In the context of insolvency practitioners the Directive provides that practitioners who have acquired professional qualifications in one relevant state (members of EEA & Switzerland) shall have access to that profession in the other relevant states. In practical terms an applicant from a relevant state, who wishes to become established in another state (the host state), will be able to apply for authorisation to a competent authority and that authority will be required to recognise equivalent professional qualifications obtained in the applicant’s home state or other relevant state where he is authorised to act in that state.  The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 SI 2781 /2007 implement in part EU Directive 2005/36.

The Insolvency Service has jurisdiction to authorise insolvency practitioners who wish to provide services in Great Britain (GB), that is England, Wales & Scotland. Applicants who wish to provide services by acting as an office holder in Northern Ireland should refer their enquiries to The Department of Enterprise. Trade & Investment.

• I wish to apply for registration to act as an insolvency practitioner in GB on a temporary or occasional basis.

• I wish to become established as an insolvency practitioner in GB

• I am an authorised insolvency practitioner within GB and require information about the provision of services in other European states.