Swiss Transparency Register from 1 October 2026: what companies should prepare now

1. What changes on 1 October 2026

Switzerland is introducing a central register of the beneficial owners of legal entities. The register will be maintained by the Federal Department of Justice and Police, while an audit unit within the Federal Department of Finance will check the accuracy, completeness and currency of entries.

The register is not a general public company directory. Official information states that specified authorities and persons or entities subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act will have access within the statutory framework.

2. Which entities are affected

According to EasyGov, the reporting duty mainly affects companies limited by shares, limited liability companies and cooperatives. Certain other legal entities and foreign entities with a legally relevant Swiss nexus may also fall within scope.

The published overview excludes foundations, associations, listed companies, sole traders and certain other entities. Scope should nevertheless be checked for the specific structure, particularly for groups, ownership chains or foreign elements.

3. Determine the beneficial owners

For a direct participation, control generally exists where a natural person holds at least 25 per cent of the capital or voting rights. The implementing ordinance also addresses indirect participation through interposed persons, legal entities or trusts.

The analysis does not stop at ownership percentages. Control may also arise through appointment or removal rights, veto rights, contractual arrangements, capital instruments, fiduciary relationships or coordinated conduct. The legal assessment must therefore reflect actual governance rather than the share register alone.

4. What information should be ready internally

For natural persons, the required information includes name, date of birth, nationalities, and the municipality, postcode and country of residence. The entity must also establish whether an OASI number exists; if not, the ordinance requires a copy of an admissible identity document.

The nature and extent of control must also be determined: alone or jointly, directly or indirectly, through participation or by other means. More complex structures may require information about the control chain.

5. Prepare electronic reporting and authorisation

The ordinance provides in principle for electronic reporting through the federal platform. EasyGov will serve as the central reporting platform and recommends that affected companies and service providers prepare their registration in advance.

The entity must authorise at least one person in writing to act for it in connection with the transparency register. Signing authority, identification, internal approval and backup arrangements should therefore be settled before the filing process begins.

6. Practical readiness checklist

A practical preparation process can be organised into six workstreams.

• Map the corporate and ownership structure, including foreign intermediate entities.
• Assess direct, indirect and other forms of control for each natural person.
• Collect and verify identity data and required supporting evidence.
• Document the nature, extent and, where relevant, chain of control.
• Appoint and authorise the reporting person and prepare the EasyGov setup.
• Establish a process for changes, periodic review and internal escalation.

7. Important note

It does not replace an assessment of the specific corporate, ownership and control structure. Transition periods, exemptions and reporting routes must be confirmed for the individual case against the final legislation, ordinance and current administrative practice.