Request information from the Central Business Register

Prerequisites

• You need an extract from the Central Business Register to prove your personal reliability for a business requiring a permit.
• As a natural person, you must submit the application in person. Alternatively, your legal representative can submit the application on your behalf.
• For legal entities, the application must be submitted by the legal representative or the authorized person of the business registered in the commercial or cooperative register.

Documents required

If you are submitting the application as a natural person:

• Identity card or passport with latest registration certificate

If you are submitting the application as a legal entity:

• Identity card or passport with latest registration certificate
• Extract from the commercial register as proof of power of representation

If you submit the application in writing, please also:

• Application with officially or publicly certified signature
• If necessary, an extract from the commercial register to prove your power of representation.

Please note

• You cannot submit the application through an authorized representative. Your legal representative is entitled to submit the application.
• If you are acting as a legal representative, you must prove your power of representation.
• A business can be represented by an authorized person registered in the commercial register or cooperative register.
• The Central Business Register does not contain data on all businesses in Germany. This information can be found in the Business Register. The Business Register contains information about the business owner, such as name, date of birth, and address, as well as information about the business itself, such as management, addresses, and registered activities.

Deadlines

no

Procedure

You can request information from the Central Business Register in 3 ways: online, in person or in writing.

If you would like to request the information online:

• Go to the website of the Federal Office of Justice and follow the instructions.
• For the online application you will need:
• a new identity card, an eID card or an electronic residence permit, each with activated online identification function, as well as the AusweisApp2,
• a card reader for reading the identity document,
• a digital recording device (such as a scanner or digital camera) to upload evidence.
• You will receive the information either directly at your address or at the authority for which you requested the information.
• You will receive a fee notice. You pay the fees.

If you would like to request the information in person:

• They contact the relevant authority.
• This office will forward your application to the Federal Office of Justice.
• The Federal Office of Justice provides the information.
• You will receive the information at your address or at the authority for which you requested the information.
• You will receive a fee notice. You pay the fees.

If you wish to submit your application in writing:

• You send an informal written application to the relevant authority.
• Your signature on the application must be officially or publicly certified.
• The responsible authority will forward your application to the Federal Office of Justice.
• You will receive the information at your address or at the authority for which you requested the information.
• You will receive a fee notice. You pay the fees.

From abroad, you can only request information from the Central Business Register in writing.

Processing time

Processing usually takes 4 weeks.

Fees

A fee of EUR 13.00 will be charged.

Legal remedies

Application for a judicial decision

Legal basis

Section 150 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__150.html




Section 150a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__150a.html




Section 150e of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__150e.html