Germany Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a German Business

TL;DR. Germany’s commercial register (Handelsregister) is publicly accessible through the federal portal at handelsregister.de without an account or German identity. Basic company name searches are free. Certified document downloads cost EUR 1.50-4.50 (approximately USD 1.60-4.90) per document. The interface is German only, but foreign buyers can navigate it without a local representative.

What is the official Germany business registry?

Germany operates a decentralised company registration system rooted in the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch, HGB). Registration is mandatory for all commercial enterprises (Kaufleute) and is recorded at the local court (Amtsgericht) for the district where the company has its registered seat.

The Handelsregister is the official commercial register. Each of Germany’s 16 federal states maintains its own register through local courts. The federal portal at handelsregister.de consolidates search across all state registers, making it the practical starting point for any company search.

Two related official systems operate alongside it:

• Unternehmensregister (unternehmensregister.de): the central platform for company data, aggregating Handelsregister entries, financial disclosures, and the Society Register (Gesellschaftsregister, GsR) for civil law partnerships registered since January 2024.
• Bundesanzeiger (bundesanzeiger.de): the Federal Gazette, operated by Bundesanzeiger Verlag on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Justice. This is where companies must publish annual financial statements, capital market notices, and other legally required disclosures.

The Handelsregister divides companies into two sections: HRA for sole traders, general partnerships (OHG), and limited partnerships (KG); and HRB for corporations including GmbH, AG, UG, and SE. The register number always includes the section prefix (e.g., HRB 12345 Frankfurt am Main).

The current federal search portal has been operational in its present form since around 2007 and was expanded in the early 2020s to support pan-European business register interoperability under the EU Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS).

What can you search?

The federal portal at handelsregister.de allows searches across all state Handelsregister simultaneously.

Free search (no account, no payment):

• Search by company name (full or partial), register number, or registered seat (city or district)
• Partial name matching is supported; results return all matching entries across all state registers
• Returns: company name, register section (HRA/HRB), register number, court, registered seat, and current status (active, dissolved, struck off)
• Company name history and previous registered addresses are visible in the base record

Paid document downloads (account not required, payment required):

• Aktuelle Bekanntmachungen (current announcements): recent filings and changes
• Chronologischer Ausdruck (chronological printout): the full registered history of the company in date order, including all changes to name, address, directors, share capital, and purpose
• Aktueller Ausdruck (current printout): the current state of the register entry, equivalent to a certified extract
• Historischer Ausdruck (historical printout): the complete history including struck-off entries

The Handelsregister does not hold beneficial ownership (UBO) data. Germany’s UBO register, the Transparenzregister, is maintained separately under the Geldwaschegesetz (GwG). As of August 2021, the Transparenzregister became a full register independent of other publication requirements. Access to the Transparenzregister requires a documented legitimate interest or a paid subscription from a regulated institution.

What is NOT in the Handelsregister:

• Financial statements (these are in the Bundesanzeiger or Unternehmensregister)
• Shareholder registers for GmbHs (the shareholder list is filed but not always publicly viewable in full)
• Credit history, payment behavior, or litigation records

How much does it cost?

EUR/USD conversion used: 1.09 (approximate, May 2026; verify at point of purchase). Payments on the federal portal accept credit card, SEPA direct debit, and PayPal. No German bank account is required.

The Unternehmensregister charges a registration fee for publishers but is free for searchers. Bundesanzeiger company disclosures are free to view.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No local German identity document is required. The federal Handelsregister portal is fully open for name searching without any account creation.

For document downloads, the portal processes payment directly without account registration. A credit card or PayPal account is sufficient. No German fiscal identification number, company registration, or residential address is required from foreign buyers.

The Transparenzregister (beneficial ownership) is a separate system with tighter access controls. Regulated institutions (banks, law firms, notaries) get direct access under their AML obligations. Non-regulated buyers must demonstrate a legitimate interest in writing or use a regulated intermediary to query it.

Is the website in English?

No. The Handelsregister portal, Unternehmensregister, and Bundesanzeiger are German-only. There is no English interface option on any of the three systems.

Company names and purpose clauses (Unternehmensgegenstande) are recorded in German. Director names follow German naming conventions. Registered addresses are in German format.

Foreign buyers who do not read German face a practical navigation barrier, though the search form fields are simple enough that most compliance professionals can work through them with a translation tool. Extracted documents require German-language interpretation for compliance use.

