Temporary permissions regime

The temporary permissions regime (TPR) enables relevant EEA firms and funds who were using the passporting regime to transition to the UK full regulatory regime.

The TPR ends at the end of 30 December 2023. As expected we have now determined most of the applications for full UK authorisation from firms in the TPR. Where this is not the case and firms want an update on their application, they should contact their case officer.

The FCA now expects any firms remaining in the TPR that do not have active applications for full UK authorisation to either apply to cancel their temporary permission or indicate that they expect to enter the UK’s Financial Services Contracts Regime (FSCR) to run-off any remaining UK business (if they are eligible).

We have published an update on landing slots for funds in the TMPR.

About the previous passporting regime

Before the end of the transition period, EEA financial services firms established in any EEA member state could use the passporting regime to establish a branch or provide services (without a UK branch) in the UK without being authorised by the PRA or the FCA. The passporting regime also allowed EEA-based investment funds to be marketed in the UK.

However, following the end of the transition period, EEA-based firms can no longer passport into the UK and EEA-based investment funds can no longer be marketed under a passport in the UK.

The TPR and TMPR

As part of the UK’s preparations for Brexit, the UK Government established the TPR for firms based in the EEA, and the temporary marketing permissions regime (TMPR) for EEA-based investment funds that passported into the UK.

The TPR allows EEA-based firms that were passporting into the UK at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020) to continue operating in the UK within the scope of their previous passport permission for a limited period after the end of the transition period. This is subject to having notified us that they wanted to join the TPR before the end of the transition period.

During this limited period, these firms must seek full authorisation by the PRA or the FCA in the UK, if required, to continue to access the UK market.

The TMPR allows certain EEA-based funds that were passporting into the UK at the end of the transition period to continue to be marketed in the UK in the same manner as they were before the transition period ended (again, subject to having notified us before the end of the transition period).

They can do this for a limited period while seeking UK recognition to continue to market in the UK.

There are other pages in this section about:

Gibraltar-based firms

Gibraltar-based firms can continue to passport into the UK and operate as they did before the end of the transition period. Gibraltar-based firms therefore don’t need to use the TPR. Find out more about passporting in and out of Gibraltar.

Contact us

If you have questions or need help, please contact us.

Page updates

: Information changed Updated with the latest information
: Information added TPR ending on 31 December 2023
: Information changed Updated for end of 2022
: Link added Passporting in and out of Gibraltar
: Link added Landing slots for firms in the TPR and cancelling a temporary permission
: Link changed Broken links fixed.
: Information added Updating the details of UK agents
: Information added Firms and funds can now notify us if they wish to use the TPR.
: Link added Added links to other pages in this section

31/01/2020: Information changed Updated with the latest information