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FSCFinancial Services Commission

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize licenses non-bank financial services under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 and registers securities firms under the Securities Industry Act, 2021. Any firm can be checked on the FSC's public list of licensed and registered service providers in LicenSys, where each entry carries a licence or registration number, a category, a status and the domain name on record. FSCA licence fees are 1,000 USD to apply and 5,000 USD to 25,000 USD a year, while a securities registration for trading in securities as agent or principal carries BZ$30,000 on registration and BZ$30,000 a year. A licence is granted for a fixed period of one year, and a complaint goes to the firm first and then to the FSC through its online form.

Country
Belize
Jurisdiction
Government Reg.
Established in
1999
License search is not available for this regulator
Forex Regulation
50
Overall Rating
109
Licensed Brokers
Medium
Transparency Index
Tier 3
Global Tier
IOSCO Member
FATF Member
The regulator
Updated

About FSC

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize licenses non-bank financial services under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 and registers securities firms under the Securities Industry Act, 2021. Any firm can be checked on the FSC's public list of licensed and registered service providers in LicenSys, where each entry carries a licence or registration number, a category, a status and the domain name on record. FSCA licence fees are 1,000 USD to apply and 5,000 USD to 25,000 USD a year, while a securities registration for trading in securities as agent or principal carries BZ$30,000 on registration and BZ$30,000 a year. A licence is granted for a fixed period of one year, and a complaint goes to the firm first and then to the FSC through its online form.

Tier 3
Brokers on the record
109
Compensation cap
None
Retail leverage cap
1:1000
Cost of a licence
USD 20,000–30,000

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is the sole independent statutory authority in Belize responsible for regulating the financial services sector. The Commission operates under the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC), which was the initial name of the Commission under the IFSC Act.

It transitioned to the FSC due to the implementation of the restructured authority on January 1, 2022. The Commission is self-funding, and the organization is guided by its principles, which are integrity, accountability, flexibility, and reliability.

 

Legislative Framework

The Commission derives its statutory powers from the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023, and from the Securities Industry Act of 2021. The Commission administers the Securities Industry Act; therefore, it registers, supervises, and regulates the Belize stock exchange. The Commission received new oversight powers as a result of the passage of the Belize Companies Act of 2021, which facilitated oversight of the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR). The Commission also regulates the areas of Business Names (Cap. 247), Limited Liability Partnerships (Cap. 258), International Foundations (Cap. 24:02), International Limited Liability Companies (Cap. 270:10), the Trusts Act (Cap. 202), and Non-Governmental Organizations (Cap. 315).

 

Responsibilities and Functions

The Commission is responsible for promoting the public interest and developing confidence in the financial system in Belize. The Commission undertakes the following functions; to market Belize as a financial services destination; use the reputation of Belize as a weak and untrustworthy financial centre of financial institutions; to develop and offer recommendation for the Governments consideration on policy matters; to support the provision of capital formation for economic development; to protect retail investors against fraud and other improper practices; and to provide an efficient and transparent market.

The Commission also has responsibility for encouraging systemic risk awareness, promoting the formation of companies, and enhancing consumer awareness of the financial system and investment risks.

 

Governance Structure

The Commission is governed by the Board of Commissioners, which is composed of a Chair, the Director-General, and seven other persons. The Minister of Finance appoints the Chair, who is the current Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. The Board of Commissioners appoints the Director-General, provided that consent has been obtained from the Minister.

The Director-General is the Deputy Chair, CEO, and also the Registrar of several Registries: Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry, International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, Limited Liability Partnerships Registry, International Trusts Registry, International Foundations Registry, and the International Limited Liability Companies Registry.

 

Vision and Mission

The Commission envisions itself as having responsive regulatory powers, focusing on competitiveness, fairness, safety, and stability in Belize's financial sector, while fulfilling its obligations to capital development. The Commission's mission includes the following objectives: to protect investors, ensure transparent and efficient markets, manage systemic risk, and support the growth of the country's financial services industry.

On the record

Established
1999
Country
Belize
Oversight
Government body
Scope
Regulates forex and CFD brokers
Membership
IOSCO and FATF member
Transparency
Medium
Public register
Published
Website
ifsc.gov.bz
Phone
5018222974
Hotline
501-822-3800
Email
info@belizefsc.org.bz
Online contact
belizefsc.org.bz
Protection check

What a licence from FSC protects

No compensation scheme is recorded for firms licensed by FSC; a dispute a firm will not settle can go to FSC Complaints.

