Regulatory AlertsCzech Republic: fintech & payments regulation
RegulatedPayment institutions licensed by CNB under Act No. 338/2009 Coll.; PSD2 transposition
- Lead regulator
- Czech National Bank (CNB)
- Also involved
- CNB (AML/CFT supervision) · GDPR (Data Protection)
- Core law
- Act No. 338/2009 Coll. on Payment Services
- Entry capital
- CZK 20,000 (Payment Institution)
- Approval timeline
- 3-6 months
- Customer assets
- Segregated or insured
- Data protection
- GDPR · Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (ÚOOÚ)
- Sandbox
- No
The Czech Republic regulates payment services under Act No. 338/2009 Coll., which transposes the EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The Czech National Bank (CNB) is the sole competent authority for licensing payment institutions and e-money institutions. The regime is fully aligned with EU standards, requiring authorization for payment processing, e-money issuance, and money transmission services.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment processing / gateway | LicencePayment Institution[1] Requires authorization under Act No. 338/2009 Coll. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
| E-money & wallet issuance | LicenceE-money Institution[1] Requires authorization under Act No. 338/2009 Coll. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
| Domestic money transfer | LicencePayment Institution[1] Domestic transfers are payment services under Act No. 338/2009 Coll. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
| Cross-border remittance | LicencePayment Institution[1] Cross-border transfers are payment services under Act No. 338/2009 Coll. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
| Agent network | LicencePayment Institution[1] Agents must be appointed by a licensed payment institution. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
| Open banking / account information | LicencePayment Institution[1] Account Information Services require authorization under Act No. 338/2009 Coll. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
| Foreign-exchange services | LicencePayment Institution[1] Currency exchange is a payment service under Act No. 338/2009 Coll. | CZK 20,000 | 3-6 months | Czech National Bank |
New — what changed recently
- 2025-01-01Decree No. 197/2025 Coll. — Reduces administrative and reporting burdens across the financial sector, including for payment institutions.[1]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Establish Czech legal entityIncorporate a company with registered office in the Czech Republic.
- 2Secure minimum capitalDeposit CZK 20,000 into a blocked account for a Payment Institution.
- 3Appoint senior managementEnsure fit and proper management approved by the CNB.
- 4Submit CNB applicationFile application for authorization under Act No. 338/2009 Coll.
- 5Implement AML/KYC systemsEstablish robust anti-money laundering procedures compliant with CNB guidelines.