How to qualify
If you meet at least two of the following criteria, you may be eligible to reclassify as an elective professional client:
Professional account
Elective professional protections
Industry-wide regulations have been introduced and are designed to protect less experienced traders. However, if you’d like to waive these protections and trade with greater flexibility, you can apply for elective professional status.
Please read the following information carefully and note the protections you’ll waive as a professional.
Professional client margin rates
| FX (majors) | 1.50% | 66:1 |
| FX (minors) | 2.00% | 50:1 |
| Index (majors) | 2.50% | 40:1 |
| Index (minors) | 3.00% | 33:1 |
| Gold | 4.00% | 25:1 |
| Equity | 10.00% | 10:1 |
| Commodity | From 4% | From 25:1 |
As a Professional client you are able to take advantage of the portfolio-based margin model. You can read more about the model and how to apply here. For more information on professional margin rates, please see margin information for Professional clients.
Use securities as collateral
As a professional client, you can use a percentage of your shareholdings as
collateral for margin trading. Find more information here.
Why trade with Saxo?
Global market access
Access over 71,000 instruments, across all asset classes, from a single cross-collateralised account and hold and deposit funds in 18 currencies.
Powerful platforms
Place and manage orders in the blink of an eye with SaxoTraderPRO, our most powerful platform yet, or trade on the move with SaxoTraderGO.
Industry-leading prices
Benefit from market-leading entry prices and get tighter spreads and lower commissions when you upgrade your trading tier.
Expert support
Receive best-in-class digital support as standard and unlock even better personal service with our premium trading tiers.
Frequently asked questions
To qualify for a professional account, you must meet at least two of the following criteria:
- Have a financial portfolio that exceeds €500,000
- Have placed at least 10 relevant trades in significant sizes over the last four quarters
- Work, or have worked, in the financial sector for at least one year
Trade size and volume
You must have carried out transactions, in significant size, in a relevant product with an average frequency of at least 10 per quarter during the previous four quarters (with Saxo and/or other providers).
Relevant products include: CFDs / FX (Spot / Forwards / Options), Futures, Options and Leveraged Exchange Traded Products.
Significant size is deemed as a minimum notional value of, for example, €100,000 on forex, €50,000 on indices, €10,000 on single stock CFDs.
The average frequency of trades can be at one provider, or a combination of. We will ask you for scanned copies of statements for any trade activity outside of Saxo.
Size of portfolio
The size of your investment portfolio (held with Saxo and/or other providers), is defined as including cash deposits and financial instruments, exceeds EUR 500,000.
Acceptable examples of an investment portfolio can include: cash savings, stock portfolio, stocks and shares ISA, trading accounts, mutual funds, SIPP (excluding non-financial instruments).
Unacceptable examples include: company pension, non-tradeable assets, property, luxury cars, jewellery. If a portfolio is held outside of Saxo, we may ask you for scanned copies of statements from other providers.
Professional experience
You work or have worked in the financial sector for at least one year in a professional position that requires knowledge of relevant products.
We will ask you for details of your role and how it has provided you with sufficient knowledge and experience and may require you to provide evidence of this if necessary.
For more information, please read here.
If you didn’t find what you were after, contact us directly and we’ll be pleased to help.
Apply for professional status
Open an account
Create a Saxo account in less than five minutes
Go to platform
In our platform, go to Account > Other > Classification Status
Submit request
Complete the form and submit any supporting information
Already a Saxo client?
In our platform, go to Account > Other > Classification Status. Log in now
