Regulatory AlertsHaiti: fintech & payments regulation
RegulatedBRH regulates fintech via Circular 121; remittances strictly controlled by BRH FX rules
- Lead regulator
- Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH)
- Also involved
- National Council of Cooperatives (CNC) for cooperative branches; NFIU for AML/CFT
- Core law
- Circular 121 (2021) on Electronic Payment Service Providers
- Entry capital
- USD 500,000 (Electronic Payment Service Provider)
- Approval timeline
- 3-6 months (estimated based on Circular 127 documentation requirements)
- Customer assets
- 100% of client funds must be held in liquid assets
- Data protection
- No specific data protection law identified in sources
- Sandbox
- No
Haiti’s fintech landscape is dominated by the central bank, the Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH). The primary regulatory framework for digital payments is Circular 121, which licenses Electronic Payment Service Providers (FSPs). Remittance and cross-border flows are heavily regulated through specific circulars (114 series) mandating central bank intervention in FX sales. There is no explicit statutory framework for standalone e-money wallets or open banking APIs, leaving these activities in a regulatory grey area or subject to general banking laws.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment processing / gateway | LicenceElectronic Payment Service Provider (FSP)[1] Circular 121 mandates licensing, capital, and technical standards for FSPs. | USD 500,000 | 3-6 months | Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH) |
| E-money & wallet issuance | Uncertainverify with regulator No specific e-money license; FSP license may cover digital wallets. | — | — | — |
| Domestic money transfer | LicenceMoney Transfer House / Bank[2] Domestic transfers fall under general banking or FSP licensing. | — | — | Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH) |
| Cross-border remittance | LicenceMoney Transfer House[3][4] Strict FX rules apply; 30% of daily inflows must be sold to BRH. | — | — | Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH) |
| Agent network | LicenceSub-agent (under FSP or Transfer House)[5] Sub-agents must comply with BRH rate display and oversight rules. | — | — | Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH) |
| Open banking / account information | Unregulatedverify with regulator No open banking framework or API mandates identified. | — | — | — |
| Foreign-exchange services | LicenceExchange Intermediary / Bank[3] FX sales capped; mandatory daily sales to central bank. | — | — | Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH) |
New — what changed recently
- 2026-04-17Standards on the Opening of Branches or Service Points — BRH mandates prior authorization from the National Council of Cooperatives and a favorable central bank opinion for CECs opening new branches.[6]
- 2025-02-04Circular 127 on Procedures for Applying for Authorization — Established mandatory procedures, documentation standards, and approval criteria for financial institutions and exchange intermediaries.[2]
- 2024-06-01Circular 114-3 Regarding Unremunerated Fund Transfers — Set regulatory standards for international unremunerated fund transfers, including exchange rate caps and sub-agent oversight.[4]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Secure BRH FSP LicenseApply under Circular 121 with USD 500,000 capital and proof of liquid asset holding.
- 2Prepare Circular 127 FileSubmit comprehensive documentation per Circular 127 for authorization as a financial institution.
- 3Establish BRH FX ComplianceImplement systems to sell 30% of daily remittance inflows to the central bank daily.
- 4Set Up Sub-Agent OversightEnsure all sub-agents display BRH reference rates and comply with Circular 114-2/114-3.
- 5Register with CNC (if Cooperative)Obtain National Council of Cooperatives authorization before opening any service points.
Sources
- Circular 121 regarding Electronic Payment Service Providers · 2021-12-07
- Circular 127 on Procedures for Applying for Authorization · 2025-02-04
- Additional Note to Circular 118-1 · 2022-10-10
- Circular 114-3 Regarding Unremunerated Fund Transfers · 2024-06-01
- Reminder Note Regarding Circular 114-2 · 2022-05-04
- Standards on the Opening of Branches or Service Points · 2026-04-17