Luxembourg CSSF Electronic Money Facility (EMI) License Application Registration Guide

Luxembourg CSSF Electronic Money Facility (EMI) License Application Registration Guide

Subject to the Luxembourg Payment Services Act(PSL) Statutory financial license regulated by the EU EMD2 Directive

The Luxembourg Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license is reviewed by the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Financier (CSSF),Luxembourg Ministry of Finance final approval for licensing。The license is based on Luxembourg’s Payment Services Law (PSL) of November 10, 2009 and the European Union’s Electronic Money Directive (EMD2)。Licensed institutions are allowed to issue electronic currencies and provide payment services in the European Economic Area (EEA)。Statutory application requirements include:35Initial paid-in capital of 10,000 euros、100%Customer funds physical isolation (Safeguarding) mechanism、Substantial local operation (including physical office and at least 5 local employees),and compliance with the EU Digital Operations Resilience Act (DORA)。Hong Kong Huitong provides coverage for Luxembourg SA corporate establishment、Executive fitness (Fit & Proper) review material preparation and statutory agency services of CSSF regulatory interview agency。

Release time:Content has been reviewed
Zheng Jiawen
Zheng Jiawen Core Compliance Team
Served:European cross-border payment gateway(PSP) & Big Four Accounting Firms
permanent residence:Lithuania/Malta Experience:8 Year
Expertise in compliance areas:Lithuania/Poland EMI、Malta PI、EU funds segregation。
personal note:Zheng Jiawen-Mastering Lithuania、Poland、Application for EMI (electronic money institution) and PI (payment institution) licenses in Malta and other places。Good at sorting out the EU Unified Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and establishing a customer fund isolation pool。
Familiar with the regulatory application process
Professional compliance team
Standardized compliance process
Multi-jurisdictional services

1. [Statutory Commercial and Supervisory Mechanism] for Luxembourg EMI License

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EU Passport Rights of Passage

卢森堡EMI拟通过跨境服务代理或分支进入其他EEA国家时须履行母国通知及适用登记程序并遵守相关东道国规则护照机制不等于可在固定“27国”无条件经营英国及其他EEA以外市场须另行确认

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Legal business authorization

EMI可在授权范围内发行电子货币并提供相关支付服务。payment account、transfer、Acquiring、支付工具和与支付服务紧密相关的外汇兑换应按获准活动逐项确认电子货币不是银行存款

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Wholly owned holding structure

境外股东并非当然被禁止但直接或间接持有合资格持股的股东、chain of control、ultimate beneficial owner、资金及财富来源均会接受审查最终股权结构还须符合适用的审慎透明度及其他法定要求

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Statutory tax rate base

corporate income tax、市政营业税增值税及金融服务税务处理取决于主体所在地交易和客户事实不属于CSSF牌照授予的统一条件应按申请及交易发生时的卢森堡税务机关资料和专业税务意见确认

2. [Statutory classification and capital standards] of Luxembourg CSSF payment license

Statutory license type Business authority and regulatory definition Legal minimum initial capital
electronic money institution
(EMI)
Authorized to issue electronic money (e-money),And can provide a wide range of payment services and payment account operations。 350,000 EUR。Applicants must demonstrate that initial capital consists of eligible capital projects and is available at the time of authorization;具体出资账户及证明文件按CSSF要求确认
payment institution
(PI)
Payment services can be provided within the permitted scope,But cannot issue electronic money。Receipt of client funds、Holding and protection depend on the specific payment service and applicable rules,不能概括为一律不得短暂持有 According to specific service type,between 20,000 to 125,000 EURbetween。

illustrate:EMI must continue to maintain at least its own funds that are no less than the statutory initial capital.,并按电子货币平均余额及附带支付服务适用的方法计算额外要求CSSF可依法调整资本构成股东出资来源和可计入项目须按个案核对

3. [Corporate governance and local substantive requirements] for Luxembourg EMI

Local content versus central management:申请主体须为符合适用法律的卢森堡法人注册办事处和中央管理设在卢森堡并具备与业务系统和外包相称的本地人员、place、决策及控制能力CSSF官方资料未给出所有EMI统一适用的“至少5名员工”门槛

governance body:Members of the administrative body and those actually responsible for operations must have good reputations,and knowledge commensurate with the responsibilities、Skills and experience。Number of people、执行职责常驻安排和投入时间由法律、organizational form、业务复杂度及CSSF个案审查决定不应套用统一“3名董事、5年经验”模板