Germany participates in the EU Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS), which means some basic company data is accessible via the European Business Register network in a cross-border format. The BRIS portal provides English-language company name and status data for German companies, though it does not provide the full certified extract.

What’s the turnaround time?

Document downloads from the federal Handelsregister portal are instant after payment. The system generates the PDF immediately and the download link is delivered to the email address provided at checkout.

The Handelsregister is updated in near-real time. When a notary files a change (such as a new managing director appointment or a capital increase), the entry typically appears in the register within 24-48 hours of the court accepting the filing. In practice, many updates are visible within a few hours during business days.

For urgent compliance needs, the online portal is faster than any alternative. Counter applications at local courts are possible but not faster for document retrieval.

Is there an API?

No public API is available for the Handelsregister or Unternehmensregister. Neither portal offers a programmatic interface for third-party querying.

The Bundesanzeiger does not offer a public API for its financial disclosure data either.

The EU BRIS network provides cross-border data exchange between member state business registers, but this is an interoperability layer for member state systems rather than a public API accessible to private buyers.

For programmatic access to German company data, the options are: local data suppliers (see section below) who offer API-based delivery of Handelsregister data with their enrichment layer; or the OECD/EU-compliant open data releases from Unternehmensregister, which are released periodically as bulk datasets under specific data sharing agreements.

What you legally cannot do

The Handelsregister data is public, but the terms of use at handelsregister.de restrict:

• Automated bulk scraping or mass download of register entries or documents. The portal explicitly prohibits automated querying systems and tools that replicate the register content.
• Reselling certified extracts as if they were independently obtained. Documents carry the issuing court’s digital signature; redistributing them without disclosure of the source is not permitted.
• Claiming registry operator status. Any party using Handelsregister data in a commercial service must make clear they are not the official registry operator.

The Unternehmensregister data is published under the terms of German data protection law (BDSG) and the EU GDPR. Natural persons who appear in company records as directors or shareholders have certain rights regarding the processing of their personal data. Commercial reuse of person-level data requires a documented legal basis.

Bundesanzeiger financial disclosures are public record and can be cited and used for research and compliance analysis. Systematic bulk collection for competing database purposes is restricted.

Germany’s Transparenzregister is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) implementation in German law (GwG). Querying beneficial ownership data requires documented purpose. FATF (fatf-gafi.org) rates Germany’s AML framework as broadly effective following its 2022 Mutual Evaluation, though technical deficiencies in enforcement were noted.

Practical tips for foreign users

• Name searches are free since 2022. The Federal Online Court reform (Bundesministerium der Justiz, effective August 2022) made Handelsregister.de name searches and basic company data free for all users. Document downloads (Aktueller Ausdruck, Chronologischer Ausdruck) still carry a EUR 1.50-4.50 fee, but the initial search and company status check cost nothing.
• Use HRB or HRA number when you have it. The register number plus court name is the most precise search key. Company names can appear in multiple variations or with historical names that differ from the current trading name.
• Registered seat is the filing court. A company registered in Frankfurt am Main is registered at the Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main. If you know the city, you can narrow the search to that court’s register.
• GmbH vs. AG disclosure differs. A GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, the equivalent of a private limited company) has more limited mandatory disclosure than an AG (Aktiengesellschaft, public company). AGs must publish annual reports in full; GmbHs under certain size thresholds may publish abbreviated accounts.
• Geschaftsfuhrer is the operative role. For a GmbH, the Geschaftsfuhrer (managing director) is the person legally authorised to bind the company. Confirm this from the Aktueller Ausdruck, not from a third-party database.
• Check the Bundesanzeiger for financial health signals. German companies above certain size thresholds must file annual accounts. A gap in filing history (no accounts for two or more years) can indicate financial distress or a dormant entity.
• FATF status. Germany is a FATF member and a member of MONEYVAL. It is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. See fatf-gafi.org for current country standing.
• Dissolution vs. liquidation. A German company showing as “in Liquidation” in the Handelsregister is in the winding-up process but not yet struck off. The Liquidator’s name and appointment date will be in the register entry. “Geloscht” (struck off) is the final state.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

The German-only interface and document format create real friction for foreign compliance buyers, even though legal access is unrestricted.

• Local data suppliers (see section below): Creditreform and Creditsafe both deliver English-language company reports covering the core Handelsregister data plus credit scoring and payment history.
• BRIS portal: For basic name and status confirmation, the EU Business Registers Interconnection System provides cross-border access to German company status in English. This is a free, no-account option for initial screening, but it does not deliver certified extracts.

