Regulatory Advisory for Fintech Companies in Lithuania

AT A GLANCE

  1. Regulatory advisory covers the full lifecycle of a fintech licence — from selecting the correct regulatory pathway through to application submission, Bank of Lithuania review management, and ongoing post-licence supervisory compliance.
  2. Lithuania is the leading EU fintech licensing jurisdiction — but an accessible regulator does not mean an uncomplicated one. Preparation, completeness, and credibility determine how quickly an application moves through the review process.
  3. We provide regulatory advisory across the principal financial authorisation frameworks in Lithuania, including Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs), Payment Institutions (PIs), Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) under MiCA, investment firms under MiFID II, and European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSPs). Lithuania’s former national VASP registration regime no longer provides authorisation for regulated crypto-asset services as of 1 January 2026.
  4. Our regulatory advisory team has direct experience managing Bank of Lithuania licence applications — including pre-application meetings, query responses, and post-approval condition management.
  5. Regulatory advisory is available as a standalone engagement or as part of a full-service fintech setup covering company registration, compliance, legal, and accounting.

Regulatory advisory means guiding a fintech company through the Lithuanian and EU regulatory landscape — determining the correct licence for the business model, preparing the application package, managing the Bank of Lithuania review process, and maintaining compliance with licence conditions after authorisation is granted. We advise companies at every stage: pre-application strategy, full application preparation and submission, responding to Bank of Lithuania queries during review, and ongoing post-licence regulatory compliance. Our advisory is grounded in direct experience with the Bank of Lithuania’s process — not applied from general EU regulatory knowledge.

What Regulatory Advisory Covers

Regulatory advisory is not a single service — it is a continuous engagement that evolves as the company moves through different stages of its regulatory lifecycle. For a new fintech company, advisory begins before any documents are drafted: with the question of which licence is the right one for the intended business model. That initial question has a material impact on timeline, capital requirements, governance structure, and the entire application process. Getting it wrong at the start costs months.

For a company already in the application process, regulatory advisory means managing the relationship with the Bank of Lithuania: responding to information requests accurately and promptly, coordinating between the legal, compliance, and accounting teams to ensure consistency across all submitted documents, and maintaining momentum through a review process that involves multiple Bank of Lithuania departments assessing different aspects of the application simultaneously.

For a licensed entity, regulatory advisory shifts to post-licence compliance management: monitoring licence conditions, advising on the regulatory impact of business changes, preparing periodic submissions, and ensuring the company is ready for supervisory examination. Regulatory advisory at this stage is the difference between a company that is technically licensed and one that operates its licence confidently.

Licence Selection: Choosing the Right Regulatory Pathway

The first and most important regulatory advisory decision is which licence to apply for. Lithuanian fintech regulation covers multiple frameworks — each with different capital requirements, governance obligations, permitted activities, and application timelines. Choosing the wrong one — either too narrow for the intended activities or unnecessarily broad — creates problems that are expensive to correct after the application is submitted.

EMI vs. Payment Institution: the most common decision

The Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and the Payment Institution (PI) licence are the two most frequently applied-for licences in Lithuania. The key distinction is whether the company will issue electronic money — that is, store monetary value on behalf of clients in e-wallets, prepaid accounts, or stored-value instruments. If yes, an EMI licence is required. If the company processes payments without storing value, a PI licence may be sufficient. The minimum initial capital requirement for a fully authorised Electronic Money Institution (EMI) is EUR 350,000. For a Payment Institution (PI), the minimum initial capital is EUR 20,000, EUR 50,000 or EUR 125,000, depending on the payment services provided. Payment institutions providing acquiring services generally require initial capital of at least EUR 125,000, rather than EUR 250,000. Both EMIs and PIs must also satisfy the applicable ongoing own funds requirements. Restricted EMI and PI licences are subject to separate requirements and do not provide the same EU/EEA passporting rights as full authorisations.

MiCA CASP authorisation

The EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) took full effect in December 2024 and replaced the VASP registration framework for crypto-asset service providers operating in the EU. Under MiCA, a company providing crypto exchange, custody, brokerage, or portfolio management services to EU clients must be authorised by a national competent authority — in Lithuania, the Bank of Lithuania. Under Article 67 and Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), the permanent minimum capital requirements for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) are EUR 50,000, EUR 125,000 or EUR 150,000, depending on the services authorised. Class 1 services, including execution of orders, investment advice and portfolio management relating to crypto-assets, generally require EUR 50,000. Class 2 services, including custody and administration of crypto-assets and exchange services, generally require EUR 125,000. Class 3 services, including operation of a crypto-asset trading platform, generally require EUR 150,000. CASPs must maintain prudential safeguards equal to at least the higher of the relevant minimum capital amount or one quarter of their fixed overheads, calculated under MiCA. A crypto-asset white paper is not a universal requirement for CASP authorisation. White paper obligations arise separately for qualifying crypto-asset offerings and admissions to trading.

