On 18 August 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its registration guide providing insight for financial entities within ESMA’s remit seeking to operate within the European Union’s financial markets.

It outlines the phases and steps undertaken in ESMA’s assessment of applications for registration – completeness, compliance, and final decision – while clarifying the criteria, internal review structure and legal basis for evaluation. This reflects ESMA’s objective to make the process more efficient and coherent across different mandates.

The guide is a practical tool to support applicants in preparing for their registration application but is not legally binding.