PI License
in the Czech Republic
Launch a Payment Business in the EU with a PI License from the Czech National Bank
A PI licence (Payment Institution licence) in the Czech Republic is an optimal route for fintech projects and payment providers that need to legally deliver payment services under PSD2: transfers, acquiring, payment instruments, money remittance, and open-banking services, without issuing electronic money.
Authorisation by the Czech National Bank (ČNB) gives you regulated status, stronger counterpart trust, and the ability to scale across the EU via passporting.
Why the Czech Republic
for a PI Licence
Access to the EU market
A PI licence is a European PSD2 model that lets you build within the logic of the single market and expand to other EEA countries through the passporting procedure.
Clear rules and predictable compliance
PSD2 and Czech regulation set clear requirements for internal policies, risk control, and reporting. In practice, this makes preparation more predictable: fewer iterations, fewer “fixes on request,” and a lower chance of refusals from banks and counterparties.
A practical base for an operating model
The Czech Republic is often used as a practical jurisdiction for building payment operations: a local team, compliance functions, reporting, and operational infrastructure can be organised at a reasonable cost, while keeping the EU regulatory framework.
AMS Services& Solutions for PI Licensing
Package price
€54 000 — €64 000
For projects that need their own regulated payment company in the Czech Republic “from scratch”, with the right licence architecture, compliance, and go-live readiness.
Includes:
- Project due diligence and identification of weak spots
- Defining the PI services scope and licence perimeter
- Company incorporation and corporate structure setup
- Arranging the company’s initial capital
- Developing AML/CFT policies and an internal control system
- Preparing the document package for PI authorisation
- Representation and support in interactions with ČNB
- Post-licence compliance support
For situations where speed is critical: acquisition of a company with an existing PI authorisation and proper handling of changes with the regulator.
Includes:
- Buyer due diligence
- Selection of a ready-made PI company
- Legal structuring of the share acquisition transaction
- Approval of ownership changes with ČNB
- Aligning the licence with your business model
- Updating AML and compliance documentation to match the business model
- Onboarding management and key roles
- Post-licence compliance support
Additional services
for PI companies
We help PI companies build stable operations before and after authorisation: from compliance and banking infrastructure to day-to-day operational support and inspection readiness.
Accounting support and mandatory reporting
We manage Czech accounting, monitor taxes and deadlines, and prepare mandatory financial and regulatory reports.
AML system and compliance
We set up and maintain AML/KYC in practice: customer checks, sanctions/PEP screening, transaction monitoring, team training, and inspection readiness.
Local structure and key functions
We help you build “substance” and real management/control functions as the regulator expects in an operating PI.
Bank accounts and safeguarding of client funds
We support opening operational accounts and safeguarding solutions, prepare the compliance pack for banks and partners, and help you pass onboarding.
Corporate and legal support
We support corporate changes and contracts, run internal reviews, and improve readiness for regulator requests and inspections.
The AMS Approach
We know the regulatory rules
We work in line with PSD2 and ČNB expectations, using practical experience from comparable authorisations and building the PI the way the regulator expects a payment institution to look and operate.
End-to-end licensing delivery
We manage the entire process: from due diligence and scope definition to preparing the document pack, filing, and regulator communication.
Practical AML/KYC and controls
We develop AML/CFT, KYC/CDD/EDD, sanctions/PEP, transaction monitoring, escalations, and STR/SAR procedures tailored to your model.
Operational go-live support
We help you move from “licence granted” to stable operations: reporting, regulatory calendar, inspections, and audit readiness.
Strengthening your team
We bring in compliance, risk, operations, and documentation experts, working as part of your team and covering critical roles.
Delivery focus
We manage timeline and quality: lock the plan, eliminate weak spots, prepare responses to regulator queries, and drive the case to a decision and launch.
Roadmap to Obtain
a PI License
PI authorisation in the Czech Republic is a staged procedure governed by national rules and PSD2 standards. It can be organised remotely, while communication with the regulator is handled through ČNB supervisory mechanisms.
