What Records Does the Commercial Register Hold?
The Swiss commercial register (Handelsregister) holds two primary types of records for every registered entity: register extracts and UID numbers. The system is decentralised: each of the 26 cantons operates its own register office (Handelsregisteramt), supervised at the federal level by the Federal Commercial Registry Office (EHRA).
For any registered company, the register holds two categories of records:
- Register extracts — official documents certifying the company’s current or historical registered data
- UID numbers — the permanent enterprise identification number assigned to every registered entity
These records serve different purposes. An extract is a document you order for a specific transaction or legal requirement. The UID is an identifier that follows the company throughout its existence and connects it across all government systems.
This page introduces both record types and directs to the detailed guides. For a full walkthrough of how to order an extract, see the register extract guide. For everything about the UID system, see the UID number guide.
For the broader context of how the commercial register operates, see the Swiss commercial register guide.
What Is a Register Extract (Handelsregisterauszug)?
A commercial register extract (Handelsregisterauszug, extrait du registre du commerce) is the single most requested document from the Swiss commercial register system. It certifies that a company exists, is properly registered, and displays its current registered data.
What an extract contains
A standard register extract for a GmbH or AG includes:
| Data Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Company name | Full registered name with legal form designation |
| UID number | CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx |
| Legal form | GmbH, AG, etc. |
| Registered office | Canton and municipality |
| Date of registration | When the entity was first entered |
| Purpose clause | Description of business activities |
| Share capital | Nominal amount and currency |
| Directors / board members | Names, roles, and domicile |
| Signing authority | Sole or joint signature for each person |
| Auditor | Audit firm name or opting-out confirmation |
For a GmbH, the extract also reveals the full ownership structure because every quota holder’s name and contribution is publicly registered. For an AG, shareholders are not part of the public record — only the board and authorised signatories appear.
Types of extract
Swiss cantonal registers issue several types:
- Certified current extract (beglaubigter Auszug) — current data with official stamp, CHF 17–40. The standard document for banking, legal, and official purposes.
- Uncertified current extract — same data without certification, free or up to CHF 10. Useful for internal reference only.
- Historical extract (historischer Auszug) — complete chronology of all amendments since registration, CHF 30–50. Essential for due diligence and M&A transactions.
- Certified historical extract — full history with official certification, CHF 40–60. Required for court proceedings and regulatory investigations.
The certified current extract is by far the most commonly ordered type. When someone asks for “a register extract”, this is what they mean.
For the complete guide to ordering extracts — including canton-by-canton portals, processing times, and when certification matters — see the register extract guide.
What Are UID Numbers and How Do They Work?
The UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer, Enterprise Identification Number) is Switzerland’s unique, permanent business identifier, assigned to every registered enterprise in the format CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx. Every registered enterprise receives one in the format CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx, where CHE stands for Confoederatio Helvetica (the Latin name for the Swiss Confederation).
Purpose and scope
The UID was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Federal Act on the Business Identification Number (UIDG) to replace the patchwork of different identification numbers that Swiss authorities previously used. Today, the UID connects a company across all government systems: the commercial register, tax authorities, social insurance, customs, and federal statistics.
The UID register, maintained by the Federal Statistical Office (BFS), contains over 1.4 million entries as of 2026 — significantly more than the commercial register because it also covers sole proprietors below the CHF 100,000 revenue threshold, associations, foundations, and public bodies that do not require commercial register entry.
UID as VAT number
The Swiss VAT number is built on the UID by adding the suffix MWST (German), TVA (French), or IVA (Italian). A VAT number looks like CHE-123.456.789 MWST. Every VAT-registered business uses its UID as the basis for its VAT identification. Not every entity with a UID is VAT-registered, but every VAT-registered entity has a UID.
Permanence
The UID never changes. Moving the registered office to another canton, changing the company name, converting the legal form, or changing all shareholders — none of these affect the UID. When a company is dissolved and deleted from the register, the UID is retired and never reassigned.
For the full guide to the UID system — format, assignment process, legal display obligations, the old CH number migration, and how to search the UID register — see the UID number guide.
When Do You Need Official Records?
The situations requiring official register records are predictable and well-defined.
Register extract required
- Opening a corporate bank account — every Swiss bank requires a certified extract for KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance
- Entering into significant contracts — counterparties verify signing authority through the extract
- Public tenders and government contracts — procurement processes require a certified extract as part of bidding documentation
- Regulatory applications — licence applications to FINMA, cantonal authorities, or professional bodies
- Notarial transactions — share transfers, capital changes, mergers, and article amendments
- Court proceedings — verifying the company’s legal existence and authorised representation
- Foreign authority requests — foreign regulators, tax offices, or business partners require proof of incorporation, often with an apostille
UID verification needed
- Invoicing — VAT law requires the UID-based VAT number on every invoice
- Contracts and official correspondence — standard practice to include the UID
- Customs declarations — the customs authority identifies enterprises by UID
- Social insurance registration — compensation offices use the UID as the primary identifier
- Statistical surveys — the BFS uses the UID as the reference number
In general: if someone outside your organisation asks for company verification, they need a certified extract. If a government system asks for your identification number, they need your UID.
