Commercial Register Switzerland: Cantonal Offices (2026)
The Swiss Commercial Register (Handelsregister / Registre du Commerce / Registro di commercio) is the official public register of Swiss companies, partnerships, and other legal entities. It is maintained at cantonal level — each canton has its own Commercial Register office (Handelsregisteramt or HRA). The central federal search platform, Zefix.ch, provides free online access to all cantonal registers in one place.
Understanding which cantonal office governs your company, how to obtain official extracts, and how registration works across cantons matters from day one of your Swiss business. This guide covers each canton, the Zefix search portal, and the practical steps for registrations and certified extract requests.
What the Commercial Register Contains
The Commercial Register contains publicly available information for every registered Swiss entity:
- Company name (Firma)
- Registered address (Domizil)
- Legal form (AG, GmbH, Kommanditgesellschaft, etc.)
- Purpose (Zweck) of the company
- Share capital (for AG and GmbH)
- Directors and authorised signatories with signature authority type (individually, jointly with another, etc.)
- Registered agent / domicile provider (if applicable)
- Date of registration and any subsequent changes
- Journal entries — chronological record of all filed changes
- Statutes / articles of association (filed with each registration or amendment)
- Auditor (for companies subject to statutory audit)
The Commercial Register is the authoritative source for Swiss entity information and is updated upon every change in company details. Its public nature means that counterparties, banks, and authorities rely on it for due diligence.
Zefix: The Federal Commercial Register Search
Zefix (zefix.ch) is the free federal search portal providing access to all Swiss cantonal commercial registers. It is maintained by the Federal Commercial Registry Office (EHRA).
What Zefix shows:
- Current registration data for all Swiss entities
- Historical changes (previous names, addresses, directors)
- PDF extracts (Handelsregisterauszug) — some cantons provide direct PDF access; others redirect to the cantonal office
How to search:
- Go to zefix.ch
- Enter the company name (full or partial), UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer), or canton
- Results show matching entities with their current status
- Click through to the cantonal registry for the full extract
Free access: Zefix is free and requires no registration. It is the standard first step for any Swiss company due diligence search.
Official Commercial Register Extracts (Handelsregisterauszug)
An official Handelsregisterauszug (HR extract / Légalisé) is a certified copy of the commercial register entry, commonly required for:
- Bank account opening
- Contract negotiations (counterparty KYC)
- Government authority submissions
- International legal transactions (legalisation / apostille)
How to obtain an official extract:
- Online via Zefix: some cantons deliver certified PDFs directly
- Direct order from the cantonal Handelsregisteramt: by post, in person, or via cantonal online portal
- Fee: CHF 20–40 per official extract
Legalisation for international use: For use abroad, the extract may need:
- An apostille (under the Hague Convention) from the cantonal authority
- Consular legalisation for countries not party to the Hague Convention
- Translation by a sworn translator
Cantonal Commercial Register Offices
German-Speaking Cantons
Zurich (ZH) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Zürich Largest commercial register in Switzerland (approximately 150,000+ registered entities). Online extract requests via hr.zh.ch. Standard processing: 1–3 days for simple changes.
Zug (ZG) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Zug Second only to Zurich in international company registrations. Zug’s register handles a disproportionately high number of international holding companies, crypto entities, and financial firms. Known for efficient processing. Online extract orders: hr.zg.ch.
Berne (BE) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Bern Cantonal register for the federal capital region. Bilingual (DE/FR) canton.
Lucerne (LU) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Luzern
Basel-Stadt (BS) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Basel-Stadt Commercial hub — significant for pharmaceutical and chemical companies (Novartis, Roche headquarters).
Basel-Landschaft (BL) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Basel-Landschaft
St. Gallen (SG) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons St. Gallen
Aargau (AG) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Aargau
Thurgau (TG) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Thurgau
Schwyz (SZ) — Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Schwyz Significant for companies in Wollerau and Freienbach (known for low tax rates).
Other German-speaking cantons: Solothurn (SO), Schaffhausen (SH), Glarus (GL), Uri (UR), Nidwalden (NW), Obwalden (OW), Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR), Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI).
French-Speaking Cantons (Registre du Commerce)
Geneva (GE) — Registre du Commerce de Genève Major international business registry. Second busiest after Zurich for international companies. Online: rc.ge.ch.
Vaud (VD) — Registre du Commerce du Canton de Vaud Includes Lausanne — significant for biotech, EPFL-related companies, and international NGOs.
Valais (VS) — Registre du Commerce du Canton du Valais
Neuchâtel (NE), Jura (JU), Fribourg (FR): Cantonal offices serve their respective territories.
Italian-Speaking Canton
Ticino (TI) — Registro di commercio del Cantone Ticino Lugano-based; significant for Italian-market holding companies and cross-border financial structures.
