EU Company Registry Directory

What Is a Company Registry and What Does It Tell You?

A company registry is a government-maintained public database of legally incorporated business entities. In every EU member state, companies are required by law to register with a national authority before conducting business. This registration creates a permanent public record — independent of anything the company presents about itself — containing the company’s legal name, registration number, incorporation date, registered address, directors, share capital, and in most jurisdictions, filed financial accounts. For investors conducting due diligence and fraud victims tracing a company, national company registries are the single most authoritative source of corporate information available. They cannot be edited by the company, cannot be fabricated, and in most EU jurisdictions are freely accessible online. The critical discipline in using registries is verification by primary source: always search the official government register directly — never rely on information provided by the company or intermediary to confirm its own identity.  

What Company Registries Do and Do Not Show

What Registries Typically Contain

• Legal entity name and any trading names
• Company registration or identification number
• Date of incorporation
• Registered office address
• Legal entity type (limited company, public company, branch, partnership)
• Current and former directors and officers
• Shareholders and share capital structure
• Filed annual accounts and financial statements
• Charges, mortgages, and security interests registered against the company
• Insolvency proceedings, dissolution notices, and strike-off actions
• Beneficial ownership information (increasingly available under EU AML directives)

What Registries Do Not Confirm

A company appearing on a national registry confirms legal existence — it does not confirm the company is authorised to provide financial services, that it is solvent, that its directors are trustworthy, or that it is not being used as a vehicle for fraud. Registry verification must always be combined with regulatory licence checks, financial health assessment, and sanctions screening for a complete due diligence picture.  

How to Use a Registry Search Effectively

For Pre-Investment Due Diligence

Search by the exact legal entity name the company uses in its contracts and terms of service — not its brand name, which may differ from its registered legal name. Confirm the registration number matches what the company has provided. Check the filing history for gaps in annual accounts submissions, which indicate non-compliance or abandonment. Review director histories by searching named directors individually to identify patterns of dissolved or insolvent companies.

For Fraud Investigation

When tracing a fraudulent company, the registry search is the starting point for building a corporate map. Extract the registered address, director names, and associated entities. Search each director’s name to identify all connected companies — current and historic. Cross-reference the registered address against other companies registered there, which frequently reveals shared infrastructure between fraudulent entities. Check the incorporation date against the company’s claimed operating history and the date it first targeted victims.  

EU Member State Company Registries

Austria

Firmenbuch — firmenbuch.at Austria’s commercial register covers AG and GmbH entities. Provides director information, share capital, and filed documents. Basic searches are accessible online; full document retrieval requires a fee. The Firmenbuch is maintained by the Austrian courts.

Belgium

Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) — kbo.economie.fgov.be Belgium’s central business register assigns a unique enterprise number (KBO/BCE number) to every registered entity. Free public search provides registration details, legal form, and activity classification. Director information and financial data require access through authorised channels.

Bulgaria

Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities — brra.bg Bulgaria’s Agency for Registrations maintains the commercial register. Free public search provides company details, directors, and filed documents including annual financial statements.

Croatia

Court Register — sudreg.pravosudje.hr Croatia’s court register covers commercial entities. Free online access provides company details, directors, share capital, and filed court documents.

Cyprus

Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property — efiling.drcor.mcit.gov.cy Cyprus is a critical registry for financial services due diligence given its role as a major EU passporting jurisdiction. Free public search provides company details and director information. Given Cyprus’s prevalence in financial fraud structures, beneficial ownership information — available through the Cyprus beneficial ownership register — is particularly important to access.

Czech Republic

Public Register — or.justice.cz The Czech commercial register is maintained by the Ministry of Justice. Free full access to company details, directors, shareholders, and filed financial statements. The register is comprehensive and well-maintained.

Denmark

Central Business Register (CVR) — cvr.dk Denmark’s CVR register is one of Europe’s most transparent and accessible company registers. Free full access to company details, directors, ownership, annual reports, and financial data. The CVR number is Denmark’s primary business identifier.

Estonia

E-Business Register — ariregister.rik.ee Estonia’s fully digitalised business register provides free access to company details, directors, shareholders, and filed annual reports. Estonia’s advanced digital infrastructure makes its register one of the most user-friendly in Europe.

Finland

Business Information System (YTJ) — ytj.fi Finland’s joint register maintained by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office and the Tax Administration. Free search provides company details, registration status, and industry classification. Financial statements require access through the PRH portal.

France

Infogreffe / Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés — infogreffe.fr France’s commercial court registry provides company details, directors, and filed accounts. The SIREN (9-digit national identifier) and SIRET (14-digit establishment identifier) are France’s primary business identifiers — verify both. Basic searches are free; full document retrieval incurs fees. The Bodacc (bodacc.fr) publishes official legal notices including insolvency proceedings.

