Latvia Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Latvian Business

TL;DR. Latvia’s Register of Enterprises (Uznemumu registrs, UR) at ur.gov.lv handles company registration and public data access. Basic company status is free; certified extracts and document copies cost EUR 5-25 (approximately USD 5.45-27.25). The portal has partial English support; core company data fields are accessible in English but official documents are in Latvian. No public API is available. Latvia participates in EU BRIS for cross-border standardized data.

What is the official Latvia business registry?

The Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Uznemumu registrs, UR) is the government authority responsible for registering commercial entities and maintaining their public records. The register is accessible via its main portal at ur.gov.lv, which also handles electronic filing submissions from Latvian businesses.

The statutory foundation is the Commercial Law (Komerclikums, adopted 2000, in force from 2002), which establishes the registration requirements and disclosure obligations for all commercial entities. UR is a state institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice. It also maintains the register of non-profit organizations, associations, and foundations, as well as certain other specialized registers including the register of pledges (Kustamas mantas komercieraksts).

Entity types covered by the UR include: Sabiedriba ar ierobezotu atbildibu (SIA, private limited company), Akciju sabiedriba (AS, joint-stock company), Pilnsabiedriba (PS, general partnership), Komanditsabiedriba (KS, limited partnership), individual merchants (Individualis komersants), European companies (SE), and branches and representative offices of foreign companies.

Latvia participates in the EU Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS), which provides standardized cross-border access to basic Latvian company data in English. Latvia’s UR was connected to BRIS as part of the EU-wide implementation completed in 2017. For routine EU cross-border due diligence, BRIS provides an initial English-language view before a full UR extract is commissioned.

A separate Beneficial Ownership Register (Patiesie labuma guvejs, PLG register) was established under Latvia’s implementation of EU 5AMLD and is maintained by UR as an integrated module of the main register.

What can you search?

The UR public search portal provides a company search interface at ur.gov.lv.

Free searches:

• Company name (partial or full text match)
• Registration number
• Returns: company name, registration number, legal form, registered office, status (active, liquidation, insolvency, struck off), date of registration, and share capital

Paid data and documents:

• Current information statement (apliecinajums par ieregistreto informaciju): certified summary of current company data, EUR 5-10
• Company registration documents, articles of association, amendment history
• Shareholder register excerpt (current members and percentage holdings)
• Director and board member details with appointment dates
• Extract with apostille for use outside the EU, EUR 20-25

Data freshness: UR processes filings within 1-5 business days for standard registrations and amendments. Electronic filing, mandatory for most company changes, has improved processing speed. Director and shareholder changes filed through the electronic system typically reflect in the public record within 2-3 business days of the filing date.

How much does it cost?

EUR/USD conversion: 1.09 (approximate, May 2026; verify at point of purchase). Pricing is sourced from the UR fee schedule at ur.gov.lv. Payment accepts credit card and Latvian online banking (internetbanka); foreign buyers use credit card without requiring a Latvian bank account.

Do you need a local account or ID?

A free basic company status search is available without registration at the UR portal. For ordering certified documents or paid information statements, an account on the portal is required. Foreign buyers can register an account using an email address without a Latvian personal identity number.

Latvian residents and entities use latvija.lv authentication (the national e-government portal) or their online banking credentials to access the full UR e-services portal for filing. This authentication is not required for foreign buyers ordering certified extracts through the public portal.

No Latvian ID or residency is required to purchase documents; an international credit card suffices.

Is the website in English?

Partial. The UR portal at ur.gov.lv has an English-language version of the public search interface, accessible via the language toggle. Basic company data fields in search results, including status, legal form, registration number, and address, are displayed in English. However, the portal’s administrative sections, instructions, and fee schedule pages are primarily in Latvian, with limited English coverage.

Official documents downloaded from UR, including the current information statement, articles of association, and registration certificates, are issued in Latvian only. For compliance use by non-Latvian speakers, key structured data fields are identifiable from the document template, but a certified translation will be needed for submission to non-Latvian legal proceedings or financial institutions outside Latvia.