3 facts on record
  • No compensation scheme
  • Complaints routeFSC Complaints
  • Maximum leverage1:1000

What is protected

Before a licence is granted, an applicant must satisfy the FSC that it has met the Capital Requirement Regulations and the Economic Substance Act, and a licence runs for a fixed period of one year, so a firm has to requalify each year. The FSC also publishes Warning Notices, Suspension & Revocation Notices and IOSCO I-SCAN alerts. On the pages read for this report, the FSC publishes no investor compensation or guarantee scheme and no client money segregation cap, so a trader should not assume a payout ceiling exists behind this licence. The FSC's own Rights and Responsibilities of Investors page places the verification duty on the investor.

How to verify a licence

Open the FSC's public list of licensed and registered service providers at https://licensys.belizefsc.org.bz/#/publicSearch, the address the FSC gives in its own FAQ and Investor Centre. Use the Filter to search by Licence/Registration Number, by Category or by Licensee/Registrant Name. Each result row shows the licence or registration number, the category (for example Registered Agent, Trading in Securities as Agent, Approved Auditor), the licensee or registrant name, an e mail address, the Domain Name recorded for that licensee, the registration date, the status and any appointees. Statuses shown include Active and Annulled, so read the status before relying on a listing; on 27 August 2026 the current list held 120 entries. Two checks matter for a trader: the category has to match the service the firm is actually selling, and the Domain Name on record has to match the website taking the money. Then read the FSC's Warning Notices page and its Suspension & Revocation Notice page for the firm's name. The older page at www.ifsc.gov.bz/license-verification/, which the FAQ and the Rights and Responsibilities of Investors page still name, currently returns a page unavailable notice, so the LicenSys public search is the working route.

Official website

How to complain

The FSC sets out three steps. First, submit the complaint in writing or by email to the regulated entity, which is required to have a procedure to deal with complaints. Second, if the response is unsatisfactory, request a formal response in writing or email and document the persons, channels and timelines of communication. Third, lodge a formal complaint with the FSC using the online complaints form at www.ifsc.gov.bz/complaints/, attaching invoices, contracts, receipts, letters or emails. The complaint must be made in English and must give your full name, mailing address and contact number, the name of the regulated entity complained about, and the full details of the complaint. The FSC's pages set no fixed filing deadline: the trigger for escalating is that the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction or that no response arrives within a reasonable timeframe. The FSC states that where a matter falls within the jurisdiction of another organisation, regulator or agency, in Belize or elsewhere, it may forward the information to that body.

Hotline
501-822-3800
These are the rules FSC sets for the firms it licenses, read from its own record. They say nothing about how any one broker applies them, or which of its companies would hold your account; that is checked on each broker's own page.
Licensing terms

Getting licensed by FSC

A licence from FSC costs USD 20,000–30,000 to obtain on the record and covers 3 instrument types.

USD 20,000–30,000
Licence types
Investment Dealer (Full Service)
Business models allowed
Retail Agency (STP); Market Maker (Principal); Provide Liquidity (PoP)
Cost to obtain
USD 20000-30000
Coverage
Most countries worldwide (exceptions apply)
Not served
North Korea - UN-sanctioned countries

3 instruments regulated

  • Forex
  • Fund
  • Derivatives

Requirements, as FSC publishes them

Requirements for Obtaining a License under the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mauritius

To operate within Mauritius’s non-bank financial services sector or engage in global business activities, entities must obtain a license from the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The licensing process ensures adherence to regulatory standards and promotes transparency, compliance, and accountability.

