In 2025, more than 60% of new international brokerage firms choose Belize as the initial jurisdiction for licensing securities trading and forex services.
License: Key Requirements
Company Requirements
COREDO’s experience shows: choosing the right legal form is the foundation of successful licensing. For obtaining a financial license in Belize, two structures are optimal: an International Business Company (IBC) and a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Each format has its nuances, but for international brokerage and investment projects an IBC is most often preferable: due to the flexibility of corporate governance and the ability to work with non-resident shareholders.
Key requirement: minimum share capital of $500,000. This requirement applies to licenses for securities trading, forex, investment activity and asset management. In COREDO’s practice there were cases when clients tried to optimize capital structure, but the IFSC (Belize International Financial Services Commission) consistently requires documentary confirmation of full capitalization before submitting the application.
Another strategically important aspect is a resident director in Belize. According to IFSC regulatory standards, at least one board member must be a resident of the country. This is not a formality: the resident director is responsible for local compliance, interaction with the regulator and ensures the company’s physical presence. In several cases COREDO selected qualified resident directors with experience in financial and legal matters, which significantly sped up the licensing process and reduced the risk of refusal.
Business documents
The most important stage is preparing the documents for the application. The solution developed at COREDO includes comprehensive legal and financial documentation adapted to IFSC requirements and international standards.
The standard set of documents includes:
- Articles of Association, which set out the rights and obligations of members, the management structure and decision-making procedures.
- A business plan for obtaining a license in Belize, a detailed document including financial forecasts, a description of target markets, risk management strategies, plans for implementing FinTech solutions, as well as models of collective financing and investment protection.
- Information on directors and shareholders: detailed biographies, proof of qualifications, reference letters, KYC dossiers.
- AML and CFT policies: internal procedures for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, including descriptions of compliance methodologies, transaction monitoring systems, and staff training.
License: Obtaining
To proceed to the next stage, you must carefully study the application submission procedure and the document requirements.
Application Submission
The step-by-step procedure begins with submitting the documents to the Belize International Financial Services Commission (IFSC). At this stage, it is important not only to properly prepare the legal documents but also to ensure transparency of the corporate structure, sources of funding and the qualifications of key persons.
COREDO implemented a number of projects where special attention was paidabout the preparation of a business plan with financial forecasts, as well as the documentary formalization of the authorized capital. IFSC requires confirmation of the deposit of the minimum authorized capital ($500,000) into the account of the licensed company at a Belize bank – this is a mandatory condition for the consideration of the application.
Fees and payments include:
- One-time application fee (set by IFSC, usually from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the type of license).
- Annual license fee – $25,000, payable after approval and annually thereafter.
How to obtain a license and pass the review
After submitting the application IFSC conducts a comprehensive review of the company. This includes:
- Analysis of the corporate structure, shareholder transparency, absence of conflicts of interest, confirmation of directors’ qualifications.
- Review of the business plan and financial forecasts: realism, consistency with stated objectives, and the presence of risk management strategies.
- Assessment of AML and CFT policies, compliance with international standards, existence of compliance and KYC procedures, and staff training.
- Verification of authorized capital: confirmation of funds being credited to the account in a Belize bank.
The COREDO team repeatedly assisted clients during the review stage, including preparation for interviews with IFSC, collection of additional documents and clarifications on compliance procedures. In one case, thanks to detailed work on KYC processes and the implementation of FinTech solutions, the license was obtained in 8 weeks — one of the best results on the market.
After successful review IFSC issues a securities trading license in Belize. From that moment the company may legally carry out brokerage activities, asset management, investment and forex operations, and also work with payment systems (PSP license).
Annual obligations: risks and responsibilities
Annual fees and taxes: what to pay?
Licensed companies in Belize are subject to fixed annual fees:
- Annual license fee: $25,000. It is important to note that late payment leads to suspension of the license and fines.
- Stamp duty and administrative charges: usually do not exceed $1,000 per year.
- Taxes: Belize does not charge tax on profits from the sale of shares and securities transactions, which makes the jurisdiction attractive for international brokerage and investment structures.
Risks and responsibilities in business
Holding a securities trading license in Belize is associated with a number of legal and financial risks:
- legal risks: Violation of AML/CFT requirements, falsity of KYC documents, non-compliance with international reporting standards (IFRS) can lead to license revocation, fines and even criminal liability.
- Financial risks: Market fluctuations, insufficient capitalization, errors in asset management — all of this can affect business resilience and return on investment (ROI).
- Compliance risks: Regular IFSC inspections, implementation of new international standards, and legislative changes require continuous updating of internal procedures and staff training.
Practical conclusions on SEO
Key conclusions of the article
Obtaining a securities trading license in Belize is not just a formal process, but a strategic step toward scaling the business in international markets. Key stages confirmed by COREDO’s experience:
- company registration in Belize (IBC or LLC) with a minimum authorized capital of $500,000 and a resident director.
- Preparation of a business plan with financial forecasts, risk management strategies and implementation of FinTech solutions.
- Compliance with AML/CFT requirements, implementation of compliance procedures and KYC automation.
- Submission of the full document package to IFSC, payment of fees, passing the review and obtaining the license.
- Annual fulfillment of obligations — payment of fees, audit of financial statements, updating compliance policies.
Advantages and Prospects
A securities trading license in Belize opens access to the markets of Europe, Asia and the CIS, allows working with international investors, implementing modern payment systems and PSP licenses, and also using tax incentives.
COREDO has supported projects where the Belize license became a key driver for scaling brokerage business, providing a return on investment (ROI) above market-average levels by optimizing the tax burden and access to new markets.
Development prospects are linked to the ongoing improvement of Belize’s legislation, the implementation of international financial reporting standards (IFRS), strengthening compliance requirements and FinTech innovations. The COREDO team monitors these changes and integrates them into client solutions, ensuring long-term sustainability and business competitiveness.