Finland Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Finnish Business

TL;DR. Finland’s Trade Register is searchable free of charge in full English at prh.fi and ytj.fi without an account. Basic company data including directors and registration status costs nothing. Certified extracts (Kaupparekisteriote) cost EUR 35-50 (approximately USD 38-54). A REST API with no registration requirement is available for programmatic access. Documents are in Finnish or Swedish.

What is the official Finland business registry?

Finland’s Trade Register (Kaupparekisteri) is maintained by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH, Patentti- ja rekisterihallitus), a government agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The Trade Register has operated since 1896, making it one of the oldest continuous business registries in Northern Europe.

The statutory basis is the Kaupparekisterilaki (Trade Register Act, 1979/129) and related company law statutes including the Osakeyhtiolaki (Companies Act, 2006/624) for limited companies and the Laki avoimesta yhtiosta ja kommandiittiyhtioista (Act on General Partnerships and Limited Partnerships) for partnerships.

The primary public access portal is prh.fi, with the English-language section at prh.fi/en. The YTJ (Yritys- ja yhteisotietojärjestelma, Company and Organisation Information System) at ytj.fi is a joint information system maintained by PRH and the Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto), providing integrated company and tax registration data. YTJ is the standard starting point for most company searches in Finland.

Entity types covered by the Trade Register include: Oy (Osakeyhtiö, private limited company), Oyj (Julkinen osakeyhtiö, public limited company), Ay (Avoin yhtiö, general partnership), Ky (Kommandiittiyhtiö, limited partnership), Osuuskunta (cooperative), Yhdistys (association with commercial activity), branches of foreign companies, and sole traders above the VAT registration threshold.

Finland participates in the EU Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS). PRH is one of the more active national registers in BRIS integration.

A separate but related register is the Beneficial Ownership Register (Edunsaajarekisteri), maintained by PRH since 2020 under the implementation of EU 5AMLD (Directive 2018/843/EU), searchable at PRH’s online services.

What can you search?

YTJ at ytj.fi and PRH’s online services provide free access to most basic company data.

Free search at ytj.fi and prh.fi:

• Search by company name, Y-tunnus (business ID), or field of business
• Returns: company name, Y-tunnus, legal form, registered address, industry classification (TOL 2008), founding date, registration date, and current status (active, dissolved, bankrupt, in liquidation)
• YTJ free data: names of board members, managing director, and authorized signatories; registered address; company purpose; trade register status; VAT registration status; employer registration status; ennakkoperintarekisteri (prepayment register) status
• Annual accounts: filed through YTJ, accessible via PRH’s Virre online service

Paid certified extracts:

• Kaupparekisteriote (certified trade register extract, EUR 35-50): the official certified extract from the Trade Register, issued with PRH’s official stamp. Used for KYC, due diligence, and legal proceedings requiring official certification. The exact price varies by document type and delivery method.
• Yhtiojärjestys (articles of association, EUR 35-50): the company’s articles as filed with PRH
• Tilintarkastuskertomus (auditor’s report): available for filing companies

The Beneficial Ownership Register (Edunsaajarekisteri) at PRH is searchable online. Access is available to the general public under the AMLD implementation framework.

How much does it cost?

EUR/USD conversion used: 1.09 (approximate, May 2026; verify at point of purchase). Payment on PRH’s online services accepts credit card, Finnish online banking (verkkopankki), and invoice for institutional buyers. No Finnish bank account is required for credit card payment.

Do you need a local account or ID?

For the free YTJ search, no account or Finnish identity is required. The search at ytj.fi is publicly accessible without registration.

For ordering certified documents through PRH’s online services (Virre), foreign users can register an account with an email address and password. Unlike the Swedish and Austrian paths, PRH does not require BankID or a Finnish personal identity number (henkilotunnus) for the basic account registration that allows document ordering.

Finnish residents and companies use Suomi.fi-tunnistus (the national authentication service) or Finnish online banking credentials for their full PRH e-services access, but these are not required for foreign buyers ordering certified documents.

No Finnish business ID (Y-tunnus) or tax number is required from foreign buyers.

Is the website in English?

Yes. PRH’s website at prh.fi provides a full English-language section at prh.fi/en covering company registration information, fee schedules, and guidance. YTJ at ytj.fi is available in Finnish, Swedish, and English. The language toggle switches the interface, field labels, and results display to English.

Certified documents (Kaupparekisteriote) are issued in Finnish. Companies with Swedish as their official language of registration may have documents in Swedish. Neither Finnish nor Swedish documents are translated to English by PRH.

For compliance use by non-Finnish, non-Swedish speakers, the field labels on the Kaupparekisteriote follow a standardized layout and the key data fields (directors, share capital, company purpose) are identifiable with a working knowledge of the template, even without reading Finnish. A translation may be needed for filing in non-Finnish legal proceedings.