Key Requirements for Licensing
  1. Application Submission
  • Applicants must complete the relevant license application form, available on the FSC’s official website.
  • The application must be accompanied by all required supporting documents and the prescribed application fee.
  1. Business Plan
  • A detailed business plan must be submitted, outlining:
  • Nature and scope of proposed activities.
  • Organizational structure, including key personnel and their qualifications.
  • Financial projections and risk management strategies.
  1. Compliance with Legal Frameworks
  • The applicant must comply with enabling legislations, including the Financial Services Act 2007, Securities Act 2005, Insurance Act 2005, and Private Pension Schemes Act 2012.
  • Regulatory requirements include anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) compliance.
  1. Minimum Capital Requirements
  • Entities must demonstrate financial capacity by meeting the FSC’s specified minimum capital requirements, which vary depending on the type of license sought.
  1. Fit and Proper Criteria
  • Key individuals (directors, officers, and senior management) must meet the FSC’s fit and proper criteria, which assess integrity, competence, and financial soundness.
  1. Internal Controls and Governance
  • Applicants must establish robust internal control systems and governance frameworks to ensure compliance with regulatory obligations.
  1. Documentary Requirements
  • Certified copies of incorporation or registration documents.
  • Identification documents of directors and shareholders.
  • Audited financial statements for existing entities or financial forecasts for new entities.
  • Risk management policies and procedures.
Application Process
  1. Pre-Application Stage
  • Review the FSC’s licensing guidelines and ensure all required information and documentation are prepared.
  1. Submission of Application
  • Submit the completed application form, along with supporting documents, to the FSC either in person or electronically.
  1. Payment of Fees
  • Pay the non-refundable application fee. Additional fees may apply for specific license types or activities.
  1. Review and Evaluation
  • The FSC evaluates the application to verify compliance with regulatory and legal standards. This may include due diligence checks on the entity and its key personnel.
  1. Decision on License
  • Upon successful evaluation, the FSC grants the license, allowing the applicant to commence regulated activities.
  1. Post-Licensing Obligations
  • Licensed entities must comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, including periodic reporting, payment of annual fees, and maintaining adequate financial resources.
Key Notes
  • Failure to disclose relevant information or meet the FSC’s standards may result in application rejection.
  • The FSC may request additional information or clarification during the evaluation process.
  • Licensed entities must maintain compliance with AML/CFT regulations and adhere to international best practices.

By following these steps and meeting the FSC’s requirements, applicants can obtain the necessary licenses to operate within Mauritius’s financial ecosystem. The FSC’s rigorous standards ensure a transparent, stable, and internationally credible regulatory environment.

From the documents
Reviewed

What FSC's own documents say

14 facts read from 6 official documents published by FSC, each quoted and linked to its source.

14 facts

Jurisdiction and scope

The FSC regulates and supervises non-bank financial services provided by entities licensed or registered under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 and the Securities Industry Act, 2021, plus oversight under the Municipal Securities Act, 2023. Its reach is Belize and services provided in or from within Belize. The FSCA side covers 14 named regulated services, from registered agent and money exchange to safe custody and payment processing, and the FSC's fee schedule also prices a licence for trading in commodity based and other financial instruments. Securities activities such as trading in securities as agent or principal, managing securities, providing investment advice and arranging transactions in securities sit on the SIA registration side. Banking supervision is outside this remit, which the FSC describes as non-bank financial services. The FSC's legislation page also lists the Financial Services Commission (Digital Asset Services Licensing) Regulations, 2025.

Using this regulator

Search the LicenSys public list by name and by number, and confirm the category matches the service being sold: an FSCA licence for one service does not authorise another, and a securities registration under the SIA is a separate permission. Compare the Domain Name column with the website you are actually depositing into, because a group can hold a licence in one entity and trade under a different site. Check the status field for Active, and read the Warning Notices and Suspension & Revocation Notice pages before funding an account. Keep every email and statement: the FSC's route starts with a written complaint to the firm and a formal response from it, and the online form asks for that evidence. Since a licence is granted for one year and renewals open on 1 October, a claim of a licence should be checked against the current list rather than a certificate image.

Good to know

All seven documents supplied for this run returned HTTP 403 to the harness because the site had rate limited the crawl, so each page was opened directly in a browser this run and quoted from the live text. Three of the four archived copies supplied (guidance notes, public notices, cookies policy) were stored compressed and could not be read; only the May 2025 copy of the Warning Notices page was legible. The Financial Services Commission Act, 2023 PDF and the Financial Services Commission (Capital Requirement) Regulations PDF returned no extractable text, so no clause of either Act or those Regulations is quoted here and no capital figure is stated. The pages at www.ifsc.gov.bz/license-verification/ and www.ifsc.gov.bz/license-service-provider/, both named in the FSC's FAQ and investor pages, return a page unavailable notice at the time of reading. No document establishing an investor compensation scheme, a client money segregation rule or a leverage limit was found on the FSC's own site, so none is reported. The domain on record, www.ifsc.gov.bz, serves the same pages as the FSC's current address www.belizefsc.org.bz, and the public register runs on the licensys subdomain.

