Georgia payment agency (PSP/EMI) license

Georgia payment agency (PSP/EMI) license

By the National Bank of Georgia (KJV) Regulatory statutory payment permissions and tax preferential framework

Georgia Payment Service Provider (PSP) and Electronic Money Institution (EMI) License (also commonly referred to as Payment Institution License in statutory classification and practice, Payment system provider license or financial company license) is legally regulated by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). Authorization to legally conduct digital payment settlements, Fund remittance and electronic money issuance business franchise. The core statutory advantage of this license is the concession tax exemption policy: If a licensed entity is legally granted “virtual regional entity” status, The digital financial services exported overseas are applicable to 0% corporate income tax rate. Hong Kong Huitong provides registration from local entities, Notarization of a complete set of foreign documents, Go to the internal compliance system to build a special legal agency plan that interfaces with regulatory agencies, Ensure the legal implementation of the project.

Release time: Application preparation reference
Hong Kong Huitong service teamApply for support
Document preparation and project coordination
work focus: business needs, Document consistency and matters to be confirmed
Service direction: Business description, Sorting out application materials and ongoing compliance matters
Service Description: Organize disclosure regulatory requirements based on proposed business operations, Material list and project nodes. Involving legal opinions, During audit or professional assurance, The corresponding professionals and service scope should be confirmed separately.; Competent agencies and banks make independent review decisions.
Familiar with the regulatory application process
Professional compliance team
Standardized compliance process
Multi-jurisdictional services

1. PSP/EMI license legal access conditions and substantive operation requirements

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Legal entity and physical office location

Must register a local legal entity in Georgia. The law strictly requires payment service providers (PSPs) to have a real physical office location, It is prohibited to adopt a pure letterbox operation model with no substantial economic basis..

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Statutory Capital Compliance

Applicants must meet the minimum initial capital threshold set by the National Bank of Georgia for different categories (PSP or EMI). The sources of all paid-in capital must be fully legal and traceable.

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Anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance review

Must establish and submit internal Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance with NBG standards andInternational Monetary Fund (IMF): Counter-terrorism financing(CFT) Control Manual, Establish statutory monitoring and reporting mechanisms for high-risk customer groups and transactions.

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Translation and notarization of foreign language materials

Mandatory provisions of legal procedures, All overseas application documents submitted to NBG, Compliance manual and business plan, etc., All must be translated into Georgian (საქართველო) according to law and completed territorial notarization.

Peace Bridge in Tbilisi, Georgia
Peace Bridge in Tbilisi, Georgia.

2. 2023-2026 Regulatory dynamics and industry compliance trends

  • 2023-2024Year

    Capital adequacy ratio regulatory upgrade: NBG promulgated the "Regulations on Capital Adequacy Ratio Requirements for Payment Service Providers" (effective January 1, 2024), Introducing a risk-based capital assessment framework, Set mandatory minimum regulatory capital thresholds for systemically important payment service providers and payment originators.

  • 2023Year

    VASP and Microbanking Legislation: Implementation of the Virtual Asset Service Provider Law, Bringing Cryptocurrencies Officially Under NBG Regulation; In the same year, the minimum capital was established as 1000 Microbank Category in Wanli, And fully launch the GIMS electronic compliance declaration portal system.

  • 2025Year

    AML strengthens anti-money laundering administrative enforcement: NBG significantly strengthens anti-money laundering and customer due diligence supervision. Due to violation of AML and KYC statutory regulations during the year, Penalty imposed on CPay in accordance with the law 14,000 Larry administrative fine; Penalties imposed on PayUnicard 39,000 Larry administrative fine.

  • 2026Year

    Tightening of localization compliance for foreigners: From March 1, 2026, For foreign executives, "Right to work" legal access restrictions for self-employed and remote employees, In principle, companies are required to prove that there are no qualified local candidates before they can issue a work permit., Significantly raising the local compliance threshold for foreign-invested entities.

3. List of statutory application submission files and review elements

Articles of Association of the Applicant, Legal person registration certificate and structure penetration document of ultimate beneficiary (UBO).

Official Georgian translation of the complete set of documents, and a notarized or apostille certificate with legal validity.

