UK FCA opens authorisation gateway for targeted support and confirms final rules

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced it has opened the authorisation gateway for targeted support, enabling firms to apply for permission to provide a new regulated form of support. From 6 April, authorised banks, pension providers and other financial firms that are authorised for targeted support will be able to offer tailored recommendations to groups of consumers with common characteristics, particularly in relation to pensions and investments. The FCA launched its pre-application support service (PASS) for targeted support last year and has engaged with a range of firms so that they understand what is expected for a good quality and complete application for the targeted support regulated activity. The FCA encourages firms with questions about the authorisations process to engage with it through the PASS. Firms can submit applications for targeted support permissions via Connect, the FCA's online system.

Separately, on 27 February, the FCA updated its webpage on rules for targeted support to confirm the near-final rules, published in December 2025, as final. The FCA confirms that it has made only minor changes to the rules since they were published as near-final to largely cross-refer to the legislation that the government has brought forward to create the new targeted support activity.

For further background on targeted support, you may like to read the following publications: (i) our snapshot on the FCA's new targeted support regime; (ii) our summary information; (iii) our FAQs; and (iv) our information on the practicalities of applying for permission to conduct the new regulated activity of providing targeted support.

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