Key facts

KeyVerifying a licence

Check a firm on the FSC public list in LicenSys

A trader can settle in a minute whether the number a broker quotes exists, whether it is still active, and whether the website taking deposits matches the domain the FSC has on file for that licensee.

The FSC publishes its licensed and registered service providers at https://licensys.belizefsc.org.bz/#/publicSearch, the address given in the FSC's own FAQ. Search by licence or registration number, by category or by name, and each row shows the number, category, licensee name, e mail, domain name on record, registration date and status.

You can access the LicenSys platform by visiting: https://licensys.belizefsc.org.bz/
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source
A list of the names of registered agents and publication of its contact information is available on the Commission’s webpage, https://licensys.belizefsc.org.bz/#/publicSearch
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source
Digital Certificates and Extracts: Verify and download official digital certificates and extracts securely.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: Frequently Asked Questions, LicenSys and Registered Agent answers

  • public register
  • license verification
  • retail clients
KeyScope of authorisation

A licensee may not act outside the licence it holds

A licence number on a broker's website means only the activity in that category. A registered agent or payment processing licence does not authorise dealing in securities, and a trader should match the category shown on the register against the service actually being sold.

The FSC states that a licensee shall not provide or purport to provide services outside the scope of its licence, and it lists the FSCA regulated services one by one, from accounting and bill pay to money exchange, mortgage lending, payment processing, registered agent and safe custody. Securities activities sit under a separate Securities Industry Act registration.

A Licensee shall not provide or purport to provide services that are outside the scope of the licence they hold.
Quoted in Types of LicensesRead the source
The following highlights the types of services that a person licensed by the Financial Services Commission (the ‘Commission’) under the Financial Services Commission Act (‘FSCA’) can provide based on the types of licence they hold.
Quoted in Types of LicensesRead the source
This includes overseeing the registration of entities and professionals operating within Belize’s securities market, ensuring adherence to the specific regulatory requirements governing securities activities.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: Types of Licenses, introduction and service table

  • retail clients
  • scope of authorisation
  • licence categories
KeyCost to get licensed

FSCA licence fees run to 25,000 USD a year

USD 25,000

This is the price of the licence a broker is relying on. The trading category is the most expensive annual fee on the schedule, which tells a trader how much a firm must pay every year to keep that permission alive, and what it loses if it does not renew.

Licence fees follow Schedule I of the Financial Services Commission (Licensing) Regulations, 2023. Most categories carry a 1,000 USD application fee, and annual fees range from 5,000 USD for accounting, bill pay, financial advisory, money exchange and payment processing to 7,500 USD for financial leasing, intermediation and money broking, 10,000 USD for mortgage lending and safe custody, and 25,000 USD for trading in commodity based and other financial instruments. Application fees are non refundable.

The following are the prescribed fees (both application fees and annual fees) in accordance with Schedule I of the Financial Services Commission (Licensing) Regulations, 2023, S.I. No. 120 of 2023.
Quoted in Licensing FeesRead the source
Note that Application Fees are Non-Refundable.
Quoted in Licensing FeesRead the source

Where in the document: Licensing Fees, Schedule 1 License Fees, rows 2 to 13

  • licence fee
  • cost to obtain
  • annual fee
KeyHow to complain

Complain to the firm first, then to the FSC online

Going straight to the FSC without a documented attempt at the firm sends a trader back a step. Keeping the written exchange, and asking for a formal response in writing, is what makes the FSC stage possible.

The FSC sets a three step route: complain in writing to the regulated entity, which must have a complaints procedure, obtain a formal response from it, then lodge the complaint with the FSC through the online complaints form with the supporting documents. The trigger for step three is that the matter is unresolved or that no response arrives within a reasonable timeframe, and the FSC's pages state no fixed filing deadline.

Each entity regulated by the FSC is required to have a procedure to deal with complaints.
QuotedRead the source
If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction by the registered entity or if you have not received a response within a reasonable timeframe, you may raise the issue with the FSC by filling out the below form.
Quoted in ComplaintsRead the source
Use the online complaints form to provide all necessary information and supporting documentation for review.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: How to Lodge a Formal Complaint, steps 1 to 3; Complaints page

  • retail clients
  • complaint route
KeyMembership and standing

FSC became an IOSCO Ordinary Member in January 2026

MMoU signatory status is the channel through which another country's regulator can obtain information from the FSC about a firm or an account, which matters to a trader who may need help from a home regulator.

