Global Ownership Data Index: What Corporate Ownership Data Is Available in 173+ Countries [2026]
Corporate ownership data is the foundation of KYB (Know Your Business) compliance, anti-money laundering investigations, entity verification, and commercial due diligence. Yet there is no single source that tells you what ownership data is actually accessible in each country — what you can get, what it costs, and how current it is.
Zavia.ai researched 173 countries by going directly to official government registries, cross-referencing FATF and regional body mutual evaluations, Open Ownership data, and national AML/CFT legislation. For every country, we score three data layers: Directors (who manages the company), Shareholders (who owns it on paper), and UBO / Beneficial Owners (who ultimately controls it).
This is not a theoretical comparison. Every entry reflects what a compliance analyst, data provider, or investigator can actually access today — including registry URLs, access fees, BO thresholds, and enforcement status. Whether you're building a KYB platform, evaluating data suppliers, or running due diligence on a counterparty in a jurisdiction you've never worked in before, this index gives you ground truth.
Key takeaway: Beneficial ownership transparency is accelerating globally, but unevenly. The EU's BO framework was disrupted by the November 2022 CJEU ruling. The US effectively killed domestic BOI reporting in March 2025. Meanwhile, Nigeria launched Africa's first public BO register, Canada made its federal BO register fully public, and Indonesia became the only Southeast Asian country with a public central BO registry. The gap between leaders and laggards is widening.
How to Read This Index
For each country we list the official government registry and score three data types: Directors, Shareholders, and UBO / Beneficial Owners. Click Show more in any row to see the full picture: costs, access restrictions, what information is actually returned, and what has changed recently.
Full means the data is publicly accessible online at little or no cost. Partial means the data exists but is restricted — behind a paywall, requires in-person requests, or is only accessible to authorities. None means the data is either not collected or not accessible in any practical way.
✓ Full — Publicly accessible online
● Partial — Gated, restricted, or paid
✕ None — Not accessible
Company Registers in the EU & EEA: Directors, Shareholders & UBO Access in 30 Countries
30 countries · 27 EU members + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
Post-CJEU fragmentation: The 2022 CJEU ruling ended blanket public access to EU UBO registers. As of March 2026, only Estonia, Latvia, Norway, and Poland keep UBO data fully public. Most EU states now require "legitimate interest" proof. Cyprus, Greece, Netherlands, Slovakia, and Italy have effectively closed or suspended UBO access. The 6AMLD deadline (July 2026) is supposed to harmonize this. Eleven member states were already in infringement proceedings by late 2025.
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Firmenbuch + WiEReG justizonline.gv.at |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Firmenbuch: €5–10/extract. Directors, shareholders, financials all in register since 1991. All documents in German. UBO via WiEReG: €4/extract, restricted to obliged entities and those with legitimate interest. Requires Austrian/EU eID. Oct 2025 amendments expanded access to third-country AML professionals, but sign-up still requires EU ID in practice. Government planning free basic access and English-language filings (not yet live). |
| Belgium | Crossroads Bank (CBE) kbopub.economie.fgov.be |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | CBE: free public search for directors and company data. UBO register: case-by-case access via email. No fees. ~1 week processing. Foreign banks can apply if entering economic relationship with entity. One of the simpler LIA processes in the EU. |
| Bulgaria | Commercial Register portal.registryagency.bg |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search for directors and basic UBO (name + shareholding). Detailed UBO documents require Bulgarian eID or EU-qualified electronic signature. June 2025 law introduced legitimate interest access but implementation rules remain unclear. |
| Croatia | Court Register (FINA) rsv.fina.hr |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Directors and shareholders publicly searchable. UBO register requires NIAS authentication (Croatian citizens/residents only). Foreign users need local representative or eIDAS-compatible EU eID. Cross-border eID support still inconsistent. |
| Cyprus | DRCOR efiling.drcor.mcit.gov.cy |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | Directors: free basic search. Shareholders: €10 online search, €20/certificate. Some documents require in-person visits in Nicosia. Documents often in Greek only. UBO register: closed to public since Jan 2023. Access restricted to national authorities and obliged entities only. No LIA route. Kyckr CEO: unlikely to offer easy cross-border access anytime soon. |
| Czech Republic | OR + ESM or.justice.cz |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Commercial register (OR): free, public, includes directors and shareholders. UBO register (ESM): was fully public with ownership graphs, nationality, ID number, nature of control. Closed to public Dec 2025 following Aug 2025 Supreme Court ruling. LIA now only possible via court procedure. |
| Denmark | CVR datacvr.virk.dk |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | CVR: free public API for directors and company data. Documents: 150–750 DKK, require EU eID. UBO: restricted since Sep 2025 to those with legitimate interest. Data aggregators still permitted. Third-country entities: case-by-case, ~12 days processing. Two APIs available (with/without UBO). One of the best-aligned with 6AMLD. |
| Estonia | E-Business Register ariregister.rik.ee |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | Most transparent register in the EU. Directors, shareholders, UBO — all publicly accessible. Name, shareholding, ownership graph, history, address. No login required. Free. API available. Transitioning to tiered access under 6AMLD in 2026, but currently gold standard alongside the UK. |
| Finland | PRH virre.prh.fi |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Directors and shareholders: free public search. UBO: €30/extract via online form, or contract access (€200 setup + per-extract fees). Must justify AML purpose. Approval discretionary — may request power of attorney if they question your authority. One of the most accessible LIA systems for foreign users. |
| France | INPI data.inpi.fr |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Company data via INPI: free. UBO: free after LIA approval. Must create account, provide passport, proof of AML role, translated docs in French. Non-EU entities asked for SIREN number (French-only). Transparency International: 20 days to receive access. UBO data excludes some detail compared to other EU states. API available after access granted. |
| Germany | Handelsregister + Transparenzregister handelsregister.de |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Handelsregister: free basic company/director data. Shareholders in filed documents. Transparenzregister (UBO): €1.65/query. Must register individually and justify legal need. Transparency International waited 1 year for approval. One of the slowest LIA processes in the EU. UBO API restricted to national obliged entities only. |
| Greece | GEMI businessregistry.gr |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | GEMI: directors and shareholders publicly searchable for small fees. UBO register: suspended from public access since Dec 2022. Access restricted to national authorities and obliged entities only. No legitimate interest route currently available. No timeline for reopening. |
| Hungary | Court of Registration e-cegjegyzek.hu |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Directors and shareholders: free public search. UBO: €3.80/extract. Very strict legitimate interest test — must prove family, legal, ownership, or business ties to the specific entity. Processing can take months. One of the hardest LIA tests in the EU. |
| Ireland | CRO + RBO core.cro.ie |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | CRO: free public search for directors and shareholders. RBO (UBO): accepts LIA requests on paper, but zero applications have been approved since public access ended. Only Irish designated persons (banks, lawyers, accountants) get automatic database access. Requesters must prove link to high-risk jurisdictions or convicted individuals. |
| Italy | InfoCamere registroimprese.it |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | InfoCamere: paid extracts for directors, shareholders, company data. UBO register: fully suspended pending CJEU ruling on trust access. LIA introduced on paper Jan 2026, but the register itself is non-operational. Following legal challenges (Lazio Regional Administrative Court, Council of State), neither authorities nor institutions can consult the register. Transparency International lists status as suspended. |
| Latvia | Register of Enterprises info.ur.gov.lv |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | Directors, shareholders, UBO: publicly accessible. Free for basic data. Account required for detailed documents. Latvia committed to keeping public access even after 6AMLD. Bulk data available but not updated since Jul 2024. ECJ case pending on whether GDPR requires LIA test for shareholder register. |
| Lithuania | Registrų centras registrucentras.lt |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Directors and shareholders: public. UBO: €1.50–2.93/extract case-by-case, or €0.03/extract with JANGIS contract. Both routes limited to persons/entities in Lithuania only. Non-Lithuanian entities cannot access UBO data directly. |
| Luxembourg | RCS + RBE lbr.lu |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | RCS: free public search for directors. Shareholder data in filed documents. RBE (UBO): €5/request, must demonstrate transactional link. Ministry of Justice processes manually, one company at a time. Updated Jan 2025 LIA law covers journalists, NGOs, and transaction parties. |
| Malta | MBR registry.mbr.mt |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | MBR: directors and shareholders publicly searchable. UBO: €5/request, emailed with AML explanation. Approvals are one-off. Successful applicants receive scanned extract only, not database access. API rollout in progress. |
| Netherlands | KVK kvk.nl |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | KVK: €2.55/extract online for directors and basic company data. Shareholders in filed documents. UBO register: restricted since CJEU ruling. Law introduced for LIA access but rules not yet formed. Currently only Dutch obliged entities can access. Netherlands has stated it will provide LIA access to third-country entities once rules finalize. |
| Norway | Brønnøysund Register Centre brreg.no |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | Free public access. API available. Directors, shareholders fully public. UBO register launched Oct 2024, mandatory registration by Jul 2025. Public access: name, citizenship, country of residence, >25% threshold. Fines for non-compliance. No restrictions on foreign access. |
| Poland | KRS + CRBR ekrs.ms.gov.pl |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | KRS (commercial register): free for directors and shareholders. CRBR (UBO register): fully public — name, address, share size, country of residence, citizenship. Free. No login required. Draft legislation may shift to legitimate interest model, but currently fully open. |
| Portugal | IRN + RCBE eportugal.gov.pt |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Directors: publicly searchable. Shareholders: paid extracts, limited online. RCBE (UBO): requires Portuguese eID (residents/citizens/taxpayers only). Completely inaccessible to foreign entities without local partner. Oct 2025 decree approved to shift to LIA regime — not yet implemented on the website. |
| Romania | ONRC onrc.ro |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Directors, shareholders: paid extracts, requires electronic signature. UBO data held with Trade Register. Aug 2025 draft law proposed to limit public access to those with legitimate interest under 6AMLD. Currently still accessible with the right credentials. |
| Slovakia | Obchodný register + RPVS orsr.sk |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | Commercial register: free for directors and shareholders. UBO register (RPVS): public access discontinued Jul 2025 by Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Now restricted to national authorities and obliged entities only. |
| Slovenia | AJPES ajpes.si |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Directors and shareholders: publicly accessible. UBO: LIA introduced Aug 2025. Case-by-case access via email with supporting docs. No fees. Relatively quick responses. Broad qualifying criteria — well-documented foreign banks could realistically succeed. |
| Spain | Registro Mercantil + RCTRF registradores.org |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Registro Mercantil: paid extracts for directors and shareholders. RCTRF (UBO): requires Spanish ID to log in. All communications in Spanish only. Transparency International’s Spanish subsidiary waited 6 months. Even after approval, UBO details exclude nature of beneficial ownership. |
| Sweden | Bolagsverket bolagsverket.se |
✓ Full | ✕ None | ● Partial | Directors: public. Shareholders: not registered (Bolagsverket explicitly states it does not register shareholders of limited companies). UBO: SEK 125/extract (~£10), LIA access. Requires eID. 3-year certificates planned under 6AMLD. Sweden’s Ministry of Finance advises against granting LIA to non-EEA requesters. |
| Iceland | Rikisskattstjóri rsk.is |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Single register for all business companies since 2014. Directors: public. Shareholder data: available for some entity types, limited for others. UBO: restricted access. Small market, limited English-language online portal. Connected to BORIS for cross-border queries. |
| Liechtenstein | Handelsregister (Amt für Justiz) oera.li |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Business register: public and presumed accurate for AG, KmAG, GmbH (directors, articles of association). Other legal forms: must prove legitimate interest. Paid extracts. All documents in German. UBO data: restricted access, not publicly searchable. |
Company Registers in the UK, Switzerland & Non-EU Europe: Ownership Data in 20 Countries
20 countries · Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Microstates
Wide variance in this group. The UK remains the global gold standard for corporate transparency — free API access, verified PSC data, bulk downloads. Switzerland is the opposite: directors are public via Zefix, but a new centralized UBO register (adopted Sep 2025) will be authorities-only when it launches in H2 2026. The Western Balkans are moving toward EU alignment but UBO access remains inconsistent. Ukraine has had public beneficial ownership data since 2015 — one of the earliest countries globally.