The BRIS portal provides basic English-language Latvian company data as an alternative starting point for foreign compliance buyers.

What’s the turnaround time?

Electronic information statements and document copies are available for instant download after payment through the UR portal. There is no processing delay for standard document orders once the transaction is complete.

Certified paper extracts with apostille, required for use in jurisdictions outside the EU/EEA eIDAS framework, take 3-5 business days for UR to process and deliver. Physical delivery by post adds further time depending on destination.

UR processes new company registrations and amendments to existing records within 1-5 business days, depending on the complexity of the submission and whether any additional information is requested.

Is there an API?

No. The UR does not provide a public API for programmatic access to company data as of May 2026. Company data is accessible only through the web portal and the BRIS-integrated cross-border query system.

Latvia participates in BRIS, which provides a standardized EU-level programmatic interface for basic company data. AML platforms integrating Baltic jurisdiction data can access Latvia through BRIS alongside Lithuania and Estonia, though BRIS does not provide the full certified extract level of detail available directly from UR.

For bulk data access or API-based integration, commercial data providers who have licensing arrangements with UR or who aggregate from the public portal are the available path.

What you legally cannot do

Latvia implements GDPR through the Personal Data Processing Law (Fizisko personu datu apstrades likums, in force 2018). Director and shareholder natural persons are data subjects; processing their personal data from the UR for marketing or profiling purposes without a valid legal basis under GDPR Article 6 is not permitted.

The UR portal terms of use prohibit systematic automated extraction of data from the web interface. The BRIS integration provides a legitimate programmatic access path for cross-border queries within the EU framework.

Latvia’s UBO register is accessible to the public for basic beneficial ownership information. Under the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prevention Law (Noziedzigi ieguti lidseklu legalizacijas un terorisma finansesanas noversanas likums, implementing EU 5AMLD), access is available for compliance purposes. Following the 2022 CJEU ruling limiting unconditional public access to UBO registers, Latvia has maintained access for persons demonstrating a legitimate interest, with obliged entities under AML law retaining full access.

Certified documents from UR are official records; presenting them as independently generated or without attribution to UR is not permitted.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Registration number is the anchor identifier. Every Latvian commercial entity has a unique registration number (Registracijas numurs), an 11-digit code for companies (e.g., 40003XXXXXX for companies registered in Riga, with the first digits varying by region and entity type). Always verify by registration number rather than company name to avoid confusion among similarly named entities.
• SIA dominates the registry. The SIA (Sabiedriba ar ierobezotu atbildibu) is the private limited company, analogous to the UK Ltd or German GmbH. It is the most common commercial form and the default structure for most Latvian SMEs and foreign-owned operations. The AS (joint-stock company) is used for larger and publicly traded entities.
• Status flags. An “active” (aktiva) status means the company is in good standing with UR. “Likvidacijas process” means voluntary liquidation is underway. “Maksatnespejas process” means insolvency proceedings have been initiated. “Izslegt” means struck off the register. Check the status field before treating the company as a valid counterparty.
• Latvia and EU BRIS. For initial screening in a cross-border due diligence context, querying Latvia via the EU BRIS network provides an English-language starting point without navigating the Latvian portal. BRIS data is basic but reliable for status confirmation and registration number retrieval.
• Document language. Official UR documents are in Latvian. For use in international legal or financial contexts, a certified translation by a sworn translator (zvérináts tulks) is typically required. Latvia maintains a list of licensed sworn translators.
• Latvian-Russian bilingual context. Latvia has a material Russian-speaking population. Company names and trade names may be registered in Latvian only (the legal requirement), but the commercial entity may operate primarily in Russian. When searching for entities that may be known by a Russian-language trade name, try searching by registration number if available, or by any known Latvian transliteration of the name.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates indexes Latvia’s Register of Enterprises data and provides free basic company records at opencorporates.com. Useful for quick name-check; not for compliance-grade verification.
• BRIS portal: Latvia participates in the EU Business Registers Interconnection System, providing standardized basic company data in English across EU member states, accessible through the European Business Register network.
• Commercial data providers: See the local suppliers section for firms offering aggregated Latvian company data with English-language delivery.