Germany

Handelsregister — handelsregister.de Germany’s commercial register is maintained by regional courts (Amtsgerichte). Covers GmbH and AG entities. Director information, share capital, and constitutional documents are accessible. Document retrieval requires a fee. The Transparenzregister (transparenzregister.de) provides beneficial ownership information. For sole traders, the local Gewerberegister is the relevant source.

Greece

General Electronic Commercial Registry (GEMI) — businessportal.gr Greece’s GEMI system provides free access to company details, directors, and filed documents. A company’s GEMI number is its primary business identifier. GEMI also publishes corporate announcements and capital changes.

Hungary

Company Information Service — e-cegjegyzek.hu Hungary’s company register provides basic free access to company details and directors. Full document access requires registration. The register is maintained by the Hungarian Ministry of Justice.

Ireland

Companies Registration Office (CRO) — cro.ie Ireland’s CRO is freely accessible and comprehensive. Provides company details, director information, filed accounts, and charges. Ireland is a significant EU jurisdiction for international corporate structures — thorough CRO searches are frequently relevant in cross-border fraud investigations. Beneficial ownership information is available through the Register of Beneficial Ownership (rbo.gov.ie).

Italy

Registro delle Imprese — registroimprese.it Italy’s national business register is managed through the Chamber of Commerce system (Unioncamere). Provides company details, directors, and financial summaries. The REA number (Repertorio Economico Amministrativo) is Italy’s additional business identifier alongside the Codice Fiscale. Full financial statement access requires fees through individual Chamber of Commerce portals.

Latvia

Enterprise Register — ur.gov.lv Latvia’s Enterprise Register provides free access to company details, directors, and filed documents. Latvia is a notable jurisdiction in cross-border financial fraud cases given its historically prominent role in European correspondent banking.

Lithuania

Register of Legal Entities — rekvizitai.vz.lt / jar.lt Lithuania’s register of legal entities provides free access to company registration details and directors. The JAR (Juridinių asmenų registras) is the official state register.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg Business Register (LBR) — lbr.lu Luxembourg is a critical registry for investment fund and holding company structures. The LBR provides company details, directors, and filed documents. Luxembourg’s prominence in EU fund domiciliation makes its register essential for investment-related fraud investigations. Basic searches are free; document retrieval incurs fees.

Malta

Malta Business Registry — mbr.mt Malta’s business registry provides company details, directors, and filed documents. Malta is an EU passporting jurisdiction relevant to online gaming, financial services, and fintech sectors. Free basic search; fees for full document access.

Netherlands

KVK Business Register — kvk.nl The Dutch Chamber of Commerce register is freely accessible and comprehensive. Provides company details, directors, and filed accounts. The KVK number is the Netherlands’ primary business identifier. The UBO register (uboregister.nl) provides beneficial ownership information for Dutch entities.

Poland

National Court Register (KRS) — rejestr.io / ekrs.ms.gov.pl Poland’s KRS is fully accessible online. Provides company details, directors, shareholders, and filed financial statements. Poland’s large economy and growing international business presence make this an increasingly relevant registry in cross-border cases.

Portugal

Registo Comercial — publicacoes.mj.pt / rnpc.mj.pt Portugal’s commercial register provides company details, directors, and incorporation data. The Certidão Permanente (permanent certificate) is the standard verification document, accessible via a code provided by the company or through the registry portal. The NIPC (Número de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva) is Portugal’s primary business identifier.

Romania

National Trade Register Office (ONRC) — recom.ro Romania’s ONRC provides free access to company details, directors, and registration status. Full financial data requires fees. Romania is an increasingly relevant jurisdiction in cross-border financial fraud cases.

Slovakia

Business Register — orsr.sk Slovakia’s business register provides free full access to company details, directors, shareholders, and filed documents. One of Europe’s more accessible and complete free registers.

Slovenia

Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records (AJPES) — ajpes.si Slovenia’s AJPES register provides free access to company details, directors, and financial data. Financial statements are publicly accessible free of charge — notable for a European registry.

Spain

Registro Mercantil Central — rmc.es Spain’s central commercial registry provides company details and director information. Full document access requires fees. The NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal) is Spain’s primary business identifier. Individual regional Registro Mercantil offices hold detailed records for companies registered in their province. The BORME (Boletín Oficial del Registro Mercantil) publishes official corporate announcements.

Sweden

Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) — bolagsverket.se Sweden’s Bolagsverket provides free access to company details, directors, and registration status. Financial statement access requires fees. The Swedish organisation number is the primary business identifier.  

