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 NBS decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a payment license in Slovakia.
Euro-native since 2009: Národná banka Slovenska licenses e-money and payment institutions under Act 492/2009 - €350,000 capital, a limited-scope route, and EEA-wide operation from a central bank that publishes its own applicant handbook.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Slovakia in brief
The euro area's quiet Central European desk.
Slovakia licenses payment businesses through Národná banka Slovenska under Act No 492/2009 on Payment Services - the EMD2/PSD2 transposition, applied by a central bank that publishes its own handbook for preparing the application. The tiers are the harmonised ones: €350,000 initial capital for the e-money institution (banks issuing e-money need €16.6 million - a gap that tells you what the EMI regime is for), payment-institution scopes below, safeguarding, and fit-and-proper testing to UBO level. A limited-scope e-money designation exists for narrower issuance models, and every full authorisation operates across the whole EEA on notification.
Slovakia's structural card is the currency: a euro-area member since 2009, so capital, safeguarding and settlement run natively in euro - no conversion layer, two decades of euro operational practice. The fiscal picture is genuinely mixed after the 2025 consolidation: corporate tax tiers at 10% (small), 21% (standard) and 24% (revenue above €5 million), VAT at 23%, and a new transaction levy on business bank debits that payment models must price in - we model all of it before you commit. Bratislava adds Central European costs an hour from Vienna. Realistic end-to-end: 9-15 months; the file runs in Slovak, drafted natively with local counsel from our Bratislava office.
NBS authorisation under Act 492/2009: €350,000 EMI (banks need €16.6M - the gap is the point), limited-scope designation, published applicant handbook, Slovak file, EEA-wide.
The card: euro-native since 2009 at CE costs. The caveat: the 2025 fiscal package - tiers, 23% VAT, transaction levy - modelled without wishful thinking.
The two routes
Full EMI - or the limited-scope designation.
One Act, two entries: the full e-money institution with EEA passporting, or the limited-scope issuance designation for narrower models. We fix the route first, then build once.
Full EMI at €350,000 - or the limited-scope issuance designation.
01 - FULL EMI / PI LICENCE
E-money & payment institutions
The flagship NBS authorisation: e-money issuance or the payment-services list, €350,000 EMI capital, safeguarding and EEA-wide operation on notification. Euro-native from day one.
The flagship NBS authorisation: e-money issuance or the payment-services list, €350,000 EMI capital, safeguarding and EEA-wide operation on notification. Euro-native from day one.
- ✓E-money issuance and distribution
- ✓Full PSD2 payment-services list
- ✓€350,000 EMI capital · own funds ongoing
- ✓Safeguarding of client funds
- ✓EEA-wide on notification
- ✓Euro-native since 2009
02 - LIMITED-SCOPE · PI ROUTES
The narrower-model routeLimited-scope routes
The limited-scope e-money designation authorises issuance and administration for narrower models, while payment-institution scopes and AISP registration run alongside. All under the NBS's published handbook.
Limited-scope e-money; PI scopes; AISP registration; handbook-driven process; upgrade path.
- ✓Limited-scope e-money designation
- ✓PI scopes by service
- ✓AISP registration alongside
- ✓The NBS applicant handbook, applied
- ✓Upgrade path to the full licence
- ✓Same NBS supervision
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. NBS process follows its published handbook; capital, safeguarding and substance costs are itemised in your quote.
Why Slovakia
Euro practice, Central European prices.
The framework is EMD2/PSD2 under the central bank. Euro-native for two decades, with a handbook that tells you what it wants.
✓
Euro-native since 2009
Slovakia has run on the euro for over fifteen years. Capital, safeguarding and settlement carry no conversion layer, and the operational practice is settled.Two decades of settled practice.
✓
A published handbook
The NBS publishes its own guide for preparing the authorisation application. Expectations are written down, which makes the file plannable.The NBS tells you what it wants.
✓
A central-bank stamp
The NBS authorises and supervises directly. The register entry carries institutional weight across Central Europe.Register weight across CE.
✓
The limited-scope route
Narrower issuance models take the limited-scope designation rather than the full licence. Same €350,000 discipline, tighter perimeter, cleaner fit.Narrower models, cleaner fit.
✓
Bratislava's position
An hour from Vienna, euro-denominated, Central European costs. The quiet arbitrage founders keep rediscovering.An hour from Vienna, CE prices.
✓
PSD3-ready files
With PSD3/PSR close to adoption, e-money folds into the unified payment-institution regime. We structure Slovak files to convert rather than be rebuilt.Built to convert, not rebuild.
How it compares
How Slovakia differs from other routes.
