Authorisation
What We Do
The Central Bank of Ireland is the competent authority in Ireland for the authorisation of the majority of financial services firms and products. The Central Bank is committed to providing a clear, open and transparent authorisation process while ensuring a rigorous assessment of the applicable regulatory standards. Where the term Authorisation is used, this can also be interpreted as approval in relation to disclosure requirements or registrations.
Our Approach
Authorisation is an important part of our supervisory framework. It requires us to assess firms’ proposals and products against applicable regulatory standards and legal requirements and to ensure that any firm or product authorised demonstrates that it has met and will continue to meet those standards and requirements.
Regulatory Service Standards Performance Report 2023 | pdf 507 KB
Authorisation and Gatekeeping Report
The Central Bank of Ireland published its inaugural Authorisation and Gatekeeping Report in June 2024. This report aims to provide increased transparency and predictability regarding our authorisations expectations and processes. The report will be published annually going forward.
Authorisations and Gatekeeping Report Edition 1 | pdf 722 KB
Authorisation process for Individual Sectors
Use the links below to learn about the authorisation approval process for individual sectors.
Central Securities Depositories
Credit Serving Firms
Credit Institutions
Insurance / Reinsurance Undertakings
Retail Intermediaries, Money Lenders and Debt Management Firms
Payment Institutions , Electronic Money Institutions , Account Information Service Providers, Bureaux de Change and Money Transmission Businesses
Investment Funds and Fund Service Providers
Investment Firms
Regulated Disclosures - Prospectus Approval
Trust or Company Service Providers
Fitness and Probity PCF