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Companies House find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | Free. API available. Bulk data free. Directors, shareholders (via annual returns/confirmation statements), and PSC (beneficial ownership) all publicly accessible. No login required. Identity verification mandatory for directors and PSCs from Nov 2025 (12-month rollout). Moves Companies House from passive registry to active verifier. 6–7 million individuals affected. Global benchmark for corporate transparency. |
| Switzerland | Zefix (Federal Commercial Register) zefix.admin.ch |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | Zefix: free public search. API available. Directors/officers fully public. Shareholders: companies must maintain internal registers (25% threshold for disclosure), but not publicly searchable on Zefix. Shareholder data in filed documents varies by canton (CHF 3–16/extract). UBO: no central register yet. New Federal Act on Transparency of Legal Entities (TLEA) adopted Sep 2025, will create a centralized UBO register — but it will NOT be publicly accessible. Restricted to Swiss authorities, financial intermediaries, and advisors only. Entry into force expected H2 2026. |
| Ukraine | Unified State Register (USR) usr.minjust.gov.ua |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | Free public register. Directors, founders (shareholders), and beneficial owners (controllers) all publicly accessible since 2015 — one of the first countries globally. 25% threshold. Open data set available. Jun 2025 amendments strengthened verification of UBO data. Notarized and apostilled documents required for foreign UBOs. Fines up to UAH 340,000 for non-compliance. Data in Ukrainian/Cyrillic but partially transliterated on OpenOwnership platform. |
| Moldova | ASP (State Registration Chamber) asp.gov.md |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search for directors and founders. Company data publicly accessible. UBO data: collected primarily for public procurement purposes — not comprehensively available for all entities. Registry in Romanian/Russian. Limited English-language interface. |
| Serbia | APR (Business Registers Agency) apr.gov.rs |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search. Directors, shareholders, financial statements all accessible. Interface in Serbian only (Cyrillic/Latin). UBO register operational since 2018 for AML purposes, but public searchability of UBO data is limited. Central Securities Depository holds ownership structure for joint-stock companies. |
| North Macedonia | Central Register of RM crm.com.mk |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search. Directors and shareholders accessible. UBO register: operational but limited public access. EU candidate country — aligning with AMLD requirements. |
| Albania | QKB (National Business Centre) qkb.gov.al |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search. Directors and shareholders accessible online. UBO register established under AML law. Albania is an EU candidate country, aligning with 6AMLD requirements. Data in Albanian. |
| Montenegro | CRPS (Central Registry of Business Entities) crps.me |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search. Directors and shareholders accessible. UBO register operational. EU candidate country. Data in Montenegrin/Serbian. |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Entity-level registries bizreg.pravosudje.ba |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | No unified national registry. Separate registers for Federation of BiH (cantonal courts) and Republika Srpska (APIF). Directors and shareholders in court filings, but accessibility varies by entity. No centralized UBO register. Paper-based processes common. |
| Kosovo | ARBK (Business Registration Agency) arbk.rks-gov.net |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | Free public search for basic company and director data. Shareholder data partially available. No centralized UBO register. Data in Albanian and Serbian. |
| Georgia | NAPR (National Agency of Public Registry) napr.gov.ge |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free basic search. Paid extracts for detailed data (GEL 15–25). Directors and shareholders accessible. UBO register: launched 2022 for AML purposes. BO Leadership Group member. Data in Georgian and English. |
| Armenia | State Register of Legal Entities e-register.am |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Free public search. Directors and shareholders accessible. UBO data: reported to register since 2022. BO Leadership Group member. Open Ownership commitment. Data in Armenian and partially in English. |
| Azerbaijan | Taxes Ministry (e-government) e-taxes.gov.az |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Basic company information via e-government portal. Director and shareholder data requires paid extracts. No centralized public UBO register. Data in Azerbaijani. |
| Turkey | MERSIS (Central Trade Registry) mersis.gtb.gov.tr |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | MERSIS: free summary data (directors, status, capital, address). No English version. Detailed shareholder data via Trade Registry Gazette (TTRG) announcements — published for mandatory changes (share transfers, capital increases). No centralized UBO register. KYC/beneficial ownership reporting strengthening under FATF alignment. All documents in Turkish. |
| Russia | EGRUL (Federal Tax Service) egrul.nalog.ru |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | EGRUL: free public search for directors and basic company data. Shareholder data: only for LLCs (participants listed in register). JSC shareholders not publicly accessible. No public UBO register. Data in Russian only. Note: sanctions may restrict commercial use of data. |
| Belarus | Unified State Register egr.gov.by |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Basic company information available. Limited online access to director and shareholder data. No centralized UBO register. Data in Russian/Belarusian. Note: sanctions may restrict commercial interactions. |
| Andorra | Registre de Comerç tramits.govern.ad |
● Partial | ✕ None | ✕ None | Company register does not allow public access to information. Basic data (company name, activity, status) only available to local entrepreneurs or with legal justification, against payment. No public search. No UBO register. Corporate tax: 10%. Directors listed in register but not freely searchable online. |
| Monaco | RCI (Trade and Industry Directory) monentreprise.gouv.mc |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | RCI: online 24/7. Free basic info (company name, address, activity, directors, shareholders). Paid detailed extracts. €55–100 registration fees. Directors and shareholders listed. No centralized public UBO register. FATF grey-listed Feb 2023 (removed status pending). AML obligations on financial intermediaries for BO identification. |
| San Marino | Registro delle Società pa.sm |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Company register maintained by the State Congress. Directors publicly accessible. Shareholder data: available for some entity types in filed documents. UBO: AML law requires identification but no public centralized register. Small jurisdiction (~5,000 registered entities). Data in Italian. |
| Vatican City | N/A vaticanstate.va |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No commercial company register. The Holy See/Vatican City State does not have a conventional corporate registration system. Entities operate under Pontifical law. Not relevant for standard commercial due diligence. |
Company Registers in the US & Canada: Beneficial Ownership & Corporate Transparency
2 countries · Fragmented state/provincial registries, federal-level BO reforms diverging sharply
Key Regional Issue: Both countries operate fragmented, sub-national registry systems — 50 states + DC in the US, 13 provinces/territories in Canada. Company registration happens at the state/provincial level, not nationally. Director disclosure varies by jurisdiction. Shareholder data is almost never publicly accessible for private companies. On beneficial ownership: the US effectively killed domestic BOI reporting in March 2025 (FinCEN interim final rule exempted all US-created entities), while Canada launched a public federal BO register in January 2024. The two countries are now moving in opposite directions on corporate transparency.
