The FSA said by the end of December it had received 10,212 applications for trading authorisation from general insurance intermediaries.
The regulatory body said it had received 576 applications since 3 December 2004 and it expected the figures to carry on rising up to the 14 January 2005 deadline.
It said 9,700 firms had received authorisation so far.
Intermediaries have permission to continue to arrange or sell general insurance on an interim basis provided that the FSA has received a fully completed application form from the firm by midnight on 13 January, it said.