EU/EEA PassportingMiCA CASP authorisation

CASP Authorisation in Ireland

Ireland is a CBI-supervised EU/MiCA CASP route for teams that want an English-speaking EU base, institutional governance standards and potential EU/EEA passporting, while accepting demanding substance, compliance and banking expectations.

Processing time
From 6 months
Service price
21 200 EUR
Required share capital
From 50 000 EUR
State fee
No state fee
Annual supervision fee
No annual fee
Banking difficulty
Medium to high
RegulatorCentral Bank of Ireland (CBI)

Confirm current Central Bank of Ireland CASP/MiCA authorisation requirements, forms, fees, timelines and supervisory expectations before using this page for client advice.

Regulatory status should be confirmed by local counsel before relying on this route.

What is Ireland CASP authorisation?

Ireland CASP authorisation is the Irish EU route for crypto-asset service providers under MiCA, supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland. It is best understood as a regulated financial-services authorisation for teams that need an English-speaking EU base, not as a quick offshore setup.

CASP
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Regulator
Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
Regime
CASP
Legal basis
Legal basis: MiCA CASP authorisation supervised in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Country-specific regulatory statements should be checked against current regulator guidance before relying on this route.

CASP service scope in Ireland

An Ireland CASP application should start with a precise service perimeter. Exchange, custody, brokerage, wallet, advisory, staking-adjacent and payment-related models can each change the evidence expected for governance, safeguarding, AML and technology controls.

  • Exchange

    Conditional

    Exchange activity may require additional scope or separate licensing.

  • Custody

    Conditional

    Custody may require separate review or additional controls.

  • Brokerage

    Conditional

    Brokerage or OTC activity typically fits within scope.

  • Wallet provider

    Conditional

    Exchange activity may require additional scope or separate licensing.

  • EU market

    Included

    EU/EEA passporting available.

  • Startups

    Excluded

    High setup complexity means significant budget is needed.

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

EU/EEA passporting from Ireland

Ireland can support an EU/EEA passporting strategy for approved MiCA CASP services, but the commercial story should be tied to the authorised scope, target markets and notification process. It should not be sold as automatic access to every EU activity.

  • Define target EU/EEA countries, client categories and distribution channels before filing.

  • Map each passporting plan to the specific CASP services the Irish entity intends to provide.

  • Explain why Ireland is the right operating base for English-speaking EU operations, management accountability and institutional client expectations.

Country-specific regulatory statements should be checked against current regulator guidance before relying on this route.

Capital, governance and audit expectations

Ireland is a high-complexity route. The CSV snapshot indicates share capital from 50,000 EUR, no separate state fee indicated in CSV, no annual fee indicated in CSV, local staff, physical office and audit. The main cost driver is the governance and compliance model that must be maintained after authorisation.

  • Board, senior management, compliance, AML and technology owners should be credible, accountable and aligned with Irish substance.high
  • Capital planning should match the selected CASP services, especially for exchange, custody or fiat-heavy operations.high
  • Audit, reporting, outsourcing oversight, incident management and compliance monitoring should be budgeted as ongoing obligations.high

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Ireland CASP application bottlenecks

Typical blockers are operating-model weaknesses: unclear service scope, insufficient Irish accountability, generic AML policies, late banking preparation and a passporting plan that is not tied to approved activities.

  • Unclear CASP service perimeter or post-authorisation passporting plan

    High

  • Weak Irish substance, management accountability or AML ownership

    High

  • Generic policies that do not match institutional, EU or cross-border client flows

    High

  • Underdeveloped custody, wallet, safeguarding or technology-control evidence

    High

  • Banking or PSP package prepared after the application strategy

    High

  • Route selection driven by budget or speed rather than CBI-supervised EU CASP operations

    High

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Activity fit for this route

Review which crypto activities fit within the scope of this route.

Exchange
Conditional

Exchange activity may require additional scope or separate licensing.

Custody
Conditional

Custody may require separate review or additional controls.

