Georgia NBG PSP License 2026 — World's Fastest Payment Registration Guide

Georgia — The World's Fastest Payment Service Provider Registration

Georgia offers the most cost-efficient and fastest payment service provider registration globally in 2026. The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) registers Payment Service Providers (PSPs) under the Georgian Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems — a framework that combines genuine regulatory standing with exceptional speed and accessibility. The one-time application fee is GEL 5,000 (approximately USD $1,800). No minimum capital is required. The NBG has a statutory 60-day decision timeline from the date a complete application is received. There are no annual licensing fees.

Georgia operates a territorial income tax system: income sourced outside Georgia is not subject to Georgian corporate income tax — making it one of the most tax-efficient payment licensing jurisdictions for international operators whose clients and transactions are non-Georgian. The PSP registration is issued by Georgia's central bank, carries genuine regulatory standing under Georgian law, and is used by operators across the CIS corridor, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe as a fast-start payment structure — either as a primary operating vehicle or as an interim structure while a more capital-intensive EU or Asian license is in progress. Zitadelle AG manages Georgia PSP registration end-to-end from our Cyprus headquarters.

What Makes Georgia Unique

The Speed Advantage

60-day statutory decision timeline from complete application. In practice, well-prepared applications with clean documentation are frequently processed within this window. Compare this to:

• •Lithuania EMI: 6–12 months
• •Singapore MPI: 9–12 months
• •Cyprus PI: 12–15 months
• •UAE CBUAE PSP: 9–18 months

For operators who need payment authorization quickly — to satisfy a commercial counterparty, to begin processing, or to establish regulatory standing while a primary license is in progress — Georgia has no peer for speed.

Zero Capital Requirement

No minimum paid-up capital is required for a Georgia PSP registration. The NBG assesses fit-and-proper criteria, AML/CFT framework quality, and operational readiness — not capital adequacy. For early-stage operators who have not yet raised the capital required for a Lithuanian EMI (€350,000) or Singapore MPI (SGD $250,000), Georgia provides regulatory standing from day one.

Near-Zero Cost

The GEL 5,000 registration fee (approximately USD $1,800) is the only mandatory payment to the NBG. There is no annual renewal fee. No capital must be locked in the company. Total regulatory cost to the NBG: under USD $2,000 for the lifetime of the registration (unless fees are increased by legislation).

0% Tax on Foreign-Sourced Income

Georgia operates a territorial corporate tax system. Income generated from services provided outside Georgia — which covers the majority of cross-border payment operator activity — is not subject to Georgian CIT. Income generated from Georgian-resident clients is taxed at 15% CIT. Dividend withholding tax: 5%. This tax framework makes Georgia materially more efficient than Lithuania (17% flat CIT) and comparable to offshore structures, while carrying the credibility of a central bank-supervised registration.

What a Georgia PSP Can Do

Payment services authorized under Georgian PSP registration include:

• •Cross-border money remittance and fund transfers
• •Payment initiation services
• •Payment account services
• •Card payment processing (acquiring)
• •E-wallet operation
• •Foreign currency exchange for payment purposes
• •Virtual asset-related payment services (subject to NBG guidance)

Who Uses the Georgia PSP License

CIS-corridor remittance operators

Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East — making it a natural hub for remittance corridors covering Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Gulf destinations. Georgian PSPs serve an established CIS remittance market.

Crypto-adjacent payment operators

Georgia has a pragmatic regulatory stance on virtual asset-related payments. Operators building crypto on-ramp and off-ramp infrastructure frequently use Georgia as their payment registration jurisdiction while VASP licensing is obtained separately.

Fast-start EU market entrants

Operators applying for a Lithuanian EMI or Cyprus PI who need a regulated payment vehicle during the 6–15 month application period use Georgia PSP as an interim operating structure. Once the EU license is granted, the Georgia entity either continues as a non-EU processing node or is wound down.

E-commerce payment platforms

Georgian PSPs serving international merchant acquiring for non-EU e-commerce operators.

Operators with CIS/MENA client bases

Who do not need EU passporting and prefer Georgia's speed, cost, and tax efficiency over an EU license.

Application Requirements

• •Corporate structure — incorporate a Georgian LLC (SHPS — Shezghuduli Pasukhismgeblobis Sazogadoeba) or JSC with registered office in Georgia. The LLC is standard for fintech operators.
• •Directors and management — administrators of the PSP (supervisory board members, board of directors members, or individuals with independent authority) must have no serious criminal record and relevant financial or management experience. The NBG conducts fit-and-proper assessments.
• •AML/CFT framework — a documented AML/CFT programme aligned with Georgian Anti-Money Laundering law is mandatory: risk-based CDD, transaction monitoring, STR/SAR filing procedures, MLRO appointment.
• •IT system — the NBG may request a demonstration of the electronic system used for payment services as part of the review. The IT infrastructure must be operational or clearly scoped before registration.
• •Business plan — description of proposed payment services, target market, operational model, and compliance approach.

Application documents

• •Completed NBG registration form
• •List of proposed payment services
• •Company registration documents (certificate, charter/articles)
• •Passports and CVs of all administrators and significant shareholders
• •AML/CFT policy documentation
• •IT system description or technical specifications
• •Business plan

Application fee: GEL 5,000 (~USD $1,800) payable to the NBG at application submission.

Georgia PSP vs Other Fast-Start Payment Structures

Cost Breakdown

No capital requirement. No annual NBG fee. The Georgia PSP is the most cost-efficient central bank-supervised payment registration available globally in 2026 — the cheapest payment license in 2026 for operators who do not require EU passporting.

How Zitadelle AG Assists

• Initial scoping — confirming whether a Georgia PSP registration fits your business model or whether an EU EMI/PI is required for your target market
• Georgian LLC incorporation and registered office setup
• Full National Bank of Georgia application preparation — registration form, payment service scope, and supporting documentation
• AML/CFT framework design aligned with Georgian Anti-Money Laundering law — including MLRO appointment and transaction monitoring procedures
• Administrator and shareholder fit-and-proper preparation
• IT system documentation and NBG demonstration coordination
• Banking introductions to Georgian credit institutions
• Post-registration compliance support and Georgia-as-interim-structure planning for operators progressing toward an EU license

Zitadelle AG manages Georgia PSP registration end-to-end from our Cyprus headquarters, supporting remittance operators, crypto-adjacent payment businesses, and fast-start fintechs across the CIS, MENA, and Eastern European corridors. Contact Zitadelle AG for a confidential initial consultation on your Georgia PSP registration.