Investment firm licence under MiFID II

A company providing investment services — forex trading, CFD execution, investment advice, or portfolio management — requires an investment firm licence under MiFID II. Lithuania issues these through the Bank of Lithuania. The capital requirements range from €75,000 to €750,000 depending on the scope of services. Investment firm applications are more complex than EMI or PI applications — they require a more detailed business plan, a broader governance framework, and demonstrated expertise in investment services compliance. We prepare investment firm applications for companies entering the Lithuanian market from non-EU jurisdictions where equivalent authorisation may not be available.

VASP registration — transitional pathway to MiCA

Before MiCA, Lithuanian virtual currency exchange operators and custodial wallet operators operated under a national registration regime, with relevant company information recorded through the Centre of Registers and AML/CFT supervision performed by the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT). Lithuania’s MiCA transitional period ended on 31 December 2025. Since 1 January 2026, previous VASP registration no longer permits companies to provide regulated crypto-asset services. New and existing businesses must generally obtain CASP authorisation from the Bank of Lithuania before providing services covered by MiCA, unless another applicable authorisation or notification procedure is available. We assist with CASP authorisation applications and regulatory compliance assessments.

Licence Permitted Activities Min. Capital Approx. Application Timeline
EMI Licence E-money issuance, payment services, e-wallets €350,000 10–14 months total
Payment Institution Payment processing, money remittance, payment initiation, acquiring and other authorised payment services EUR 20,000, EUR 50,000 or EUR 125,000, depending on the regulated activities Indicative preparation and authorisation period: 8–12 months, subject to the completeness of the application and the Bank of Lithuania’s supervisory assessment.
MiCA CASP Authorisation Crypto exchange, custody, brokerage, advisory €50,000–€150,000 8–14 months total
Investment Firm (MiFID II) Forex, CFD, investment advice, portfolio management €75,000–€750,000 12–18 months total
European Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSP) Authorisation Qualifying investment-based and lending-based crowdfunding services under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 Prudential safeguards equal to at least the higher of EUR 25,000 or one quarter of the preceding year’s fixed overheads, subject to statutory exemptions Indicative preparation and authorisation period: 8–12 months, depending on the application and regulatory review. Eligible safeguards may take the form of own funds, qualifying insurance or comparable guarantees, or a permitted combination.
CASP Authorisation under MiCA Regulated crypto-asset exchange, custody, trading, brokerage, advisory and other authorised services EUR 50,000, EUR 125,000 or EUR 150,000 in permanent minimum capital requirements, depending on the authorised services, together with applicable ongoing prudential safeguards Subject to the authorisation procedure established by Articles 62 and 63 of MiCA. National VASP registration no longer provides authorisation to conduct regulated crypto-asset services in Lithuania.

The Bank of Lithuania Application Process

The Bank of Lithuania’s licence application process follows a defined sequence. Understanding each stage — and the specific risks at each — is the foundation of effective regulatory advisory. The single most impactful variable in application timeline is preparation quality: a complete, consistent, and credible application moves through the process significantly faster than one that requires supplementary information.