Brokerage
Conditional

Brokerage or OTC activity typically fits within scope.

Wallet provider
Conditional

Exchange activity may require additional scope or separate licensing.

EU market
Suitable

EU/EEA passporting available.

Startups
Not suitable

High setup complexity means significant budget is needed.

Not sure if your model fits? Request a licensing assessment

Is Ireland CASP authorisation right for your project?

Best for

  • EU passporting and regulated CASP operations
  • EU/EEA market access

Not suitable for

  • Low-budget or fast offshore setup
  • Projects without a prepared banking strategy

Banking difficulty is high for this route. Prepare a banking strategy before committing to the Ireland route.

Core requirements

Use this section to check the main regulatory and operational requirements before committing to a jurisdiction.

Required share capitalFrom 50 000 EUR
Required
Local staffRequired
Required
Physical officeRequired
Required
AuditRequired
Required

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Local substance in Ireland

Local staff and a physical office should be treated as real operating requirements. Ireland is suitable when the applicant can place management, compliance and operational accountability into a defensible Irish model.

Local staff

Required

Required

At least one locally-accountable staff member or director is expected.

Physical office

Required

Required

A genuine office presence is expected, not a nominal registered address.

Audit

Required

Required

External audit is required for ongoing supervision compliance.

Planning notes

  • Plan Irish compliance and AML ownership before submission.
  • Document what is controlled locally and what is outsourced to group or third-party providers.
  • Budget staff, office, audit and ongoing compliance separately from the advisory application fee.

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Cost breakdown

Budget for service price, regulatory fees, share capital and ongoing costs separately.

Service price (professional fees)Application preparation and professional services.
21 200 EUR EURFixed
State fee
No state feeFrom
Annual supervision feeRecurring annual cost after authorisation.
No annual feeNot applicable
Required share capitalMust be held, not an expenditure.
From 50 000 EURFrom
High ongoing cost

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Cost breakdown — Ireland

Budget for service price, regulatory fees, share capital and ongoing costs separately.

Cost itemAmount
Service priceApplication preparation and professional services.€21,200
Required share capitalMust be held, not an expenditure.€50,000

Summary

One-off costs
€71,200
Annual (year 1)
€0
Total year 1
€71,200

Adjust to convert to your base currency.

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Application process

The sequence below shows the usual project flow. Exact steps depend on the regulator, business model and application scope. Ireland — From 6 months.

Total timelineFrom 6 months

  1. Pre-assessment and scope review

    1–3 weeks

    Define the activity scope, governance model and target markets before formal preparation.

  2. Company setup in Ireland

    2–6 weeks

    Establish legal entity, appoint local staff and set up local operating structure.

  3. Documentation and compliance packBottleneck risk

    3–8 weeks

    Prepare AML/CFT policies, governance documents, controls framework and application materials.

  4. Application submission to Central Bank of Ireland

    1–2 weeks

    Submit complete application with all required documentation.

  5. Regulator reviewBottleneck risk

    From 6 months

    Regulator reviews the application. May request clarifications. Incomplete files extend this phase.

    Depends on: File quality and completeness

  6. Authorisation or registration confirmation

    1–4 weeks

    Regulator confirms authorisation or registration. Commence operations.

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

What can delay or increase cost

These factors are most likely to affect timelines and budgets for this route.

High setup complexity
High

Setup complexity is rated high for Ireland. Company setup, governance and documentation take longer than average.

Likely impactAdd 4–8 weeks to the preparation phase.
MitigationStart company setup and governance planning immediately after scope confirmation.
Banking difficulty
High

Banking difficulty is rated high. Opening accounts for crypto businesses in Ireland requires extensive documentation.

Likely impactBanking can delay or block operations for 3–6 months after authorisation.
MitigationIdentify and pre-qualify banking partners before submitting the application.
High maintenance cost
Medium

Ongoing supervision, audit and compliance costs are above average. Budget for these separately from the application fee.

