Where can you still see who owns a company?
The short answer
Company basics are easy; owners are not. Almost every country here has an online company search, often free. But beneficial-ownership registers are closed to the public in most of them, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, Kenya, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Malaysia.
Open in October 2026: Nigeria (a free, searchable register with open data) and Ukraine (owners in the company register). Canada shows some owners of federal companies.
Land is the hardest. Most land registers search by property, not by owner. South Africa and Switzerland are exceptions.
At a glance, October 2026. Sources are in each country section below.
| Country | Company search | Beneficial owners | Land |
|---|
| Canada | Federal search online, no login | Partly public (federal companies) | Provincial, paid |
| Mexico | Free account needed | Not public (tax authority) | State-run |
| Brazil | Free tax-ID lookup shows partners | No public search | Paid, login |
| Argentina | Free | Not public | Provincial, paid |
| Colombia | Free search (RUES) | Not public | Not yet verified |
| Chile | Free (newer register only) | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Peru | SUNARP; copies paid | Not yet verified | SUNARP |
| Japan | Basic free; full record ¥330 | Not public (voluntary list) | ¥330 per record |
| South Korea | Filers free (DART); registry small fee | No central register | 700 won per view |
| China | Free (GSXT), Chinese only | Not public | By property only |
| Hong Kong | Index free; particulars HK$22 | Not public | HK$10, no owner-name search |
| Taiwan | Free (findbiz) | Not public | Paid transcripts, owner details masked |
| Singapore | Search free; profile S$5.50 | Not public | Not yet verified |
| Australia | ASIC search | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| India | Master data free | Public access not confirmed | State portals |
| Pakistan | Name check only | Not public | Punjab: service centres |
| Indonesia | Search free; profile paid | Search form; results not confirmed | Parcel map; app needs account |
| Malaysia | RM15.40 per profile | Restricted | State offices, paid |
| Philippines | SEC eSEARCH (sign-in) | Public access not confirmed | Not yet verified |
| Thailand | DBD DataWarehouse | No register | Not yet verified |
| Vietnam | National portal | Being set up | Not yet verified |
| UAE | Split: federal and free zones | Not public | Dubai: deed check with login |
| Saudi Arabia | Free CR lookup (secondary source) | Not public | Deed number and SSO login |
| Israel | Free search; extract ILS 12 | Not public | Paid, by block and parcel |
| Turkey | Gazette search; subscription paid | Not public | Own deeds only (e-Devlet) |
| South Africa | Login, 20 searches a day | Restricted | Paid; search by owner name |
| Nigeria | Free, no account | Public and free | State-run |
| Kenya | Ksh 650 per search | Not public | About Ksh 1,000 |
| Switzerland | Free (Zefix) | Not public (new, Oct 2026) | Owner's name to anyone (cantonal) |
| Ukraine | Free basic search | Public, under pressure | Paid; wartime limits |
The Americas
Canada
Mexico
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Registro Público de Comercio (SIGER 2.0): needs a free account; some states charge fees SIGER FAQ. Company notices (meetings, mergers, liquidations) are on PSM, no login. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public. Companies keep the data and give it to the tax authority (SAT) PRODECON. |
| Court records | The federal judiciary’s sentence search (Buscador de Sentencias, cjf.gob.mx) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). It gives public versions of federal sentences. Case files on the judiciary’s online services need an e-signature. Supreme Court rulings: Buscador Jurídico (bj.scjn.gob.mx; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). |
| Land | Run by each state. The Estado de México register (IFREM) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). |
| Tax blacklists | The SAT lists of taxpayers linked to fake invoices are free to download (updated 30 Sep 2026). |
Brazil
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | CNPJ lookup: "Este serviço é gratuito". It shows partners and managers (QSA). Full company filings sit with the 27 state commercial registers DREI list of Juntas Comerciais. |
| Beneficial owners | Filed with the federal tax authority since a rule of 30 October 2025. We found no public search gov.br. |
| Court records | Jus.br: one portal to look up cases across courts. Login rules not confirmed. |
| Land | RI Digital: paid property certificates and searches, login needed Registro de Imóveis (2024). |
| Sanctions | Portal da Transparência: federal debarment and sanctions registers (CEIS, CNEP). |
Argentina
Colombia
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | RUES, run by the chambers of commerce. Search is free; certificates come from each chamber RUES information sheet. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public: the register "tendrá carácter reservado" DIAN (14 Jan 2022). |
| Courts and land | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
Chile
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Registro de Empresas y Sociedades: "público, gratuito", no login. It only covers companies formed in or moved to this register RES. |
| Owners, courts and land | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