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Secretary of State (per state) + SEC (public cos) sec.gov/edgar |
● Partial | ✕ None | ✕ None | No unified national company register. Each of 50 states + DC maintains its own business entity registry via Secretary of State offices. Most offer free online search. Directors/officers: availability varies by state. Some states (e.g., California, New York, Florida) publish officers/directors in annual filings; others (e.g., Delaware, Nevada, Wyoming) disclose only the registered agent — no officers, directors, or managers publicly listed. Delaware alone hosts 1.9M+ entities with minimal public disclosure. Shareholders: not publicly filed in any state for private companies. Shareholder registers are internal corporate records. For public companies, SEC EDGAR provides full officer, director, and >5% shareholder filings (Forms 10-K, DEF 14A, Schedules 13D/13G). UBO: The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted Jan 2021, requiring BO reporting to FinCEN starting Jan 2024. After multiple court challenges and injunctions throughout 2024–2025, FinCEN issued an interim final rule (March 26, 2025) exempting all US-created entities from BOI reporting. Only foreign companies registered to do business in the US must now report — and only for non-US beneficial owners. FinCEN stated it would finalize the rule by end of 2025 but had not done so as of late 2025. The 11th Circuit upheld CTA constitutionality (Dec 2025), but the domestic exemption remains in effect. The US has effectively no public or centralized beneficial ownership transparency for domestic companies. California's SB 1201 (state-level UBO bill) died in committee in 2024. No state currently mandates public UBO disclosure. |
| Canada | Corporations Canada (federal) + Provincial Registries ised-isde.canada.ca |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Dual-level system: federal + 13 provinces/territories. Companies can incorporate federally (CBCA) or provincially. Both systems maintain registries, but access and depth vary. Directors: publicly searchable for federal corporations via Corporations Canada online search — free, no login. Most provincial registries also publish directors. Shareholders: not directly published in most registries. Alberta requires top 5 shareholders in annual returns (accessible via registry agents). Québec publishes some shareholder data via the Registraire des entreprises. Most provinces: shareholder registers are internal corporate records only. UBO (ISC — Individuals with Significant Control): Since Jan 22, 2024, all CBCA corporations must file ISC information with Corporations Canada. Public data includes: full name, date of birth (month/year), citizenship, address for service, description of significant control, and dates of acquiring/ceasing control. 25% ownership/voting threshold. Free, public, searchable online. Database still being populated as companies file with annual returns. Québec has had public BO disclosure since March 2023. British Columbia passed legislation for a public register (expected operational by late 2025). Ontario requires private transparency registers but no public access yet. Fines up to CAD $1M and/or 5 years imprisonment for non-compliance at federal level. Canada is now the strongest BO transparency regime in North America. |
Company Registers in Latin America: Shareholder & UBO Data Across 22 Countries
22 countries · South America, Central America, Mexico, Caribbean (Spanish-speaking)
Key Regional Issue: Latin America has seen a wave of BO registry laws since 2018 (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama). However, almost all registries are private — accessible only to tax/AML authorities, not the public. The regional average BO threshold in South America is 10%, stricter than the EU's typical 25%. Ecuador stands out as the most transparent commercial registry in the region (shareholders with percentages publicly searchable). Colombia has one of the lowest BO thresholds at 5%. Bolivia and Haiti have no BO registry and minimal digital infrastructure. Panama remains under FATF enhanced monitoring (grey list) post-Panama Papers despite Law 129 (2020) reforms. Puerto Rico follows US federal rules (domestic entities exempt from CTA reporting since March 2025).
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | IGJ (Buenos Aires) + Provincial Registries www.argentina.gob.ar/justicia/igj |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | IGJ handles Buenos Aires; each province has its own registry. Directors and shareholders filed in annual returns and articles of incorporation — accessible via paid extracts or in-person requests. No unified national online search. UBO: FIU Resolution 112/2021 established BO framework aligned with FATF. 10% threshold. BO registry managed by AFIP (tax authority) — private, authorities only. One of the most advanced BO legal frameworks in South America per GFI 2025 report. All documents in Spanish. |
| Bolivia | SEPREC (Servicio Plurinacional de Registro de Comercio) seprec.gob.bo |
● Partial | ✕ None | ✕ None | Basic company data searchable online (name, NIT, status). Directors in filed documents but not freely searchable. Shareholders not publicly accessible. UBO: No beneficial ownership registry. Bolivia is the only South American country assessed by GFI (2025) that has not established a BO register. Limited AML framework. |
| Brazil | Junta Comercial (state-level) + Receita Federal (CNPJ) servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | CNPJ search: free public lookup returns company name, status, activity, address, legal nature, and partners/shareholders (sócios). Directors listed as legal representatives. Shareholder data for Ltdas included in articles filed with state Juntas Comerciais. UBO: BO information collected via CNPJ since 2019 (RFB Normative Instruction 1,863). 20% threshold. Data held by Receita Federal — private, accessible to tax/AML authorities and reporting entities on request. Not publicly searchable. Portuguese only. |
| Chile | Registro de Empresas y Sociedades (RES) + SII www.registrodeempresasysociedades.cl |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | RES: free online portal for companies formed under simplified process (SpA, SRL). Directors and shareholders publicly searchable. Traditional companies filed at Conservador de Bienes Raíces — paid extracts. SII (tax authority) issues RUT. UBO: BO registry established under Law 21,595 (2023, economic crimes reform). 10% threshold. Managed by SII. Private — accessible to tax and judicial authorities only. Chile is an OECD member with strong regulatory alignment. |
| Colombia | RUES (Registro Único Empresarial y Social) www.rues.org.co |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | RUES: free public search across 57 Chambers of Commerce. Returns company name, NIT, status, legal representative, address, activity. Directors/legal reps publicly listed. Shareholder data in filed documents — obtainable via paid certificates from local Chamber. UBO: RUB (Registro Único de Beneficiarios Finales) managed by DIAN (tax authority). Operational since 2022. 5% threshold — one of the lowest in the region. Private registry, authorities only. Open Ownership actively supporting implementation. One of the most advanced BO systems in Latin America. |
| Costa Rica | Registro Nacional www.registronacional.go.cr |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Registro Nacional: free online search for company name, cédula jurídica, status, legal representative. Directors (apoderados) publicly listed. Shareholders in filed documents — paid certified extracts. UBO: Registro de Transparencia y Beneficiarios Finales (RTBF) established 2019. 15% threshold. Managed by Central Bank. Private — authorities only. Non-compliance penalties include fines and restrictions on tax procedures. Spanish only. |
| Cuba | Registro Mercantil (MINJUS) www.minjus.gob.cu |
● Partial | ✕ None | ✕ None | State-controlled economy. Most companies are state-owned enterprises. Limited private sector (cooperatives, SMEs since 2021 reforms). Registro Mercantil under Ministry of Justice registers approved private businesses. Directors listed in filed documents. Shareholder data not applicable for most entities. No BO registry. No public online search. Very limited corporate transparency infrastructure. |
| Dominican Republic | DGII + Cámara de Comercio dgii.gov.do |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Companies register with Cámara de Comercio y Producción and DGII (tax authority). RNC (tax ID) searchable online — returns company name, status, activity. Directors and shareholders in filed documents (articles of incorporation) — obtainable via paid extracts. UBO: No centralized beneficial ownership registry as of 2025. AML framework under Law 155-17 requires obliged entities to identify BOs but no centralized register. Spanish only. |
| Ecuador | Superintendencia de Compañías appscvsmovil.supercias.gob.ec |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Superintendencia de Compañías: free online search. Returns company data, directors, shareholders with percentages, financial statements. One of the most transparent registries in the region — shareholders publicly listed with ownership percentages. UBO: BO registry established under Ley Orgánica para el Fortalecimiento de la Economía Familiar (2024). 10% threshold. Managed by Superintendencia. Private — authorities and reporting entities only. GFI provided technical assistance. Spanish only. |
| El Salvador | Registro de Comercio (CNR) www.cnr.gob.sv |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Centro Nacional de Registros (CNR): online search available for basic company data. Directors and shareholders in incorporation documents — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. El Salvador has not passed BO-specific legislation. FATF/GAFILAT assessments note gaps in BO transparency. Bitcoin adoption (2021) added regulatory complexity. Spanish only. |
| Guatemala | Registro Mercantil General de la República www.registromercantil.gob.gt |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Registro Mercantil: online consultation available for basic company data (name, status, registration number). Directors and shareholders in filed notarial deeds — obtainable via paid extracts or in-person requests. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework exists but no registry approach adopted. Transparency challenges noted by GAFILAT. Spanish only. |
| Haiti | Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie mci.gouv.ht |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Business registration handled by Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie. Records are largely paper-based. No public digital search for directors or shareholders. UBO: No BO registry. Very limited institutional capacity for corporate transparency. CFATF member but significant compliance gaps. French/Creole. |
| Honduras | Registro Mercantil (Cámara de Comercio) registromercantil.ccit.hn |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Managed by Cámaras de Comercio (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula). Basic online search available. Directors and shareholders in filed articles of incorporation — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry as of 2025. GAFILAT mutual evaluation notes limited BO access. Spanish only. |
| Mexico | Registro Público de Comercio (RPC) + SAT rfrpc.economia.gob.mx |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | RPC: online search for company name, folio, status. Directors and shareholders in filed notarial deeds — access varies by state (some online, some in-person only). SAT (tax authority) manages RFC (tax ID). SIGER system being modernized. UBO: BO registry established under 2022 reform (Art. 32-B Ter, Código Fiscal). 15% threshold. Managed by SAT — private, authorities only. Obliged entities must collect and report BO. Data not publicly accessible. Significant enforcement challenges across 32 states. Spanish only. |
| Nicaragua | Registro Público Mercantil www.registropublico.gob.ni |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Registro Público Mercantil: basic online search available in some departments. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — paid extracts, often require in-person requests. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Limited AML/CFT framework. GAFILAT grey list concerns. Political environment limits institutional transparency reform. Spanish only. |
| Panama | Registro Público de Panamá registro-publico.gob.pa |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Registro Público: free online search. Returns directors, registered agent, status, incorporation date. Subscribers (initial shareholders) listed. Ongoing shareholder changes may not be reflected — bearer shares were eliminated in 2015 but immobilized shares remain in authorized custodians. UBO: Law 129 (2020) created private BO registry (SINARE) under Superintendencia de Sujetos No Financieros (SSNF). 25% threshold. Authorities only. Panama remains under enhanced FATF monitoring (grey list). Post-Panama Papers reforms ongoing but public access remains restricted. Spanish only. |
| Paraguay | Registro Público de Comercio (Corte Suprema) www.pj.gov.py |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | Company registry under the Corte Suprema de Justicia. Online search limited. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. UBO: BO registry established under Law 6446/2019. 10% threshold. Managed by SET (tax authority) via SEPRELAD (AML unit). Private, authorities only. Implementation still maturing. GAFILAT noted compliance improvements. Spanish only. |
| Peru | SUNARP + Superintendencia de Mercado de Valores www.sunarp.gob.pe |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | SUNARP: online search for company name and registration number. Returns basic data, directors (listed in Partida Registral). Shareholders in articles of incorporation — paid certified extracts (S/. 6–20). SMV provides public data on listed companies. UBO: BO registry established under Legislative Decree 1372 (2018). 10% threshold. Managed by SUNAT (tax authority). Private — authorities only. Obliged entities report via virtual form. One of the earliest BO registry adopters in South America. Spanish only. |
| Puerto Rico | Departamento de Estado www.estado.pr.gov |
● Partial | ✕ None | ✕ None | US territory — companies register with the PR Department of State. Online search available for company name, status, registered agent. Officers/directors listed for corporations in annual reports. Shareholders not publicly filed. UBO: As a US territory, subject to FinCEN/CTA rules. Under the March 2025 interim final rule, domestic entities are exempt from BOI reporting. Same regime as mainland US. English/Spanish. |
| Uruguay | Registro Nacional de Comercio (DGR) www.dgr.gub.uy |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | DGR: online search available. Directors listed publicly. Shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. All SAs must publish shareholders and directors in annual filings submitted to the Auditoría Interna de la Nación (AIN). UBO: BO registry established under Law 19,484 (2017) and Decree 166/017. 15% threshold. Managed by BCU (Central Bank). Private — authorities only. One of the earliest and most advanced BO frameworks in Latin America per GFI 2025. Penalties include fines and activity suspension. Spanish only. |
| Venezuela | SAREN (Registro Mercantil) saren.gob.ve |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | SAREN: limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed documents (Acta Constitutiva). System frequently offline or slow. Data reliability concerns due to economic/political instability. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Excluded from GFI 2025 report due to insufficient data. FATF/GAFILAT compliance limited. Sanctions environment restricts some commercial interactions. Spanish only. |
Company Registers in the Middle East: Corporate Ownership Data in 15 Countries
15 countries · Gulf states, Levant, North Africa (Egypt). Cyprus and Turkey covered in Europe section.