Likely impactRecurring annual cost significantly above the one-time service price.
MitigationModel annual compliance costs before committing to this route.
Application completeness
Medium

Incomplete files are the most common cause of delay. Regulator queries extend review by weeks or months.

Likely impactEach regulator query adds 2–6 weeks to the review phase.
MitigationUse a structured compliance pack. Review file completeness before submission.

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Banking and PSP strategy in Ireland

Ireland has a high regulatory reputation, but banking difficulty remains medium to high. Bank and PSP readiness should run in parallel with the CBI authorisation file, especially for exchange, custody and fiat-heavy models.

Banking difficulty
High

Reflects how challenging it is to open and maintain business bank accounts in this jurisdiction.

Medium PSP availability
Medium

Reflects availability of payment service providers willing to onboard crypto-licensed entities.

A licence or registration does not guarantee bank account or payment provider approval. Banking feasibility should be reviewed before the application strategy is finalized.

Preparation checklist

  • Prepare ownership, source-of-funds, flow-of-funds, token policy and client geography materials early.
  • Explain fiat rails, safeguarding, reconciliation and transaction monitoring before approaching banks or PSPs.
  • Do not assume CASP authorisation will automatically solve account opening or payment provider onboarding.

Business model fit — Ireland

Assess how well this route covers your planned activities.

Fit score

Good fit
0/6
Partial fit
6/6
Poor fit
0/6

Ireland may not cover your primary activities

Consider an alternative route that better matches your activity profile.

CBI application profile

Regulatory authority · Ireland

Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)

A CBI-supervised CASP file should read like an institutional financial-services application. The Central Bank of Ireland is likely to expect a clear business model, accountable governance, fit-and-proper management, robust AML controls, safeguarding, technology resilience and a practical bank or PSP strategy.

Likely areas of scrutiny
  • AML, sanctions, transaction monitoring, travel rule and suspicious activity workflows should match the product and client geography.
  • Governance should show real Irish decision-making rather than a nominal office with offshore control.
  • Outsourcing, group support and technology providers should be controlled through documented oversight and escalation paths.
  • Fees, timelines, forms and regulator process should be rechecked before client-facing reliance.
Regulatory reputation
High

Strong international recognition and established supervision track record.

Setup complexity
High

Reflects documentation depth, governance requirements and expected review friction.

Regulatory risk
Medium

Reflects likelihood of delays, additional information requests or policy uncertainty.

Country-specific regulatory statements should be checked against current regulator guidance before relying on this route.

Compliance documentation

Most crypto licensing routes require a documented compliance framework before submission, not only after approval.

  • Required
    AML/CFT policy and risk assessmentDocument your customer risk model and control framework.
  • Required
    Customer due diligence (CDD) procedures
  • Required
    Enhanced due diligence (EDD) proceduresFor high-risk clients and jurisdictions.
  • Required
    Transaction monitoring system and rules
  • Required
    Sanctions screening procedures
  • Required
    Suspicious activity reporting (SAR) process
  • Required
    MLRO / Compliance officer appointmentLocal accountability may be required.
  • Recommended
    Board-approved governance charter
  • Conditional
    Outsourcing policy and monitoringRequired if functions are outsourced.
  • Recommended
    ICT / cybersecurity policy
  • Required
    Complaints handling procedure
  • Required
    Annual external audit engagementRequired for ongoing supervision compliance.

Country-specific regulatory statements should be checked against current regulator guidance before relying on this route.

Documents to prepare

Preparing these materials before filing reduces regulator questions and helps with banking or payment provider onboarding.

0 / 12 required
Required
Recommended
Depends on scope

Corporate documents

AML and compliance

Operational

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Risk assessment

Main risk dimensions for the Ireland route.

Banking difficulty
High

Route risk rating — banking difficulty: Medium to high. Authorisation does not guarantee bank account opening.

Mitigation: Start banking outreach and compliance preparation before the application.

Setup complexity
High

Route risk rating — setup complexity: High.

Maintenance cost
High

Route risk rating — maintenance cost: High. Budget for ongoing compliance, fees and supervision separately.