1
Pre-application consultationBefore submitting a formal application, we schedule a pre-application meeting with the Bank of Lithuania. This is an open discussion about the business model, intended licence type, and any specific aspects of the application that require clarification. The Bank of Lithuania uses these meetings to identify potential issues early and to give applicants guidance on how to present their business model. We prepare a detailed briefing document for the meeting, structure the agenda, and manage the follow-up documentation. Pre-application meetings are available to all prospective licence applicants and are strongly recommended — they prevent surprises during the formal review.
2
Application package preparationThe formal application package for an EMI, PI, or MiCA licence involves approximately 20–30 documents covering: the business plan, the capital adequacy model, the governance structure, the AML/KYC compliance programme, the internal control framework, the outsourcing register, the IT infrastructure description, the remuneration policy, the business continuity plan, and the fit-and-proper documentation for each key function holder. We coordinate the preparation of the complete package across legal, compliance, and accounting disciplines — ensuring all documents are internally consistent and presented in the format the Bank of Lithuania expects.
3
Application submissionThe application is submitted electronically through the Bank of Lithuania’s supervisory portal. We manage the submission, confirm receipt, and retain a complete copy of everything submitted. The Bank of Lithuania assesses whether an application contains the information and documentation required by the regulatory framework applicable to the licence sought. Completeness assessment procedures and deadlines differ between EMIs, PIs, investment firms and CASPs. For CASP authorisation under MiCA, the competent authority must generally acknowledge receipt within five working days and assess the completeness of the application within 25 working days. For other financial licences, separate statutory procedures apply. A universal 15-business-day completeness check should not be presented as applicable to every financial authorisation. If any documents are missing or incomplete, the regulator returns the application at this stage rather than during review.
4
Bank of Lithuania review — substantive assessmentThe Bank of Lithuania assesses financial authorisation applications under the statutory procedures applicable to each licence category. For full EMI and PI authorisations, the decision-making period is generally three months after receipt of a complete application containing all required information. Investment firm authorisations are subject to a different statutory assessment period. Under Article 63 of MiCA, a complete CASP application is generally assessed within 40 working days, subject to permitted suspensions and requests for additional information. These statutory periods should not be treated as identical across all financial licensing frameworks. The overall authorisation timeline also depends on application preparation, completeness and the regulator’s assessment. Slow or incomplete responses to queries are the single most common cause of extended review timelines. We manage all Bank of Lithuania correspondence throughout the review and coordinate the query responses across our legal, compliance, and technical teams.
5
Fit-and-proper interviewsDuring the review, the Bank of Lithuania typically interviews key function holders — the CEO, compliance officer, and MLRO — to assess their suitability for their roles. These interviews can be conducted in person at the Bank of Lithuania’s premises in Vilnius or remotely. We prepare each candidate for their interview: briefing them on the Bank of Lithuania’s assessment criteria, conducting mock interview sessions, and advising on how to present their background and qualifications effectively. Poorly prepared interviews are a significant source of delay and negative fit-and-proper outcomes.
6
Licence granted — conditions and post-authorisationWhen the Bank of Lithuania grants the licence, it is typically accompanied by conditions — specific requirements the company must satisfy within a defined timeframe. These may include capital top-up requirements, governance enhancements, specific compliance programme updates, or technology requirements. We review the licence conditions, map each one to an operational obligation, and prepare a condition fulfilment plan. Failure to satisfy conditions within the prescribed timeframe is a reportable non-compliance event.

MiCA and Crypto Regulatory Advisory

The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation represents the most significant change to the European crypto regulatory landscape since the asset class emerged. For Lithuanian crypto businesses, MiCA creates both a compliance obligation and a commercial opportunity — an EU-wide operating licence accessible through a single Lithuanian authorisation. We provide specialist MiCA advisory covering classification, application preparation, and ongoing compliance.

MiCA classification — what type of CASP are you

MiCA defines crypto-asset services across multiple categories, each with different capital requirements and operational obligations. A company that operates a crypto exchange (buying and selling crypto assets against fiat or other crypto assets) is classified differently from one that provides custody, portfolio management, or investment advice in crypto assets. Many crypto businesses provide multiple services — which means multiple MiCA classifications apply simultaneously. We assess the full scope of a company’s activities and confirm the correct MiCA classification profile before any application work begins.

The MiCA white paper

MiCA distinguishes between authorisation requirements for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) and white paper obligations relating to offers to the public or admission to trading of crypto-assets. A CASP applying for authorisation under Article 62 is not universally required to prepare or publish a crypto-asset white paper merely because it intends to provide regulated services. White paper requirements arise under the relevant provisions of MiCA depending on the category of crypto-asset, the nature of the offer or admission to trading and applicable exemptions. Where a white paper is required, its content, notification, publication and approval requirements depend on the relevant crypto-asset category. The white paper should not be described as a mandatory marketing document for every CASP applicant. We prepare MiCA-compliant white papers and manage the Bank of Lithuania filing process.

VASP to MiCA transition

Lithuanian companies registered as VASPs before the MiCA transition window have a defined pathway to full MiCA authorisation. The transitional period allows existing VASPs to continue operating while they prepare and submit their MiCA application. Companies that miss the transition window lose their right to operate under the VASP framework and must obtain full MiCA authorisation before resuming services. We manage the complete VASP-to-MiCA transition — assessing readiness, preparing the full MiCA application, and managing the Bank of Lithuania review process.

