What this page covers
Quick answer: The FSCA publishes a searchable register of every licensed provider. Key figures: how long the check takes 1 min; the register costs nothing Free; the only status that counts Active; fields worth reading 7. Figures current at 27 September 2026, from Financial Sector Conduct Authority, FAIS regulated entities.
The FSCA publishes a searchable register of every licensed provider. It takes about a minute to check, and it answers a question no marketing page will answer honestly.
⬇ Download this chart (PNG) · Free to reuse with the credit “Source: TradeAnswers, How to Verify an FSP Licence” (CC BY 4.0).
| Field | What to read from it |
|---|---|
| FSP number | The licence identifier; confirm it matches what the broker advertises |
| Legal name | Must match the entity you are contracting with, not the brand |
| Status | Active, lapsed, suspended or withdrawn |
| Categories | What the firm may do; see the categories reference |
| Product subcategories | The specific products the licence covers |
| Conditions | Restrictions attached to the licence |
| Key individuals | Who is accountable at the firm |
Source: TradeAnswers, How to Verify an FSP Licence. Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY 4.0).
| Finding | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| No record at all | The firm is not licensed here |
| Status not active | The licence is not currently in force |
| Legal name differs from the contracting entity | You would be contracting with an unlicensed entity |
| Products you were sold are not listed | The licence does not cover them |
| Only a representative record | The firm itself is not the licensed provider |
TradeAnswers · CC BY 4.0
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active | The licence is in force |
| Lapsed | Not renewed; the firm may not conduct licensed business |
| Suspended | In force but restricted, pending a regulatory process |
| Withdrawn | Cancelled |
| No record | Not licensed in South Africa at all |
TradeAnswers · CC BY 4.0
How these figures work
The register is a public database of every licensed provider, searchable by name or by FSP number. Each record shows the legal entity, the status, the categories held, the product subcategories within each, any conditions, and the key individuals responsible.
The check that matters is not whether a record exists but whether the record matches what you are being sold, by the entity you are actually contracting with.
★ A worked example
A trader is about to open an account with a platform marketed under a short brand name.
The client agreement, in the fine print, names a different legal entity registered offshore. Searching the brand on the register returns a South African entity with an active Category I licence. Searching the entity on the agreement returns nothing.
The South African licence belongs to a marketing arm. The contracting party is the offshore entity, and it is not licensed here. Every protection the licence implies applies to a company that is not the one holding the money.
✕ Common mistakes
- Searching the brand rather than the legal entity. The contracting party is named in the client agreement, and it is often a different company.
- Accepting an FSP number from the website. Numbers are copied and lapsed licences keep theirs. The register is the only authority.
- Not reading the status field. A suspended licence still produces a record. Active is the only status that means what it appears to.
- Skipping the conditions. A licence can carry restrictions that exclude exactly the activity being offered to you.
Notes on reading these figures
- The brand on the website and the legal entity on the client agreement are often different. Check the agreement, then search that name.
- An FSP number in a footer proves nothing on its own. Numbers are copied, and a lapsed licence keeps its number.
- Where a broker is licensed elsewhere and not here, that is a choice you can make knowingly. What you lose is recourse through the FAIS Ombud.
To put these figures to work, the FSCA FSP Licence Categories runs the arithmetic on your own numbers, and FAIS Ombud Complaint Process covers the same ground in ordinary language. Comparing FSCA regulated brokers and South African Financial Laws Reference go into the detail this table only summarises.
Terms used on this page
See also: Am I Ready to Start Trading? A Practical Checklist and PAYE, UIF and SDL Reference and South African Government Debt Reference.
Spotted an outdated figure? If a figure or rate on this page no longer matches its source, email us the page and the source. A material correction is dated on the Updates Log.
How these figures are compiled, checked and corrected: our data methodology.
Cite this page
Barosso, G. (2026, September 27). How to Verify an FSP Licence. TradeAnswers. https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/how-to-verify-an-fsp-licence.htmlBarosso, G (2026) How to Verify an FSP Licence, TradeAnswers, figures current at 27 September 2026, https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/how-to-verify-an-fsp-licence.htmlThe tables and the CSV on this page are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 licence: attribution with a link to this page. See the Press & Data Licence page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the register?
On the FSCA site, under FAIS regulated entities. It is public, free and requires no account.
What if the broker is not listed?
Then it is not licensed in South Africa. That is a decision you can make knowingly, but you fall outside the FAIS Ombud.
How often is the register updated?
Continuously, as licences are granted, amended, suspended and withdrawn. Check it again before a large deposit.
What is a key individual?
The person accountable for the licensed activities at the firm. The register names them, which is useful when a firm changes hands.
Does a foreign licence count?
Not for South African client protections. A firm licensed elsewhere may be well regulated there, but the FAIS Ombud cannot help you.
What should I keep a record of?
A screenshot of the register entry on the day you opened the account, with the legal entity name and status visible.
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