Project due diligence
Typical timeline: 2–4 weeks
We assess your business model to confirm PI is the right regime (vs EMI), identify weak points, and define what must be prepared before filing.
Includes:
- Review of business model, financial and marketing plans
- Analysis of IT infrastructure, solution architecture, and key vendors/providers
- Ownership structure and UBO review
- Key personnel review (reputation, experience, competence)
- Compliance gap analysis: AML/KYC procedures, sanctions controls, monitoring (if already in place)
- Project roadmap (scope, timelines, document list, requirements)
Company setup and governance configuration
Typical timeline: from 5 days
We incorporate (or adapt) a Czech entity and build a corporate structure the regulator expects.
Includes:
- Czech company (s.r.o.) registration or review of an existing structure
- Appointment of directors and ownership structuring (shareholders)
- Initial capital setup (based on scope and business model)
- Corporate governance setup: roles, responsibilities, decision-making procedures
- Substance planning: local presence and operational readiness
Building the PI application document pack
Typical timeline: 2–3 months
We prepare a pack that reflects real business logic, demonstrates risk control, and matches ČNB expectations for payment institutions.
Includes:
- Business plan & financial model: volumes, revenue, costs, growth scenarios, stress cases, compliance/IT budget
- Initial capital & resilience: scope-based capital calculations and evidence
- AML/CFT framework: AML policy, risk assessment, KYC/CDD/EDD, sanctions/PEP, monitoring, escalations, STR/SAR process
- Client funds safeguarding: model (segregation/accounts/reconciliations), access controls
- Operating model: payment procedures, refunds, disputes/chargebacks (if applicable), complaints handling
- IT & security: architecture, access, logging, incident response, DORA readiness
- Outsourcing & providers: outsourcing framework, due diligence, SLA/KPI, audit rights, critical vendor management
Filing and review by ČNB
Typical timeline: 3–12 months
After submission, ČNB starts supervisory review. We manage the process, requests, and clarifications.
Includes:
- Formal filing: final application file preparation and registration
- Regulator communication: correspondence management, deadlines, response structure
- Handling ČNB requests: explanations, additions, updated document versions
Post-licence support (operational launch)
After the decision, you need to move from “authorised” to stable operations with reporting, compliance, and daily risk management.
Includes:
- Ongoing compliance: AML/KYC support, procedure updates, regulatory change tracking
- Regulatory calendar & reporting: accounting, mandatory reports, internal documentation
- Internal checks & audit readiness: recurring controls and inspection preparation
- Scaling support: scope changes, new products/markets, passporting preparation (if needed)
PI Licence:
Key Facts &Requirements
A PI licence in the Czech Republic is the status of a regulated payment institution that can provide PSD2 payment services without issuing electronic money. PI fits fintechs and payment providers that need processing, transfers, acquiring, or open banking, but do not require an e-money wallet with stored value.
Core capabilities
- Payments and transfers: executing incoming/outgoing payments, processing orders, managing payment flows for B2B/B2C models.
- Acquiring and merchant services: merchant onboarding, payments acceptance, refunds, disputes/chargebacks, complaints procedures, support SLA.
- Money remittance: transfers without opening payment accounts, commonly used for cross-border transfers and payout services.
- Open Banking (PIS/AIS): payment initiation (PIS) and/or account information (AIS), standalone or as part of a platform.
- Combining services in one licence: multiple payment services can be included, the key is correct scope definition, participant roles, and risk controls.
Regulatory limitations
A PI cannot:
- issue electronic money (e-money) or operate e-money wallets like an EMI;
- accept deposits;
- use client funds for unintended purposes;
- provide payment services outside the declared licence scope.
Key roles, Fit & Proper, and ownership structure
ČNB assesses not only documents but also people and control framework: who runs the company, who owns risk and compliance, and how transparent ownership is.