Slovakia pairs euro-native operations with CE costs, and a post-2025 fiscal picture to model soberly. The comparison is below.
Slovakia vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Slovakia | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | Act 492/2009 - NBS | Same directives, other desks |
| Currency | Euro - since 2009 | Euro or national |
| Applicant guidance | Published NBS handbook | Varies |
| Fiscal picture | 10/21/24% + 2025 levies | Steadier headline |
Regulatory regime
SlovakiaAct 492/2009 - NBS
Other jurisdictionsSame directives, other desks
Currency
SlovakiaEuro - since 2009
Other jurisdictionsEuro or national
Applicant guidance
SlovakiaPublished NBS handbook
Other jurisdictionsVaries
Fiscal picture
Slovakia10/21/24% + 2025 levies
Other jurisdictionsSteadier headline
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | EMI/PI (NBS) | 10/21/24% CIT | Euro-native, Slovak file |
 Lithuania | EMI (Bank of Lithuania) | 17% CIT (2026) | CENTROlink, specialised desk |
 Czech Republic | EMI/PI (CNB) | 21% CIT | Czech file, small-scale on-ramp |
 Hungary | EMI (MNB) | 9% CIT | Hungarian file, central bank |
SlovakiaLicense typeEMI/PI (NBS)
Taxation10/21/24% CIT
RequirementsEuro-native, Slovak file
LithuaniaLicense typeEMI (Bank of Lithuania)
Taxation17% CIT (2026)
RequirementsCENTROlink, specialised desk
Czech RepublicLicense typeEMI/PI (CNB)
Taxation21% CIT
RequirementsCzech file, small-scale on-ramp
HungaryLicense typeEMI (MNB)
Taxation9% CIT
RequirementsHungarian file, central bank
Before you apply
Requirements for the NBS authorisation.Requirements for the authorisation.
The NBS handbook sets out the application's preparation. The craft is answering it completely, in Slovak. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
Slovak entity. An s.r.o. or a.s. with its head office and management in Slovakia.
02
Initial capital - €350,000 for the EMI, evidenced and paid in; PI scopes below.
03
Fit and proper management and holders. Competence, clean records and ownership transparent to UBOs.
04
Programme of operations. Services, volumes and three-year financials the NBS can interrogate.
05
Safeguarding. Segregated client-fund accounts or insurance, with documented reconciliation.
06
AML/CFT framework. KYC, monitoring and FSJ reporting with a resident compliance officer.
07
IT and security documentation. Architecture, DORA-grade resilience and incident procedures.
08
Internal governance. Control functions, outsourcing register and conflicts procedures.
09
Own-funds methodology. The ongoing capital calculation, modelled forward.
10
Slovak-language file. The application and annexes drafted per the NBS handbook, in Slovak.
01
Slovak s.r.o./a.s., managed locally.
02
€350,000 capital (EMI).
03
Fit & proper holders to UBOs.
04
Interrogable programme of operations.
05
Safeguarding with reconciliation.
06
AML with resident officer (FSJ).
07
DORA-grade IT documentation.
08
Governance and outsourcing register.
09
Own-funds method modelled forward.
10
Full file in Slovak, per the handbook.
Reflects Act 492/2009 and the NBS's published applicant handbook as of 2026.Act 492/2009 + NBS handbook, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the NBS register.
01
Route and strategy
Full EMI, limited-scope or PI. We fix the route, capital and timeline in writing.Full, limited-scope or PI - in writing.
02
Slovak company and people
S.r.o. formation, capital evidence and the resident officers the NBS vets.S.r.o., capital, resident officers.
03
The application file
Programme, safeguarding, AML and IT documentation per the handbook. Complete, in Slovak, before filing.Per the handbook, in Slovak, complete.
04
NBS review
Question rounds answered - 9-15 months realistic end to end.Rounds answered; 9-15 realistic.
05
Licence and launch
The register entry, EEA notifications and the reporting calendar. Live, euro-native, from Bratislava.EEA notified, euro-native, live.
Quick facts
RegulatorNBS
EMI capital€350,000
Bank e-money contrast€16.6M - the EMI gap
Limited routeLimited-scope designation
CurrencyEuro · since 2009
Realistic timeline9-15 months
File languageSlovak
ScopeEEA-wide on notification
The NBS wrote the handbook for its own applicants. Answering it completely, in Slovak, is the entire game. That is our job.
On the ground in Slovakia
Run from our Bratislava office.
Prifinance - Slovakia
Bratislava · Slovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia
01
Slovak company formation
S.r.o. incorporation, capital placement and the corporate layer the NBS expects. Structured for the licence from day one.S.r.o. + capital, structured for the file.
