🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇲🇹 Malta: e-money licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
Choosing between Ireland and Malta for a e-money licence starts with who you will answer to: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). on one side, Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). on the other, via the E-Money Institution or Small E-Money Institution under the European Communities (Electronic Money) Regulations 2011. and the Electronic Money Institution under the Financial Institutions Act (Cap. 376). respectively. The public fields are shown below, with the full dated and sourced comparison included with access.
Ireland: verified 2026-08-15 · Malta: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
🇲🇹 Malta
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | E-Money Institution or Small E-Money Institution under the European Communities (Electronic Money) Regulations 2011. | Electronic Money Institution under the Financial Institutions Act (Cap. 376). |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). |
| Capital requirement | Ireland capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Malta capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Ireland timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Malta timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Ireland local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Malta local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Ireland application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Malta application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Ireland ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Malta ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Ireland passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Malta passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| EMIs authorised | Ireland emis authorised is included in the £349 pass. | Malta emis authorised is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Ireland key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Malta key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. |
| Safeguarding | Ireland safeguarding is included in the £349 pass. | Malta safeguarding is included in the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | PSD3 and the PSR merge payment-institution and EMI authorisation into one payment-institution category able to issue e-money. The final compromise texts remain awaiting formal adoption and Official Journal publication as of 15 August 2026, with an indicative European Parliament plenary on 14 December 2026. After entry into force, Member States have 21 months to transpose and apply PSD3, and the PSR generally applies after 21 months. Existing EMIs may continue for 27 months, with an exceptional further three-month extension. | PSD3 and the PSR merge payment-institution and EMI authorisation into one payment-institution category able to issue e-money. The final compromise texts remain awaiting formal adoption and Official Journal publication as of 15 August 2026, with an indicative European Parliament plenary on 14 December 2026. After entry into force, Member States have 21 months to transpose and apply PSD3, and the PSR generally applies after 21 months. Existing EMIs may continue for 27 months, with an exceptional further three-month extension. |
| Difficulty rating | Ireland difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Malta difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. |
Unlock the pass to see each gated figure with its source and verification date.
What changed recently
🇮🇪 Ireland (verified 2026-08-15): PSD3 and the PSR merge payment-institution and EMI authorisation into one payment-institution category able to issue e-money. The final compromise texts remain awaiting formal adoption and Official Journal publication as of 15 August 2026, with an indicative European Parliament plenary on 14 December 2026. After entry into force, Member States have 21 months to transpose and apply PSD3, and the PSR generally applies after 21 months. Existing EMIs may continue for 27 months, with an exceptional further three-month extension.
🇲🇹 Malta (verified 2026-08-15): PSD3 and the PSR merge payment-institution and EMI authorisation into one payment-institution category able to issue e-money. The final compromise texts remain awaiting formal adoption and Official Journal publication as of 15 August 2026, with an indicative European Parliament plenary on 14 December 2026. After entry into force, Member States have 21 months to transpose and apply PSD3, and the PSR generally applies after 21 months. Existing EMIs may continue for 27 months, with an exceptional further three-month extension.
Quick answers
Who regulates e-money licensing in Ireland and Malta?
Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI).. Malta: Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)..
What licence do you need in Ireland compared with Malta?
In Ireland the authorisation route is E-Money Institution or Small E-Money Institution under the European Communities (Electronic Money) Regulations 2011.; in Malta it is Electronic Money Institution under the Financial Institutions Act (Cap. 376).. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Ireland vs Malta comparison?
The interactive benchmark lets you pin either jurisdiction and add up to five peers; a Founder Pass or Pro subscription unlocks every gated figure with its source and verification date. This page stays free at /e-money/compare/ireland-vs-malta.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.