The FSC records that in January 2026 it was admitted as an Ordinary Member of IOSCO, after acceptance as an Associate Member in May 2024 and designation as a signatory of the IOSCO Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding in December 2025.

In January 2026, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize was admitted as an Ordinary Member of IOSCO, marking a significant milestone in Belize’s continued integration into the international framework for cross-border securities regulation, supervision, and enforcement cooperation.
QuotedRead the source
This achievement builds on the FSC’s acceptance as an IOSCO Associate Member in May 2024, followed by its designation as a signatory of the IOSCO Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) in December 2025.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: International Organization of Securities Commissions page

  • iosco
  • membership standing
  • cross border

More facts, by topic

The FSC publishes its licensees in LicenSys, with a status field and a domain nameOne search settles it: the public list at licensys.belizefsc.org.bz shows the licence or registration number, the category, the status and the domain name recorded for each licensee. Match the category to the service being sold and the domain to the site taking your deposit. Then read the Warning Notices and Suspension & Revocation Notice pages, which sit outside the register.1 fact
UsefulVerifying a licence

Warning notices and revocation notices sit on separate pages

A firm can appear nowhere on the licensed list and still be trading, or can have held a licence that was later suspended. These two pages are where that shows up, and they are not part of the register search.

The FSC keeps a Warning Notices page for persons and companies that may be operating in breach of the FSC Act or the Securities Industry Act, and a separate Suspension & Revocation Notice page listing past suspensions and revocations of licences.

Warning notices includes warnings made on persons, whether these are individuals or companies, to alert the public and the financial services sector that, where such person offer financial services as defined in the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 (the “FSC Act”) and/or the Securities Industry Act, 2021 (SIA) from the address listed, may be operating in breach of the FSC Act and/or SIA, and any other applicable Laws of Belize.
QuotedRead the source
Our documents are organised by topic. Here you will find all past posted Suspension and Revocation Notices in one convenient place.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: Warning Notices page, opening paragraph; Suspension & Revocation Notice page

  • license verification
  • enforcement
  • warning notices
The public list is generated from the FSC's live licensing system120 entries were on the current list when it was read on 27 August 2026, each with a status such as Active or Annulled. Because LicenSys handles applications, renewals and amendments, the public search reflects the same records the FSC works from. Read the status column, not just the presence of a name.1 fact
UsefulPublic register

The register runs on LicenSys and shows current status

Because the public list is generated from the live licensing system, a lapsed or annulled permission shows in the same table as a valid one. Reading the status column, not just the presence of a name, is what tells a trader the licence is current.

Licensing, registration, renewals, amendments, compliance and reporting all run through LicenSys, and the public search draws on the same records. The result rows carry a status field, with Active and Annulled among the values shown, and the current list held 120 entries when read on 27 August 2026.

LicenSys is a modern digital platform designed to offer services under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 (FSCA) and the Securities Industry Act, 2021 (SIA) ensuring greater efficiency, security and accessibility.
QuotedRead the source
Real-Time Updates: Track the progress and status of your application.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: LicenSys page, platform description

  • public register
  • licensys
Protection here means supervision, published alerts and a complaints channelThe FSC's own investor page puts the duty to verify a provider on the investor, and the pages read for this report publish no compensation cap or guarantee fund.1 fact
UsefulWhat is protected

Investor protection rests on verification and complaints

It sets a realistic expectation. The protection on offer is supervision, published alerts and a complaints channel, and the pages read for this report publish no compensation cap or guarantee fund for money lost with a licensed firm.

The FSC's own Rights and Responsibilities of Investors page places the duty to verify a provider on the investor.

Protecting investors from unfair, improper, or fraudulent practices;
Quoted in The Financial Services CommissionRead the source
You have a responsibility to ask questions, verify and conduct your own research on the investment product or service.
QuotedRead the source
You are entitled to lodge a complaint with the FSC if you experience any grievance about an investment service, product, service provider or individual.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: The Financial Services Commission, Mandate and Core Functions; Rights and Responsibilities of Investors, items 2 to 4

  • retail clients
  • protection scope
  • investor education
Three steps: the firm, its formal response, then the FSC online formEvery regulated entity must have a complaints procedure, so the first step is a written complaint to the firm. If it is unresolved, or no answer arrives within a reasonable timeframe, the FSC takes the complaint through its online form in English with the supporting documents. The FSC states no fixed filing deadline, and may pass a matter to another regulator where jurisdiction lies elsewhere.1 fact
UsefulHow to complain

Complaints must be in English and may be forwarded on

It tells a trader outside Belize exactly what to submit, and sets the expectation that a matter about an entity supervised elsewhere can be passed to that other authority rather than decided by the FSC.