UK Registry

United Kingdom Companies House — find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk Companies House is among the world’s most accessible and comprehensive company registries. All information — including full filed accounts, director histories, charges, and insolvency records — is freely accessible. Key features: the director search function allows searching by individual name to identify all connected companies; the charges register reveals all security interests against the company; the filing history tab reveals gaps in compliance. The PSC (Persons with Significant Control) register provides beneficial ownership data. The Disqualified Directors Register is separately searchable. For fraud investigation, Companies House is often the most productive starting point in any UK-connected corporate investigation.  

EEA Registries

Iceland

Fyrirtækjaskrá — skra.is Iceland’s company register provides basic company details and director information. Free public access.

Liechtenstein

Öffentlichkeitsregister — oera.li Liechtenstein’s public register covers commercial entities. Basic free access; Liechtenstein’s significance as a financial centre makes this registry relevant in certain fund and trust structures.

Norway

Brønnøysund Register Centre — brreg.no Norway’s business register is freely accessible and comprehensive. Provides company details, directors, ownership, and filed annual accounts. Norway’s register is notable for the breadth of information available free of charge.  

Cross-Border EU Registry Tools

European Business Registry Association (EBRA) — ebra.eu

The EBRA network connects national business registries across EU and EEA member states, enabling cross-border searches through a single interface. Particularly useful when a corporate structure spans multiple EU jurisdictions.

OpenCorporates — opencorporates.com

The world’s largest open database of company information, aggregating data from over 140 national registries. Covers all EU member states and most global jurisdictions. Free basic search; API access for bulk data. Particularly powerful for mapping corporate networks — searching a director’s name across all connected jurisdictions simultaneously.

EU Beneficial Ownership Registers — BORIS

The EU’s Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS) and the interconnected beneficial ownership register system (BORIS) are progressively expanding access to beneficial ownership data across EU member states. As AMLD implementation deepens, cross-border beneficial ownership searches are becoming significantly more accessible.

VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) — ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies

The European Commission’s VIES system verifies EU VAT registration numbers in real time across all member states. Essential for confirming the validity of a supplier’s or counterparty’s EU VAT credentials before any commercial transaction.  

Key Global Registries: Secondary Verification

When fraud trails or corporate structures lead outside Europe, these registries are the primary reference points for Asia-Pacific-based investigators and victims: Australia — ASIC Companies Register: search.asic.gov.au Free access to company details, director information, and AFSL licence data. Comprehensive and well-maintained. Singapore — ACRA Bizfile: bizfile.gov.sg Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority register. Free basic search; paid access for full company profiles and director histories. Hong Kong — Companies Registry: cr.gov.hk Free search of registered companies, directors, and charges. Hong Kong’s registry is a significant reference point for Asian corporate structures connected to European fraud schemes. New Zealand — Companies Office: companies.govt.nz Free, comprehensive access to company details, directors, and filed documents. One of the world’s most accessible company registries. Japan — National Tax Agency Corporation Number Publication Site: houjin-bangou.nta.go.jp Japan’s corporation number system provides basic company identification. Detailed corporate information requires access through the Legal Affairs Bureau. India — Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA): mca.gov.in India’s MCA21 portal provides company details, director information, and filed documents. Relevant for Indian-connected corporate structures in cross-border cases. USA — SEC EDGAR: efts.sec.gov For SEC-registered investment advisers and public companies. State-level company registries vary; the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) provides links to all state business registries at nass.org. UAE — Dubai DED and DIFC/ADGM Registers The Dubai Department of Economic Development (dubai.ae/en/business) covers mainland UAE entities. The Dubai International Financial Centre (difc.ae) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (adgm.com) maintain separate registers for entities incorporated in these financial free zones — particularly relevant for fraud cases where assets have been moved to the UAE.  

Using This Directory for Fraud Investigation: A Practical Approach

When investigating a fraudulent company with European connections, work through the following sequence: Step 1 — Identify all claimed jurisdictions. Note every country the company claims to be registered in, licensed in, or operating from. Each requires an independent registry search. Step 2 — Search all relevant national registries. Use the directory above to locate and search each national registry. Record the results — including negative results (company not found) — in full. Step 3 — Map connected entities. Search all named directors in every registry where they appear. Use OpenCorporates to identify connected companies across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. This frequently reveals the broader corporate network behind a fraud operation. Step 4 — Check the VIES system. Verify all claimed EU VAT numbers. A company providing an invalid VAT number is misrepresenting its tax registration status. Step 5 — Access beneficial ownership registers. Where available, access the beneficial ownership register for the jurisdictions involved to identify the individuals ultimately controlling the entities. Step 6 — Cross-reference with regulatory registers. For financial services companies, cross-reference registry findings with the regulatory licence registers covered in the Veritas Advisory Group company verification and broker verification guides. The output of this process — a documented corporate map showing registered entities, directors, connected companies, and beneficial owners — forms the foundation of any subsequent legal proceedings.