EBA publishes final guidelines on third-country branch authorisation under CRD6

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published its final Guidelines on the authorisation of third-country credit institutions to establish a third-country branch (TCB) in an EU Member State. These Guidelines are mandated by the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD6) and aim to harmonise access to the EU banking market.

The Guidelines specify the required information, assessment criteria, application templates, and the process for authorisation. They are addressed to competent authorities and third-country head entities submitting applications. Applications must include a non-opposition statement from the third-country authority to ensure the safety and soundness of TCB establishments.

Legal basis for these Guidelines is Article 48c(8) of Directive 2013/36/EU, which requires the EBA to define the information, assessment process, and application templates. The Guidelines also clarify the use of prior authorisation information submitted by applicants.

These Guidelines are part of the EU’s implementation of the new TCB regime introduced by CRD6. Since January 2026, the EBA has issued key components including RTS on booking arrangements, ITS on reporting requirements, Guidelines on capital instruments, RTS on cooperation and colleges, and Guidelines on SREP. The framework will be further complemented by revised Guidelines on internal governance, expected by the end of 2026.