AvaTrade regulation & licences
Our take
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and its EU business is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland. The group also holds licences in Australia, Japan, South Africa, Abu Dhabi (FSRA), Israel, Poland and Kenya, with a BVI entity for international clients.
Best suited to: Traders who want a wide choice of regulated entities including Ireland and Japan
Licences on record 9
1 Tier 1 — top-tier regulation
2 Tier 2 — strong regulation
3 Tier 3 — moderate regulation
4 Tier 4 — light / offshore
Licences are matched from public sources and regulator registers, and entities change over time. A licence held by one company in a group does not cover clients of another. Always confirm on the official register.
Regulatory profile
AvaTrade is a forex & CFD broker founded in 2006 and headquartered in Ireland.
In our database AvaTrade is matched to 9 licences from ASIC, CBI, JFSA, FSCA, FSRA (ADGM), ISA, KNF, CMA (Kenya) and BVI FSC. The strongest of these, the ASIC (Australia), the CBI (Ireland) and the JFSA (Japan) are among the regulators we classify as tier 1 — bodies with strict capital, client-money and conduct rules.
AvaTrade's licences span very different levels of protection — from ASIC and CBI to CMA (Kenya) and BVI FSC. The entity you are assigned to normally depends on your country of residence; if you live outside the jurisdictions of its stronger licences, expect to be onboarded to an offshore entity.
Depending on the entity, eligible clients may be covered by Investor Compensation Company (ICCL) (CBI) and Investor compensation up to the PLN equivalent of €22,000 (KNF). Negative balance protection is mandatory for retail clients under ASIC, CBI and KNF rules. Retail leverage caps apply at the ASIC, CBI and JFSA-regulated entities (for example 30:1 on major FX pairs at ASIC).
AvaTrade supports MT4, MT5 and its own proprietary platform. The advertised minimum deposit starts from about US$100 — minimums often vary by account type and entity.
Regulatory strengths
- Central Bank of Ireland and ASIC licences
- Presence in Japan and the Gulf
Points to check
- International clients are served from the BVI
- Inactivity fees can apply
Protection by entity
| Regulator | Compensation | Retail leverage | Negative balance protection | Disputes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ASIC | No statutory compensation fund for OTC derivatives; complaints go to AFCA | 30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients since March 2021 | Required for retail clients | Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) |
| 1 CBI | Investor Compensation Company (ICCL) — 90% of loss up to €20,000 | 30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules) | Required for retail clients | Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman |
| 1 JFSA | No compensation fund, but client funds must be held in a mandatory trust (kubun kanri shintaku) | 25:1 on FX for individual traders | Not a regulatory requirement | FINMAC (Financial Instruments Mediation Assistance Center) |
| 2 FSCA | No compensation scheme; FAIS Ombud handles complaints | No statutory retail leverage cap | Not a regulatory requirement | FAIS Ombud |
| 2 FSRA (ADGM) | No compensation scheme | Set under FSRA conduct rules; check the firm's disclosures | Not confirmed — check with the broker | ADGM Courts |
| 2 ISA | No compensation scheme | Retail leverage restrictions apply; check the firm's disclosures | Not confirmed — check with the broker | ISA |
| 2 KNF | Investor compensation up to the PLN equivalent of €22,000 | 30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules) | Required for retail clients | Financial Ombudsman (Rzecznik Finansowy) |
| 3 CMA (Kenya) | No dedicated compensation scheme for online forex clients confirmed | Maximum 400:1 | Not confirmed — check with the broker | CMA complaints |
| 4 BVI FSC | No compensation scheme | No statutory cap | Not a regulatory requirement | BVI FSC |
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AvaTrade regulation FAQ
Is AvaTrade regulated?
Yes — in our database AvaTrade is matched to 9 licences: ASIC (Australia), CBI (Ireland), JFSA (Japan), FSCA (South Africa), FSRA (ADGM) (United Arab Emirates), ISA (Israel), KNF (Poland), CMA (Kenya) (Kenya) and BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands). Which of these protects you depends on the legal entity you open an account with. Always confirm the licence on the regulator's official register.
Is AvaTrade a tier-1 regulated broker?
AvaTrade holds 3 licences from regulators we classify as tier 1: ASIC, CBI and JFSA.
Does AvaTrade accept US clients?
AvaTrade is not matched to a CFTC/NFA registration in our database. Only CFTC-registered, NFA-member firms may offer retail forex to US residents, so AvaTrade generally cannot accept US retail forex clients.
Is my money protected with AvaTrade?
Clients of AvaTrade's CBI and KNF-regulated entities may be eligible for statutory compensation (Investor Compensation Company (ICCL) — 90% of loss up to €20,000; Investor compensation up to the PLN equivalent of €22,000). Clients of other entities rely on segregation of funds and the firm's financial strength.
What is the minimum deposit at AvaTrade?
AvaTrade's advertised minimum deposit starts from about US$100. It can differ by account type, payment method and the entity you are onboarded to.
How can I verify AvaTrade's licence?
Find the company name and licence number in AvaTrade's client agreement or website footer, then search it on the regulator's official register (linked from each licence on this page). Confirm that the website domain you use is listed on the register, and check the regulator's warning list for clones.