Bundesportal | Requesting information from the Central Trade Register

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Publisher

Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV)

Last update or date of publication

May 27, 2026

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

Call 115 now

Government service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.

Anyone who wishes to operate a business in Germany must be personally trustworthy.

With a report from the Central Trade Register, you can find out whether you have violated commercial regulations in the past and prove that you are personally trustworthy. This is particularly necessary if you operate a business that requires a license or is subject to supervision, for example:

Real estate brokerage
Used car dealership
Travel agency

The Central Trade Register records:

Rejection of an application for a business license,
Withdrawal and revocation of issued licenses,
Prohibitions on conducting business,
Rejection of an application for a certificate of competence, as well as its revocation,
revocation of the authorization to hire or train apprentices,
Prohibition on the employment, supervision, instruction, or training of children and adolescents,
Waiver of a business license in certain cases,
Decisions imposing fines of more than 200.00 EUR in connection with the conduct of business, as well as
certain criminal convictions related to the conduct of business.

You can request information from the Central Trade Register at the appropriate office.

Request for Information from the Central Business Register for Individuals Residing in Germany

For individuals:

When submitting the application in person:
- Proof of identity via national ID card or passport; if necessary, additional proof of citizenship,
If applying in writing:
- A copy of the national ID card or passport with officially certified personal data and an officially certified signature,
For electronic applications:
- Identity card, eID card, or electronic residence permit, each with an activated online ID function,
if applicable, the address of the authority for which the information is intended, as well as the purpose of use or the reference number.

For legal entities:

For in-person applications:
- a valid national ID card or passport of the legal representative or the authorized representative of the business entity as listed in the commercial or cooperative register
  - Please note that if you present a passport, you must also provide a current certificate of residence.
For written applications:
- A copy of the identity card or passport with officially certified personal data and an officially certified signature,
For electronic applications:
- Identity card, eID card, or electronic residence permit, each with the online ID function activated,
- Extract from the commercial register,
- if applicable, the address of the authority for which the information is intended, as well as the purpose of use or the reference number.

For persons residing outside the Federal Republic of Germany

Form “Application for Information from the Central Trade Register for a Person Residing Abroad” or “Application for Information from the Central Trade Register for a Legal Entity with Foreign Affiliations”

For natural persons:

When submitting a written application
- Application form with officially certified personal data and an officially certified signature
- A copy of proof of payment of the 13-euro fee.
For electronic applications:
- Identity card, eID card, or electronic residence permit, each with an activated online ID function,
if applicable, the address of the authority for which the information is intended, as well as the purpose or reference number.

For legal entities:

For written applications:
- Application form with officially certified personal data and an officially certified signature
  - of the legal representative or
  - the authorized representative of the business as listed in the commercial or cooperative register.
- Extract from the Commercial Register.
- Copy of proof of payment for the fee of 13 euros.
For electronic applications:
- Identity card, eID card, or electronic residence permit, each with an activated online identification function,
- Extract from the commercial register.

if applicable, the address of the authority for which the information is intended, as well as the intended use or the reference number.

Form for Requesting Information from the Central Business Register for a Legal Entity with Foreign Affiliations

Form for Requesting Information from the Central Trade Register for a Person Residing Outside the Federal Republic of Germany

Preconditions

For individuals:

You must submit the application in person, or
your legal representative may submit the application on your behalf.

For legal entities:

The legal representative or the authorized representative of the business listed in the commercial or cooperative registry must submit the application.

Hints

The Central Business Register does not contain data on all business owners in Germany. You can find this information in the Business Register, which

contains information about the business owner, such as name, date of birth, and address, as well as
about the business, such as management, addresses, and registered activities.

Fee
13.00 EUR
Advance payment
yes

Basis for legal action

Section 150 of the Trade Regulation (GewO) (information at the request of the data subject)

Section 150a of the Trade Regulation [Gewerbeordnung (GewO)] (information for authorities)

Section 150e of the Trade Regulation (GewO) (submitting an electronic request)

Legal Remedies

If you dispute information from the Central Business Register, you can challenge it by filing a petition for a court ruling.

Procedure

If you are a resident of Germany, you can request information from the Central Trade Register online directly from the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) or in writing or in person from the competent authority under state law. Individuals residing outside the Federal Republic of Germany can request this information through the BfJ’s online portal or in writing.

If you would like to request the information online:

Go to the BfJ website and follow the instructions.
To submit an online request, you’ll need an identity card, an eID card, or an electronic residence permit—each with the online ID function activated—as well as the AusweisApp.
The BfJ will then send the information to your mailing address or to the government agency on whose behalf you requested it.

If you would like to apply for the information in person:

Contact the authority responsible for you under state law.
The request will be forwarded to the BfJ, which will then prepare the information.
The BfJ will send the information to your mailing address or to the authority on whose behalf you requested it.

If you would like to submit the request in writing:

Send an informal written request to the authority responsible under state law. Your signature on the request must be officially or publicly certified.
The request will be forwarded to the BfJ, which will prepare the information.
The BfJ will then send the information to your mailing address or to the authority on whose behalf you requested the information.

Note: You cannot be represented by an authorized representative. However, your legal representative is also eligible to submit the request. If you are acting as the legal representative yourself, you must provide proof of your authority to act on behalf of the individual. A business may also be represented by the authorized representative of the business listed in the commercial or cooperative registry.

Application from Abroad

You can submit an application from abroad via the BfJ’s online portal or in writing to the BfJ.
- If submitting a written application, download the appropriate form and provide all necessary information on the form.
- Send the application form—with officially certified personal information and an officially certified signature—to the BfJ along with all the required attachments.

Deadlines

None

Processing time

3 weeks until 4 weeks

Selected region

Publisher

Last update or date of publication

Related Links

Preconditions

Hints

Basis for legal action

Legal Remedies

Related Links

Procedure

Deadlines

Processing time