Peru
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | SUNARP’s register of legal entities. Copies are ordered online through SPRL; prices not confirmed. |
| Land | Also SUNARP: property register. |
| Owners and courts | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
East Asia and Australia
Japan
South Korea
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | DART: free filings for companies that must disclose; English DART for filings in English. The full company register is at the Internet Registry Office (iros.go.kr; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads), for a small fee per record, in Korean World Bank/StAR guide. |
| Beneficial owners | No central register. Banks must identify owners of company customers World Bank/StAR. |
| Court records | Most final judgments cost 1,000 won each to view on the court portal Dailian (Sep 2024). Selected precedents are free on the National Law Information Center. |
| Land | Internet Registry Office: 700 won to view a record. A rise to 1,100 won was proposed in September 2026 SBS Biz (14 Oct 2026). |
China
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (GSXT) (gsxt.gov.cn; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). Free, in Chinese only; you need the legal Chinese name China Justice Observer. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public. Filing started on 1 November 2024; only state agencies and anti-money-laundering firms can see it Morgan Lewis (Dec 2024). |
| Court records | China Judgments Online: more than 166 million judgments as of July 2026, registration needed UC San Diego. Uploads fell sharply after 2020. Judgment debtors who fail to pay: enforcement portal, free. The old shixin.court.gov.cn address no longer works. |
| Land | City by city. In Beijing, online queries are free after real-name checks. Anyone can search by property; only the owner can search by person Beijing rules. |
Hong Kong
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Companies Registry e-Search: name and document index free; company particulars HK$22; documents HK$9–35; no account needed Companies Registry fees. Directors’ home addresses and full ID numbers are now protected. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public. Each company keeps its own register for officials to inspect Sleek (Aug 2026). |
| Court records | Free judgments on the Judiciary site (Legal Reference System). HKLII is free but not official. |
| Land | Land Registry IRIS: HK$10 current, HK$25 with history Land Registry. You search by address or lot, not by owner name. |
| Disqualified directors | Index search free on the Companies Registry e-Search; details HK$11 per person. |
Taiwan
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | findbiz (Ministry of Economic Affairs) (findbiz.nat.gov.tw; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). Free, no sign-up, shows directors and managers Zephira (secondary). Portal: GCIS. |
| Beneficial owners | Directors and 10% shareholders must declare, but a full central register "has yet to be fully established" NTU CIEL. Not public. |
| Court records | Judicial Yuan law and judgment search. |
| Land | Paid transcripts from land offices and convenience-store kiosks, with a citizen certificate. Since 2014 the public version hides the owner’s birth date and part of the address Lee and Li. |
| Procurement | Government e-Procurement award search. |
Singapore
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Bizfile: search free, no login. Business Profile S$5.50; People Profile S$33 ACRA. New rules start on 20 October 2026, including faster striking-off ACRA (6 Oct 2026). |
| Beneficial owners | Not public: "Members of the public cannot view or buy your RORC information". A paid profile shows only whether a director or shareholder is a nominee ("ND"/"NS") ACRA. |
| Court records | eLitigation. The Judiciary’s own free judgments page: not yet verified. |
| Land | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
Australia
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | ASIC company search, linked from ASIC’s register search page. Its search pages refused our automated checks. Fees for documents not confirmed. |
| Banned people | Banned and disqualified search: free to see the name, type and dates of the ban. Documents cost extra. |
| Business numbers, owners, courts and land | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
South and Southeast Asia
India
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | MCA master data (mca.gov.in; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). Free, no login. Filed documents cost Rs 100 per company with a free account Global Database (secondary). |
| Beneficial owners | Companies file significant owners with the registrar (since 2018). Public access not confirmed Open Ownership. |
| Court records | eCourts: free case status and orders, CAPTCHA only. Judgments portal for the Supreme Court and High Courts; Supreme Court Reports. |
| Land | Each state runs its own portal, for example UP Bhulekh. Viewing is often free; certified copies cost a fee Housing.com (secondary). |
| Gazette | Gazette of India, searchable. |
Pakistan
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | SECP name search only checks whether a name is taken. We found no public company profile search. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public. A central register launched on 9 March 2026 for "financial institutions and other stakeholders" SECP. |