AML/CFT治理申请人须指定符合卢森堡法律及CSSF要求的AML/CFT责任人员和控制职能明确管理层责任独立性、resource、汇报和替补安排常驻、language、经验年限及可外包范围须按职责和个案确认不能使用统一“3年经验”门槛

适当性与股东审查:Administrative body members、实际负责经营人员及合资格持股股东会接受声誉、experience、financial soundness、控制链和资金来源审查。10%是合资格持股的重要门槛之一但间接持股控制或重大影响也可能触发审查

4. [List of documents submitted to Luxembourg CSSF for statutory review]

File category Submission details for statutory requirements (English/French)
Corporate Fundamentals and Equity Documents 卢森堡法人章程及登记资料初始资本和可用性证明注册办事处与中央管理安排股权和控制链UBO以及资金与财富来源资料具体法律形式和文件以CSSF清单为准
Business and Financial Documents Contains at least 3 Annual financial forecast business plan。Capital flow and data flow structure diagram (Flow of Funds Diagram)。Capital adequacy ratio calculation instructions。Customer Fund Protection Methods、capital flow、对账及合作机构安排说明银行意向或确认材料是否需要及其形式按具体方案和CSSF要求确定
Internal Governance and Compliance Policy Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) Policy and KYC Handbook。Risk Management and Internal Control Framework。Data and IT security policy compliant with EU DORA regulations、Disaster recovery mechanism (BCP/DR) and outsourcing management policies。

5. [Statutory application and CSSF review procedures] for Luxembourg EMI license

first stage:Business scope、实体与准备

确定电子货币及支付服务范围设立符合条件的卢森堡法人准备资本、governance、本地中央管理、Customer fund protection、system、outsourcing、AML/CFT及三年财务资料是否进行申请前沟通按CSSF程序确定

second stage:提交申请案卷

按CSSF指定方式提交申请表、business plan、governance、personnel、capital、客户资金保障及控制文件并按提交时有效的官方收费规定核对费用

The third stage:Completeness and Substantive Review

CSSF可就业务模型、capital、personnel、governance、Customer fund protection、AML/CFT、技术和外包提出补充问题并可要求拟任管理人员说明其职责问询和面谈并非固定次数或统一流程

Stage 4:授权决定与持续运营

授权决定按卢森堡法定程序作出并可能附带条件机构须在获准范围和条件内启动业务持续维持资本、Customer fund protection、governance、AML/CFT、DORA and regulatory filings;官方资料不保证固定8至12个月周期

6. Client funds segregation (Safeguarding) Mechanism and [IT Compliance Red Line]

Customer fund protection:为发行电子货币或提供支付服务而收取的相关资金须按适用规则保障不得与机构自有资金混用。Isolation or qualifying insurance/guarantee available;Account、assets、机构和时点须按具体业务核对

对账与差异处理机构须以与交易量和保障方法相称的频率核对内部账簿外部账户及应保障金额及时升级和弥补差异并按适用保存期限留存证据是否必须“每日自动”及具体年限须按规则和CSSF要求确认

DORA与测试适用DORA的机构须建立ICT风险、event、business continuity、恢复测试及第三方风险管理测试深度和频率按风险及法定分类决定并非所有EMI都统一要求每年进行一次独立渗透测试

ICT及其他外包供应商不因位于欧盟以外而一律禁止但机构须完成风险评估书面合同访问审计权数据和安全、Subcontract、Concentration、业务连续性及退出安排并确保CSSF可有效监督

7. [Details of government fees and statutory operating costs] for Luxembourg EMI license

Funding and Expense Categories Legal requirements and budget standards (EUR)
Legal initial paid-in capital lowest 350,000 EUR。Must prove capital composition、Source and availability at the time of authorization;不应把“本地银行冻结验资”写成所有个案统一法定形式
CSSF official fees 本页未能从已核验的CSSF授权页确认上述固定区间。Apply、授权及持续监管费用应按提交或计费时有效的CSSF收费规章机构类别和业务事实核对
Rigid statutory maintenance costs external audit、ICT测试及专业服务范围取决于法定要求机构规模和供应商报价;Commercial quotations are not government fees,也不应标为统一“刚性法定成本”
Comprehensive operating budget requirements 业务计划须证明有足够资源支持本地治理、personnel、place、系统和持续合规本页没有官方依据支持统一“5名员工”或“50万欧元缓冲资金”门槛预算应按业务预测和CSSF个案要求编制

8. 港汇通可提供的卢森堡EMI申请支持

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Corporate establishment and personnel recruitment

可协助梳理卢森堡实体、Governance and staffing needs,并按项目约定协调第三方服务。Personnel recruitment、资格和适当性最终由申请人及CSSF审查不承诺“匹配即合格”

