The Mauritius FSC Payment Intermediary Services (PIS) licence is increasingly sought by fintechs and payment processors using Mauritius as a regulated hub to serve African markets — without obtaining licences in multiple African jurisdictions.
The Mauritius Payment Intermediary Services licence is issued by the FSC under the National Payment Systems Act 2018, authorising payment processing, money transmission, and digital payment services targeted at cross-border transactions. Fintechs increasingly use the Mauritius PIS licence as an efficient regulatory framework for serving African remittance and merchant payment corridors without multi-jurisdictional licences.
Marensa Advisory advises on PIS licence applications, AML/CFT programme design for payment services, and ongoing FSC regulatory compliance for payment businesses operating from Mauritius.
Discuss Your PIS Licence ApplicationThe FSC assesses AML/CFT controls, technology infrastructure, and management qualifications most rigorously in PIS applications.
The PIS licence provides a practical regulatory framework for Africa-focused payment businesses — offering FSC regulation, DTA treaty access through the Mauritius structure, and a cost-efficient compliance footprint.
Marensa Advisory advises payment businesses on PIS licensing as part of a broader Mauritius market entry strategy — combining the PIS licence with GBC structure and ongoing FSC compliance.
Start the ConversationA Mauritius PIS licence covers payment intermediary services to clients outside Mauritius — including retail and corporate clients in Africa. Local licences in each African jurisdiction may also be required depending on the service type and regulatory requirements in each country.
A UK PI licence is required for operating in the UK and provides regulatory credibility with European institutional counterparties. A Mauritius PIS licence is preferred for Africa-corridor payments at lower cost and compliance overhead. Both can be held simultaneously for dual-jurisdiction operations.
Typically 3–5 months from submission of a complete application to the FSC.
Yes. The typical structure is a Mauritius GBC that holds the PIS licence — combining DTA treaty access, FSC regulation, and payment service authorisation in a single entity.