Eternity Law International — News — API license in Belgium

API license in Belgium

Published:
April 15, 2024

In recent years, the financial sector in Belgium has been actively expanding and developing. The country attracts the attention of financial enterprises due to its diverse government support, the presence of leading European financial and regulatory authorities, its favorable geographical position as an EU financial center and the presence of a developed market. These factors make registering API companies in Belgium attractive to both EU citizens and entrepreneurs from other jurisdictions.

Our team is professionals who are ready to provide you with comprehensive advisory and practical assistance in obtaining an API-license. We have a tremendous amount of specialized knowledge and experience, which gives us the opportunity to achieve the most effective results for our clients. We also offer a profitable option for API license in Belgium for sale.

To obtain authorised payment institution license in Belgium: main financial regulators 

  1. Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA), which together with the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) supervises the financial market and enforces regulations for customers.
  2. National Bank of Belgium (NBB), which issues licenses for making payments and providing account information.
  3. Economic inspectorate monitoring compliance with consumer rights.
  4. Data Protection Authority, which oversees the protection of personal data by financial companies.
  5. In Belgium, there is no specific regulatory framework for the entire finance industry (with the exception of crowdfunding), and participants in the fintech sector are subject to the general laws applicable to the market.

Almost all segments of this industry in a given jurisdiction require licensing, including financial service providers, lending institutions, payment companies, electronic money institutions, securities lending institutions, investment firms, fund managers, insurance and reinsurance companies. In any case, the option of Belgium API license company for sale will be a profitable option for starting a business.

Belgium prohibits lending through online platforms and peer-to-peer lending. However, it is permitted to use an indirect lending model, in which a legal entity acts as an intermediary between the lender and the borrower. Financial services companies doing this must obtain a license from the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA).

All participants in the financial technology sector in Belgium must also comply with laws on privacy, anti-money laundering and the security of networks and information systems.

In the field of payment services, companies providing account information or money transfer services must obtain a license from the National Bank of Belgium (NBB). This also applies to electronic money issuers. Robo-advisors used to automatically manage an investment portfolio or advise investors must be licensed by the FSMA if they provide services directly to investors. However, if they are simply IT tools developed by companies licensed to provide investment services, an FSMA license is not required.

Online lending platforms in Belgium

Such platforms are subject to different regimes depending on the type of loans provided:

  • mortgage loans are subject to regulation under Book VII of the Economic Code, and lenders must agree on contract templates with the Economic Inspectorate;
  • consumer lending is permitted provided that loans are provided directly by the platform and not through participants. P2P lending is prohibited and the legislation governing this activity is identical to that for mortgage lending;
  • loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can only be issued through the platform and are regulated by the SME Finance Law. However, this law does not apply to loans issued through crowdfunding platforms;
  • for other types of loans not included in the above categories, companies are not regulated.

Regarding blockchain and virtual currencies in Belgium, there are no specific regulations that regulate transactions with assets based on blockchain technology. If the asset corresponds to one of the financial instruments, it is governed by the relevant laws.

Cryptocurrencies are not recognized as legal currency in Belgium, but their use is not prohibited. The country’s national bank treats them as crypto assets, and their value and status are not established.

Get API license in Belgium: standard normative points 

If an interested entrepreneur decides to obtain API license in Belgium, he must be prepared to go through the following steps. Initially, it is necessary to register in the country, although the decision to create a separate legal entity for electronic money transactions can be made by the National Bank.

  1. The minimum authorized capital must be 350 thousand euros.
  2. If digital money is stored for more than a day, it is required to identify the received funds.
  3. It is necessary to have a real office, which can be either owned or rented.
  4. The board of directors must consist of at least three members, and the presence of residents is mandatory.
  5. It is necessary to confirm the availability of personnel, equipment, software and other resources to carry out the activity.
  6. It is important to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

The option of a ready-made Belgium API license company will help you avoid the tedious passage of these stages. If you have questions or need help registering a fintech company in Belgium, you can contact us via online chat or leave your contact details in the special form. Our specialists will contact you as soon as possible to discuss the terms of cooperation. We are also ready to offer you a favorable deal on purchasing an API license in the UK with several corridors for African countries.

Advantages of doing business in Belgium

This jurisdiction is an attractive place for doing business, including for foreign entrepreneurs, due to the following advantages.

  1. The presence of Europe’s largest port in Antwerp.
  2. Central location in Europe.
  3. Brussels’ status as the official capital of the EU.
  4. Concentration of large industrial and shopping centers within a radius of 200 kilometers.
  5. Possibility of obtaining residence permits and permits to conduct business and professional activities.
  6. There is a high probability of obtaining a bank loan for long periods at a low interest rate.

There are three main forms of legal entities in Belgium:

  • joint stock companies (SA/NV);
  • private limited liability companies (SPRL/BVBA);
  • Cooperative Limited Liability Companies (SC/CV).

From May 2019, a new set of laws on companies and associations came into force, introducing significant changes, including the deregistration of SPRL and the introduction of a new SRL status. The requirements for a business plan have also become more stringent.

Personal income tax is one of the main taxes that levies all residents of Belgium on all their income if they consider this country to be their permanent residence or the place where they manage their financial assets. People included in the public register are considered residents of Belgium with permanent residence in this country. Double taxation is prevented through international agreements between Belgium and other countries. To avoid tax increases, taxpayers must pay at least a quarter of their taxes by a certain date. Four such dates are set throughout the year.

The option of sale of authorised payment institution license in Belgium is an opportunity to become the owner of a ready-made business. We will help you with this and accompany you at every stage. We also have a profitable API-license option in Lithuania for sale in other countries.

How much does Belgium authorised payment institution license cost?

If you decide to get authorised payment institution license in Belgium, you should know that its cost always varies, as it depends on a number of third-party factors. Our specialists will calculate an approximate price for you before starting cooperation.

What does an investor get with company with API license for sale in Belgium?

The entrepreneur receives a structure completely ready for operation, which will begin to generate profit from the first months of operation. Our lawyers will help you in concluding a transaction by providing the necessary advisory and practical assistance.

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