Seychelles · Offshore regulator

FSA Seychelles Financial Services Authority (Seychelles)

Offshore licensing authority used by many brokers for their "global" entity. Rules on leverage and client money are far lighter than in the EU.

Official website

An offshore licensing centre

The Financial Services Authority of Seychelles licenses securities dealers, including a large number of international forex and CFD brokers' "global" entities. Licences are quicker and cheaper to obtain than in Europe, capital requirements are lower, and supervision is lighter.

What it means for Europeans

Seychelles entities are typically used to offer what European rules do not allow: leverage of 500:1 or more, bonuses and trading competitions. There is no investor compensation scheme comparable to EU schemes and no EU ombudsman. A Seychelles licence does not authorise a firm to provide investment services to EU residents.

If you are an EU resident and your broker has onboarded you with its Seychelles entity, you have given up EU protections. See unregulated and offshore brokers.

25 firms in our register with a FSA Seychelles licence