How Do You Obtain Register Records?
Register extracts
There are three methods, with speed varying by canton:
Online (fastest). Most cantonal register offices offer online ordering through their websites. Digital extracts from cantons like Zurich, Zug, and Bern are available within minutes as digitally signed PDFs. Select the company by name or UID, choose the extract type, pay by credit card or PostFinance, and receive the document by email.
In person. Visit the cantonal register office during business hours. Some offices issue extracts on the spot. Useful when you need a physical stamp immediately.
By post or email. Send a written request with the company name, UID number, desired extract type, and delivery address. Processing takes three to five business days.
For the full list of cantonal ordering portals, see the register extract guide.
UID verification
The UID register at uid.admin.ch is free and instantly searchable. Enter a company name, address, or UID number to verify. No account or payment required.
Zefix also displays the UID for every entity in the commercial register, with the added benefit of linking to the cantonal register entry for detailed data.
How Much Do Register Records Cost?
| Record Type | Cost | Where to Order |
|---|---|---|
| Certified current extract | CHF 17–40 (varies by canton) | Cantonal register office |
| Uncertified current extract | Free–CHF 10 | Cantonal register website |
| Historical extract | CHF 30–50 | Cantonal register office |
| Certified historical extract | CHF 40–60 | Cantonal register office |
| Apostille on extract | CHF 20–50 | Cantonal chancellery or EDA |
| UID verification | Free | uid.admin.ch |
| Zefix search | Free | zefix.ch |
Zurich offers the lowest certified extract fee at CHF 17. Larger cantons with French- or Italian-speaking populations typically charge CHF 25. Registered post adds CHF 5–10 in some cantons.
For a detailed canton-by-canton fee table, see the extract cost comparison.
What Free Alternatives Exist for Basic Research?
Not every situation requires a paid, certified extract. Several free tools provide register data without official certification.
Zefix — the federal central index showing company name, legal form, UID, registered office, and status for every registered entity. Free, instant, no account required. Does not show directors, signing authority, capital, or purpose clause. No legal evidentiary value.
Cantonal register online search — most cantonal register websites let you view a company’s full register entry online for free, including directors, signing authority, and purpose clause. The online view is not certified but shows more detail than Zefix.
UID register — verifies a UID number and shows the associated company name, address, legal form, and which administrative systems hold a record. Limited scope but useful for UID and VAT verification.
Moneyhouse (moneyhouse.ch) — a commercial data provider aggregating register data with credit ratings and financial intelligence. Basic data is free; detailed reports require a subscription. Not an official document.
The rule is straightforward: for any purpose outside your own internal reference — banking, legal proceedings, contracts, government filings, foreign authorities — you need a certified extract from the cantonal register office. Free tools are research aids, not legal documents.
How Do You Use Register Records Internationally?
When Swiss register records are needed abroad, the receiving country typically requires authentication beyond the cantonal stamp. The process depends on whether the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Hague Convention member states (approximately 125 countries)
An apostille is sufficient. The process:
- Order a certified register extract from the cantonal register office
- Submit the extract to the cantonal chancellery (Staatskanzlei) or the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) for an apostille
- The apostille confirms the authenticity of the extract’s stamp and signature
- The apostilled extract is valid in the destination country
Cost: CHF 20–50 for the apostille, in addition to the extract fee. Processing: two to five business days.
Non-Hague countries
Full consular legalisation is required. This involves the cantonal chancellery, the EDA, and the embassy or consulate of the destination country in Switzerland. Processing takes one to three weeks and costs CHF 50–200.
Certified translations
If the destination country requires the extract in a language other than German, French, or Italian, a certified translation by a sworn translator is necessary. Translation costs vary but typically range from CHF 100 to 300 for a standard extract.
For detailed apostille and legalisation procedures, see the register extract guide.
How We Verified This Information
Record types, costs, and procedures in this guide are sourced from the Federal Commercial Registry Office (EHRA), the Commercial Register Ordinance (HRegV), and the Federal Act on the Business Identification Number (UIDG). UID register data was verified against uid.admin.ch, operated by the Federal Statistical Office (BFS). Extract fees reflect the current published schedules of cantonal Handelsregisteramt offices. Apostille procedures follow the guidelines of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. This guide is reviewed by Florian Rosenberg, a fiduciary professional who works with Swiss register records on a daily basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records can I obtain from the Swiss commercial register?
