MetaQuotes requirements · updated 2026
MT5 license requirements: the 10 MetaQuotes documents explained
To apply for a MetaTrader 5 licence, MetaQuotes expects a registered company whose objects cover trading or brokerage, a corporate bank account, a compliant live website and ten documents: incorporation, good standing or incumbency, both registers, proof of registered and physical address, domain ownership, proof of permitted activities, a bank reference letter and SumSub identity checks for the signatory and beneficial owner.
- The 10 documents, one by one
- Website content MetaQuotes checks
- Account tiers: 1,000 / 25,000 / 200,000
- Why applications stall, and how to avoid it
MetaQuotes asks MT5 applicants for ten items: Certificate of Incorporation, Good Standing or Incumbency, Register of Directors, Register of Shareholders (UBOs), proof of registered address, proof of physical address, domain ownership and a compliant website, a document confirming trading activities, a corporate bank reference letter, and SumSub verification.
The short answer
What MetaQuotes actually checks before it sells an MT5 licence
MetaQuotes is a software vendor, not a regulator. It does not grant a brokerage licence and it does not supervise your business. But before it sells a MetaTrader 5 server licence, it runs a company due diligence: who owns the company, whether the company exists and is in good standing, whether it may lawfully offer trading services, where it really operates, whether it banks somewhere, and whether its public website tells clients the truth about all of that.
The list applicants receive today has ten items. Seven of them are corporate papers that a registered agent and local counsel can produce. Three depend on you: the website, the bank relationship and the identity checks. Most delays come from a mismatch between those two groups — a website address that differs from the corporate documents, a Memorandum with objects that are too general, or a bank letter addressed to the wrong party.
This page covers each requirement in the order MetaQuotes lists it, what a reviewer looks for, and the mistakes we see most often. It reflects the requirements as applicants currently receive them; MetaQuotes sets and may change them at any time, and may ask for more during review.
Before the documents
Three conditions every applicant must meet
MT5 only
MetaQuotes now sells MetaTrader 5 licences only. New MetaTrader 4 licences are not available, so every new application is an MT5 application.
The right company activity
The company must be set up for trading of financial instruments, online forex services/trading, or brokerage and financial services. MetaQuotes recommends a legal opinion for the jurisdiction you choose.
First payment covers three months
The first payment on a new licence covers three months of the licence fee. Fees are set by MetaQuotes and paid directly to MetaQuotes, so plan for this before you apply.
MetaQuotes’ own guide
Step 1 of MetaQuotes’ “how to start a brokerage” guide
MetaQuotes publishes a ten-step guide for new brokers on metatrader5.com. Step 1 is the foundation the whole document list is built on. In its own words, you need “a registered company, with the relevant business activities registered”, operating in line with “applicable regulatory requirements”, and a corporate bank account.
The same guide sets out what your website should carry: the company’s registration number, its addresses, risk disclosures and the countries where you do not offer services. Read together with the document list, the logic is simple:
- Registered company → certificate of incorporation, good standing or incumbency, registers, registered address.
- Relevant business activities → Memorandum objects, or a legal opinion or representation letter where the objects are silent.
- Applicable regulatory requirements → your own responsibility in every country where you take clients. MetaQuotes does not decide this for you, and neither do we.
- Corporate bank account → the bank reference letter addressed to MetaQuotes.
- Transparent website → domain ownership proof plus the content checklist below.
The guide also explains that MetaTrader 5 is not a hosted service: the broker runs its own servers, and MetaQuotes states it has no access to them. That is why MetaQuotes wants to know exactly who the licence holder is before handing over server software.
The checklist
The 10 documents MetaQuotes asks for
Items 1–6 and 8 are corporate documents that we prepare with our licensed Saint Lucia partners. Items 7, 9 and 10 need your input, and we guide you through each one.
Requirements are set by MetaQuotes and may change or be extended during review. This page summarises the list applicants currently receive; it is not legal advice and we are not a law firm.
- 1. Certificate of IncorporationThe certificate issued when the company was registered. For a St Lucia IBC it is issued by the Registry after a licensed registered agent files the Memorandum and Articles. The company name on it must match every other document and the website, including the “IBC” or “International Business Company” ending.
- 2. Certificate of Good Standing or IncumbencyRecent proof that the company is in good standing, required where the company is older than six months. A Certificate of Incumbency, issued through the registered agent, confirms the current directors, shareholders and registered office in one page and is the usual document for a newly formed company.