Key Regional Issue: The Middle East presents extreme variance in corporate transparency. Israel stands out as the most transparent — directors and shareholders are fully public record for all private and public companies. The Gulf states (UAE, Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar) have all introduced BO requirements since 2019–2021 with 25% thresholds, but all registries are private (authorities only). The UAE has the most complex system — 40+ free zones each with separate registries, plus mainland per-emirate licensing. ADGM and DIFC have public registers. Conflict-affected states (Syria, Yemen, Iraq) have minimal or non-functional registries. Iran remains on the FATF blacklist. Lebanon's economic crisis severely impacts institutional capacity. No country in the region has a fully public BO registry.
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | MOIC (Ministry of Industry & Commerce) www.moic.gov.bh |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | Sijilat portal: online search for commercial registrations. Returns company name, CR number, status, activity. Directors (managers) listed in filed documents. Shareholders in articles of association — obtainable via paid extracts. UBO: Cabinet Resolution (2020) requires companies to maintain BO registers and submit to MOIC. 25% threshold. Private — authorities and licensed professionals only. Bahrain is a FATF member with active compliance efforts. Arabic/English. |
| Egypt | GAFI (General Authority for Investment) + Commercial Registry www.gafi.gov.eg |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Commercial Registry maintained by Ministry of Justice. Online search limited — GAFI portal provides some company data for investment-zone entities. Directors and shareholders in filed articles of incorporation — obtainable via paid extracts from registry offices. UBO: No centralized public BO registry. AML Law 80/2002 requires obliged entities to identify BOs during CDD but no centralized register. Egypt is working toward FATF compliance under ongoing reforms. Arabic. Large informal economy limits registry coverage. |
| Iran | Companies Registration Office (SSAA) irsherkat.ssaa.ir |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | SSAA (State Organization for Registration of Deeds and Properties): online search for company name and registration number. Returns basic data including directors. Shareholder data in filed articles — limited public access. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Sanctions environment and FATF blacklist status (since 2020) significantly limit transparency. Iran remains on the FATF call-for-action list. Farsi only. International data exchange severely restricted. |
| Iraq | Companies Registrar (Ministry of Trade) mot.gov.iq |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Companies Registrar under Ministry of Trade. Limited online presence. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — in-person requests at ministry offices in Baghdad or regional branches. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework exists (Law 39/2015) but no registry approach. Institutional capacity challenges. MENAFATF member. Arabic only. Data reliability concerns due to post-conflict institutional rebuilding. |
| Israel | Registrar of Companies (Corporations Authority) ica.justice.gov.il |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | Israeli Corporations Authority: free online search by name or number. Basic info free (company type, status, address). Full extract (directors, shareholders with ID numbers, share capital, charges) available for ~NIS 45 (~€12). All director and shareholder information is public record for both private and public companies. UBO: No centralized BO registry yet. FATF mutual evaluation noted Israel is considering implementing a BO registry. April 2021 amendments require trustee status disclosure in shareholder register. BO identification done through CDD by obliged entities. Hebrew interface (English partial). One of the most transparent registries in the region. |
| Jordan | Companies Control Department (Ministry of Industry) www.ccd.gov.jo |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | CCD: online search for company name and registration number. Returns company data, directors, legal form, status. Directors publicly listed. Shareholders in articles of association — obtainable via paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law and AMLU (Anti-Money Laundering Unit) require CDD-based BO identification. Jordan underwent MENAFATF mutual evaluation. Arabic/English partial. |
| Kuwait | Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) www.moci.gov.kw |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | MOCI: online portal for commercial license verification. Returns company name, CR number, activity, status. Directors in filed documents. Shareholders in articles — paid extracts. UBO: Cabinet Decision (2021) requires companies to maintain BO registers and file with MOCI. 25% threshold. Private — authorities only. Kuwait is a FATF member. Enforcement still maturing. Arabic. |
| Lebanon | Commercial Register (Ministry of Justice) cr.justice.gov.lb |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Commercial Register: online search available (intermittent due to infrastructure issues). Returns basic company data. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts from registry in Beirut or regional offices. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law 44/2015 requires CDD-based BO identification. Economic crisis (2019-ongoing) severely impacts institutional capacity and data reliability. MENAFATF member. Arabic/French. System frequently offline. |
| Oman | Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion www.business.gov.om |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | Invest Easy portal: online search for company name and CR number. Returns basic company data and status. Directors in filed documents. Shareholders in articles — paid extracts. UBO: Ministerial Decision 96/2021 requires companies to maintain BO registers. 25% threshold. Filed with MOCIIP. Private — authorities only. Oman compliant with FATF Recommendations 24/25. Arabic/English. |
| Palestine | Companies Controller (Ministry of National Economy) www.mne.gov.ps |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Companies Controller: limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles of incorporation — in-person requests at Ramallah or Gaza offices. Data fragmented between West Bank and Gaza administrations. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Limited AML framework. Not a FATF/MENAFATF member. Arabic only. Access severely constrained by political situation. |
| Qatar | Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) www.moci.gov.qa |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | MOCI: online portal for company search by name or CR number. Returns company data, status, activity. Directors in filed documents. Shareholders in articles — paid certified extracts. UBO: Law No. 20 of 2019 requires companies to maintain BO registers. 25% threshold. Filed with MOCI. Private — authorities only. Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) has separate regime with public register for QFC-licensed entities. MENAFATF member. Arabic/English. |
| Saudi Arabia | Ministry of Commerce (MOCI) mc.gov.sa |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | MOCI: online search for commercial registration data by name or CR number. Returns company name, status, activity, CR date. Directors/managers in filed documents. Shareholders in articles of association — paid extracts. New Commercial Registration Law (April 2025) creates unified national CR system. UBO: BO requirements under AML Law and SAMA (Central Bank) regulations. 25% threshold. Companies must maintain BO registers and file with relevant authorities. Private — authorities only. Saudi Arabia underwent FATF mutual evaluation (2024). Vision 2030 driving transparency reforms. Arabic (English partial). |
| Syria | Commercial Registry (Ministry of Economy) www.syrecon.gov.sy |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | Commercial Registry under Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade. No functional online search. Records paper-based and severely impacted by civil conflict (2011-ongoing). Directors and shareholders in filed documents — in-person requests only, if registry offices operational. UBO: No BO registry. No effective AML/CFT framework. FATF high-risk jurisdiction. Comprehensive international sanctions restrict most commercial interactions. Arabic only. Data reliability extremely limited. |
| United Arab Emirates | Ministry of Economy + Free Zone Authorities www.moec.gov.ae |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | Fragmented system: mainland companies under DED (Dept. of Economic Development) per emirate, 40+ free zones (ADGM, DIFC, DMCC, JAFZA etc.) each with own registries. ADGM and DIFC have public online registers (directors, shareholders searchable). Mainland: trade license verification online, but full director/shareholder data via paid extracts. UBO: Cabinet Resolution 58/2020 requires all companies to maintain BO registers (25% threshold). Filed with licensing authority (DED or free zone). DIFC and ADGM exempt (separate regimes). Private — authorities only. Enforcement intensified since 2024 (Cabinet Decision 109/2023). Fines AED 50,000–100,000 for non-compliance. UAE removed from FATF grey list Feb 2024. Arabic/English. |
| Yemen | Commercial Registry (Ministry of Industry & Trade) www.yemen.gov.ye |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Conflict (2014-ongoing) has destroyed or disrupted most institutional infrastructure. Commercial registrations exist in theory but accessibility is extremely limited. UBO: No BO registry. No effective AML/CFT framework operational. FATF high-risk jurisdiction. Humanitarian crisis severely limits all government services. Arabic only. |
Company Registers in Asia-Pacific: Ownership Transparency Across 32 Countries
32 countries · East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Oceania
Key Regional Findings: Asia-Pacific shows the widest variance in corporate transparency globally. Standout registries: Taiwan provides free public access to directors AND shareholders with shareholding amounts — one of the most transparent in the world. India has one of the most aggressive SBO (Significant Beneficial Ownership) enforcement frameworks with a 10% threshold — LinkedIn India was penalized in 2024. Indonesia is the only SE Asian country with a public central BO registry (since July 2022). Singapore has excellent company data (ACRA) but BO information is restricted to law enforcement.