| Court records | Supreme Court judgments (supremecourt.gov.pk; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). Lahore High Court reported judgments (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). |
| Land | Punjab: record of rights (fard) from service centres and NADRA e-Sahulat outlets Board of Revenue Punjab. Other provinces not yet verified. |
| Tax | FBR active taxpayer list, full download. |
Indonesia
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | AHU company search (Ministry of Law): search free; complete profile IDR 500,000, latest profile IDR 50,000 Mondaq (Mar 2023). |
| Beneficial owners | AHU beneficial-owner search. Whether it shows owner names to the public is not confirmed. |
| Court records | Supreme Court decision directory (putusan3.mahkamahagung.go.id; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads): 11,083,185 decisions as of 7 September 2026 Dandapala. Case register: Supreme Court registry. |
| Land | BHUMI parcel map by parcel number. The Sentuh Tanahku app needs an account detik.com. No public owner search found. |
Malaysia
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | SSM e-Info: company profile RM15.40, certified RM30.80; sign in for full results. |
| Beneficial owners | Restricted since January 2025: only the owner, people it authorises, the central bank and enforcement agencies AmCham summary. |
| Court records | eJudgment: free MyGov. |
| Land | State land offices. Penang: private title search RM30, official RM100 PTG Penang. |
| Insolvency | e-Insolvensi: bankruptcy and winding-up status; login needed. |
Philippines
Thailand
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | DBD DataWarehouse (datawarehouse.dbd.go.th; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). Fees not confirmed Business Data Guide. |
| Beneficial owners | No register found Open Ownership. |
| Court records | Supreme Court decision search (deka) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). Administrative Court judgments are online. |
| Land | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
Vietnam
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | National Business Registration Portal with company search. Free or paid not confirmed. |
| Beneficial owners | Still being set up Open Ownership. |
| Court records | Court judgments portal (congbobanan.toaan.gov.vn) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). It publishes judgments from all court levels, in Vietnamese NUS Law guide. |
| Gazette | Công báo (official gazette). |
| Land | Not yet verified. We have not yet confirmed an official link. |
Middle East and Africa
United Arab Emirates
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Split between registers. National Economic Register (growth.gov.ae) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link) gives "instant information about existing companies" u.ae. Free zones keep their own, such as ADGM public registers. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public: "not public documents" under the federal rules; regulators can see them Kayrouz & Associates. |
| Court records | DIFC Courts judgments, free from 2007. Onshore court portals: not yet verified. |
| Land | Dubai Land Department deed check: login needed. It confirms a deed; it is not an owner search. |
| Sanctions | UAE local terrorist list. |
Saudi Arabia
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | The Saudi Business Center commercial-registration lookup (business.sa) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). A guide says it is free with no sign-in Noblecore (secondary). |
| Beneficial owners | Not public. New rules took effect around January 2026; data goes to the ministry and may be shared with regulators Clyde & Co. |
| Court records | Scientific Judicial Portal: final commercial rulings since 2017 Saudipedia. |
| Land | Title deed inquiry: by deed number and date, national login needed. No name search. Real Estate Registry is rolling out by district. |
Israel
Turkey
South Africa
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | CIPC search: "you now have to login before conducting any search"; BizPortal allows 20 searches a day Accounting Academy. |
| Beneficial owners | Restricted to police, prosecutors, the tax service, the Financial Intelligence Centre and banks Parliament reply (Nov 2025). In March 2026 the CIPC head said it should become "an open register" BusinessDay. |
| Court records | SAFLII: free judgments, run by the University of Cape Town, not the state SAFLII. |
| Land | The Deeds Registry (DeedsWeb) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). Paid; you can search by owner name or ID number, or by property gov.za. |
Nigeria
Kenya
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Business Registration Service official search (brs.ecitizen.go.ke; it refused our automated check, so we have not confirmed it loads). Ksh 650 with an eCitizen login; shows directors and shareholders BRS FAQ. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public, except that the procurement authority may publish owners of tender winners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. |
| Court records | Kenya Law: 310,205 judgments, from 1930. |
| Land | Ardhisasa or eCitizen: about Ksh 1,000 per search, Kenyan ID needed; rolling out county by county Ministry of Lands. |
| Procurement | Public procurement open data. |
Switzerland and Ukraine
Switzerland