- 3. Register of DirectorsThe current directors and, where the board structure is complex, the authorised signatories. MetaQuotes uses it to confirm that the person signing the licence agreement and completing SumSub actually has authority to bind the company.
- 4. Register of Shareholders (UBOs)The list of shareholders. If there is a nominee shareholder or a chain of holding companies, supporting documents must show who the ultimate beneficial owner is. Nominee arrangements keep names off public records; they do not hide the owner from MetaQuotes.
- 5. Proof of registered addressAny corporate document stating the registered address. For a St Lucia IBC this is the registered agent’s office in Saint Lucia, which the IBC Act requires the company to keep at all times. The incumbency certificate or the Memorandum usually covers it.
- 6. Proof of physical addressProof of the real operating address, separate from the registered office: a recent utility bill in the company’s name, a corporate document stating the business address, or a certified confirmation letter issued by officials, a law firm or an accounting firm. This address must also appear on the website.
- 7. Domain ownership + operational websiteProof that the company owns the domain to be displayed in the MetaTrader terminal: a registrar invoice, a provider certificate or an account screenshot showing the company as owner. The site must be secure (HTTPS), live and transparent, as listed in the website section below.
- 8. Document confirming relevant activitiesProof that the company may lawfully offer trading services, usually the Memorandum with objects covering trading, online forex and brokerage. If the objects are missing or too general, a representation letter or legal opinion from a local lawyer or agent is accepted.
- 9. Corporate bank account confirmationA bank reference letter addressed to MetaQuotes, on the bank’s letterhead, confirming the company holds an account. If that is not available, a certified bank statement may be considered. The account holder name must be the licensed company, not a director or a group company.
- 10. SumSub verificationThe authorised signatory and the UBO complete online identity verification through the SumSub link MetaQuotes sends. SumSub typically asks for an identity document and a selfie or liveness check. Minority shareholders do not need to verify.
Document by document
What the reviewer checks and where files go wrong
Each item is checked against the others. One inconsistent detail is enough to trigger a follow-up request.
| # | Document | What MetaQuotes checks | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certificate of Incorporation | The company exists; exact legal name | Website or bank letter uses a shortened name without “IBC” |
| 2 | Good Standing / Incumbency | The company is current and its officers are confirmed | Certificate dated many months before submission |
| 3 | Register of Directors | The signatory has authority | Signatory is not listed as director or authorised person |
| 4 | Register of Shareholders | Who ultimately owns the company | Nominee shown with no supporting declaration of the UBO |
| 5 | Registered address | Official address on corporate records | Agent’s address presented as the operating office |
| 6 | Physical address | A real place where the business operates | Virtual address with no utility bill or certified letter |
| 7 | Domain + website | Ownership and transparent disclosures | Domain registered to a developer; missing risk warning |
| 8 | Activities confirmation | Trading or brokerage is within the objects | Generic “any lawful business” objects with no opinion |
| 9 | Bank reference letter | A working corporate account | Letter addressed “to whom it may concern” or to a shareholder |
| 10 | SumSub | Identity of signatory and UBO | Different person verifies than the one named in the registers |
Item 7 in detail
What your website must show
Many applications stall on the website alone. MetaQuotes expects a secure (HTTPS), fully operational site that clearly displays:
We check it for you
Your site is built by you or your developer, but every MT5 Ready project includes a website compliance review. We make sure the names, numbers and addresses match your corporate documents exactly. For page-by-page detail, see our MetaQuotes website requirements guide.
- Full legal company name, exactly as on the certificate of incorporation
- Company registration number
- Full registered address
- Full physical / business address
- Email address or contact form, plus a contact telephone number
- A risk warning about trading leveraged products
- A disclaimer on the jurisdictions where you do and do not offer services
Division of work
Who prepares each document
With our MT5 Ready package, most of the checklist is taken care of.
