What does it take to get a remittance licence in Somalia?
To hold a remittance licence in Somalia, you need the Money Transfer Business licence from Central Bank of Somalia. Published timeline: The central bank completes a completeness check within thirty days and decides within sixty days of a complete application; the licence issues within 14 days of the deposit of the performance security (regs 14/18/20). 17 entities currently hold a remittance licence in Somalia. Full requirements — minimum capital, local presence, timeline, local ownership, fees and ongoing obligations — are set out below in each instrument's own words, with source and date; amounts are in the statute's own currency.
“Cross-border remittance” here is the normalized activity: Provide inbound/outbound cross-border money transfer / remittance services under a dedicated licence, approval or registration (IMTO/MRP/MTSP/ADLA-type).
Activity id (as used by the Afriset MCP): fintech:REMITTANCE_XBORDER
Money Transfer Business
Central Bank of Somalia| Requirement | As published | Source | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | Not officially published: The Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations 2014 fix no minimum-capital figure: capital is required « commensurate with the risk exposures assumed » (a risk-based, fit-and-proper requirement), with no official amount published. The quantified US$60,000 is a PERFORMANCE SECURITY (reg 20, Section 54(1) FIL) — a security deposit carried as an ongoing obligation, never presented as minimum capital. | Central Bank of Somalia — Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations, 2014 (CBS/NBS/REG/0002, under ss. 50/54/120 of the Financial Institutions Law) — reg 11 (fee), regs 14/18/20 (timeline + performance security), regs 30–31 (annual renewal) | 2014 |
| Local presence / incorporation | A money transfer business must be incorporated/organized, and the application must include its certificate of incorporation (or articles of incorporation/organization) and bylaws; each « place of business » is a location in Somalia. Verbatim“incorporation, or articles of incorporation as amended and supplemented, and bylaws (if a company)” | Central Bank of Somalia — Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations, 2014 (CBS/NBS/REG/0002, under ss. 50/54/120 of the Financial Institutions Law) — reg 11 (fee), regs 14/18/20 (timeline + performance security), regs 30–31 (annual renewal) | 2014 |
| Timeline | The central bank completes a completeness check within thirty days and decides within sixty days of a complete application; the licence issues within 14 days of the deposit of the performance security (regs 14/18/20). Verbatim“60 days after the date a complete application is filed” | Central Bank of Somalia — Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations, 2014 (CBS/NBS/REG/0002, under ss. 50/54/120 of the Financial Institutions Law) — reg 11 (fee), regs 14/18/20 (timeline + performance security), regs 30–31 (annual renewal) | 2014 |
| Local ownership | No such requirement: The Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations 2014 impose no local-shareholding or nationality cap on a money transfer business. | Central Bank of Somalia — Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations, 2014 (CBS/NBS/REG/0002, under ss. 50/54/120 of the Financial Institutions Law) — reg 11 (fee), regs 14/18/20 (timeline + performance security), regs 30–31 (annual renewal) | 2014 |
| Fees | Non-refundable application fee US$1,000 (reg 11). Verbatim“application fee of US$1,000” | Central Bank of Somalia — Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations, 2014 (CBS/NBS/REG/0002, under ss. 50/54/120 of the Financial Institutions Law) — reg 11 (fee), regs 14/18/20 (timeline + performance security), regs 30–31 (annual renewal) | 2014 |
| Ongoing obligations | A money transfer business must deposit and maintain a performance security of US$60,000 (reg 20, a security deposit under Section 54(1) FIL — not capital); licences renew annually, at least sixty days before expiry (regs 30–31); the central bank maintains a public statutory register of licensed money transfer businesses (regs 25–29). Verbatim“a performance security by the applicant of US$60,000 or such other amount as the central bank may prescribe in accordance with Section 54(1) … every year at least 60 days before expiry” | Central Bank of Somalia — Money Transfer Business Licensing Regulations, 2014 (CBS/NBS/REG/0002, under ss. 50/54/120 of the Financial Institutions Law) — reg 11 (fee), regs 14/18/20 (timeline + performance security), regs 30–31 (annual renewal) | 2014 |
Requirements as published in the cited instruments — not legal or compliance advice. Capital and fees are shown in the currency the statute itself uses. Where a value is located but not yet verified, we show that it exists but don't publish the figure. Verify directly with the regulator.
Maintained: this official source is re-checked on a weekly schedule — last checked 2026-08-04 · unchanged since the previous check.
Who already holds this licence?
17 entities are on the Central Bank of Somalia register under the Money Transfer Business category — view the register .
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