Finland participates in BRIS, providing basic English-language company data in the EU cross-border format.

What’s the turnaround time?

Electronic certified extracts ordered through PRH’s Virre service are available for instant download after payment. The system generates the PDF with PRH’s digital signature immediately.

For printed certified copies ordered by post, turnaround is 1-2 business days for PRH to process and mail.

PRH processes new registrations and changes to the Trade Register within 1-5 business days, depending on the type of filing and whether the submission is complete. Routine changes such as address updates or director replacements are typically processed within 1-2 business days. More complex changes (share capital increases, mergers) may take longer.

Is there an API?

Yes. PRH provides two complementary API paths:

BIS API (avoindata.prh.fi): PRH’s open data API for Trade Register data. Available at avoindata.prh.fi without registration or API key. Returns structured JSON with company name, Y-tunnus, legal form, addresses, status, and registered persons (directors, board members). Supports search by Y-tunnus or company name. The API is well-documented with example queries and OpenAPI specification.

YTJ REST API: The YTJ system also offers REST endpoints for querying the integrated company and tax registration data. Access to the full YTJ API for bulk use requires registration with both PRH and Verohallinto.

Both APIs are based on the publicly available registry data; certified document generation (Kaupparekisteriote) is not available via API. For integration needs, the BIS API at avoindata.prh.fi is the standard entry point.

What you legally cannot do

Finland’s company registry data is public, but use is bounded by Finnish data protection law and EU GDPR:

• Tietosuojalaki (Finnish Data Protection Act, 2018/1050) implements GDPR in Finland and applies to personal data of natural persons appearing in company records. Directors and shareholders who are natural persons are data subjects. Processing their data for commercial purposes requires a documented legal basis under GDPR Article 6.
• GDPR Article 6(1)(f) legitimate interest is the standard basis for compliance due diligence use of company register personal data, but it is subject to the proportionality test. Using director names for unsolicited marketing campaigns, for example, would fail this test.
• Systematic bulk extraction beyond the permitted API and open data channels is inconsistent with the terms of the Virre and YTJ services. The open data API provides the legitimate bulk access path.
• Certified extract redistribution: A Kaupparekisteriote is an official document issued by PRH. Redistributing it without disclosing PRH as the source, or presenting it as independently issued, is not permitted.
• Beneficial ownership data: Information from the Edunsaajarekisteri is subject to the Act implementing EU 5AMLD (Laki rahanpesun ja terrorismin rahoittamisen estämisestä, 2017/444). It can only be used for AML/compliance purposes.

FATF (fatf-gafi.org) has reviewed Finland’s AML/CFT framework. Finland is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. Finland implements EU AMLD requirements and participates in MONEYVAL assessments. The EU 4th and 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directives (AMLD4, Directive 2015/849/EU, and AMLD5, Directive 2018/843/EU) are the primary EU-level frameworks relevant to Finnish beneficial ownership and company verification data use.

Practical tips for foreign users

• Y-tunnus is the master identifier. The Finnish business ID (Y-tunnus, yritys- ja yhteisötunnus) follows the format 7 digits, a dash, and a check digit: for example, 1234567-8. It is the unique, permanent identifier for all registered entities. When verifying a Finnish counterparty, always confirm by Y-tunnus. Company names can be similar across entities, but Y-tunnuses are unique.
• Oy vs. Oyj vs. Ay vs. Ky. An Oy (Osakeyhtiö) is the private limited company, the most common SME form, requiring a minimum share capital of EUR 2,500 (reduced from EUR 2,500 in 2019; previously EUR 2,500 minimum but now a company may be registered with EUR 0 minimum share capital under the 2019 reform). An Oyj (Julkinen osakeyhtiö) is the public limited company, shares of which may be publicly traded, requiring EUR 80,000 minimum share capital. An Ay is a general partnership with unlimited liability for all partners; a Ky is a limited partnership where the vastuunalainen yhtiomies (general partner) has unlimited liability and aanettomät yhtiomiehet (silent partners) are liable only to their contributions.
• YTJ as the starting point. The YTJ at ytj.fi integrates Trade Register data with Verohallinto (Finnish Tax Administration) data. This means a single YTJ search confirms both company registration status and tax/VAT registration status simultaneously. A company showing inactive VAT registration or lapsed prepayment register (ennakkoperintarekisteri) status is a credit risk signal.
• Beneficial ownership is searchable at PRH. The Edunsaajarekisteri at PRH is searchable online. For companies where the beneficial ownership chain is important for compliance, a direct PRH query is the authoritative source.
• Finland’s XBRL-tagged annual accounts. Finnish listed companies and large private companies file annual accounts in iXBRL format through the PRH system. Machine-readable financial data for Finnish companies is available through PRH’s Virre system and via data suppliers.
• Language note: two official languages. Finland has two official national languages: Finnish and Swedish. About 5% of the population is Swedish-speaking. A company may have its official registered name in either or both languages. Company documents may be in Finnish or Swedish depending on the company’s registered language of operation. When searching by name, try both the Finnish and Swedish variants if the first search does not return results.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

