Payment institutions choose Lithuania for low state fees, a defined timetable and access to CENTROlink, the central bank’s payment system, which gives licensed firms direct reach into SEPA.
Selected engagements from more than 250 licences obtained since 2013, for payment, e-money, cryptoasset and consumer credit firms.
Volkswagen
Payment InstitutionObtained Nexpay’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.
Electronic Money InstitutionObtained Dzing Finance’s FCA Authorised Electronic Money Institution licence.
Obtained Orbital’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.
Our realistic timeline from submission, set against the regulator’s own published figures.
Safeguarding, operating and settlement accounts opened alongside the application, so you trade on authorisation.
Candidates introduced for directors, senior managers and an internal auditor, each assessed against the regulator’s standard.
A reply within three business hours and a written proposal the same day: the licence, the requirements, the cost and the timing.
You will need directors and senior managers with a good reputation and experience, an internal auditor, and control roles held outside the board.
One engagement and one timetable, from scoping to launch. Speak to an expert about the people, the banking and the technology for this licence.
The regulator’s requirements, capital, timing, fees and the questions firms ask, from the regulator’s own publications.
A business providing a payment service in Lithuania or, through passporting, in the EU and EEA needs a Bank of Lithuania licence. A business that will also hold customer balances applies for an EMI licence instead.
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Account, card and other services (1–5) | €125,000 |
| Payment initiation only | €50,000 |
| Money remittance only | €20,000 |
| Restricted and account-information-only | None |
| Ongoing own funds | Higher of initial capital and Method A, B or C |
The supervisor may vary the own funds requirement by 20% either way.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory decision period | 3 months from a proper application; 2 months for a restricted licence | Law on Payment Institutions |
| Regulator’s published figure | Completeness check within 5 business days; the period restarts on supplementary documents | Bank of Lithuania authorisation rules |
| Application preparation | 6 to 8 weeks | From instruction to submission, including banking in parallel |
| Our realistic timeline | 4 to 6 months after submission | The firm’s own figure, from the regulator’s published data and its own applications |
Figures published by the regulator are quoted as published and converted to months. The realistic timeline is the firm’s own, for a complete, well-prepared application.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State levy | €898 | €682 for a restricted licence; €693 for account information only |
| Annual supervisory fee | 0.65% of income | On annual payment service income (2026 rate) |
| Initial capital | €20,000 to €125,000 | By the highest service |
| Professional fees | Fixed, in writing | Quoted after scoping |
A firm whose payment volume stays below €3 million a month, providing services other than payment initiation and account information, may hold a restricted licence valid in Lithuania only, without initial capital or shareholder fitness tests. Account-information-only providers hold a separate licence exempt from capital and safeguarding.
A Lithuanian payment institution’s full licence is valid in other Member States; branches, agents and cross-border services are notified to the Bank of Lithuania. The restricted licence carries no passport.
The Bank of Lithuania publishes its reasons.
A payment institution needs a safeguarding account that satisfies the regulator’s requirements, an operating account and settlement accounts in the currencies it serves. The firm arranges each through institutions that serve regulated firms in Lithuania and across the EU, during the application, so the firm trades on authorisation. See banking and payment processing.
Three months from a proper application by statute; the firm plans for four to six months after submission.
€125,000 for account, card and most services; €50,000 for payment initiation only; €20,000 for money remittance only; none for a restricted licence.
A licence for firms below €3 million of monthly payment volume, valid in Lithuania only.
An €898 state levy on application and an annual supervisory fee of 0.65% of payment service income.
Licensed institutions may apply for access to CENTROlink, the Bank of Lithuania’s payment system, which gives direct SEPA reach.
A regulatory advisory firm to payment, e-money and cryptoasset companies since 2013, with more than 250 licences obtained in more than 60 countries. The firm advises on authorisation, compliance, safeguarding, banking and transactions, and builds the white-label payment and card technology its clients launch on.
A written proposal on cost, timing and requirements, the same day: speak to an expert.
This guide is general information for firms considering authorisation and is reviewed against the regulator’s published requirements. It is not legal advice; requirements and fees change, and the regulator’s current publications take precedence.
The requirements, the cost and the timing for your business, in a written proposal the same day.