The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) on November 17, 2025, notified regarding the Requirement of Certification on AML/CFT for Designated Director and Principal Officer under the IFSCA (AML/CTF/KYC) Guidelines, 2022.
The following has been stated, namely: -
• It has mandated that all Designated Directors and Principal Officers of regulated entities operating in an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) shall complete a new certification course titled “NISM-IFSCA-01: Certification Course on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in the IFSC”.
• The certification is required under clause 8.2 and clause 8.4 of Chapter VIII of the IFSCA (AML/CFT/KYC) Guidelines, 2022, which deal with training, competence, and continuing education of principal officers and other relevant employees.
• The course was launched on November 18, 2025, and must be completed within four months from that date, or within four months of appointment of the individual to the designated role, whichever is later.
• While the certification requirement is mandatory for the top compliance personnel (Designated Directors and Principal Officers), other employees of regulated entities are also encouraged to take the course, and entities shall ensure ongoing capacity-building programmes in line with the Guidelines.
[Notification no. - IFSCA-DAC/8/2024-AMLCFT]
