Payment Service Provider (PSP)
Payment Service Provider is the umbrella label for licensed payment companies where the precise permission set depends on the home regulator. The current PSP shelf points to the Malta authorised payment-institution file, so buyers should treat the card as a
Payment Service Provider overview
Payment Service Provider is the umbrella label for licensed payment companies where the precise permission set depends on the home regulator. The current PSP shelf points to the Malta authorised payment-institution file, so buyers should treat the card as a Malta/EU payment route, not a generic global PSP permission. Use this label as a starting point, then read the actual permission schedule. Payment accounts, acquiring, remittance and payment execution all carry different operational, safeguarding and compliance requirements, and the handover depends on the buyer's governance and banking story.
PSP files are chosen by payment flow, provider stack and safeguarding model.
A payment service provider route should be matched to the buyer’s exact flows: acquiring support, merchant onboarding, payout routing, remittance, open banking or technical processing. SKY7 checks whether the file legally and operationally supports that role. The category depends heavily on provider continuity. A buyer should review banking/EMI relationships, processor contracts, safeguarding or settlement arrangements, AML responsibilities and any restrictions on merchant risk verticals.
FAQ
PSP buyer questions
01 What is the first PSP scoping question?
Define whether the business is regulated payment provision, technical processing, programme management or a hybrid. The answer changes the route.
02 Why do provider contracts matter so much?
A PSP file without usable banking, EMI, acquiring or processor relationships may need a full operational rebuild after transfer.
03 When is a PSP route not enough?
It is not enough when the product issues e-money, holds client balances in a way that needs EMI permissions, or touches higher-risk activities outside the file scope.
Tell us what you need
Discuss Payment Service Provider with SKY7
Tell us the intended activity, target markets, ownership and timing. We will return a focused route and the evidence needed for the next step.