The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has published an update on a new law that will make it a criminal offence to conduct financial activity without the required authorisation or registration with the authority, with the regime taking effect on 1 March 2026. Under the law, operating without a required permit or registration is punishable where committed intentionally or through gross negligence. Sanctions range from fines to imprisonment for up to two years, rising to up to six years for gross offences committed intentionally, while minor offences do not give rise to criminal liability. The law also introduces a duty for the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority to report to prosecutors when there is reason to assume an offence under the law has been committed, and it does not change which activities require authorisation or registration.
Finansinspektionen 2026-02-17
Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority outlines new criminal liability for unauthorised financial activity from 1 March 2026
The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority announced a new law criminalizing financial activities conducted without required authorization or registration, effective 1 March 2026. Penalties include fines and imprisonment up to six years for gross intentional offences. The Authority is mandated to report suspected offences to prosecutors, though the law does not alter existing authorization or registration requirements.