MiCA transitional timeline
The maximum transitional period permitted under MiCA ended on 1 July 2026, but Member States were permitted to establish shorter national transitional periods. Lithuania’s transitional period ended on 31 December 2025. Since 1 January 2026, previously registered Lithuanian VASPs without the required MiCA authorisation have generally been prohibited from continuing regulated crypto-asset services. Submission of a CASP application alone does not grant permission to operate after the expiry of the applicable transitional period. Businesses seeking to provide regulated crypto-asset services in Lithuania must obtain the necessary authorisation or qualify for an applicable alternative regulatory route.

Post-Licence Regulatory Advisory

Receiving a licence is not the end of the regulatory relationship — it is the beginning of a supervised operational existence. Post-licence regulatory advisory covers the ongoing obligations that keep a licensed entity in good standing with the Bank of Lithuania throughout its operating life.

Licence Condition Management

Most licences are issued with conditions — specific requirements the company must satisfy within defined timeframes. Conditions range from capital top-up obligations and governance enhancements to IT system requirements and compliance programme updates. We map each licence condition to an operational action, confirm the responsible person, and track fulfilment against the required timeline. Non-fulfilment of licence conditions is reported to the Bank of Lithuania and can result in supervisory action.

  • Licence condition register — mapping each condition to an operational obligation and a fulfilment deadline
  • Condition fulfilment tracking — monthly progress reporting against each open condition
  • Bank of Lithuania condition fulfilment notification — confirming completion and providing evidence to the regulator
  • Condition waiver applications — where a condition needs to be modified or extended, managing the application to the Bank of Lithuania
Material Change Notifications

Any material change to a licensed entity's business model, ownership structure, key personnel, or operational setup must be notified to the Bank of Lithuania — either before the change takes effect (for changes requiring prior approval) or within a specified timeframe after. Common notification triggers include: changes in qualifying ownership, appointment or departure of key function holders, outsourcing of critical functions, significant changes to the business plan, and certain technology infrastructure changes. We identify notification triggers, prepare the notification package, and manage the Bank of Lithuania's assessment of the notified change.

  • Notification trigger assessment — identifying which business changes require Bank of Lithuania notification
  • Prior approval applications — for changes that cannot be implemented before Bank of Lithuania approval
  • Post-change notifications — for changes that can be implemented with notification after the fact
  • Qualifying holding notifications — assessment of proposed acquisitions, increases or disposals of ownership interests in regulated financial institutions according to the applicable sector-specific legislation. Relevant thresholds may include 10%, 20%, 30% and 50% of capital or voting rights, or the acquisition of control, depending on the institution's regulatory classification. Different notification and supervisory assessment rules apply to EMIs, PIs, investment firms and CASPs. A universal 33% threshold should not be applied to all financial institutions.
  • Key function holder changes — fit-and-proper notification for new or departing key personnel
EU Passporting

An EMI, PI, or MiCA-authorised entity licensed in Lithuania can provide services in other EU member states under the EU passporting framework — without obtaining a separate licence in each country. Passporting requires a formal notification to the Bank of Lithuania, which then notifies the host country's regulator. We prepare and submit passporting notifications for companies expanding their services across the EU, advise on which activities are covered under the Lithuanian licence in each jurisdiction, and manage any queries from host country regulators.

  • Passporting strategy — assessing which EU member states require passporting notifications for the intended activities
  • Outbound passporting notification — submission to the Bank of Lithuania for each target jurisdiction
  • Host country regulatory requirements — advising on any additional local requirements beyond the passporting notification
  • Ongoing passporting maintenance — managing updates and withdrawals as the company's EU market presence evolves
Supervisory Examination Preparation

The Bank of Lithuania conducts periodic on-site and off-site examinations of licensed entities, covering prudential oversight, AML compliance, governance, and operational resilience. An examination is not a formality — findings can result in conditions, fines, or in serious cases, licence suspension. We prepare licensed entities for supervisory examinations by conducting a pre-examination review across all areas the regulator is likely to assess, organising documentation, and preparing key personnel for examiner interviews.

