Current notice
From June 19, 2025, information from the central trade register for legal entities can no longer be requested from the Citizens' Office or a local administration. From this date, please contact the business registration office.

If you wish to exercise a trade and need proof of your personal reliability, you can apply for information from the central trade register.

On request, any natural or legal person can obtain information about violations of trade law provisions entered in the central trade register and legally binding decisions on fines for trade law violations, insofar as they relate to their person or business. Information from the central trade register is required in a large number of licensing procedures.

The information from the central trade register is issued by the Federal Office of Justice in Bonn.

The information can be applied for by a natural person who has reached the age of 18. You cannot be represented when submitting the application.

The central trade register information can also be applied for by a legal entity. In this case, the official responsibility for accepting the application depends on the registered office of the company (place of entry in the commercial register). The application must be submitted by the legal representative of the company.

The most common types of information from the Central Trade Register:

• for private purposes: the information from the central trade register is sent directly to your home.
• for submission to a public authority: The information from the central trade register is sent directly to the authority.

We are happy to be there for you in person, but only work by appointment. Book an appointment quickly and easily online in the appointment calendar at the citizens' office or the local authorities.