No public BO register: Australia and New Zealand — two highly developed economies — still lack public BO registries, a major FATF compliance gap. Japan’s BO system is voluntary. China’s 2024 BOI Measures require filing by November 2025 but data is not publicly accessible. Conflict/sanctions states: North Korea, Afghanistan, and Myanmar have minimal or non-functional registries. Central Asia remains largely opaque, with Turkmenistan being one of the most closed business environments globally.
No public BO register: Australia and New Zealand — two highly developed economies — still lack public BO registries, a major FATF compliance gap. Japan’s BO system is voluntary. China’s 2024 BOI Measures require filing by November 2025 but data is not publicly accessible. Conflict/sanctions states: North Korea, Afghanistan, and Myanmar have minimal or non-functional registries. Central Asia remains largely opaque, with Turkmenistan being one of the most closed business environments globally.
East Asia
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | NECIPS / GSXT (SAMR) www.gsxt.gov.cn |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (NECIPS/GSXT) managed by State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). Free search by Chinese name or USCC (18-digit Unified Social Credit Code). Returns legal representative, directors, shareholders with equity amounts, registered capital, business scope, status. Annual reports publicly accessible. UBO: BOI Measures (2024) require BO filing with SAMR by November 2025. 25% threshold. BO data filed with authorities — NOT publicly accessible. Complex corporate networks and state-owned enterprise structures make true UBO determination challenging. Chinese language + CAPTCHA barriers for overseas access. |
| Japan | Legal Affairs Bureau (MOJ) www.moj.go.jp |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Commercial Register maintained by Legal Affairs Bureau (Hōmukyoku) under Ministry of Justice. Online search system available. Directors (names, addresses of representative directors) publicly registered. Shareholders NOT in commercial register — companies maintain internal shareholders’ list (kabunushi-meibo) which is not publicly filed. UBO: BO list system since 2022 — companies can file BO information with Legal Affairs Bureau and receive certified copy. 25% voting rights threshold. Voluntary but increasingly required by banks (Japan Post first). Private — not a public register. Japanese language interface. |
| Mongolia | General Authority for State Registration (GASR) burtgel.gov.mn |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | GASR: online search for company name and registration number. Returns basic company data, legal form, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: Mongolia working with Open Ownership and EITI on BO transparency for extractive sector. Draft Extractive Sector Transparency bill includes BO provisions. Public access to extractives BO data via EITI reports. Broader corporate BO register still developing. Mongolian language. |
| North Korea | No accessible registry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | State-controlled economy with no private company registry accessible to the public or international community. All significant enterprises are state-owned. Comprehensive international sanctions (UN, US, EU) prohibit most commercial interactions. UBO: No BO framework. FATF blacklist (call for action). No meaningful corporate transparency infrastructure. |
| South Korea | Supreme Court Registry + DART (FSS) dart.fss.or.kr |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | Commercial registry maintained by Supreme Court of Korea via Internet Registry Office. Directors publicly registered. Shareholders: for listed companies, major shareholders (≥5%) disclosed via DART (Data Analysis, Retrieval and Transfer System) operated by Financial Supervisory Service. Private company shareholders in articles — obtainable via paid extracts from registry. UBO: No centralized BO registry. 5% and 10% disclosure rules for listed companies under FISCMA. No BO disclosure obligation for private companies. Korea FSC announced mandatory ESG disclosure by 2026. Korean/English (DART has English interface). |
| Taiwan | MOEA (Ministry of Economic Affairs) gcis.nat.gov.tw |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | MOEA Company Registration Data Inquiry System: free online search. Returns company name, registration number, status, address, paid-up capital, directors, supervisors, and shareholders with shareholding amounts. One of the most transparent registries in Asia — shareholder data publicly searchable for free. UBO: Money Laundering Control Act requires CDD-based BO identification. No centralized public BO registry. FATF-style compliance driven by APG membership. Taiwan not a FATF member (political status) but follows recommendations. Chinese language (English partial). |
Southeast Asia
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunei | Registry of Companies (Attorney General’s Chambers) www.agc.gov.bn |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Registry of Companies and Business Names: limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. Annual returns required. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Order 2011 requires CDD-based BO identification. APG member. Limited transparency infrastructure. Malay/English. |
| Cambodia | Ministry of Commerce (MOC) www.registrationservices.gov.kh |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | MOC Business Registration Department: online search for company name and registration number. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. CamDX digital platform improving access. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML/CFT Law (2020) requires CDD-based BO identification. Cambodia on FATF grey list (increased monitoring) until 2023, removed Feb 2023. APG member. Khmer/English. Data quality concerns. |
| Indonesia | AHU Online (Ministry of Law) ahu.go.id |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | AHU Online: search for company profiles. Latest Profile (IDR 50,000) and Complete Profile (IDR 500,000) include directors, commissioners, shareholders with holdings, incorporation history. One of the most comprehensive registries in Southeast Asia. UBO: Indonesia is the only country in SE Asia with a central public BO registry. Presidential Regulation 13/2018, managed by AHU. BO data publicly accessible since July 2022 at bo.ahu.go.id. 25% threshold. MOL Regulation 2/2025 strengthens enforcement with risk-based verification and administrative sanctions (system blocking for non-compliance). Open Ownership providing technical assistance. Indonesian language. |
| Laos | Ministry of Industry & Commerce www.moic.gov.la |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Enterprise Registration Office: limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — in-person requests at provincial offices. Enterprise Registration Information System under development. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Decree (2015) requires CDD-based BO identification. APG member. Lao language. Limited digital infrastructure. |
| Malaysia | SSM (Companies Commission) www.ssm-einfo.my |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | SSM e-Info portal: online search by company name, registration number, or director/shareholder name. Company profile (RM 10-50) includes directors, shareholders, registered address, status, financial year end. MyCoID digital incorporation platform. UBO: Division 8A of Companies Act 2016 requires companies to maintain BO register and file with SSM. 20% threshold (or significant control). Mandatory submission since April 2024 (companies) and May 2025 (LLPs). BO information NOT publicly searchable — access requires written company authorization. Revised BO Guidelines issued January 2025. Fines up to RM 20,000. Malay/English. |
| Myanmar | DICA (Directorate of Investment & Company Administration) www.dica.gov.mm |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | MyCO (Myanmar Companies Online): search for company name and registration number. Returns basic data, directors. Shareholders in filed documents. System functionality impacted by political situation since 2021 military coup. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Myanmar Companies Law (2017) requires companies to maintain member registers. FATF grey list. APG member. Myanmar/English. Institutional capacity severely limited post-2021. |
| Philippines | SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) www.sec.gov.ph |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | SEC Company Search (eFAST system): online search by company name or SEC registration number. Returns basic data, directors/officers. Shareholders in General Information Sheet (GIS) filed annually — publicly accessible. Enhanced GIS includes top 20 stockholders. UBO: SEC Memorandum Circular 2019-19 requires enhanced BO disclosure form. Annual filing within 30 days of stockholders’ meeting. BO data filed with SEC — partially accessible. Open Ownership providing technical assistance to develop central BO register. 25% threshold. Filipino/English. |
| Singapore | ACRA (BizFile+) www.acra.gov.sg |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | ACRA BizFile+: free basic search. Business Profile (SGD 6.50-15) includes directors, shareholders, share capital, secretary, registered address. One of the best-maintained registries globally. Nominee status of directors/shareholders publicly displayed since June 2025 (CLLPMA Act). UBO: Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) since 2017 — companies must maintain and file with ACRA’s Central RORC. 25% threshold. BO data accessible ONLY to law enforcement — NOT public. Corporate Service Providers Act 2024 (effective June 2025) significantly tightens oversight. Fines up to SGD 25,000. English. |
| Thailand | DBD (Department of Business Development) www.dbd.go.th |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | DBD DataWarehouse+: free online search for company name and registration number. Returns company data, directors, registered capital, status. Shareholders in annual balance sheet filings — obtainable via paid extracts from DBD offices. DBD e-Filing system for digital submissions. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Act B.E. 2542 (1999) requires CDD-based BO identification. AMLO (Anti-Money Laundering Office) is the FIU. Thailand passed FATF mutual evaluation (2018) but BO transparency remains a gap. APG member. Thai/English partial. |
| Timor-Leste | SERVE (Business Registration Service) www.serve.gov.tl |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | SERVE (Serviço de Registo e Verificação Empresarial): online portal for business registration. Returns basic company data, directors. Shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. Limited AML framework. Not a FATF/APG member. One of the newest nations — institutional capacity still developing. Portuguese/Tetum/English. |