| # | Document | Prepared by | Deeper guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certificate of Incorporation | Us, through our registered agent partner | <a href="/st-lucia-company-formation/">St Lucia company formation</a> |
| 2 | Good Standing / Incumbency | Us | — |
| 3 | Register of Directors | Us, as part of the updated corporate documents | — |
| 4 | Register of Shareholders (UBOs) | Us, including supporting papers for nominee structures | <a href="/guides/nominee-director-shareholder-broker/">Nominees for brokers</a> |
| 5 | Proof of registered address | Us | — |
| 6 | Proof of physical address | Us, via office service or certified confirmation letter | <a href="/guides/proof-of-physical-address-metaquotes/">Physical address proof</a> |
| 7 | Domain proof + website | You or your developer, reviewed by us | <a href="/guides/metaquotes-website-requirements/">Website requirements</a> |
| 8 | Activities confirmation / legal opinion | Us, through independent Saint Lucia counsel | <a href="/guides/legal-opinion-for-mt5-license/">Legal opinion</a> |
| 9 | Bank reference letter | Your bank. We assist with account opening or a PSP confirmation letter | <a href="/guides/bank-reference-letter-metaquotes/">Bank reference letter</a> |
| 10 | SumSub verification | Your signatory and UBO, online | — |
A St Lucia IBC is not a forex licence. The Saint Lucia IBC Registry states that “Saint Lucia does not currently regulate or licence Forex Trading or Binary Options business,” and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority has warned that documents from a forex company claiming to be licensed by or affiliated with it are “false and misleading.” Your website and marketing must not suggest otherwise. Whether you need a licence where your clients live is a separate question for local counsel in those countries; we are not a law firm and do not give that advice.
How we help
Your St Lucia IBC and the MetaQuotes document pack, prepared together
Most applicants lose weeks because the company is formed first and the MetaQuotes list is read later. We work the other way round: the company is incorporated with the MetaQuotes file in mind, so every document lines up from day one.
- Incorporation through licensed agents. Your St Lucia IBC is formed by a registered agent licensed in Saint Lucia, with objects covering trading of financial instruments, online forex and brokerage services. Incorporation is typically completed in 3–5 business days after due diligence is approved.
- The corporate half of the pack. Certificate of incorporation, incumbency, updated registers, proof of registered address, proof of physical address and a legal opinion from independent Saint Lucia counsel — items 1–6 and 8 — usually ready in about one week after incorporation.
- Your half, checked. We review your website against the MetaQuotes disclosure list, tell your developer exactly what to change, and help with bank account opening or a PSP confirmation letter for item 9.
- Nominee options. Nominee director and shareholder services where privacy matters, with the supporting UBO papers MetaQuotes will ask for.
We are independent: we are not affiliated with MetaQuotes, we do not resell licences, and nobody can promise you MetaQuotes approval. What we can promise is a consistent, complete file. Tell us where you are in the process at info@stluciacompany.com or through the contact form, and compare what each option includes on our packages page.
From zero to submission
How to prepare a MetaQuotes application, step by step
Timings are indicative and depend on due diligence, your bank and MetaQuotes’ own review.
Choose the structure
Decide on shareholders, directors, the authorised signatory and whether nominees are used. The UBO and signatory you choose here are the people who will complete SumSub later.
Day 1Pass the agent’s due diligence
Provide passports, proof of address and source-of-funds information to the licensed registered agent, plus the statutory declaration St Lucia requires for IBCs.
Depends on the agentIncorporate the IBC
The agent files the Memorandum and Articles with objects that cover trading and brokerage. The Registry issues the certificate of incorporation.
3–5 business daysAssemble the corporate documents
Incumbency, registers, registered-address proof, physical-address proof and the legal opinion or representation letter are prepared and certified.
≈ 1 weekOpen the bank or PSP relationship
Apply for the corporate account and ask the bank for a reference letter addressed to MetaQuotes. This is often the longest step and is outside anyone’s full control.
Varies by bankBring the website into line
Publish the legal name, registration number, both addresses, contact details, risk warning and jurisdiction disclaimer. Transfer the domain into the company’s name if needed.
ParallelSubmit and verify
Send the pack to MetaQuotes, choose a tier, and have the signatory and UBO complete SumSub. Answer any follow-up questions quickly and with matching documents.
MetaQuotes’ timelineLicence tiers
MetaTrader 5 licence tiers
MetaQuotes offers MT5 platform licences in tiers based on the number of real trading accounts. The document requirements are the same for every tier; what changes is capacity.
| Tier | Real accounts included | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Entry License | Up to 1,000 | New brokers and prop firms testing a market |
| Standard License | Up to 25,000 | Established brokers with an existing client base |
| Enterprise License | Up to 200,000 | Large multi-market operations |
Licence terms and fees are set by MetaQuotes and paid directly to MetaQuotes; the first payment covers three months. We do not quote or resell MetaQuotes licences.
Why files stall
The most common reasons an application is delayed or refused
MetaQuotes does not publish refusal reasons. These are the patterns we see when files come back with questions.
Objects that do not cover trading
A Memorandum allowing “any lawful business” with no supporting legal opinion leaves item 8 open. MetaQuotes wants to see trading or brokerage explicitly permitted.