Elaborate on your target market, Financial forecast and business plan for customer fund security mechanism.

Internal Compliance Controls and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) Management Procedures Manual.

Proof of fitness and proper of the proposed directors and senior management team, Include identity documents and no criminal record.

Tbilisi city and commercial buildings in Georgia
Tbilisi city and commercial buildings in Georgia.

4. Foreign-funded institution license application and compliance procedures

Stage one: Corporate establishment and capital contribution (2-4week)

Complete limited liability company (LLC) registration with the Georgia Department of Justice Public Service Hall. Leasing physical office space that meets regulatory requirements, and complete the actual payment and capital verification of the statutory initial capital..

Stage 2: Case file preparation and document localization (3-5week)

Hong Kong Express prepares AML manual and business plan based on NBG review standards. Translate all supporting documents and complete set of case files generated overseas into Georgian in accordance with the law and complete the notarization procedures.

Stage three: Formal submission of inquiry to NBG (3-6months)

Submit a license application to the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). Cooperate with regulatory authorities on sources of funds, Multiple rounds of inquiries on technical system architecture and anti-money laundering risk control models.

Stage four: Licensing and special tax filings (2-4week)

Obtain PSP or EMI license after meeting all statutory conditions. Follow-up will be based on business needs, Submission of application for tax-exempt status to the Ministry of Finance of Georgia for “Virtual Regional Entity” status.

5. Analysis of Georgia Statutory Requirements and Compliance Elements

Check category Legal regulatory standards and compliance analysis
Paid-in capital and adequacy ratio Need to meet the minimum own capital threshold set by NBG for specific licenses in accordance with the law, and must comply with 2024 The Capital Adequacy Ratio Requirements Regulations came into effect in, Ensure system risk coverage.
Physical Operations Center Must maintain a long-term and bona fide lease of physical office space within Georgia, and have compliance personnel present to perform their duties.
Official and legal fees Includes NBG statutory registration fees and annual license fees. Hong Kong Huitong's comprehensive application support service fee covers case file drafting, Expensive Georgian translation, notarization and tax status application services for foreign texts.

6. Industry benchmark: PSP approval and compliance cases

PSP payment license approved

Professional digital payment platform establishes market dominant position

Disclosure based on industry regulations, Except for large commercial banks that automatically obtain qualifications in accordance with the law, CPAY, Professional digital clearing platforms such as OPPA and eMoney Georgia have successfully passed NBG substantive review, Obtained PSP license according to law to carry out full business.

VASP virtual asset compliance

GeCrypto gets approval for the first batch of VASP registrations

in accordance with 2023 "Virtual Asset Service Provider Law", GeCrypto successfully entered NBG supervision, Be one of the first businesses in the country to receive an official crypto license, Carry out compliant circulation and matching services of cryptocurrency in accordance with the law.

Background explanation of Chinese investment access

Statutory national treatment for enterprises with Chinese background

Georgia’s current bill imposes unified substantive access standards for domestic and foreign-funded institutions. Entities with Chinese background meet the legal requirements for physical branch operations, Capital verification, and comply with 2026 Under the premise of legal restrictions on the employment of foreign personnel in, Also enjoy equal national treatment when applying for licenses.

Georgia Geography and Mountain Environment
Georgia Geography and Mountain Environment.

7. Review red lines and NBG disapproval reminders

Compliance system deficiencies: Submitted AML and KYC manuals do not comply with NBG regulatory requirements. Regulators have 2025 Penalties for such violations can be up to 39,000 Larry's punishment.

Translation and notarization defects: Legal documents submitted, Legally mandated translation procedures for business manuals into Georgian were not strictly followed, Or the overseas notarization/Apostille certification chain is broken., Resulting in direct return.

Foreign personnel comply with illegal construction: since 2026 Since, If a foreign company forcibly appoints foreign executives without legal certification (without right to work) to perform their duties, Directly trigger administrative veto requirements.

8. Practical Legal Questions and Answers (FAQ): Analysis of legal conditions and compliance pain points

9. Relevant regulations, Regulatory information and further reading

Data category Related information
Professional interpretation
Legislation and regulatory guidance