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Compliance system and business plan preparation

Can assist in preparing business plans based on actual business、财务预测及治理、AML/CFT、ICT、业务连续性和外包文件;Applicant management must review、批准并负责实际执行

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CSSF Application and Interview Agent

可按授权范围协助申请资料提交、Preparation of inquiries and management briefings,and coordinate bank contacts;CSSF审查人员表现资本账户及客户资金保障账户均由相关机构独立决定

9. Luxembourg EMI / PI regulatory license core legal questions and answers (FAQ)

Legal business:What is the difference in permissions between EMI and PI?+

In accordance with the Payment Services Act(PSL),EMI authorized to issue electronic money,And can provide a wide range of payment services and payment account operations。PI is limited to providing payment services,No authority to issue electronic money。The statutory minimum paid-in capital of the two is respectively 35 million euros (EMI) and 2 Wanzhi 12.5 million euros (PI)。

Cross-border business development:EU passport (Passporting) legal effect?+

EMI拟在其他EEA国家通过跨境服务代理或分支经营时须向CSSF履行适用通知程序并遵守相关东道国规则护照机制不覆盖英国等EEA以外市场也不构成无条件经营保证

capital requirements:35 What are the specific requirements for paid-in capital of 10,000 euros?+

EMI initial capital must not be less than 350,000 euros,and must prove capital composition、Source and availability at the time of authorization。可计入资本项目及出资证明按法律和CSSF个案要求判断不应把“本地银行冻结”或所有股东借款情形一概写成统一法定禁令

capital adequacy ratio:Own funds (Own Funds) accounting standards?+

EMI must continue to meet its own capital requirements that are at least no less than the statutory initial capital.,And calculated based on the average outstanding electronic money and incidental payment services using the applicable method;CSSF可依法调整最终金额须按业务数据和可计入资本项目计算

Fund protection:What are the legal limits for Safeguarding accounts?+

电子货币不是存款相关客户资金须按适用规则保障不得与机构自有资金混用;Segregation or qualifying insurance/bondage available。Account、assets、对账频率和差异处理须按具体保障方案确认

physical existence:CSSF vs. "Local Essence"(Local Substance) definition?+

注册办事处和中央管理应设在卢森堡并具备与业务相称的本地决策、personnel、场所和控制能力CSSF会按业务系统和外包审查实质本页不采用无官方统一依据的“至少5名员工”门槛

Personnel red line:Anti-money laundering manager (MLRO) qualifications?+

申请人须按卢森堡法律和CSSF要求配置AML/CFT管理责任及控制职能确保人员具备与职责相称的经验、Permissions、独立性和资源常驻、language、经验年限和可外包范围须按职责及个案确认

corporate governance:Whether overseas entities are allowed 100% Holdings?+

境外股东并非当然被禁止但股东、chain of control、COUGH、财务稳健性及资金与财富来源会接受审查是否可采用100%境外控股还须结合合资格持股集团监管及其他适用法律判断

Fund transfer:What are the legal restrictions on intra-group fund transfers?+

受保障客户资金不得用于集团融资或机构运营。Institution’s own funds、可分配利润及集团交易另受资本、company law、Related party transactions、治理和监管要求约束不能用“仅股息一种例外”概括所有合法资金流

Technical compliance:IT Systems Outsourcing and DORA’s Legal Requirements?+

ICT服务可在符合DORA及其他外包规则时使用境内或境外供应商机构须保持最终责任、risk assessment、合同及审计访问权事件和连续性管理分包及退出安排测试范围和频率按风险与法定分类确定

review process:Legal approval process and time limit?+

CSSF会进行完整性及实质审查,You can also request supplementary documents or management explanations.。The total period depends on the scope、Material、personnel、system、Third Party Arrangements and Inquiries;本页没有官方依据承诺统一4至12个月授权决定按卢森堡法定程序作出

Annual review and report:What are the statutory data reporting obligations after obtaining a license?+

Authorized institutions must continue to fulfill financial、capital、Customer fund protection、AML/CFT、audit、统计及重大变更申报义务。specific form、frequency、期限和审计范围取决于现行规则机构类别及CSSF要求提交时应通过CSSF申报日历和通知逐项核对

10. Official supervision and application information

official information Main purpose Link
CSSF:PI与EMI授权程序 核对卢森堡PI及EMI申请审查与授权要求 打开CSSF具体页面(英文)
EUR-Lex:《电子货币指令》合并文本 核对EMI初始资本业务及护照法律框架 打开EUR-Lex具体页面(英文)

11. Relevant regulations、Regulatory information and further reading

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