Local data suppliers

• Creditinfo Latvia (creditinfo.lv). Creditinfo Group’s Latvian entity, providing company credit reports, payment behavior data, and risk scoring for Latvian businesses. Creditinfo is the primary credit bureau for the Baltic region and offers integration with Nordic and European data networks. Used by Latvian banks, leasing companies, and international compliance teams.
• CRIF (crif.com). Offers Latvian company credit reports and due diligence profiles through its European network, with English-language delivery for international buyers.

Use the UR for the official filing record. Use a credit bureau when you need payment behavior or risk scoring on top of the registry extract.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Latvia Register of Enterprises directly?

Yes. The UR portal at ur.gov.lv is publicly accessible for basic company status searches without registration. Downloading certified documents requires creating a free account with an email address. No Latvian identity is required. Payment by international credit card is accepted. Documents are issued in Latvian and may require certified translation for use outside Latvia.

What is the registration number format in Latvia?

Latvian commercial entity registration numbers are 11-digit codes. For companies, the first two digits indicate the legal form (40 for limited liability companies, 50 for joint-stock companies), the next six digits identify the registration office and are sequential, and the last three digits are a check sequence. For example, 40003XXXXXX is a typical SIA (private limited company) registration number format. Individual merchants and non-profits follow different numbering conventions. The registration number is the definitive unique identifier and is permanent.

What entity types are registered with the Latvia Register of Enterprises?

UR registers SIA (private limited company), AS (joint-stock company), PS (general partnership), KS (limited partnership), individual merchants (Individualis komersants), European companies (SE), cooperative societies, and branches and representative offices of foreign companies. Non-profit organizations and associations are maintained in a separate but related register also administered by UR.

Does Latvia have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Yes. Latvia’s beneficial ownership register (Patiesie labuma guvejs, PLG) is maintained by UR and integrated into the main company register. Under the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prevention Law implementing EU 5AMLD (Directive 2018/843/EU), all Latvian legal entities must register their beneficial owners. Access to UBO data is available for compliance purposes; following the 2022 CJEU ruling limiting unconditional public access, Latvia requires demonstration of legitimate interest for access to natural person UBO data. Obliged entities under AML law (banks, notaries, lawyers) retain direct access.

How current is the data in the Latvia Register of Enterprises?

Director and shareholder changes, address updates, and capital changes must be filed with UR within the timeframes specified in the Commercial Law (typically 10-14 days for most changes). Electronic filings are typically reflected in the public record within 2-3 business days. Annual reports are filed annually and become publicly available once processed. For compliance purposes, treat the register as current to within 14-30 days for actively maintained entities.

Is Latvia on the FATF grey list?

No. Latvia is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. Latvia is an EU member state and implements EU AMLD requirements. Latvia underwent a FATF mutual evaluation conducted by MONEYVAL in 2018, which identified deficiencies in AML/CFT supervision; Latvia subsequently completed follow-up work and demonstrated compliance improvements. For current status, see fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between the Register of Enterprises and the tax authority?

UR handles company registration, structural data, and corporate governance filings. Tax registration, VAT numbers, and tax compliance are administered by the State Revenue Service (Valsts ienemumu dienests, VID, vid.gov.lv). The two systems share some data through government data exchange, but a company’s VAT registration status should be verified directly on the VID portal. For AML due diligence, UR provides the registration and ownership picture; financial and tax compliance data require the VID or a commercial credit bureau.

Last verified: May 2026. Source: Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia (ur.gov.lv), EU 5AMLD (Directive 2018/843/EU), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.