1. Switzerland Introduces New Beneficial Ownership Transparency Requirements

The introduction of the Swiss Transparency Register on 1 October 2026 represents an important development in the country’s regulatory framework for corporate transparency.

Under the Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the Identification of Beneficial Owners (TJPG), entities within its scope must identify, document and report their beneficial owners to the newly established register.

The requirements primarily affect Swiss legal entities, including corporations, limited liability companies and cooperatives, as well as certain foreign legal entities with relevant connections to Switzerland.

For businesses and compliance professionals, the new framework reinforces a fundamental question: Who ultimately controls a company, and which individuals stand behind its ownership and business activities?

Understanding these relationships is essential for effective risk management and corporate governance.

2. Beneficial Ownership as a Key Element of Corporate Due Diligence

Identifying beneficial owners is an essential component of effective corporate due diligence. The process extends beyond formal ownership structures to determine which individuals ultimately exercise control over a legal entity.

Control may arise through shareholdings, voting rights or other mechanisms that allow individuals to influence corporate decisions.

Complex ownership structures can make identifying the ultimate controlling individuals particularly challenging. In some circumstances, a lack of transparency may indicate increased compliance or financial crime risks.

The Swiss Transparency Register aims to improve the traceability of these relationships.

For organisations conducting risk-based corporate assessments, more reliable beneficial ownership information can support a better understanding of corporate structures, potential conflicts of interest and relevant regulatory exposure.

3. New Opportunities for Background Checks and Corporate Screening

Professional background checks and corporate due diligence rely on the systematic assessment of information from multiple reliable sources.

These typically include commercial registers, sanctions databases, politically exposed person (PEP) screening, publicly available corporate information and other legally accessible sources.

Beneficial ownership information may eventually complement these checks, provided the applicable legal access requirements are met.

This development is particularly relevant when assessing business partners, suppliers, investment entities and companies with complex ownership structures.

Combining verified information from different sources enables organisations to develop a more comprehensive understanding of potential risks.

A proportionate, risk-based approach remains essential, taking into account the nature of the business relationship, regulatory obligations and the specific risks involved.

4. Restricted Access and Phased Implementation of the Register

The Swiss Transparency Register is not a publicly accessible corporate information database.

Access is restricted under the applicable legal framework and is primarily available to authorised authorities, financial intermediaries and other specifically designated organisations.

Implementation is also taking place in stages. Although the register began accepting beneficial ownership declarations on 1 October 2026, register searches and discrepancy reporting are not yet operational.

According to the responsible authority, the relevant API functionality is not expected to become available before January 2027.

For companies, the immediate priority is therefore to ensure that their beneficial ownership information is properly identified, documented and reported.

Applicable transitional deadlines vary depending on the type of legal entity, ranging from one month to two years.

5. Greater Corporate Transparency Supports Stronger Compliance

The introduction of the Swiss Transparency Register reflects a broader shift towards more structured and risk-based corporate compliance processes.

Rather than relying on isolated information checks, organisations increasingly need to evaluate beneficial ownership, sanctions exposure, potential conflicts of interest and relevant business relationships as part of an integrated risk assessment.

The new register introduces an additional regulatory component designed to improve the identification of individuals who ultimately control legal entities.

It also strengthens Switzerland’s framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing while supporting the integrity of its financial and business environment.

For companies operating in Switzerland or maintaining business relationships with Swiss entities, the development highlights the importance of reliable corporate information and effective due diligence procedures.

Strengthen Corporate Due Diligence with Validato

Transparent ownership structures are an important foundation for effective corporate risk assessments.

Validato supports organisations with risk-based background checks, sanctions and PEP screening, and additional compliance-related verification services.

Our modular solutions help companies identify potential risks associated with business partners, executives and other relevant individuals.

Discover how Validato can support your compliance strategy through structured, reliable and risk-based screening solutions. Contact us to discuss your requirements.