02
The NBS file - in Slovak
Programme of operations, safeguarding design, AML pack and IT documentation drafted natively with Slovak counsel to the published handbook, and defended through the rounds.Drafted natively with local counsel.
03
2025 fiscal modelling
The consolidation package priced in. CIT tiers, 23% VAT, the transaction levy on business debits, so the plan survives contact with the tax office.Tiers, VAT, levy - priced in.
04
Substance and staffing
Resident directors, compliance officer and MLRO from Bratislava's talent pool. Real substance an hour from Vienna.Bratislava talent, real ops.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of payment companies in Slovakia.
The post-2025 picture, unvarnished: tiered corporate rates, a higher VAT, and a transaction levy payment models must price in. Modelled correctly, still competitive.
Corporate tiers 10 / 21 / 24%
10% for small taxpayers (revenue to €100,000), 21% standard, 24% above €5 million revenue. The consolidation package's structure, modelled per your growth curve.Tiered by revenue - modelled.
VAT 23% - services exempt
The standard rate rose to 23% in 2025, but payment and e-money services remain VAT-exempt financial services.Services exempt; rate rose 2025.
The transaction levy
The 2025 package introduced a levy on business bank debits. A real cost line for operating companies that we model into every Slovak plan rather than discover later.On business debits - priced in.
Dividends 10%
Distributions to individuals carry a 10% rate; corporate flows within the EU are relieved under the Parent-Subsidiary Directive.Individuals; EU corporate relieved.
Euro-denominated outcomes
Two decades of euro membership mean no currency layer between the tax model and the licence's economics.No currency layer since 2009.
Treaty network 70+
A solid treaty network across Europe. Group structures above the Slovak entity model cleanly.Solid network.
Tax summary
CIT - small (≤ €100k rev.)10%
CIT - standard21%
CIT - above €5M rev.24%
VAT on payment servicesExempt · standard 23%
Dividends (individuals)10%
Transaction levyOn business debits · modelled
Tax treaties70+
*Figures as of 2026 per the Financial Administration. The 2025 consolidation package keeps evolving. We model the law in force.
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: Slovak s.r.o., 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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Slovakia · NBS
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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.
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Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Slovak payment licences: frequent questions.
What licence does an e-money business need in Slovakia?+
An e-money institution authorisation from Národná banka Slovenska under Act 492/2009 - €350,000 initial capital, safeguarding and EEA-wide operation on notification. Payment-institution scopes and AISP registration sit alongside, with a limited-scope e-money designation for narrower models.
What is the limited-scope designation?+
An authorisation specifically for the issuance and administration of e-money in narrower models - the same capital discipline with a tighter perimeter. We map whether your model fits it or needs the full licence before drafting anything.
How long does licensing take?+
Realistically 9-15 months end to end, with the NBS's question rounds in Slovak. The regulator publishes its own applicant handbook - answering it completely the first time is the speed lever, and our job.
What substance is expected?+
A Slovak s.r.o. managed locally, resident fit-and-proper officers, AML reporting to the FSJ, real safeguarding arrangements and DORA-grade systems documentation.
How are payment companies taxed after the 2025 package?+
Corporate tiers of 10/21/24% by revenue, 23% VAT with payment services exempt, 10% dividend tax for individuals, and the new transaction levy on business bank debits, which we model into the plan explicitly.
Why does euro membership since 2009 matter?+
Fifteen-plus years of euro-native practice: capital, safeguarding and settlement with no conversion layer, banks and auditors fluent in exactly the structures an EMI runs. Newer euro members are still building that muscle.
Does the licence passport across the EU?+
Yes - the full authorisation operates across the whole EEA on notification, with branches or cross-border services per market.
Is the Slovak-language file a real obstacle?+
It is the main operational one - the application and rounds run in Slovak. We draft natively with Slovak counsel rather than translating afterwards.
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 Slovakia rather than Czechia or Hungary?+
Czechia has the small-scale staircase; Hungary has the 9% rate. Slovakia has the euro - native since 2009 - plus a published handbook and CE costs an hour from Vienna. Euro-denominated models that value settled currency practice pick Bratislava.
What licence is needed?+
NBS EMI - €350k; PI and AISP alongside.
Limited scope?+
Issuance-only designation, narrower models.
How long?+
9-15 months realistic.
Substance?+
Resident officers, real Slovak ops.
Taxes?+
10/21/24% tiers; VAT-exempt services.
The levy?+
On business debits - we model it.
Euro?+
Native since 2009 - settled practice.
Passport?+
EEA-wide on notification.
PSD3?+
Agreed Nov 2025 - files convert.
Vs Czechia?+
Their staircase; Slovakia's euro.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
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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 Národná banka Slovenska (NBS) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.