If you want to engage in regulated activities as a consumer credit broker, you need to be authorised by us. Find out how to apply for authorisation.
Read everything listed below
Start with our main 'how to apply' page for all firms
Prepare your application
Include your business plan and other supporting material
Pay the application fee
You must pay this in order to apply
Submit your application
You'll do this on our Connect system
This page is for:
- primary credit brokers (where your main business is helping customers find credit and hire agreements)
- motor dealers
- vets
- dentists
- gyms
- golf clubs
- other secondary credit brokers (where credit broking isn’t your main business, eg yacht brokers)
What to read first
The application process
Our how to apply page explains:
- our expectations of all firms
- the application process
- how to avoid delays with your application
You must read this page in full before submitting your application through our Connect system.
The page for your type of firm
Refer to the other page in this section that's relevant to your type of firm. This has extra information on what to include in your application, and the permissions you may need to apply for:
Supporting material
Along with your application form, you'll need to provide a range of supporting documentation depending on your type of firm. This includes your:
- regulatory business plan
- financial forecasts
- required policies, procedures and other relevant forms on Connect
Check what supporting material you need to include.
Our letters to your sector
Review the letters we've sent to your sector.
This includes our Dear CEO letter that focuses on how you should implement our Consumer Duty, which requires your firm to put its customers’ needs first.
Limited or Full Permission
You'll either have to apply for Limited Permission or Full Permission, depending on the regulated activities you engage in and the circumstances in which you carry them out.
You'll select one of these options when you start your application on Connect.
Limited Permission firms only carry out certain credit-related activities, so are subject to fewer threshold conditions (our minimum standards) than other firms. All other firms are Full Permission firms. Whether you're applying for Limited or Full Permission, the application process is the same.
Application fee
You have to pay a fee to submit your application. The fee is non-refundable.
If you're applying for:
- Limited Permission your fee falls into pricing category 2
- Full Permission your fee will be higher, and the pricing category will depend on the regulated activities you intend to carry out
Find out more about our authorisation fees, including our pricing categories and how to pay.
Final check and submit
Before you submit everything on Connect, give it one more check to be sure you've included everything.
Our how to apply page has 3 top tips to ensure your application goes smoothly, and explains what happens after you've submitted it.
If you need more help
Please contact us on 0300 500 0597. We're open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm, and Thursday 9.45am to 5pm.
