Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the FMA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get an EMI license in Austria.
The quiet quality play: an FMA licence under the E-Geldgesetz 2010 serves the whole EEA from Vienna - the city where DACH credibility meets Central and Eastern European growth. We build the German-language file and defend it to decision.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Austria in brief
DACH credibility at the gate to Central Europe.
Austria licenses e-money institutions through the FMA - the Finanzmarktaufsicht - under the E-Geldgesetz 2010, with payment institutions under the Zahlungsdienstegesetz 2018 (ZaDiG, the PSD2 transposition). The FMA's own framing is the point: a concession entitles the holder to provide payment services 'throughout the territory of the European Economic Area' - one Austrian licence, the whole EEA. The numbers are the harmonised ones - €350,000 initial capital for the EMI, €20,000-€125,000 for payment-institution tiers, a three-month statutory window from a complete file, and the discipline is German: the application, annexes and question rounds run in German, reviewed by a supervisor whose recent authorisations include the payment arms of global fintech groups.
What Vienna adds is position. Austrian licences carry DACH-grade counterparty weight - banks, enterprise clients and investors read the FMA stamp the way they read BaFin's - while the city itself is the historic headquarters gateway to Central and Eastern Europe: the banking groups, the talent and the corridors into twelve CEE markets are already there. Corporate tax fell to 23% in 2024, the payments cluster is deep for a country its size, and the queue is shorter than Frankfurt's. Realistic end-to-end timelines run 9-15 months; we draft the German file natively.
FMA concession under the E-Geldgesetz 2010: €350,000 capital, ZaDiG PI tiers alongside, German-language file, EEA-wide scope on one licence.
The position: DACH credibility without the Frankfurt queue, 23% tax, and Vienna's century-old corridors into Central and Eastern Europe.
The two routes
E-Geld-Institut - or the Zahlungsinstitut tier.
One supervisor, two entries: the e-money institution at €350,000 under the E-Geldgesetz, or payment-institution licences from €20,000 under the ZaDiG. We fix the scope first, then build once.
E-Geld-Institut at €350,000 - or ZaDiG PI tiers from €20,000, CEE corridors attached.
01 - E-GELD-INSTITUT (EMI)
E-money institution
The flagship FMA concession: e-money issuance plus the full payment-services list, €350,000 initial capital, safeguarding and EEA-wide operation from Vienna.
The flagship FMA concession: e-money issuance plus the full payment-services list, €350,000 initial capital, safeguarding and EEA-wide operation from Vienna.
- ✓E-money issuance and distribution
- ✓Full PSD2 payment-services list
- ✓€350,000 initial capital · own funds ongoing
- ✓Safeguarding of client funds
- ✓EEA-wide on one concession
- ✓3-month statutory window from complete
02 - ZAHLUNGSINSTITUT ROUTES
The CEE gatewayPayment institution routes
ZaDiG licences run €20,000-€125,000 across the eight payment-service categories. Remittance to acquiring, initiation and account information. With Vienna's CEE corridors attached.
PI licences €20k-€125k across eight ZaDiG categories; PIS/AIS; no deposit-taking; upgrade path.
- ✓PI licences - €20k / €50k / €125k by service
- ✓All eight ZaDiG service categories
- ✓PIS and AIS routes for open banking
- ✓No deposit-taking - payments only
- ✓Upgrade path to the EMI
- ✓Same FMA supervision
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. FMA fees follow its statutory schedule; capital, safeguarding and substance costs are itemised in your quote.
Why Austria
Vienna is a position, not just a city.
The framework is EMD2/PSD2 under the FMA. With a geography and credibility profile no other mid-size desk offers.
✓
DACH-grade credibility
Counterparties read the FMA stamp the way they read BaFin's. German-language supervision, conservative standards, institutional weight. With a materially shorter queue.Read like BaFin's - shorter queue.
✓
The CEE headquarters city
Vienna is where international groups have run Central and Eastern Europe for a century. Banking groups, advisors and corridors into twelve growth markets are native infrastructure.Twelve growth markets, native corridors.
✓
EEA-wide by design
The FMA's concession language spells it out: services across the whole European Economic Area on one Austrian licence. Vienna as the single-market seat.One concession, whole single market.
✓
A serious, reachable supervisor
The FMA licenses payment arms of global fintech groups and publishes its expectations. Demanding on substance, navigable with a complete German-language file.Global fintechs already licensed.
✓
23% corporate tax
The KöSt fell to 23% in 2024. Below Germany's combined burden by ten points, with Austria's treaty network and holding traditions on top.Ten points under Germany.
✓
PSD3-ready files
With PSD3/PSR close to adoption, e-money folds into the unified payment-institution regime. We structure Austrian files to convert rather than be rebuilt.Built to convert, not rebuild.
How it compares
How Austria differs from other routes.