A complaint to the FSC must be made in English and must include the complainant's full name, mailing address and contact number, the name of the regulated entity, and full details of the complaint. Where the FSC considers the matter falls within the jurisdiction of another organisation, regulator or agency, in Belize or elsewhere, it may forward the information to that body.

Your complaint to the FSC must be made in English and must include the following information
Quoted in ComplaintsRead the source
If the FSC considers that your matter falls within the jurisdiction of another government organization, regulator or agency, in Belize or elsewhere, we may forward your information to that entity.
QuotedRead the source

Where in the document: Complaints page, required information and Notes

  • complaint route
  • jurisdiction
Licences run for one year and require capital and local substance up frontOne year is the fixed period for which a licence may be granted, with renewals opening on 1 October and encouraged by 31 December. Before a first licence is granted, the applicant must satisfy the FSC on the Capital Requirement Regulations and the Economic Substance Act, through a bank confirmation, a parent company guarantee, or indemnity insurance for a sole practitioner.2 facts
UsefulLicensing requirements

A licence is granted for a fixed period of one year

A licence certificate dated a year or more ago proves nothing on its own. Checking the register in the first months of a calendar year, when renewals are being processed, is the moment a lapse would show.

The FSC states that a licence may be granted for a fixed period of one year. Renewal opens on 1 October in any given year, and licence holders are encouraged to submit the renewal application no later than 31 December, through LicenSys.

A licence may be granted by the Commission for a fixed period of one (1) year.
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source
The opening date for renewal is 1st October in any given year. Licence holders are encouraged to submit their renewal application no later than 31st December.
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source

Where in the document: Frequently Asked Questions, Registered Agent Licence answers

  • public register
  • licensing requirements
  • renewal
UsefulLicensing requirements

Capital and economic substance come before the licence

It shows the licence carries a financial and local presence test at entry, and that the capital can be evidenced by a guarantee or insurance rather than cash held for clients.

The FSC states that a licence shall not be granted unless the applicant satisfies it that the requirements of the Capital Requirement Regulations and the Economic Substance Act have been met. A company can meet capitalisation through a bank or licensed financial institution or a parent company guarantee, and a sole practitioner through approved indemnity insurance.

A licence shall not be granted unless the applicant satisfies the Commission that it has met the requirements of the Capital Requirements Regulations and the Economic Substance Act.
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source
Where the applicant is a sole practitioner, the capitalisation requirement may be met via the request for approval to accept proof of indemnity insurance by an insurance provider licensed under the Insurance Act or International Insurance Act and the proposed indemnity insurance coverage must be in an amount appropriate to the activities, scale and complexity of the operations or business activities of the applicant.
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source

Where in the document: Frequently Asked Questions, capital requirement answer

  • licensing requirements
  • capital
  • economic substance
Non-bank financial services provided in or from within BelizeThe FSC's remit is non-bank financial services under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 and the Securities Industry Act, 2021, plus oversight under the Municipal Securities Act, 2023, the Belize Companies Act, 2022 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act, 2025. Banking supervision is outside it. The legislation page also lists the Digital Asset Services Licensing Regulations, 2025.1 fact
ContextJurisdiction and limits

The FSC covers non-bank services in or from Belize

It marks the edge of the licence: banking is outside this remit, and the permission attaches to services provided in or from within Belize, which is what a trader is relying on when a broker cites a Belize licence.

