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Insurance firms need to apply to the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) for certain approvals under the Solvency II Directive.
Subject to any transitional relief, forms and templates applicable before 11pm Thursday 31 December 2020 should be read in conjunction with Supervisory Statement (SS) 2/19, which sets out how the PRA expects firms to interpret EU-based references in reporting and disclosure requirements and regulatory transactions forms.
The PRA grants Solvency II permissions using a FSMA s138BA rule permission.
Firms wishing to apply should complete the s138BA rule permission application form and any supplementary information forms specific to the permission type as set out on this page.
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to use multiple methods when calculating a Group SCR please complete the s138BA rule permission application form and the following supplementary information form:
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to include overseas sub-groups when calculating a Group SCR please complete the s138BA rule permission application form and the following supplementary information form:
Firms wishing to apply for permission to use an Internal Model or to make a change an existing Internal Model and/or Model Change Policy must apply for permission under section 138BA of FSMA.
Please complete the s138BA rule permission application form, the Internal Model supplementary information form, and the Internal Model Application Template (IMAT):
Firms submitting applications should send all their completed application forms and templates to PRA-waivers@bankofengland.co.uk and their usual supervisory contacts.
Any firm intending to submit an application for permission to use an Internal Model is strongly encouraged to discuss their plans and projected timelines with their supervisor before submitting an application.
Firms should also refer to the following Q&A which provides additional information on the application process:
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to recognise the loss absorbing capacity of deferred tax assets (LACDT), please complete the main s138BA rule permission application form and supplementary information for prior permission for LACDT
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to apply a Matching Adjustment, please complete the s138BA rule permission application form and the Matching Adjustment supplementary information form:
Any firm intending to submit an application to apply a Matching Adjustment is strongly encouraged to participate in the Application Readiness Assessment Process (ARAP). In order to participate in this process firms should complete the following form:
Firms should refer to the following Q&A for practitioners which provides additional information on the application process. The Q&A was last updated on 23 October 2025.
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to make use of a Matching Adjustment Investment Accelerator, please complete the s138BA rule permission application form and the Matching Adjustment Investment Accelerator supplementary information form:
Firms should refer to the following Q&A for practitioners which provides additional information on the application process. The Q&A was last updated on 23 October 2025.
Firms intending to apply for the following own funds permissions under FSMA section 138BA must complete the section 138BA permission application form and provide relevant additional information as set out in the appropriate own funds supplementary information form below. Any firm intending to submit an application for own funds permission should read chapter 1 and the relevant chapter of Statement of Policy Solvency II: The PRA’s approach to insurance own funds permissions and should discuss their plans and projected timelines with their supervisor before submitting an application.
Firms intending to apply for the following own funds permission under FSMA section 138BA should follow the guidance below and should discuss their plans and projected timelines with their supervisor before submitting an application.
Ancillary Own Funds for an intermediate insurance holding company
If any firm is considering an application in respect of ancillary own funds for an intermediate insurance holding company it should first familiarise itself with the content of (i) Chapter 3 of SoP: The PRA's approach to insurance group supervision and (ii) Chapters 1 and 3 of SoP Solvency II: The PRA's approach to insurance own funds permissions. It may also want to discuss a potential application with its supervisor before submitting an application.
Transitional measures
Transitional measure on technical provisions
As noted in paragraph 2.1 of the statement of policy (SoP): ‘Permissions for transitional measures on technical provisions and risk-free interest rates’ the PRA generally will not consider new applications for transitional measure on technical provisions (‘TMTP’) permission. Any firm intending to submit an application is strongly encouraged to discuss their plans and projected timelines with their supervisor before submitting an application.
Firms wishing to apply for permission to use the TMTP or to vary an existing TMTP must apply for permission under section 138BA of FSMA.
Please complete the s138BA rule permission application form and the following supplementary information form:
Any firm intending to submit an application for a TMTP permission should refer to the Transitional Measures on Technical Provisions Part of the PRA Rulebook and the statement of policy (SoP): ‘Permissions for transitional measures on technical provisions and risk-free interest rates’.
Transitional measure on the risk-free rate
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to apply a transitional measure on the risk-free interest rate (TMIR), firms should send a completed application form and supporting evidence to PRA-waivers@bankofengland.co.uk.
Undertaking Specific Parameters
To apply for permission under FSMA section 138BA to apply Undertaking Specific Parameters (USP)
For the purposes of determining the Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR) using the standard formula (SF), an undertaking specific parameter (USP) is a parameter specific to a firm, calculated in accordance with SCR-USP Part of the PRA Rulebook, that replaces a standard parameter (within a subset of parameters in the life underwriting risk module, non-life underwriting risk module, or health underwriting risk module). The corresponding concept for a group is a Group Specific Parameter (GSP).
A firm may apply for regulatory permission to use a USP or GSP. When granting a USP permission, the PRA would exercise its powers under section 138BA (s138BA) of the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2000 to modify rules within the SCR-SF and SCR-USP Parts of the PRA Rulebook, or to modify the Group Supervision Part for a group to use a GSP.
Requirements relating to USPs and GSPs are set out in the SCR-USP and Group Supervision Parts of the PRA Rulebook, respectively.
Firms and groups seeking to apply for permission to use USPs or GSPs should complete the application form in respect of s138BA permission and submit the following supplementary information form with their application.
Information regarding the PRA’s approach to assessing USP and GSP applications is set out in the Statement of Policy – Solvency II: The PRA’s approach to Standard Formula adaptations.
Volatility Adjustment
Firms wishing to apply for permission to use a Volatility Adjustment (‘VA’) or to vary an existing VA must apply for permission under section 138BA of FSMA.
Please complete the s13BA rule permission application form and the Volatility Adjustment supplementary information:
Any firm intending to submit an application for a VA permission should refer to chapter 8 of the Technical Provisions Part of the PRA Rulebook and the statement of policy (SoP): ‘Solvency II: Volatility Adjustment Permissions’. Firms are also strongly encouraged to discuss their plans and projected timelines with their supervisor before submitting an application.
Insurance special purpose vehicles
Any applicant that is planning to use a new UK based Special Purpose Vehicle should discuss these proposals with PRA authorisations, or where applicable, its usual PRA supervisory contact prior to submitting a formal application for authorisation. Applicants should also refer to the insurance special purpose vehicles page for more information.
How we assess and determine insurance s138BA rule permission
We will acknowledge your application when we receive it.
We may contact you for any further information we need to determine your application
If we decide to grant a s138BA rule permission, we will issue an approval letter and a written notice setting out the permission, which entities it applies to, and the time period for which it is valid. If we decide not to approve an application, we will inform you of your options for challenging the decision.
Publishing s138BA rule permissions
We have a statutory duty to publish details of s138BA rule permissions, unless we consider it inappropriate or unnecessary to do so. Some will be published in abridged form at a firm’s request. Firms can also request that a s138BA rule permission is not published, making arguments on the s138BA rule permission application form.
The consolidated list of Waivers, CRR and Solvency II Permissions granted by us to PRA-authorised firms is currently not being provided. If you wish to discuss your requirements for this report, please contact the following address: PRA-Waivers@bankofengland.co.uk. Alternatively, please see the FCA Register which is the primary public source of PRA Waivers and Permissions data.
Firms are not required to provide details of a precedent direction or written notice when applying for a waiver or modification of PRA rules, a CRR or Solvency II Permission or a s.138BA rule permission.