UID: Swiss Business Identification Number
Every Swiss company registered in the Commercial Register receives a UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer) — a unique federal identifier in the format CHE-123.456.789.
The UID is used for:
- VAT registration (MWST number) — see our VAT Switzerland guide
- AHV/social insurance reporting
- All interactions with Swiss federal authorities
- Identifying companies in Zefix and other federal systems
The UID is searchable on Zefix and is the most reliable way to find a company when the name is uncertain. The UID does not change even if the company changes its name or moves canton. Additional information on the UID system is available from the Federal UID Office (EUID).
Registering a New Company
New company registrations are filed with the cantonal Handelsregisteramt where the company’s registered address is located:
- Notarial deed of incorporation (AG) or public deed (GmbH) signed before a Swiss notary
- Bank confirmation of capital deposit (Kapitaleinzahlungsbestätigung)
- Application for registration filed by the company or its representative at the cantonal HRA
- Processing: typically 3–10 business days
- Publication in SHAB (Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce — shab.ch)
- UID assigned upon registration
For a full walkthrough of the incorporation process, see our company formation Switzerland guide. For the specific rules on GmbH formation and AG formation, we have dedicated guides for each entity type.
Canton selection matters: Zug processes registrations efficiently and its administration is experienced with international structures. See our company formation in Zug guide for the canton-specific advantages. For Zurich-based companies, see company formation in Zurich.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Swiss Commercial Register in English?
The Commercial Register is maintained in the official cantonal language (German, French, or Italian). Company entries are in the cantonal language. Zefix provides search in all national languages. Official extracts are in the cantonal language; a notarised translation to English is required for international use.
How often is the Commercial Register updated?
Changes filed with the Handelsregisteramt are typically processed and published within 3–10 business days. Zefix reflects updates shortly after publication in SHAB.
Can I search the register for free?
Yes — Zefix.ch provides free search access to all Swiss commercial register data. Official certified extracts carry a fee of CHF 20–40 depending on the canton.
What is the UID number for a Swiss company?
Every Swiss company receives a UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer) in the format CHE-123.456.789. It is the universal business identifier used across all Swiss authorities including tax, VAT, and social insurance filings.
Which cantonal commercial register handles the most international companies?
Zug handles a disproportionately high number of international holding companies, crypto entities, and financial firms relative to its size. Zurich is the largest by total registrations, and Geneva is the second busiest for international companies.
How do I get an official certified extract from the Swiss Commercial Register?
Official extracts can be ordered online via Zefix (where cantons deliver certified PDFs), or directly from the relevant cantonal Handelsregisteramt by post, in person, or via the cantonal online portal. Fees range from CHF 20 to CHF 40 per extract.
How long does it take to register a new company in Switzerland?
From the date of notarial deed execution, registration typically takes 3–10 business days assuming all documents are in order. Zug and Zurich are among the faster cantonal offices. The company has no legal existence as a GmbH or AG until the entry appears in the register.
Can I use the UID number to search for a company on Zefix?
Yes. Searching by UID is the most reliable method — company names can change, but the UID assigned at registration remains constant throughout the company’s life.
What is the SHAB and why does it matter?
The SHAB (Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt) is Switzerland’s Official Gazette of Commerce. All Commercial Register entries are simultaneously published there. Publication is the legal trigger for third-party effect — a change is only enforceable against third parties from the date of SHAB publication.
Do I need an apostille on a Swiss extract for use abroad?
For use in countries party to the Hague Convention, an apostille from the cantonal authority is required. For other countries, consular legalisation may be needed. A sworn translation to the relevant language is typically also required.
Which Commercial Register office is responsible for companies in Zurich?
The Handelsregisteramt des Kantons Zürich manages registrations for companies domiciled in Canton Zurich. It is the largest commercial register in Switzerland with approximately 150,000 registered entities. Online extract requests are via hr.zh.ch.
What happens when a company moves its registered address to a different canton?
A change of canton requires deregistration from the current cantonal register and registration with the register in the destination canton. This process involves notarial steps and filings in both cantons and is treated as a seat transfer (Sitzverlegung) under Swiss corporate law.
How Lawsupport Can Help
Whether you need a commercial register Switzerland filing, certified extracts for banking or legal transactions, or guidance on registering a new Swiss entity, Lawsupport handles the full process across all major cantons. We work with the Zug, Zurich, Geneva, and other cantonal offices regularly and understand the practical requirements at each step.
Phone: +41 44 51 52 592 Email: info@lawsupport.ch Address: Grafenauweg 4, Zug, Switzerland
Lawsupport (Morgan Hartley Consulting) | Grafenauweg 4, Zug | +41 44 51 52 592 | info@lawsupport.ch