For users who need enriched data or face friction with PRH’s document delivery:

• YTJ (ytj.fi): The joint PRH/Verohallinto system is often more accessible for quick company status checks and provides tax registration data alongside the trade register data, in a single free search.
• OpenCorporates: Indexes Finnish Trade Register data and provides free basic company records at opencorporates.com, with multi-jurisdiction API integration.
• BRIS portal: For EU cross-border queries, basic Finnish company data is available in the BRIS standardized format in English.
• Local data suppliers (see section below): Asiakastieto and Creditsafe offer English-language report delivery with PRH data enriched with credit scores and payment information.

Local data suppliers

• Asiakastieto / Suomen Asiakastieto (asiakastieto.fi). Finland’s leading business information bureau, owned by Moody’s Analytics since 2022. Provides Luottotiedot (credit references), company credit reports, risk scores, and payment default data for Finnish businesses. Asiakastieto is the standard source used by Finnish banks, leasing companies, and trade creditors for counterparty credit assessment. Covers virtually all Finnish registered entities. Offers API-based delivery.
• Bisnode Finland (bisnode.fi). Part of the D&B Bisnode network, Bisnode Finland provides credit reports, risk scores, company profiles, and monitoring for Finnish companies. Useful for buyers who need Finnish coverage alongside Nordic and European jurisdiction data through the D&B/Bisnode network.
• Creditsafe Finland (creditsafe.fi). Creditsafe’s Finnish entity provides company credit reports with English-language delivery, real-time Trade Register monitoring, and sanctions/PEP screening. Used by compliance teams that need Finnish coverage integrated with multi-jurisdiction European data through the Creditsafe platform.
• Voitto Plus (voitto.fi). A Finnish business intelligence database providing financial ratio analysis, sector benchmarks, and detailed annual account data for Finnish companies. Particularly strong for financial analysis and sector comparison, rather than pure KYC registry verification. Used by Finnish financial analysts and credit managers.

FAQ

What is the Y-tunnus and how do I read it?

The Y-tunnus (Yritys- ja yhteisötunnus, business and organisation identifier) is a 9-character code in the format NNNNNNN-T, where the first 7 digits are the company’s serial number and the final digit (after the dash) is a check digit calculated using a weighted algorithm. For example, 1234567-8. The Y-tunnus is permanent; it does not change if the company changes name, address, or legal form. It is used for all interactions with Finnish public authorities and appears on VAT invoices and official documents.

How do I find the annual accounts for a Finnish company?

Finnish companies with annual filing obligations submit their accounts through the PRH’s Virre system. Accounts can be searched and viewed at virre.prh.fi. The YTJ at ytj.fi links to filed accounts for most registered companies. Larger companies subject to XBRL reporting file machine-readable accounts accessible through PRH’s open data feeds. Not all Finnish companies have public filing obligations; small sole traders and certain partnerships are exempt from mandatory public filing.

Does Finland have a beneficial ownership register?

Yes. PRH maintains the Edunsaajarekisteri (Beneficial Ownership Register), which Finnish legal entities are required to populate under the Act implementing EU 5AMLD (Laki rahanpesun ja terrorismin rahoittamisen estämisestä, 2017/444 as amended). The register is searchable at PRH’s online services at prh.fi. Access is available to the general public for compliance and due diligence purposes. The register covers companies, associations, foundations, and other legal entities registered in Finland.

What does “konkurssi” mean in a Finnish company record?

“Konkurssi” means bankruptcy. A Finnish company in konkurssi has had an insolvency petition accepted by a court, and a pesänhoitaja (bankruptcy trustee) has been appointed to administer the estate. The company cannot carry on normal business during bankruptcy proceedings. “Selvitystila” means the company is in voluntary liquidation. “Rekisteristä poistettu” means the company has been struck off the Trade Register and no longer has legal capacity.

Is Finland on the FATF grey list?

No. Finland is a FATF member and is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. Finland implements EU AMLD requirements and participates in the European financial intelligence unit cooperation network. For current country status, see fatf-gafi.org.

Can I access Finnish company data via the EU BRIS network?

Yes. Finland participates in BRIS (Business Registers Interconnection System), and basic Finnish company data is accessible through the European Business Register network in English. BRIS provides company name, registration number, legal form, and status in standardized cross-border format. It does not deliver the full Kaupparekisteriote certified extract. For a certified document, the PRH Virre service or a local data supplier is required.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: PRH / Kaupparekisteri (prh.fi), YTJ (ytj.fi), Finnish Tax Administration Verohallinto (vero.fi), EU 5AMLD (Directive 2018/843/EU), FATF (fatf-gafi.org).