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | Zefix: free, no account. Shows officers, auditors and gazette notices; shareholders only for limited-liability companies (GmbH) Kyckr (secondary). Gazette: SOGC. |
| Beneficial owners | Not public. The new Transparency Register took effect on 1 October 2026 and "will not be publicly accessible" Lenz & Staehelin. |
| Court records | Federal Supreme Court decisions (bger.ch) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). Cantonal decisions are separate. |
| Land | Cantonal. Anyone may learn a property’s owner without giving a reason; fuller extracts need an interest. Fees vary from about CHF 20 Civil Code Art. 970 (unofficial text) Comparis. |
Ukraine
| Register | Where and how |
|---|
| Companies | The Unified State Register (usr.minjust.gov.ua) (its site blocks automated readers, so we name it without a link). Basic search is free. Open data came back on 19 January 2026, without contact details or exact addresses Crowe. YouControl and Opendatabot are commercial, not official. |
| Beneficial owners | Still public in the company register. In January 2026 a business-policy office warned against a move to a "legitimate interest" test BRDO. |
| Court records | Court decisions register: free and anonymised, about 138.5 million documents FAIR. |
| Land | Property register extract (Diia): about UAH 30–40, login with e-signature or BankID. During martial law plus one year, property held by companies is restricted Avellum. |
| Procurement | Prozorro: free and open. |
How to use these registers
- Start with the company. Get its exact legal name and number from the official register before you pay for anything.
- Search in the local language. China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam often need the name in local script. Our Name Variant Generator helps with spellings.
- If owners are hidden, look abroad. OCCRP’s researchers check whether a person shows up in a more open country, for example in a US court filing that names their companies OCCRP (17 Sep 2026). Nigeria’s and Ukraine’s open data, and the UK’s, can help when a company has links there.
- Treat third-party sites as leads. Commercial databases copy official registers and make mistakes. Check what matters on the official site.
- Record what you saw and when. Registers change, and some log or limit searches. Save each extract in our Evidence Logger.
- Know the limits. These registers exist for transparency, not for tracking private people. See Is OSINT legal?
Not covered yet. New Zealand, and the gaps marked “not yet verified” above (Australia, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and land in several Asian countries). We add them only after we confirm an official source. For other countries, OCCRP keeps a catalogue of research databases, and the community list OSINT for Countries collects links by country. We have not checked their links.
Sources
Every register was read or status-checked on 17 October 2026, and sources are cited in each table. Where a government site blocks automated readers, we did not work around it: we name the register without a link. Where a site refused our automated checks, we show its address as text, because we could not confirm it loads. Facts marked "secondary" come from a guide or law firm because the official page could not be read. Fees and access rules change; confirm with each register before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries have a public beneficial ownership register outside the EU?
Of the 30 countries in this guide, Nigeria runs an open register with free search and open data, and Ukraine still shows owners in its company register. Canada shows some owner details for federal companies. Most others, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong and China, keep the data from the public.
Can I search property owners by name in other countries?
Usually not. Hong Kong, Israel, Dubai and Saudi Arabia search by property or deed number, not by owner. South Africa lets you search the Deeds Registry by owner name or ID number for a fee, and in Switzerland anyone may learn the owner of a property without giving a reason.
Where can I search Chinese court judgments?
China Judgments Online, run by the Supreme People's Court, held more than 166 million judgments in July 2026, according to UC San Diego. You need to register, and uploads fell sharply after 2020. Judgment debtors who fail to pay are listed on the separate enforcement portal, which is free.
Is there a free company search in Japan?
Yes, for basics. The tax agency's Corporate Number site shows a company's name, address, number and change history for free. Full registry records cost 330 yen each online from 1 April 2026, and the service is in Japanese.
Why are some registers in this guide not linked?
Some government sites block automated readers, and we do not work around that, so we name them without a link. Others refused our automated checks, so we show their address as text because we could not confirm it loads.
What if the country I need is not listed?
Check our European public records guide for the UK and 21 EU countries. For others, OCCRP keeps a catalogue of research databases and the community GitHub list OSINT for Countries collects links by country. We have not checked their links, so confirm each one.
Next step
Start with the company. Find its exact name and number in our company search or the official register above, then decide whether you need a paid record.