No real physical address
Offering only the registered agent’s address, or a virtual office with no utility bill or certified letter, fails item 6 and usually the website check too.
Website gaps
Missing registration number, no risk warning, no restricted-jurisdiction disclaimer, or a domain owned by a developer rather than the company.
Bank letter problems
No corporate account yet, a letter in a director’s personal name, or a generic letter not addressed to MetaQuotes.
Unclear ownership
Nominee or layered structures without documents identifying the UBO, or a UBO who does not complete SumSub.
Misleading regulatory claims
Calling a St Lucia IBC “regulated” or “licensed for forex”, or displaying a regulator’s logo without authorisation, is a serious red flag.
MetaQuotes requirements FAQ
My company is new. Do I need a Certificate of Good Standing?
MetaQuotes asks for recent proof of good standing where the company is older than six months. For a newly incorporated company, the Certificate of Incorporation and a Certificate of Incumbency usually cover this point. Once the company passes six months, order a fresh certificate through the registered agent before you submit.
Is the registered agent’s address enough as a physical address?
No. MetaQuotes distinguishes between the registered address and the real operating address. You need separate proof of the physical address, such as a utility bill, a corporate document or a certified confirmation letter. We arrange this through office services in Saint Lucia.
What if I don’t have a corporate bank account yet?
MetaQuotes asks for a bank reference letter (or a certified statement), so the account should be open before you submit. If you plan to operate through a payment service provider, a certified PSP confirmation letter can help. We offer both bank account opening assistance and PSP letters, but the bank or provider makes its own decision.
Can I use nominee shareholders?
Yes, but MetaQuotes will ask for supporting documents that identify the real beneficial owner, and the UBO completes SumSub verification personally. Nominees protect privacy from the public, not from MetaQuotes.
Does my Memorandum need to mention forex?
It helps a lot. We incorporate with objects covering online forex trading, brokerage and financial services. If an existing company’s objects are too general, a legal opinion or representation letter from Saint Lucia counsel fills the gap.
Who has to complete SumSub verification?
The authorised signatory and the ultimate beneficial owner. Minority shareholders do not need to. If one person is both signatory and UBO, one verification covers both roles; make sure the name matches the registers exactly.
Does a St Lucia IBC count as a licensed broker for MetaQuotes?
No, and you should never present it as one. Saint Lucia does not currently licence forex business, and the Registry and the FSRA say so publicly. MetaQuotes asks for proof that the company may carry on trading activities, which the Memorandum or a legal opinion addresses; any licence you need in your clients’ countries is a separate matter for local counsel.
Do the documents need to be certified or apostilled?
Follow the instructions in MetaQuotes’ own correspondence, because the level of certification asked for can vary by case. Corporate documents are issued or certified through the registered agent, and the physical-address letter must be certified by officials, a law firm or an accounting firm. If a reviewer asks for further certification, we arrange it through our Saint Lucia partners.
Does the website have to be finished before I apply?
Yes. MetaQuotes expects a live, secure site displaying the company details, contact channels, risk warning and jurisdiction disclaimer. A holding page or a template with placeholder text is one of the most common reasons for a follow-up request.
Do the document requirements change with the licence tier?
No. Entry, Standard and Enterprise licences differ in the number of real accounts they include — 1,000, 25,000 and 200,000 — not in the due-diligence file. Choose the tier on capacity; you can discuss upgrades with MetaQuotes later.
How long does MetaQuotes take to review an application?
MetaQuotes does not publish a review timeline, and it depends on how complete and consistent the file is. The part we control — incorporation and the corporate documents — usually takes about two weeks in total. Banking and MetaQuotes’ own questions add time that nobody can fix in advance.
Can you guarantee MetaQuotes will approve my company?
No one can. We are not affiliated with MetaQuotes, and the decision is entirely theirs. What we do is make sure the corporate half of the file is complete and consistent and that your website and bank letter match it, which removes the most common reasons for delay.
Sources
Primary sources used on this page
- MetaQuotes, How to start a brokerage business — step 1 and website disclosures.
- MetaQuotes, Buy MetaTrader 5 — Entry, Standard and Enterprise tiers by real accounts.
- Saint Lucia IBC Registry, FAQ — status of forex business in Saint Lucia.
- FSRA Saint Lucia, Warning notices on forex companies.
- International Business Companies Act, Cap. 12.14 — registered agent and office, company name ending.
The ten-document list reflects the requirements MetaQuotes currently sends to applicants. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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