The regulator reviews:
- Fit & Proper of key persons: competence, relevant experience, reputation, ability to manage a payment institution
- Governance and responsibility split: decision-making, risk control, independence of control functions
- Ownership structure and UBO: transparency of the ownership chain, control/influence, absence of “grey zones”
- Source of Funds / Source of Wealth (SoF/SoW): origin and transparency of capital and operating budget
- Operational substance: real management/control functions and ability to meet requirements in practice
Capital
Initial capital depends on the payment services you declare:
- From €20,000 if you provide only money remittance
- From €50,000 if you provide only PIS (payment initiation)
- From €125,000 for “core PSD2 services” (e.g., payment execution/transfers, acquiring, etc.)
In practice, many projects fall into €125,000+ because their scope is broader than “PIS only” or “remittance only.” After authorisation, you must maintain adequate own funds as the business grows.
Safeguarding (client funds protection)
Even without e-money, a PI must show how it protects client funds in the payment flow:
- segregation of client and operational funds
- reconciliation procedures and balance controls
- access and responsibility model (who can initiate/approve operations)
IT resilience and DORA
Since 2025, DORA applies to the EU financial sector. For a PI, the regulator expects a working ICT risk and outsourcing control system, not generic wording.
Key DORA areas in practice:
- ICT risk management: policies, asset inventory, access management, logging, vulnerability management
- Incidents: response and classification process, internal roles, escalation/notification timelines
- BCP/DR: continuity and recovery plans, regular testing
- Resilience testing: periodic security assessments (depending on scale/model)
- Third-party risk: control of critical providers (processing, cloud, KYC, sanctions, core systems): due diligence, SLA, audit rights, exit plan
AML/CTF and compliance
A PI must prove it can manage client and transaction risks daily, not only “on paper.” AML/CTF is built around your specific model: clients, countries, channels, and transaction types.
Includes:
- Risk Assessment: risk segmentation and control measures
- KYC/CDD/EDD: identification, UBO, enhanced checks for high-risk
- Sanctions/PEP: screening, match handling, documented decisions
- Transaction monitoring: scenarios, thresholds, case investigations
- Escalations and STR/SAR: actions, responsibilities, timelines
- Training and controls: staff training, QA, regular procedure updates
Ready to launch a PI company in the Czech Republic?
We will prepare your project for filing and take it through to a ČNB decision, with compliance, controls, and operational readiness.
Get ConsultationFAQ: PI Licence in the Czech Republic
How long does a PI licence in the Czech Republic realistically take, and what drives the timeline?
The timeline depends not only on the regulator, but on your readiness: ownership transparency, financial model quality, AML/KYC maturity, IT and outsourcing readiness. If the model is described clearly and the documents are consistent, the process is typically much faster, with fewer rework cycles and repeated requests.
Can you obtain a Czech PI licence without a local office and team?
Fully “without presence” is risky: the regulator expects real operational capacity to manage risks and controls. Some processes can be organised remotely, but key management/control functions and substance must be built so the company looks like a genuinely operating payment institution.
How do you know whether you need PI rather than EMI?
If your product does not issue electronic money and does not operate stored-value e-money wallets, PI is often the right fit. The final answer depends on who holds the funds, how balances and client liabilities are accounted for, and what services you actually provide (acquiring, transfers, PIS/AIS, etc.). We usually confirm this during due diligence by analysing money flows and your role in the payment chain.
The most common post-licence issue is banking. How do you improve the chances of opening accounts?
Banks look at “bankability”: clear funds flow model, safeguarding, mature AML/KYC, sanctions/PEP controls, monitoring, controlled outsourcing, and adequate substance. The better your compliance materials and processes are packaged upfront, the smoother onboarding is and the lower the risk of refusal or prolonged clarifications.
Can you start operating across the EU immediately after getting a Czech PI licence?
Operating in other EEA countries usually requires the correct passporting notification process and process readiness for new markets: language support, complaints handling, country-specific AML risks, contracts, and providers. It’s smarter to design “EU-ready” processes early so scaling doesn’t turn into a rebuild.