companies.
- Antigua and Barbuda: the FSRC stated on 30 January 2026 that CFD trading is not regulated by it and that an IBC with CFD trading in its objects is not authorised.
- Dominica: the Financial Services Unit regulates financial entities “with the exception of Commercial Banks and Securities Business”.
Companies in these places can be legitimate for the right purpose, for example as an MT5 contracting company, but they are not licences, and selling them as such is exactly what these regulators warn against.
Comoros island licences
Mwali (MISA) and Anjouan (AOFA) licences are the most common “fast licences” on sale. The Central Bank of the Comoros has named both authorities as not recognised, and on 8 December 2025 stated that no licence has been issued for forex “often presented as a ‘Brokerage License’”, and that claims based on Comorian licences it did not issue are fraudulent. Some firms still use them knowingly as a short-term step; if you consider one, read our Comoros recognition guide first.
Checklist before you pay for any licence
- Find the licence on the regulator’s own register, reached from the regulator’s website, not from a link the seller sends you. See how to verify a forex licence.
- Match the details: company name, licence number, licence category, registered address and, where published, approved trade names and domains.
- Ask how change of control will be approved and who pays if the regulator refuses.
- Get full due diligence: audited accounts, regulatory correspondence, complaints, client money and tax filings.
- Check warnings: regulators publish notices about fake licences and clone firms.
- Plan banking first: ask banks and payment providers whether they will onboard the entity before you buy it.
The alternative: a clean application
A new application in a recognised jurisdiction often takes three to eight months, but you control the structure, people and history from day one. Use our licence finder and the comparison table to shortlist, or ask us for an honest view of any offer you have received.
Frequently asked questions
Can I legally buy a company that holds a forex licence?
Often yes, but in recognised jurisdictions the regulator must approve the new controllers first, applying the same fit-and-proper tests as for a new applicant.
Is a ready-made licence faster?
Only partly. The regulator still assesses you, and due diligence on the existing company takes time. The real saving is on set-up work, not on approval.
Are “St Lucia forex licences” for sale real?
No. Saint Lucia’s FSRA states that forex business is not licensed there; what is sold is an International Business Company.
Are Comoros licences for sale safe?
The Central Bank of the Comoros states that MISA and AOFA are not recognised and that no forex licence has been issued in the Comoros. Banks and payment providers increasingly refuse them.
How do I check a licence offer?
Look it up yourself on the regulator’s official register, match every detail and read the regulator’s warning notices. Never rely on a certificate PDF alone.