Trust and Company Service Providers (TCSPs)

Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) Authorisation

The Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2013 ("the CJA 2010") contains provisions requiring any person wishing to carry on the business of a Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) to obtain an authorisation to do so from the Minister for Justice and Equality.

From 3 March 2014, the power to authorise TCSPs that are subsidiaries of credit or financial institutions transferred to the Central Bank of Ireland.

A "trust or company service provider"?

A "trust or company service provider" means any person whose business it is to provide any of the following services:

  1. Forming companies or other bodies corporate;
  2. Acting as a director or secretary of a company under an arrangement with a person other than the company;
  3. Arranging for another person to act as a director or secretary of a company;
  4. Acting, or arranging for a person to act, as a partner of a partnership;
  5. Providing a registered office, business address, correspondence or administrative address or other related services for a body corporate or partnership;
  6. Acting, or arranging for another person to act, as a trustee of a trust
  7. Acting, or arranging for another person to act, as a nominee shareholder for a person other than a company whose securities are listed on a regulated market.

Authorisation Process for TCSPs which are Subsidiaries of Credit or Financial Institutions

The Central Bank welcomes applications from TCSPs that are subsidiaries of credit or financial institutions within the meaning of the CJA2010. Firms are advised to seek legal advice if in any doubt about whether they require an authorisation.

An authorisation is valid for a period of 3 years from the date of authorisation

To apply for authorisation, please complete the form below and submit it in the manner indicated on the form.

TCSP Application Form | doc 1696 KB TCSP Application Guidance | pdf 399 KB

Each application must be accompanied by a fee of €130. Please see the application form for further details.

Please note: An application for a renewal of an authorisation must be received by the Central Bank no less than 10 weeks before the renewal date.

In respect of an initial authorisation or a renewed authorisation the Central Bank may:

  • Revoke or refuse an authorisation.
  • Impose conditions on an authorisation.
  • Amend an authorisation.
  • Serve a direction on the holder of an authorisation.

The holder of the authorisation may make an appeal, in the event of any of the above. The appeal will be referred to an independent Appeal Tribunal convened by the Minister of Justice and Equality.

TCSP Register

Please see below for a register of TCSPs currently authorised by the Central Bank:

Register is now available on the  Register's Page.

A list of TCSPs authorised by the Central Bank is also published in Iris Oifigiúil at least once a year.

Post-Authorisation Changes

Any changes to the following details must be communicated to the Central Bank through the online Portal without delay. Please note that any emails requesting post-authorisation changes sent to [email protected] will be redirected to the Portal.

  • Additional TCSP Services Offered 
  • Change in Direct Ownership
  • Change in Indirect Ownership 
  • Change of Address 
  • Change of Director 
  • Change of Legal Name 
  • Change of Principle Officer 
  • Change of Trading Name 
  • Change to Contact 
  • Discontinuation of TCSP Services Offered 
  • Other Material Changes 

For information to access the Portal, please see further guidance.

Once registered, the selected Portal Administrator for the TCSP must submit their name and user code received at the point of registration to [email protected].

Other TCSPs

All TCSPs that are not subsidiaries of credit or financial institutions should continue to apply for authorisation to the Department of Justice and Equality, the contact details are set out below:

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit,
Department of Justice and Equality,
51 Stephen's Green
Dublin 2.

Telephone: 01-602 8400
E-mail: [email protected]