| Vietnam | National Business Registration Portal dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | National Business Registration Portal (Ministry of Planning and Investment): free search by company name or Enterprise Code. Returns company name, legal representative, status, address, registered capital, enterprise type. Directors listed for joint-stock companies. Shareholders: founding shareholders for JSCs in incorporation documents — full shareholder lists not publicly searchable. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law (2022, effective March 2023) requires CDD-based BO identification. FATF mutual evaluation (January 2022) noted fundamental improvements needed. APG member. Vietnamese. Rapidly improving digital infrastructure. |
South Asia
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | AISA / Ministry of Commerce moci.gov.af |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) and Central Business Registry under Ministry of Commerce. No functional online search under current Taliban government (since August 2021). Business registrations exist but accessibility extremely limited. UBO: No BO registry. No effective AML/CFT framework operational. FATF grey list (increased monitoring). Comprehensive international sanctions environment. Institutional capacity severely limited. Dari/Pashto. |
| Bangladesh | RJSC (Registrar of Joint Stock Companies) www.rjsc.gov.bd |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | RJSC: online search by company name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, registered address, status. Shareholders in filed annual returns and Form XII — obtainable via paid extracts. Digitization ongoing but system can be slow. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies Act 1994 and Money Laundering Prevention Act require CDD-based BO identification. Bangladesh Bank is the FIU. APG member. Bengali/English. Significant informal economy. |
| Bhutan | Ministry of Economic Affairs www.moea.gov.bt |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Regional Trade and Industry Office (RTIO): company registration under Companies Act 2016. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles of incorporation. UBO: No BO registry. Small economy with limited corporate structures. AML framework under development. APG member. Dzongkha/English. |
| India | MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) www.mca.gov.in |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | MCA21 portal (V3 launched July 2025): free search by company name, CIN, or director name. Returns company data, directors with DIN, registered address, status, paid-up capital. Shareholders in annual returns (Form MGT-7) and charge documents — available via MCA portal. UBO: Significant Beneficial Ownership (SBO) under Sections 89-90 of Companies Act 2013. 10% threshold (shareholding, voting rights, dividends, or significant influence/control). Companies must identify SBOs and file Form BEN-2 with RoC. MCA actively enforcing — LinkedIn India and directors penalized >INR 27 lakh in 2024 for non-compliance. SBO data filed with MCA. English/Hindi. One of the most comprehensive BO frameworks in Asia. |
| Maldives | Ministry of Economic Development & Trade business.egov.mv |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Business Portal (business.egov.mv): online search for company registration. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act requires CDD-based BO identification. APG member. Dhivehi/English. Small economy with limited corporate structures. |
| Nepal | Office of Company Registrar (OCR) ocr.gov.np |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | OCR: online search for company name and registration number. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed articles and annual returns — available via OCR portal or in-person requests. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML/CFT framework under Bank Rastra Nepal (FIU). APG member. Nepali/English. Digitization improving gradually. |
| Pakistan | SECP (Securities & Exchange Commission) www.secp.gov.pk |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | SECP eServices portal: company name search and registration verification. Returns company name, CUIN, registration date, status. Directors in filed returns. Shareholders in annual returns and Form A — obtainable via paid extracts or eZfile system. UBO: Companies Act 2017 Section 123A requires companies to maintain BO register (25% threshold) and file with SECP. AML Act 2010 compliance. SECP enforcing with administrative sanctions. APG member. Urdu/English. eZfile modernization ongoing. |
| Sri Lanka | Department of Registrar of Companies www.drc.gov.lk |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | DRC: online search for company name and registration number. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed annual returns — paid extracts from DRC offices. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 requires shareholder registers. AML/CFT framework under Financial Intelligence Unit. APG member. Sinhala/Tamil/English. Digitization progressing. |
Central Asia
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | Ministry of Justice (e-Gov) egov.kz |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | e-Gov portal: online search for legal entities by BIN (Business Identification Number) or company name. Returns basic data, status, registration date, address, legal form. Directors in filed documents. Shareholders for JSCs — disclosed via KASE (Kazakhstan Stock Exchange) for listed entities. UBO: AML Law (2009, amended 2020) requires companies to identify and maintain BO information. Filed with financial monitoring authorities. Not publicly accessible. EAG (Eurasian Group) member — FATF-style regional body. Russian/Kazakh. Digital infrastructure improving under Digital Kazakhstan program. |
| Kyrgyzstan | Ministry of Justice register.minjust.gov.kg |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | State Registration Service: online search for legal entities by registration number or name. Returns basic data, status, registration date. Directors and founders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law requires CDD-based BO identification. EAG member. Russian/Kyrgyz. Limited digital infrastructure. |
| Tajikistan | Tax Committee (Ministry of Finance) www.tax.tj |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Unified State Register maintained by Tax Committee. Limited online search — basic verification by TIN. Directors and founders in filed documents — in-person requests at registration offices. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law requires CDD-based BO identification. EAG member. Tajik/Russian. Very limited digital infrastructure. |
| Turkmenistan | Ministry of Economy and Finance www.fineconomic.gov.tm |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | State-controlled economy with limited private sector. Company registry under Ministry of Economy and Finance. No functional public online search. Business registration exists but accessibility extremely limited. UBO: No BO registry. Limited AML framework. EAG member. Turkmen/Russian. One of the most opaque business environments globally. Very limited foreign investment outside hydrocarbon sector. |
| Uzbekistan | Ministry of Justice (Single Portal) my.gov.uz |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Single Interactive Portal of State Services (my.gov.uz): online search for legal entities. Returns basic data, TIN, status, registration date, address. Directors (founders) in filed documents. Shareholders for JSCs via Tashkent Stock Exchange for listed entities. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law (2019) requires CDD-based BO identification. EAG member. Uzbek/Russian. Rapidly modernizing under reform agenda but corporate transparency still limited. |
Oceania
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | ASIC (Australian Securities & Investments Commission) asic.gov.au |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | ASIC Register: free basic search by company name or ACN. Current Company Extract (AUD 10 online) includes directors (name, address, DOB, appointment date), shareholders (names, addresses, shares held), share capital structure, registered address, status. Over 3 million registered companies. API access via approved brokers. ABR (Australian Business Register) provides ABN lookup. UBO: No public BO register. Australia still does not collect or publish beneficial ownership data — a significant gap noted by FATF. Shareholder data is available but must be manually parsed (may include nominees). Reforms under discussion but no legislation enacted. FATF member. English. Despite lack of BO register, one of the most comprehensive company registries for director/shareholder data. |
| New Zealand | Companies Office (MBIE) companies-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✕ None | Companies Register: free online search by company name, number, NZBN, or director/shareholder name. Returns directors (names, residential addresses), shareholders (names, shareholdings), share structure, incorporation date, status, registered address. Comprehensive and user-friendly. API and mobile app available. UBO: No public BO register. 2022 Cabinet proposals for BO registry were shelved under current government (2024 reform announcement excluded BO register). Not FATF-compliant on BO transparency — identified as key deficiency. New Zealand is exposed to nominee/trust structures obscuring true ownership. Companies (Address Information) Amendment Act allows directors to substitute residential addresses with service addresses. English. Despite BO gap, one of the best free company registries globally. |
Company Registers in Africa: Beneficial Ownership & Registry Access in 53 Countries
53 countries · North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Central Africa. Egypt covered in Middle East section.
Key Regional Findings: Africa shows extreme variance in corporate transparency. Nigeria stands out as a global leader — it launched an Open Central Register of Beneficial Ownership (PSC Register) in May 2023, one of the first public BO registers in Africa, with ~350,000 companies disclosing PSC data. South Africa has one of the lowest BO thresholds globally at 5%, with mandatory CIPC filing since April 2023 (key to FATF grey list removal efforts). Kenya has a 10% BO threshold with BRS E-Register operational since 2020.
Best registries: South Africa (CIPC), Nigeria (CAC), Mauritius (CBR), Kenya (BRS), Rwanda (RDB), and Botswana (CIPA) have the most developed online company registries. Francophone Africa operates under the OHADA uniform commercial law system — most registries are paper-based with limited online access. Conflict states (Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea) have minimal or no functional registries. Regional AML bodies: ESAAMLG (East/Southern), GIABA (West), GABAC (Central), MENAFATF (North).
Best registries: South Africa (CIPC), Nigeria (CAC), Mauritius (CBR), Kenya (BRS), Rwanda (RDB), and Botswana (CIPA) have the most developed online company registries. Francophone Africa operates under the OHADA uniform commercial law system — most registries are paper-based with limited online access. Conflict states (Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea) have minimal or no functional registries. Regional AML bodies: ESAAMLG (East/Southern), GIABA (West), GABAC (Central), MENAFATF (North).
