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Business Licenses and Permits in the EU
For regulated activities, registering a company is not enough: you need a license or permit. We help you understand the requirements, prepare the documents and go through the procedure in Latvia and other EU countries.
Whether you need a business license in the EU depends on what you do. Some activities can start right after the company is registered, while others need permission from the relevant authority. This applies, for example, to financial and payment services, trade in excise goods, transport, tourism services, construction, healthcare and security. Requirements vary by country and activity: sometimes a notification is enough, sometimes you need capital, qualified staff, premises and internal policies.
We start by asking whether you need a license at all, and which one. Then we list the requirements, assess whether your company can meet them, prepare the documents and support the filing. Our main country is Latvia; for other EU countries we work case by case.
Who it is for
- Companies in Latvia starting a regulated activity
- Entrepreneurs choosing an EU country for a licensed business
- Companies whose application the regulator sent back for revisions
- Business owners who are not sure whether they need a license
Requirements
- A registered company in the licensing country
- Meeting capital, staff and premises requirements where they apply
- Internal policies and procedures for certain activities
- Vetting of owners and managers by the regulator
- Ongoing compliance with the license conditions after it is granted
What we do
- Determine whether you need a license and which one
- List the requirements and assess whether you can meet them
- Prepare the application and the document pack
- Support the filing and answer the authority's requests
- Advise on staying compliant with the license conditions afterwards
Key documents
- Company registration documents
- Details of owners, managers and responsible persons
- Description of the activity and a business plan, if required
- Proof of staff qualifications
- Documents for the premises, if needed
- Internal policies and procedures, which we prepare together with you
How it works
- Analysistype of activity, country and whether a license is needed
- Requirementscapital, staff, premises and policies: what you have and what is missing
- Preparationdocuments, policies and details of managers and owners
- Filingthe application to the relevant authority
- Reviewanswering requests; timing depends on the authority and the type of license
Timeline
Timing depends on the activity and the authority: simple permits are issued quickly, financial licenses take much longer.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- Operating without the required license can lead to fines and a ban on the activity
- The authority may refuse if owners or managers do not pass vetting
- Capital and staffing requirements for financial licenses are high, so we assess them before starting
- Review times depend on the authority and can be long
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is on request. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
How do I know if my company needs a business license in the EU?
Tell us what the company will do and in which country. We match the activity against the list of regulated activities and tell you whether you need a license, a notification or nothing extra.
How long does it take to get a license?
It depends on the activity and the authority: simple permits are issued quickly, while financial licenses take a long time to review. We give an estimate after analyzing the requirements for your case.
Can I get a license in Latvia and work across the EU?
For certain activities, such as financial services, EU rules let you work in other member states under one license after a notification. For most other permits, the rules of each specific country apply.
What if the authority sends my application back?
We go through the comments, add the missing documents and file a reply. If the problem is a requirement the company does not meet, we suggest options: change the structure, hire a specialist or choose another country.
Do you work with financial licenses?
We help assess the requirements and prepare. Financial licenses require capital, qualified staff and detailed internal procedures, so first we give you an honest view of whether it is realistic for your project.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