Regulatory reputation
High

Route risk rating — regulatory reputation: High.

Regulatory risk
Medium

Route risk rating — regulatory risk: Low to medium. Weak compliance, vague scope or insufficient controls increase review risk.

Mitigation: Prepare an evidence-based compliance file before submission.

This content is for general orientation only. Crypto regulation changes quickly and the final scope should be confirmed through a jurisdiction-specific legal review before filing or incorporation.

Ireland CASP vs alternatives

Compare Ireland with Malta CASP for an established EU crypto supervision profile, Netherlands CASP for another high-reputation EU institutional route, Portugal CASP for Iberian and Portuguese-speaking market logic, and UK AML as a non-EU contrast that does not provide EU/EEA passporting.

Current

Ireland

CASP

Price
21 200 EUR
Timeline
From 6 months
Passporting
EU/EEA
Banking
Medium to high
Reputation
High

Malta (CASP)

CASP

Price
20 700 EUR
Timeline
From 6 months
Passporting
EU/EEA
Banking
Medium to high
Reputation
High

+ Established EU/MiCA crypto supervision profile

− Not a lighter route; MFSA substance and compliance burden remain material

View route

Netherlands (CASP)

CASP

Passporting
EU/EEA
Banking
Medium to high
Reputation
High

+ EU financial-services jurisdiction with strong institutional credibility

− Requires separate validation of Dutch regulator process, timing and fees

View route

Portugal (CASP)

CASP

Price
18 900 EUR
Timeline
From 6 months
Passporting
EU/EEA
Banking
Medium to high
Reputation
High

+ EU/MiCA route with Iberian and Portuguese-speaking market logic

− Still a high-complexity route with local substance and AML expectations

View route

United Kingdom (AML)

UK-AML

Passporting
No EU passporting
Banking
High
Reputation
High

+ Useful non-EU contrast for UK-facing AML registration strategy

− Not an EU CASP authorisation and does not provide EU/EEA passporting

View route

Fees, timelines and capital figures are indicative and may vary by business model, regulator feedback, application scope and third-party costs.

Ireland vs other CASP routes

Compare key parameters across CASP authorisation routes.

Sort by:
IrelandCurrent
Price21 200 EUR
TimelineFrom 6 months
BankingMedium to high
ReputationHigh
Malta
Price20 700 EUR
TimelineFrom 6 months
BankingMedium to high
ReputationHigh
Portugal
Price18 900 EUR
TimelineFrom 6 months
BankingMedium to high
ReputationHigh

Check your readiness for Ireland CASP authorisation

Documented AML/CFT policies, risk assessment, compliance officer.

Share capital

From 50 000 EUR minimum capital required.

AML/CFT framework

Documented AML/CFT policies, risk assessment, compliance officer.

Governance structure

Board, management, accountability chain defined.

Banking preparation

Banking strategy and identified partners.

Local substance plan

Local staff and office in Ireland.

Readiness status

Answer the criteria on the left to see your readiness status.

Frequently asked questions

Ireland CASP authorisation under MiCA can support EU/EEA passporting, but it should not be described as automatic. Passporting depends on the approved service scope, the operating model and the required notification process.

It is best suited for teams that want CBI-supervised EU CASP operations, an English-speaking EU base, institutional governance credibility and a serious EU passporting strategy.

No. Ireland should be treated as a high-complexity EU authorisation route. It is usually unsuitable for low-budget projects or teams looking for a fast offshore structure without substantial governance, substance and compliance readiness.

Expect scrutiny of service scope, ownership, fit-and-proper management, AML, sanctions, travel rule, transaction monitoring, Irish substance, safeguarding, outsourcing, technology controls, audit and banking or PSP readiness.

Compare Malta, Netherlands and Portugal as EU/MiCA CASP routes with different jurisdictional positioning. Compare the UK AML route only as a non-EU contrast because it does not provide EU/EEA passporting.

The page is not legal advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice from qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

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