Austria offers DACH weight without the Frankfurt queue. The side-by-side comparison is below.
Austria vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Austria | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | E-Geldgesetz/ZaDiG - FMA | Same directives, other desks |
| Counterparty weight | DACH-grade | Varies by supervisor |
| Position | CEE headquarters gateway | Single-market only |
| Timeline | 9-15 months realistic | 12-18 in Germany |
Regulatory regime
AustriaE-Geldgesetz/ZaDiG - FMA
Other jurisdictionsSame directives, other desks
Counterparty weight
AustriaDACH-grade
Other jurisdictionsVaries by supervisor
Position
AustriaCEE headquarters gateway
Other jurisdictionsSingle-market only
Timeline
Austria9-15 months realistic
Other jurisdictions12-18 in Germany
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | EMI (FMA) | 23% CIT | German file, DACH standards |
 Germany | EMI (BaFin) | ~30-33% effective | German file, dual supervision |
 Lithuania | EMI (Bank of Lithuania) | 17% CIT (2026) | CENTROlink, specialised desk |
 Czech Republic | PI/EMI (CNB) | 21% CIT | Solid desk, smaller market |
AustriaLicense typeEMI (FMA)
Taxation23% CIT
RequirementsGerman file, DACH standards
GermanyLicense typeEMI (BaFin)
Taxation~30-33% effective
RequirementsGerman file, dual supervision
LithuaniaLicense typeEMI (Bank of Lithuania)
Taxation17% CIT (2026)
RequirementsCENTROlink, specialised desk
Czech RepublicLicense typePI/EMI (CNB)
Taxation21% CIT
RequirementsSolid desk, smaller market
Before you apply
Requirements for the FMA concession.Requirements for the concession.
The FMA publishes its expectations for concession applicants. The craft is a German-language file that answers them completely. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
Austrian entity. A GmbH or AG with its registered office and management in Austria.
02
Initial capital - €350,000 for the EMI, evidenced and paid in; €20,000-€125,000 for PI tiers.
03
Fit and proper management. Qualified directors with payments experience, vetted individually.
04
Transparent ownership. Holders of qualifying participations disclosed and assessed to UBO level.
05
Programme of operations. Services, volumes, three-year financials and unit economics the FMA can interrogate.
06
Safeguarding. Segregated client-fund accounts or insurance, with documented reconciliation.
07
AML/CFT framework. KYC, monitoring and Goldwäschemeldestelle reporting with a resident officer.
08
IT and security documentation. Architecture, DORA-grade resilience and incident procedures.
09
Internal governance. Control functions, outsourcing register and conflicts procedures.
10
German-language file. The application and annexes drafted and defended in German.
01
Austrian GmbH/AG, managed locally.
02
€350,000 capital (EMI).
03
Fit & proper directors, vetted.
04
Ownership transparent to UBOs.
05
Interrogable programme of operations.
06
Safeguarding with reconciliation.
07
AML with resident officer.
08
DORA-grade IT documentation.
09
Governance and outsourcing register.
10
Full file in German.
Reflects the E-Geldgesetz 2010, ZaDiG 2018 and FMA supervisory practice as of 2026.E-Geldgesetz 2010 + ZaDiG 2018 + FMA practice, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the FMA concession.
01
Route and strategy
EMI or PI tier, DACH or CEE weighting. We fix the scope, capital and timeline in writing.EMI or PI; DACH vs CEE weighting.
02
Austrian company and people
GmbH formation, capital evidence and the resident officers the FMA vets.GmbH, capital, resident officers.
03
The application file
Programme, safeguarding, AML and IT documentation in German. Complete before filing, because completeness is the timeline.Complete, in German, before filing.
04
FMA review
Three months statutory from complete, question rounds answered in German - 9-15 months realistic end to end.3 months statutory; 9-15 realistic.
05
Concession and launch
The licence, EEA notifications and the reporting calendar. Live from Vienna, pointed at thirty markets.EEA notified, reporting live.
Quick facts
RegulatorFMA
EMI capital€350,000
PI tiers€20k / €50k / €125k
Legal basisE-Geldgesetz · ZaDiG
Statutory review3 months from complete
Realistic timeline9-15 months
File languageGerman
ScopeEEA-wide on notification
The FMA reviews with DACH thoroughness on a Vienna timetable. A complete German file is the entire game, and our job.
On the ground in Austria
Run from our Vienna office.
Prifinance - Austria
Vienna · Austria
Vienna, Austria
01
Austrian company formation
GmbH incorporation, capital placement and the corporate layer the FMA expects. Structured for the concession from day one.GmbH + capital, structured for the file.
02
The FMA file - in German
Programme of operations, safeguarding design, AML pack and IT documentation drafted natively in German, and defended through the supervisor's question rounds.Drafted natively, defended in rounds.