North Africa
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | CNRC (Centre National du Registre du Commerce) sidjilcom.cnrc.dz |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | CNRC: Sijilcom platform for commercial register searches. Returns company name, RC number, activity, status. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law 05-01 (2005, amended 2012) requires CDD-based BO identification. MENAFATF member. Arabic/French. |
| Libya | Commercial Registry (Ministry of Economy) N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online commercial registry. Political instability and dual government structures (Tripoli/Benghazi) severely impact institutional capacity. Paper-based registration systems. UBO: No BO registry. Limited AML framework. MENAFATF member. Arabic. Data reliability extremely limited. |
| Mauritania | Registre du Commerce (Ministry of Commerce) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Commercial Register: limited online presence. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — in-person requests at registry offices in Nouakchott. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law (2016) requires CDD-based BO identification. MENAFATF/GIABA member. Arabic/French. Limited digital infrastructure. |
| Morocco | OMPIC (Office Marocain de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale) directinfo.ma |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | Directinfo.ma portal: online search by company name or RC number. Returns basic company data, status, activity. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts from commercial court registries. UBO: BO requirements under AML Law 43-05 (amended 2021). Companies required to maintain BO registers and file with authorities. Not publicly accessible. Morocco underwent FATF mutual evaluation. MENAFATF member. Arabic/French. Casablanca Finance City (CFC) has separate transparency requirements. |
| Sudan | Companies Registrar (Ministry of Justice) N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Civil conflict (2023-ongoing) has devastated institutional infrastructure. Commercial registrations exist but accessibility extremely limited. UBO: No BO registry. No effective AML/CFT framework operational. FATF high-risk jurisdiction. Comprehensive sanctions (US). Arabic. Data reliability extremely limited. |
| South Sudan | Companies Registry (Ministry of Justice) N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Youngest nation in Africa (independence 2011). Ongoing conflict and institutional capacity challenges. UBO: No BO registry. Minimal AML framework. Not a FATF/ESAAMLG member. English/Arabic. Very limited government infrastructure. |
| Tunisia | RNE (Registre National des Entreprises) www.registre-entreprises.tn |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | RNE: online search by company name or tax ID. Returns basic company data, legal form, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts from commercial court registries. Digitization improving. UBO: BO requirements under AML Law 2015-26 (amended 2019). Companies required to maintain BO registers. Filed with Financial Analysis Commission (CTAF). Not publicly accessible. MENAFATF member. Arabic/French. |
West Africa
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | APIEX (Agence de Promotion des Investissements) monentreprise.bj |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | MonEntreprise.bj: online business registration portal. Returns basic company data, RCCM number. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework under CENTIF (FIU). GIABA member. French. OHADA commercial law system. |
| Burkina Faso | CEFORE (Centre de Formalités des Entreprises) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | CEFORE: business registration one-stop shop. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — in-person requests. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. French. OHADA system. Political instability since 2022 coups impacts institutional capacity. |
| Cabo Verde | Casa do Cidadão (Citizen’s House) portondinosilha.cv |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Portondi Nosi Lha: online government services portal with business registration. Returns basic company data. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law (2018). GIABA member. Portuguese. |
| Côte d’Ivoire | CEPICI (Centre de Promotion des Investissements) business.gouv.ci |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Business.gouv.ci: online business registration portal. Returns basic company data, RCCM number. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts from commercial court registries. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework under CENTIF-CI (FIU). GIABA member. French. OHADA system. Largest economy in francophone West Africa. |
| Gambia | Registrar General’s Department N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Limited online presence. Directors and shareholders in filed articles of incorporation — in-person requests at Banjul offices. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. English. Limited digital infrastructure. |
| Ghana | RGD (Registrar General’s Department) rgd.gov.gh |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | RGD online portal: company search by name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status. Shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. Digitization of registry records ongoing. UBO: Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) Section 383 requires companies to maintain BO register. 20% threshold (or significant control). Filed with Registrar. BO data accessible to competent authorities — not fully public. Ghana Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Regulations 2020. English. GIABA member. |
| Guinea | APIP (Agence de Promotion des Investissements Privés) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | APIP: business registration one-stop shop. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. French. OHADA system. Political instability since 2021 coup. |
| Guinea-Bissau | Commercial Registry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Paper-based registration at commercial court. Persistent political instability. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. Portuguese. OHADA system. Very limited institutional capacity. |
| Liberia | Liberia Business Registry (LBR) lbr.gov.lr |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | LBR online portal: company search by name or registration number. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework. GIABA member. English. EITI member for extractives sector transparency. |
| Mali | API-Mali (Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | API-Mali: business registration one-stop shop (Guichet Unique). Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. French. OHADA system. Political instability since 2020-2021 coups. |
| Niger | CFCE (Centre de Formalités de Création d’Entreprises) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | CFCE: business registration one-stop shop. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. French. OHADA system. Political instability since 2023 coup. |
| Nigeria | CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) www.cac.gov.ng |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | CAC iCRP portal: public search by company name. Returns company data, directors, shareholders, registration date, status. Paid company search (~NGN 4,000) includes full details. Over 5 million registered entities. UBO: Nigeria launched Open Central Register of Beneficial Ownership (PSC Register) on 25 May 2023 — one of the first in Africa. CAMA 2020 requires disclosure of Persons with Significant Control. Public can search by company name and view PSC individuals and percentage of interest. ~350,000 companies with BO data as of 2024. World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund supported development. English. Largest economy in Africa. |
| Senegal | APIX (Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements) creationdentreprise.sn |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Creationdentreprise.sn: online business registration portal. NINEA (national identification number) system. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts from commercial court registries. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework under CENTIF (FIU). GIABA member. French. OHADA system. |
| Sierra Leone | OARG (Office of the Administrator & Registrar General) oarg.gov.sl |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | OARG online portal: company search available. Returns basic data, registration status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework. GIABA member. English. EITI member for extractives. |
| Togo | CFCE (Centre de Formalités des Entreprises) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | MonEntreprise portal for business registration. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. French. OHADA system. |
East Africa
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burundi | API (Agence de Promotion des Investissements) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | API: business registration services. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. ESAAMLG member. French/Kirundi. OHADA system. Limited digital infrastructure. |
| Comoros | Commercial Registry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Paper-based registration. Very limited institutional capacity. UBO: No BO registry. ESAAMLG member. French/Arabic/Comorian. |
| Djibouti | Guichet Unique (One-Stop Shop) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Guichet Unique: business registration services. Limited online presence. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. MENAFATF member. French/Arabic. |
| Eritrea | Ministry of Trade and Industry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Highly controlled economy with limited private sector. Minimal foreign investment. UBO: No BO registry. Not a FATF/ESAAMLG member. Tigrinya/Arabic/English. One of the most closed business environments in Africa. |
| Ethiopia | Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration etrade.gov.et |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | eTrade platform: online business registration. Returns basic company data, trade license information. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. Digitization accelerating under Ethiopia Investment Commission reforms. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Proclamation 780/2013 requires CDD-based BO identification. ESAAMLG member. Amharic/English. Second most populous country in Africa. |
| Kenya | BRS (Business Registration Service) brs.go.ke |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | BRS via eCitizen portal: online search by company name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status. Shareholders in filed returns — paid extracts. BRS V2 portal launched 2025 with enhanced search. UBO: Companies Act 2015 Section 93A requires BO register. 10% threshold (one of the lowest in Africa). BRS Directive No. 01/2024 mandates compliance. BO E-Register operational since October 2020. Data accessible to competent authorities — commitment to make public under OGP. November 2025 filing deadline for pending applications. Fines up to KES 500,000. English/Swahili. ESAAMLG member. |
| Madagascar | EDBM (Economic Development Board) edbm.mg |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | EDBM: business registration one-stop shop. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — extracts from commercial court registries. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework under SAMIFIN (FIU). ESAAMLG member. Malagasy/French. |
| Malawi | Registrar General (Ministry of Justice) www.registrargeneral.gov.mw |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Online company search by name or registration number. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies Act 2013 requires shareholder registers. AML framework under FIU. ESAAMLG member. English/Chichewa. |
| Mauritius | CBR (Companies and Businesses Registration Dept.) companies.govmu.org |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ● Partial | CBR online portal: free search by company name or file number. Returns company data, directors, shareholders, registered address, status, filing history. One of the best-maintained registries in Africa. UBO: Financial Services Act and AML/CFT framework require BO identification. Mauritius Revenue Authority and FSC collect BO data. Global Business Companies (GBCs) subject to enhanced transparency under FATF recommendations. Mauritius removed from EU AML blacklist. ESAAMLG member. English/French. Major international financial centre. |
| Mozambique | CUE (One-Stop Shop / Balcão de Atendimento Único) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | CUE: business registration services. Limited online search. Conservatória do Registo das Entidades Legais (CREL) maintains legal entity register. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law (2013, amended 2020). ESAAMLG member. Portuguese. EITI member for extractives. |
| Rwanda | RDB (Rwanda Development Board) org.rdb.rw |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | RDB online portal: company search by name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status. One of the fastest business registration systems in Africa (6 hours). Shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry yet. Law on Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering (2020) requires CDD-based BO identification. ESAAMLG member. Kinyarwanda/English/French. Leading digital governance in East Africa. |
| Seychelles | Registrar of Companies (Financial Services Authority) fsaseychelles.sc |
● Partial | ● Partial | ● Partial | FSA: online search for IBCs and domestic companies. Returns basic data, status. Directors in filed documents. Shareholders for domestic companies in annual returns. UBO: Beneficial Ownership Act 2020 requires companies to maintain BO registers and file with FSA. IBCs and Special Licences Act entities included. BO data accessible to competent authorities — NOT public. Seychelles removed from FATF grey list (2024). ESAAMLG member. English/French/Creole. Major offshore financial centre. |
| Somalia | Ministry of Commerce and Industry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional national company registry. Fragmented governance (Federal Government, Somaliland, Puntland). Limited institutional capacity. UBO: No BO registry. FATF high-risk jurisdiction (call for action). No effective AML/CFT framework. Somali/Arabic. Extremely limited government infrastructure. |
| Tanzania | BRELA (Business Registrations & Licensing Agency) ors.brela.go.tz |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | BRELA ORS (Online Registration System): company search by name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status. Shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies Act 2002 requires shareholder registers. AML Act 2006 requires CDD-based BO identification. ESAAMLG member. English/Swahili. EITI member for extractives. |
| Uganda | URSB (Uganda Registration Services Bureau) ursb.go.ug |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | URSB OBRS (Online Business Registration System): company search by name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status. Shareholders in filed annual returns. UBO: Companies Act 2012 Section 84A requires companies to maintain BO register (25% threshold). Filed with Registrar. Data accessible to authorities — not fully public. ESAAMLG member. English. |
