We report our authorisations metrics quarterly to provide greater transparency of our performance. This data covers April to June 2025.
We want to make sure the UK is the best place in the world for financial services to thrive. This includes providing an effective and efficient authorisations service while maintaining high standards to protect customers and to bolster the reputation of the UK market.
Download Authorisations operating service metrics 2025/26 Q1 (PDF)[1]
Our performance shows 12 metrics are green and 2 are amber. One metric is red. This is due to 11 applications being determined after the statutory deadline because of operational issues.
99.1% of applications across all metric areas were determined within the statutory deadline.
We will publish our performance for the second quarter of 2025/26 in November 2025.
Notes on the metrics and methodology
These metrics are for solo-regulated firms. The FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority work closely to authorise dual-regulated firms. The metrics for the authorisation of dual-regulated firms can be found on the Prudential Regulation Authority’s website[2].
We publish the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of the range of calendar days taken for determination in each category of application. This shows that most applications are determined significantly ahead of the statutory deadline. Complete and comprehensive applications are likely to be determined in good time.
The complexity of some cases means that we will not always meet our statutory targets. In these cases, it is right that we take the time to make sure there is greater scrutiny and engagement with the firms involved. We continue to see too many incomplete and poor-quality applications.
Our approved persons webpages[3] for senior management functions (SMFs) include guidance and insight to make the application process easier for firms.
Firms should look at our Authorisation pages[4] for guidance, which include a sample business plan, examples of good applications and common pitfalls to avoid.