03
CEE expansion strategy
Vienna as the seat, passports notified across the EEA and the CEE corridors mapped. The licence built as the headquarters it will become.Seat built as the future HQ.
04
Substance and staffing
Resident directors, compliance officer and MLRO from Vienna's financial-services talent pool. Real substance the FMA recognises.Vienna talent, real local ops.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of payment companies in Austria.
The KöSt fell to 23% in 2024. DACH institutional quality at ten points below Germany's combined burden, with a hundred-treaty network on top.
Corporate tax 23%
Reduced from 25% in steps through 2024. The rate on an EMI's fee and float income, with Austria's group-taxation regime available for structures.Since 2024. DACH quality, lower rate.
VAT-exempt payment services
Payment and e-money services are VAT-exempt financial services; the 20% standard rate touches only ordinary supplies.20% only on ordinary supplies.
Dividends 27.5%
27.5% KESt on distributions to individuals (25% to companies), reduced by treaties and eliminated intra-EU under the Parent-Subsidiary Directive for qualifying holdings.Treaty and EU-directive relief.
Group taxation
Austria's Gruppenbesteuerung consolidates results across group members. Including, uniquely, certain foreign losses. A structuring tool CEE-facing groups actually use.Cross-border consolidation.
A hundred treaties
One of Europe's deepest treaty networks, with strong CEE coverage. The corridors the Vienna seat is built for.Deep CEE coverage.
Predictable administration
Austrian tax administration is conservative and consistent. Rulings are obtainable, practice is stable, and payment-sector treatment is settled.Rulings obtainable, practice settled.
Tax summary
Corporate tax23% · since 2024
Minimum taxQuarterly · capital-based
VAT on payment servicesExempt
Standard VAT20%
Dividend withholding27.5% · treaty/EU relief
Group taxationCross-border capable
Tax treaties~100
*Figures as of 2026 per the Federal Ministry of Finance. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Austrian GmbH, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed institution.
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Austria · FMA
Launch your payment project in Austria with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from GmbH registration to the FMA concession, EEA notifications and ongoing compliance.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Austria the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Austrian EMI licence - the questions we hear.
What licence does an e-money business need in Austria?+
An E-Geld-Institut concession from the FMA under the E-Geldgesetz 2010 - €350,000 initial capital, safeguarding and EEA-wide operation. Payment-institution licences under the ZaDiG 2018 (€20,000-€125,000) sit alongside.
What can a payment institution do - and not do?+
All eight ZaDiG payment-service categories, from remittance to acquiring, initiation and account information, but no deposit-taking or wider banking. The FMA is explicit about the boundary; models that cross it need a different licence, and we flag that before drafting.
How long does licensing take?+
Three months statutory from a complete application, with question rounds in German. Realistic end-to-end: 9-15 months - meaningfully faster than Frankfurt for comparable credibility. Completeness is our job.
Is the application really in German?+
Yes - the file, annexes and rounds run in German. We draft natively rather than translating afterwards; it is one of the main reasons founders bring us the mandate.
What does it cost?+
FMA fees follow its statutory schedule, plus ongoing supervision levies. The real investment is capital (€350,000 EMI), substance and the file - all itemised in your quote before we start.
What substance is expected?+
An Austrian GmbH managed from Austria, resident fit-and-proper directors, an AML officer reporting to the Geldwäschemeldestelle, real safeguarding arrangements and DORA-grade systems documentation.
How are payment companies taxed?+
23% corporate tax since 2024, VAT-exempt payment services, 27.5% dividend withholding with treaty and EU relief, and Austria's cross-border group-taxation regime for multi-country structures.
Does the licence cover the whole EEA?+
Yes - the FMA's concession language is explicit: services throughout the European Economic Area on one Austrian licence, activated by notification per market.
What changes under PSD3?+
PSD3 and the PSR - provisionally agreed in November 2025 and close to formal adoption - fold e-money institutions into a unified payment-institution regime. Files we build now are structured to convert.
Why Austria rather than Germany or Lithuania?+
Germany offers the largest market at the price of its queue and burden; Lithuania offers speed and CENTROlink. Austria sits between: DACH-grade credibility, a navigable timetable, 23% tax, and Vienna's corridors into CEE. Groups running Central Europe often find the answer obvious.
What licence is needed?+
FMA E-Geld-Institut - €350k; PI €20k-€125k.
PI limits?+
Eight ZaDiG categories; no deposits.
How long?+
3 months statutory; 9-15 realistic.
German file?+
Yes - we draft natively.
Cost?+
FMA schedule; capital is the investment.
Substance?+
Resident directors, MLRO, real ops.
Taxes?+
23% CIT; VAT-exempt services.
EEA scope?+
Whole EEA on one concession.
PSD3?+
Agreed Nov 2025 - files convert.
Vs Germany?+
Same weight class, kinder queue and rate.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Austrian route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.