  • Pre-examination readiness review — comprehensive assessment across prudential, AML, governance, and operational areas
  • Document organisation and gap remediation — ensuring all required records are complete and accessible
  • Key personnel interview preparation — coaching the CEO, compliance officer, and MLRO for examiner meetings
  • Mock examination exercise — simulated examination to identify remaining gaps under examination conditions
  • Post-examination finding response — drafting responses and preparing remediation plans for any examination findings
Regulatory Change Monitoring

The EU regulatory landscape for fintech is in a period of sustained legislative activity — MiCA, DORA, PSD3, the AML Package, and the revised PSR are all at various stages of implementation and are reshaping the operating environment for licensed entities. We monitor all relevant EU and Lithuanian regulatory developments, assess their practical impact on each client's licence and operations, and advise on the actions required to remain compliant as the regulatory landscape evolves.

  • Monthly regulatory update — summary of EU and Lithuanian regulatory developments relevant to the client's licence
  • Impact assessment — practical analysis of how each new requirement affects the client's current operations
  • Implementation planning — advising on the timeline and actions needed to comply with incoming regulations
  • EBA and ECB guideline monitoring — tracking supervisory expectations beyond formal legislation
  • DORA compliance monitoring — tracking Digital Operational Resilience Act obligations for licensed entities

Regulatory Advisory Pricing

Regulatory advisory is priced on a mixed basis: fixed fees for defined project deliverables and on request for ongoing advisory retainers and complex multi-stage engagements whose scope cannot be determined in advance of an initial consultation.

Service Price
Initial regulatory strategy consultation
Licence selection, application timeline, and readiness assessment — credited toward engagement fee if you proceed
€2,500
Regulatory pathway assessment — written report
Written analysis of the correct licence type, capital requirements, and application timeline for your specific business model
€900
Pre-application meeting preparation
Briefing document, agenda, and follow-up documentation management for Bank of Lithuania pre-application meeting
€1,800
EMI licence application — full preparation and management
Complete application package preparation, submission, and Bank of Lithuania liaison throughout review
On request
PI licence application — full preparation and management
Complete application package preparation, submission, and Bank of Lithuania liaison throughout review
On request
MiCA CASP authorisation — full preparation and management
Complete CASP authorisation application under MiCA, including the required business plan, governance documentation, prudential safeguards, AML/CFT framework, ICT risk management arrangements, client protection policies, service-specific procedures and management suitability information. Preparation of a crypto-asset white paper is included only where separately required by the applicant’s proposed crypto-asset offering or admission-to-trading activities. Bank of Lithuania application coordination and regulatory correspondence are included within the agreed scope of services.
On request
Investment firm (MiFID II) — full preparation and management
Complete application package; more complex than EMI/PI — scope confirmed after initial assessment
On request
MiCA transitional pathway (VASP to CASP)
For existing VASP-registered companies — assessment plus full MiCA application preparation
On request
Business plan drafting (regulatory format)
Bank of Lithuania-format business plan covering strategy, financials, and risk framework
€1,800
Capital adequacy model preparation
Own funds calculation and capital adequacy demonstration for the application
€900
Query response drafting (per Bank of Lithuania query set)
Depends on complexity and number of questions — quoted per query set
€900
Fit-and-proper interview preparation (per candidate)
Mock interview, briefing document, and presentation coaching
€1,350
MiCA white paper preparation Preparation of a crypto-asset white paper where required under the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, including applicable disclosures, notification or approval procedures and publication requirements. A white paper is not a universal requirement for CASP authorisation. €3,000
Licence condition management — monthly retainer
Based on number of open conditions and complexity of fulfilment obligations
On request
Material change notification package
Depends on type and complexity of the change; quoted individually
€500–€1,200
EU passporting notification (per jurisdiction)
Single outbound passporting notification to Bank of Lithuania for one EU member state
€700
Pre-examination readiness review
Full pre-examination assessment covering prudential, AML, governance, and operational areas
€2,000
Post-examination response and remediation plan
Based on number and severity of examination findings
On request
Ongoing regulatory advisory retainer
Monthly retainer for post-licence regulatory monitoring, change management, and Bank of Lithuania liaison
On request
Full application engagement — how we price it
A full licence application engagement — from pre-application preparation through to licence grant — is quoted as a fixed project fee after our initial regulatory pathway assessment. The project fee covers the complete application package, Bank of Lithuania correspondence throughout the review, query responses, and fit-and-proper preparation for key function holders. We quote this as a single fixed fee rather than billing by the hour, so you know the total cost of the engagement before we begin. Contact us to arrange an initial assessment call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to discuss your regulatory pathway?

CContact us to book an initial regulatory strategy consultation. We will assess your business model, confirm the correct licence, review your current state of readiness, and provide a realistic application timeline and cost estimate. We work with companies at every stage — from concept to post-licence supervision.

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