Successful release of the online Applications and Authorisations Portal

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission is delighted to announce the successful production release of its new online Applications and Authorisations Portal, completed on 8 August 2025, just three months after its beta launch. 

The new portal, also known as the A&A Portal, streamlines the applications and authorisations process through a secure, online platform, making it significantly easier for people to start financial services businesses in the Bailiwick.

The Commission’s Director General, William Mason, said: “We are committed to using technology that increases efficiency and effectiveness, enhances ease of use, and ensures the Bailiwick is appropriately positioned internationally as an attractive hub for business.  The new Applications and Authorisations Portal makes an important contribution to these objectives.

"It’s been designed with industry engagement from the outset, and I would like to thank all of those industry associations and individuals who have contributed to its development and provided feedback, input and challenge.”

The new portal streamlines the application process with guardrails and conditionality ensuring quality and completeness of applications, and it supports online collaboration and communication throughout the process, both between parties drafting an application prior to submission, and with the Commission post-submission.

The A&A Portal project, delivered on time and budget, is a testament to the effective collaboration between the Commission's dedicated in-house IT team and its valued, long-term partners at d-fine.  This partnership combines deep technology expertise with the Commission’s vision, ensuring a smooth development process from concept to completion.  The A&A Portal, designed to streamline processes and improve efficiency, has already received positive feedback during its beta phase, with users emphasising its intuitive and user-friendly interface.  The following was provided by a licensed designated administrator:

“As a licensee working with venture capital clients in the AI sector, embracing technology is not just a preference - it’s a necessity.  The GFSC’s applications portal has proven to be a transformative tool in streamlining the submission and review process for regulatory applications.

"The GFSC applications portal is sleek, intuitive, and user-friendly.  It not only enhances the accuracy and efficiency of submissions but also aligns with the digital-first approach that our clients in the AI and VC space expect.  We highly recommend its use to fellow licensees and legal firms.”

Co-Director of Authorisations and Innovation, Alison Gavey, said: “This successful launch underscores our commitment to innovation and technological evolution.  By adhering to an ambitious timeline, we have delivered a new front-of-house platform that meets our expectations and the needs of the financial services industry.  It is encouraging to see the increase in use of the new online portal and pleasing to note that alongside the production release last week, we also received more application submissions via the A&A Portal than by traditional means.

"We continue to enhance the portal with the final types of application being added to the portal shortly.  Once these applications are online we will work with industry towards 100% portal utilisation by the end of the year.”

The A&A Portal can be found in the Online Services section of the Commission's website.