The Swiss commercial register provides two primary types of records: register extracts and UID verification. A register extract (Handelsregisterauszug) is an official document certifying a company's registered data — name, legal form, registered office, directors, signing authority, share capital, and purpose. Extracts come in certified and uncertified versions, and as current or historical variants. The UID number (CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx) is the permanent enterprise identifier that can be verified through the free UID register at uid.admin.ch.
How much does a commercial register extract cost?
A certified register extract costs CHF 17 to 40 depending on the canton. Zurich charges CHF 17, Zug charges CHF 20, and Geneva charges CHF 25. A historical extract showing all past amendments costs CHF 30 to 50. Uncertified extracts are free in most cantons through the online register portal. If you need the extract apostilled for international use, add CHF 20 to 50 for the apostille and two to five business days of processing.
What is the difference between a register extract and a Zefix search?
A Zefix search at zefix.ch provides basic data — company name, legal form, UID, registered office, and status — for free and without certification. It is useful for quick verification but has no legal evidentiary value. A certified register extract (beglaubigter Handelsregisterauszug) shows complete data including directors, signing authority, share capital, and purpose clause, with an official stamp that gives it legal weight. Banks, notaries, courts, and foreign authorities require a certified extract, not a Zefix printout.
Can I verify a Swiss company's UID number for free?
Yes. The UID register at uid.admin.ch, operated by the Federal Statistical Office, lets you search by company name, address, or UID number. The results show the enterprise name, UID, status, address, legal form, and which administrative systems hold a record for the entity. Zefix at zefix.ch also displays the UID for every entity in the commercial register. Both tools are free and require no account.
How long does it take to receive a commercial register extract in Switzerland?
For digital extracts ordered online from digitally advanced cantons such as Zurich, Zug, and Bern, the PDF is typically delivered by email within minutes of payment. Physical certified extracts sent by post take one to three business days in most cantons. Historical extracts may take up to five business days, particularly in smaller cantons that process them manually. If you additionally need an apostille for international use, the cantonal chancellery or Federal Department of Foreign Affairs adds two to five more business days, bringing the total to three to eight business days.
Can I use a printout from the Zefix website as official proof of a company's registration?
No. A Zefix printout is an informational reference only. It has no legal evidentiary value because it carries no official certification. Banks, notaries, courts, and foreign authorities will not accept a Zefix printout as proof of a company's registration status or authorised signatories. For any official purpose, you need a certified register extract (beglaubigter Handelsregisterauszug) from the cantonal register office, which costs CHF 17-40 and carries the official stamp and signature.
Are there any records held by the commercial register that are not publicly accessible?
Yes. While most register data is public, some information is deliberately restricted. For an AG, shareholder names are not part of the public register — they are maintained in a private internal shareholders' register (Aktienbuch). Beneficial ownership information is also not recorded in the public register. Supporting documents submitted during company formation and amendments (such as the constitutional documents and audit confirmation letters) are kept in the register's file but are not routinely accessible to the public; they require a formal request and a legitimate interest to inspect.
How do I update the commercial register if a director changes at my Swiss company?
You must notify the cantonal commercial register without delay (OR Art. 937). An application to amend the register entry is submitted to the relevant cantonal register office, accompanied by supporting documents: typically a copy of the resolution appointing the new director (shareholders' meeting or board resolution), the new director's acceptance declaration, and an identity document confirming their domicile. The cantonal register office reviews the application, the EHRA clears it, and the change is published in the SOGC. The amendment fee is typically CHF 40-120. Acting promptly is important because the previous director remains publicly authorised to bind the company until the change is registered and published.
Does Switzerland have a central beneficial ownership register that is publicly accessible?
No. Unlike some EU member states that have created public beneficial ownership registers under the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, Switzerland does not maintain a publicly accessible beneficial ownership register. Swiss companies must identify their beneficial owners internally and disclose them to banks and regulated financial intermediaries under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). However, this information is shared with competent authorities upon request, not made available to the general public. Reform discussions are ongoing, but as of 2026 there is no public beneficial ownership database in Switzerland.
What is the legal effect of the commercial register publication in the SOGC?
Publication of a register entry in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC/SHAB) triggers the publicity principle under OR Art. 932. From the date of SOGC publication, registered facts are presumed known to every third party, regardless of whether they actually saw the publication. This means a company cannot argue that a counterparty should have known about an unregistered change, and third parties cannot claim ignorance of a registered and published fact. The publication also starts various legal timeframes, such as the creditor call-up period in capital reduction proceedings.