| Zambia | PACRA (Patents & Companies Registration Agency) www.pacra.org.zm |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ● Partial | PACRA online portal: company search by name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status, shares. One of the better-maintained registries in Southern Africa. UBO: Corporate Beneficial Ownership regulations under Companies Act 2017. 20% threshold. Companies must maintain BO register and file with PACRA. Data accessible to authorities — partially public. ESAAMLG member. English. EITI member. |
| Zimbabwe | Companies Registry (ZIPA) www.zipa.co.zw |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Companies Registry: online search for company name verification. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed annual returns — paid extracts from registry offices in Harare. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies and Other Business Entities Act requires shareholder registers. AML framework under FIU. ESAAMLG member. English. Economic instability impacts institutional capacity. |
Southern Africa
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | AGUIE (Guichet Único da Empresa) gue.minjus-ao.com |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | GUE: business registration one-stop shop. Online portal for company registration and verification. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law 05/2020. ESAAMLG member. Portuguese. EITI member for extractives. Oil-dominant economy. |
| Botswana | CIPA (Companies and Intellectual Property Authority) www.cipa.co.bw |
✓ Full | ● Partial | ✕ None | CIPA online portal: company search by name or registration number. Returns company data, directors, status. Shareholders in filed annual returns. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies Act 2003 requires shareholder registers. AML framework under FIA (FIU). ESAAMLG member. English/Setswana. Well-governed economy. |
| Eswatini (Swaziland) | Registrar of Companies (Ministry of Commerce) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Limited online company search. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — in-person requests at registry offices in Mbabane. UBO: No BO registry. Companies Act 2009 requires shareholder registers. ESAAMLG member. English/siSwati. |
| Lesotho | Registrar of Companies (Ministry of Trade) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Limited online company search via One Stop Business Facilitation Centre. Directors and shareholders in filed documents. UBO: No BO registry. Companies Act 2011 requires shareholder registers. ESAAMLG member. English/Sesotho. |
| Namibia | BIPA (Business and Intellectual Property Authority) www.bipa.na |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | BIPA online portal: company search by name or registration number. Returns basic data, status. Directors and shareholders in filed documents — paid extracts. UBO: No centralized BO registry. Companies Act 2004. AML/CFT framework under FIC. ESAAMLG member. English. |
| South Africa | CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) www.cipc.co.za |
✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | CIPC e-Services portal: company search by name, registration number, or director name. Returns company data, directors, shareholders (securities register), status. Company extracts available online. UBO: General Laws (AML/CFT) Amendment Act 2022, effective April 2023. 5% threshold (one of the lowest globally). All companies must file BO information with CIPC — mandatory as part of annual returns. Pre-2023 companies file with annual returns; post-2023 companies within 10 days of incorporation. BO registers and confirmation certificates NOT public — accessible to law enforcement agencies, SARS, FIC, FSCA. South Africa was on FATF grey list (2023-2025), BO reforms key to removal efforts. English. ESAAMLG member. Largest and most developed registry system in Africa. |
Central Africa
| Country | Registry Name | Directors | Shareholders | UBO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | CFCE (Centre de Formalités de Création d’Entreprises) cfce.cm |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | CFCE: business registration one-stop shop. Online portal for RCCM verification. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — paid extracts from commercial court registries. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML framework under ANIF (FIU). GABAC member. French/English. OHADA system. CEMAC zone. |
| Central African Republic | Guichet Unique N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Ongoing conflict severely impacts institutional capacity. Paper-based registration. UBO: No BO registry. GABAC member. French. OHADA system. One of the least developed countries globally. |
| Chad | ANIE (Agence Nationale des Investissements) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | ANIE: business registration services. Very limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. GABAC member. French/Arabic. OHADA system. CEMAC zone. |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | Guichet Unique / CFCE N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | Business registration one-stop shop. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles. UBO: No BO registry. GABAC member. French. OHADA system. CEMAC zone. EITI member for extractives. |
| DRC (Congo-Kinshasa) | Guichet Unique / GUCE N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | GUCE: business registration one-stop shop. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — in-person requests at Kinshasa commercial court. UBO: No centralized BO registry. AML Law (2004, amended 2014). ESAAMLG member. French. OHADA system. EITI member. Vast mineral wealth with transparency challenges. |
| Equatorial Guinea | Commercial Registry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Limited institutional capacity despite oil wealth. UBO: No BO registry. GABAC member. Spanish/French. OHADA/CEMAC. Not EITI compliant (suspended). |
| Gabon | ANPI (Agence Nationale de Promotion des Investissements) N/A |
● Partial | ● Partial | ✕ None | ANPI: business registration services. Limited online search. Directors and shareholders in filed articles — extracts from commercial court registries. UBO: No BO registry. GABAC member. French. OHADA system. CEMAC zone. EITI member. |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Commercial Registry N/A |
✕ None | ✕ None | ✕ None | No functional online company registry. Small island economy. Very limited institutional capacity. UBO: No BO registry. GIABA member. Portuguese. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a beneficial ownership register and why does it matter?
A beneficial ownership (BO) register is a government-maintained database that records the natural persons who ultimately own or control a company — not just the names on paper, but the individuals who hold real economic interest or decision-making power. These registers are critical for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, counter-terrorism financing (CTF), tax enforcement, and commercial due diligence. Without BO data, shell companies and nominee structures can hide the true owners behind layers of corporate entities. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommends all countries maintain BO registers, and many jurisdictions now mandate them — though public accessibility varies widely, as this index documents.
Which countries have public beneficial ownership registers?
As of early 2026, the countries with publicly searchable BO registers include the United Kingdom (PSC Register via Companies House), Canada (ISC Register via Corporations Canada — federal level since January 2024), Nigeria (PSC Register via CAC — Africa's first, launched May 2023), Indonesia (public BO registry at bo.ahu.go.id since July 2022), Denmark, Latvia, and several other EU/EEA countries that maintained public access after the November 2022 CJEU ruling. Many other countries — including South Africa (5% threshold), Kenya (10%), Ghana (20%), and most EU members — collect BO data but restrict access to competent authorities, law enforcement, or obliged entities. The US effectively exempted domestic companies from BOI reporting in March 2025.
What is the difference between shareholders and beneficial owners?
Shareholders (or legal owners) are the persons or entities whose names appear on a company's share register — they are the registered holders of equity. Beneficial owners (UBOs) are the natural persons who ultimately own or control the company, even if their names don't appear directly on the share register. The distinction matters because shares can be held through nominee arrangements, trusts, holding companies, or other intermediary structures that obscure the true controller. A shareholder might be a holding company registered in the British Virgin Islands; the beneficial owner is the individual person who controls that holding company. BO thresholds vary by country — from 5% (South Africa, Colombia) to 25% (most EU countries, UAE, China) to no requirement at all (many developing nations).
How do I search for a company in a foreign country's registry?
Most government company registries now offer online search portals, though quality varies dramatically. In well-developed registries like the UK (Companies House), Singapore (ACRA BizFile+), or Canada (Corporations Canada), you can search by company name or registration number and get directors, shareholders, and filing history instantly. In many developing countries, online search may return only basic data (name, status, registration number), with detailed information available only through paid extracts or in-person visits. Language barriers are common — China (GSXT), Japan (Legal Affairs Bureau), and South Korea (DART) operate primarily in their national languages. This index provides the specific registry URL for every country so you know exactly where to start.
What happened to the EU's public beneficial ownership registers after the CJEU ruling?
On 22 November 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in Joined Cases C-37/20 and C-601/20 that public access to BO registers constituted a disproportionate interference with fundamental rights (privacy and data protection under the EU Charter). This ruling invalidated the public-access provision of AMLD5, which had required all EU member states to make BO data publicly available. The response varied dramatically: some countries (Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Ireland) immediately restricted public access; others (Denmark, Latvia, some Nordic states) maintained open access under national law. The EU's Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD6/AMLR), part of the AML Package adopted in 2024, establishes a new framework with access for persons with "legitimate interest" — but implementation timelines extend to 2027-2029. The result is a fragmented landscape across the EU, documented country-by-country in this index.
What is KYB and how does company registry data support it?
KYB (Know Your Business) is the process of verifying the identity, legitimacy, and ownership structure of a business entity — essentially the corporate equivalent of KYC (Know Your Customer). It's a core requirement for banks, fintechs, payment processors, marketplaces, and any regulated entity that onboards business customers. Company registry data is the primary source for KYB: it provides official government records of a company's existence, registration status, directors, shareholders, registered address, and (where available) beneficial ownership. However, because registry data varies so widely in quality, depth, and accessibility across jurisdictions, KYB providers must navigate a patchwork of 400+ registries worldwide — which is exactly what this index maps.
Why is the US Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) no longer effective for domestic companies?
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted in January 2021 and required BO reporting to FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) starting January 2024. However, after a series of constitutional challenges — most notably Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland — multiple federal courts issued injunctions blocking enforcement. In March 2025, FinCEN issued an interim final rule that exempted all US-created entities from BOI reporting requirements. Only foreign companies registered to do business in the US must now report, and only for non-US beneficial owners. The 11th Circuit upheld the CTA's constitutionality in December 2025, but the domestic exemption remains in effect. As of early 2026, the US has no centralized public or private BO register for domestic companies, making it one of the largest blind spots in global corporate transparency.
Which countries have the most transparent company registries?
The most transparent registries — where directors, shareholders, and beneficial ownership data are all publicly accessible online — include the United Kingdom (Companies House, PSC Register), Canada (federal ISC register since 2024), Nigeria (CAC with public PSC register), Taiwan (MOEA — free public access to directors and shareholders with amounts), Ecuador (Superintendencia de Compañías — shareholders with percentages), and Denmark/Latvia (maintained public BO access post-CJEU). Singapore (ACRA), Israel (Corporations Authority), and New Zealand (Companies Office) offer excellent free access to directors and shareholders, though BO data is restricted to authorities. At the opposite extreme, Delaware (US), Eritrea, North Korea, Libya, Sudan, and several Central African nations offer minimal or no public company data.
What are FATF grey list and blacklist, and how do they relate to beneficial ownership?
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) maintains two lists: the "grey list" (officially: Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring) and the "blacklist" (High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action). Grey-listed countries have strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT frameworks but have committed to resolving them — examples include Panama, South Africa (recently), and several others. Blacklisted countries (as of early 2026: North Korea, Iran, Myanmar) have severe, persistent deficiencies and face enhanced due diligence requirements from financial institutions worldwide. Beneficial ownership transparency is a core FATF recommendation (Recommendation 24), and weak BO frameworks are one of the most common reasons countries get grey-listed. This index notes FATF and regional body status for every country.
How often is this index updated?
The Global Ownership Data Index is a living resource maintained by Zavia.ai. The current edition was researched and verified between February and March 2026, using official government registry portals, FATF/regional body mutual evaluation reports, Open Ownership data, national AML/CFT legislation, and World Bank corporate transparency assessments. We aim to update the index at least annually, with interim updates when major regulatory changes occur (such as new BO register launches, FATF listing changes, or significant legislative reforms). If you notice outdated information for a specific country, contact us at .