The FSC describes itself as the statutory authority regulating and supervising non-bank financial services provided by entities licensed or registered under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 and the Securities Industry Act, 2021, with further oversight under the Municipal Securities Act, 2023, the Belize Companies Act, 2022 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act, 2025.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is a statutory authority established in Belize to regulate & supervise non-bank financial services, provided by entities licensed or registered under the Financial Services Commission Act, No. 8 of 2023 and the Securities Industry Act, 2021 (SIA).
Quoted in The Financial Services CommissionRead the source
The legislative mandate of the FSC is to provide regulatory services that protects the public interest and enhance public confidence in the sectors it regulates.
Quoted in The Financial Services CommissionRead the source

Where in the document: The Financial Services Commission, opening paragraphs

  • scope of authorisation
  • jurisdiction
Annual fees reach 25,000 USD under the FSCA and BZ$30,000 for securities trading25,000 USD a year is the top annual fee in Schedule I of the 2023 Licensing Regulations, for trading in commodity based and other financial instruments, against 1,000 USD to apply. On the securities side, trading in securities as agent or principal costs BZ$3,000 to apply, BZ$30,000 on registration and BZ$30,000 a year, and a late annual fee compounds monthly for up to six months.1 fact
UsefulCost to get licensed

Securities registration costs BZ$30,000 a year to trade

BZD 30,000

It shows what a securities registration in Belize actually costs a firm each year, and what happens if a firm falls behind: the late fee compounds monthly, so a registration in arrears can become expensive to restore.

Securities fees follow Schedule II of the Securities Industry Regulations, 2023. Trading in securities as agent or as principal carries a BZ$3,000 application fee, a BZ$30,000 registration fee and a BZ$30,000 annual renewal fee, while providing investment advice is BZ$15,000 a year and arranging transactions in securities is BZ$10,000 a year. Late payment of the annual renewal fee adds one further annual fee for each month it is unpaid, up to six months.

The following are the prescribed fees (both application fees and annual fees) in accordance with Schedule II of the Securities Industry Regulations, 2023, S.I. No. 139 of 2023.
Quoted in Securities FeesRead the source
The late fee is equal to the relevant annual renewal fee for each month or part of a month during which the fee is unpaid up to six (6) months after the annual renewal date.
Quoted in Securities FeesRead the source
Full fee for function with the highest fee and $5,000 for each additional Category.
Quoted in Securities FeesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities Fees, Registration Fees rows 5 to 9 and Late Payment Fees row 17

  • cost to obtain
  • annual fee
  • securities
Financial services without an FSC licence is a criminal offence in BelizeSection 7(1) of the Financial Services Commission Act prohibits carrying on financial services without a licence, and the FSC states that doing so would constitute a criminal offence. That is the basis for its warning notices, and it means a firm claiming Belize regulation while absent from the licensed list is outside the law, not in a grey zone.1 fact
UsefulOther useful facts

Operating without a licence is a criminal offence

It is the legal basis for the warning notices, and it means a firm claiming Belize regulation without an entry on the licensed list is not in a grey area under Belize law.

The FSC states that section 7(1) of the Financial Services Commission Act prohibits carrying on or transacting any financial services without a licence from the FSC, and that doing so would constitute a criminal offence. Financial services are a regulated activity by virtue of section 6 of the Act.

Section 7(1) of the FSCA prohibits persons from carrying on or transacting any financial services, including registered agents without a licence from the FSC; and doing so without a licence would constitute a criminal offence.
Quoted in Frequently Asked QuestionsRead the source

Where in the document: Frequently Asked Questions, registered agent licensing answers

  • scope of authorisation
  • enforcement
  • definitions

6 documents examined

Read by Wikilix from FSC's published documents; every fact links to the page or file it came from.Last reviewed
Licensed brokers

Brokers licensed by FSC

109 brokers on the Wikilix record hold a licence from FSC; the 10 highest-scored are below, and the finder searches them all.

109 brokers

  1. Rank 1

    BYBIT

    Regulated    Mauritius · since 2018    Wikilix score 62.0
  2. Rank 2

    VARIANSE

    Regulated    United Kingdom · since 2015    Wikilix score 57.0
  3. Rank 3

    M&H

    Regulated    Argentina · since 2014    Wikilix score 57.0
  4. Rank 4

    CPT Markets

    Regulated    Belize · since 2014    Wikilix score 56.0
  5. Rank 5

    VSTAR

    Regulated    Australia · since 2020    Wikilix score 55.0
  6. Rank 6

    Trading 212

    Suspicious Clone    United Kingdom · since 2013    Wikilix score 55.0
  7. Rank 7

    BDSwiss

    Offshore    Comoros · since 2012    Wikilix score 55.0
  8. Rank 8

    Motilal Oswal

    Regulated    India · since 1987    Wikilix score 54.0
  9. Rank 9

    EXNCM

    Regulated    Australia · since 2014    Wikilix score 54.0
  10. Rank 10

    FBS

    Regulated    Belize · since 2009    Wikilix score 54.0

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