Local data suppliers

If you need a packaged report rather than a raw Handelsregister extract, Germany has a set of established providers:

• Creditreform (creditreform.de). Germany’s largest credit bureau network, operating through approximately 130 local member offices (Vereine) across the DACH region. Provides creditworthiness reports (Bonitatsauskunfte), payment risk scores, ESG ratings, and collections services. Widely used by German banks and trade creditors for counterparty risk assessment. Data covers both Handelsregister-registered entities and smaller non-registered businesses.
• Creditsafe Germany (creditsafe.com/de). International credit data platform with German-language and English-language report delivery. Covers over 430 million entities globally, with real-time Handelsregister monitoring, Schufa commercial data integration for SMEs not in the commercial register, and sanctions/PEP screening. Used by compliance teams that need a single API for multi-jurisdiction coverage including Germany.
• Dun & Bradstreet Germany (dnb.com/de). The German operation of the global D&B network. Provides D-U-N-S numbered company profiles, credit risk scores, payment performance data, and supply chain risk tools. Useful when you need German company data integrated with a global D&B-based counterparty database.

Use the Handelsregister for the official legal extract. Use Creditreform or Creditsafe when you need payment behavior, credit risk, or ongoing monitoring layered on top of the registry record.

FAQ

Can a foreign company search Germany’s Handelsregister without a German identity?

Yes. The federal Handelsregister portal is publicly accessible without any account, German identity document, or local representative. Name searches are free and unrestricted. Document downloads require payment by credit card or PayPal. No German address, tax number, or company registration is required from foreign buyers.

What is the difference between HRA and HRB in the German Handelsregister?

The Handelsregister has two sections. HRA covers sole traders (Einzelkaufleute), general partnerships (OHG, offene Handelsgesellschaft), and limited partnerships (KG, Kommanditgesellschaft). HRB covers corporations: GmbH (private limited), AG (public limited), UG (mini-GmbH, a variant of GmbH with reduced minimum capital), SE (Societas Europaea), and similar legal forms. When searching a German company, the register number and section (e.g., HRB 123456 Frankfurt am Main) together are the unique identifier.

Where do I find the beneficial owner (UBO) of a German company?

Germany’s UBO data is in the Transparenzregister, a separate system from the Handelsregister. Since August 2021, the Transparenzregister operates as a standalone register. Access for non-regulated parties requires demonstrating a legitimate interest. Regulated institutions (banks, notaries, auditors) have direct access under German GwG obligations. The Handelsregister shows directors and share capital but not ultimate beneficial ownership chains.

Where are German company financial statements filed?

German companies above certain size thresholds must file annual accounts with the Unternehmensregister or the Bundesanzeiger. The Bundesanzeiger (bundesanzeiger.de) is the primary publication platform for annual financial statements. Small GmbHs below the statutory thresholds may file abbreviated accounts. Access to filed accounts is free via the Bundesanzeiger full-text search.

How current is the Handelsregister data?

The Handelsregister is updated continuously as courts accept filings. Most changes filed by notaries (director appointments, capital increases, address changes) appear within 24-48 hours of court acceptance. The Aktueller Ausdruck (current printout) reflects the state of the register at the moment it is generated and is considered authoritative.

Is Germany on the FATF grey list?

No. Germany is a founding FATF member and completed its 2022 Mutual Evaluation. Germany is not on the grey list as of May 2026. The evaluation noted some technical deficiencies in enforcement effectiveness but rated the overall AML framework as broadly adequate. For current status, check fatf-gafi.org.

What is a UG and how does it differ from a GmbH?

A UG (Unternehmergesellschaft haftungsbeschrankt) is a low-capital variant of the GmbH introduced in 2008. It can be founded with a minimum share capital of EUR 1 (versus EUR 25,000 for a standard GmbH) but must retain 25% of annual profits until the EUR 25,000 threshold is reached, at which point it can convert to a full GmbH. The UG appears in the HRB section of the Handelsregister. Its lower capital requirement makes it common for early-stage businesses, and the small capital base is a relevant risk factor for credit assessment.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Handelsregister federal portal (handelsregister.de), Unternehmensregister (unternehmensregister.de), Bundesanzeiger (bundesanzeiger.de), FATF (fatf-gafi.org).