Lithuanian Electronic Money Institution (EMI) License

Low costs relative to other EU member states along with a speedy license approval process are just a couple of reasons Lithuania has emerged as one of the most popular jurisdictions for EMI / payments licensing. Having issued over 100 licenses to date, an EMI license in Lithuania allows merchants and e-wallet operators the ability to passport payment services across all 30 EEA member states.

Applying For a Lithuania EMI – Key Requirements

  • €350,000 initial capital
  • Minimum of 2 directors with a strong background in financial services / payments
  • Compliance officer
  • Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) which is a separate position from the compliance officer
  • IT Security plan
  • Physical office in Lithuania
  • A complete AML / CFT plan which follows current EU AML directives

Permissible Activities for a Lithuanian EMI Licensee

  • Creation and management of electronic money products, including digital wallets, prepaid cards, and stored-value solutions.
  • Provision of payment accounts for clients, including the allocation of unique IBANs.
  • Processing of payment transactions such as credit transfers, SEPA payments, and direct debit operations.
  • Facilitation of card-based payments, including both issuing and acquiring under major card networks like Visa and Mastercard.
  • Payment initiation services (PIS), enabling transactions to be triggered directly from customer accounts held with third-party banks under PSD2.
  • Account information services (AIS), allowing aggregation and access to financial data across multiple banking institutions via Open Banking frameworks.
  • Merchant acquiring solutions, offering businesses the ability to accept and process customer payments efficiently.
  • Execution of international remittance services, supporting both incoming and outgoing cross-border transfers.
  • Foreign exchange services associated with payment activities, including real-time currency conversion.
  • Standalone money exchange services, facilitating the conversion of one currency into another.

Eligibility Requirements for EMI Licensing in Lithuania

An Electronic money institution (EMI) has rights to issue electronic money and provide payment services. In Lithuania, an EMI license is issued by the supervisory authority for an indefinite period. Under Lithuanian law, the definition of payment services covers the following:

  • All services related to placing and or withdrawing funds from a current account.
  • The execution of payment transactions through debit or credit cards or similar means.
  • Issuance of payment instruments.

Benefits of an EMI Lithuanian Licence

A Lithuanian licensed EMI has unique peculiarities such as the underlisted, which make it popular and highly sought after in the financial services sector.

  1. Lithuania is the only jurisdiction, whose EMI license allows direct access to the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) for processing EUR payments.
  2. In Lithuania, EMIs (non banks) can generate IBAN for their clients without requiring a secondary account at a commercial bank.

Atomiq Consulting – Your Licensing Partner

Our team of seasoned experts will make bureaucratically challenging endeavours like obtaining an EMI license in Lithuania feel like a walk in the park. Feel free to contact us.

    Lithuania EMI FAQ

    Are there any EMIs in Lithuania for sale?

    Yes, we often have EMI licenses in Lithuania as well as other jurisdictions for sale. We suggest visiting our online marketplace to review current offers. 

    What is DORA and how is it related to Lithuania payments licenses?

    DORA stands for the Digital Operational Resilience Act. Starting in January, 2025, all Lithuania licensed EMIs are required to demonstrate compliance with this Act. Measures include the establishment of risk and technology protocols. 

    Is a physical visit to Lithuania required for license approval?

    No. As long as the necessary local directors and staff members are in place, the license can be approved remotely.  

    What does EMI stand for?

    EMI stands for Electronic Money Institution. With approved authorization, licensed institutions are able to offer a variety of payment services such as card services, electronic wallets, and the facilitation of wires.  

    What is the corporate tax rate in Lithuania for EMIs?

    30%

    What is PSD3?

    The revised EU payments framework, known as PSD3, reached a provisional political agreement on November 27, 2025. Under this new regime, the existing Electronic Money Institution (EMI) structure will be consolidated into a single, harmonized Payment Services Regulation. Licenses issued under the current PSD2 and EMD2 frameworks prior to PSD3 coming into force will benefit from a transitional “grandfathering” period of 24 months. In practical terms, this means that securing an EMI license today ensures its validity extending well beyond 2028. As a result, applying under the current PSD2 regime presents a clear strategic advantage for market entrants.

    Is there a directory of licensed EMIs in Lithuania?

    Yes, all EMIs are licensed by the Central Bank of Lithuania. One can search for the desired entity in this public directory.

    About the Author

    This article was written by Jonathan Baumgart, Founder and CEO of Atomiq Consulting. With over a decade of experience in the forex industry, Jonathan specializes in helping businesses launch brokerages and navigate global licensing requirements.

    Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn

     



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