Monaco Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Monaco Business

TL;DR. Monaco’s official commercial register is the Répertoire du Commerce et de l’Industrie (RCI), accessible at rci.mc. Basic company search is free with no account required, but the interface is in French only. Monaco is a sovereign principality, not an EU member, but uses the euro under a monetary agreement with the EU. Monaco’s financial sector is regulated by the CCAF (Commission de Contrôle des Activités Financières). Monaco is not on the FATF grey list but has historically been a focus of enhanced scrutiny on private wealth management.

What is the official Monaco business registry?

The Répertoire du Commerce et de l’Industrie (RCI) is Monaco’s official registry for commercial entities. It is administered by the Greffe du Tribunal de Première Instance de Monaco (Registry of Monaco’s Court of First Instance), which serves as both a court registry and the commercial register authority. The RCI portal is at rci.mc.

Monaco is a sovereign city-state and constitutional monarchy, the world’s second-smallest country by area (after Vatican City). Monaco is not a member of the EU but has a monetary agreement with the EU that allows it to use the euro and issue its own euro coins. Monaco has close ties with France through a 1918 treaty: French law applies in many areas by default where Monaco has not enacted its own legislation.

Monaco’s company law is principally governed by the Ordonnance Souveraine no 408 du 23 janvier 1906 portant institution d’un répertoire du commerce et de l’industrie (as amended) and more modern commercial legislation. Monaco has progressively updated its regulatory framework, particularly since joining MONEYVAL in 2002 and committing to international AML/CFT standards.

Principal entity types registered in Monaco include:

• SAM (Société Anonyme Monégasque): Monaco’s public limited company, the primary corporate vehicle for material commercial activities.
• SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée): Monaco’s private limited company.
• SNC (Société en Nom Collectif): general partnership.
• SCS (Société en Commandite Simple): limited partnership.
• Sole traders (commerçants) and professionals.
• Branches of foreign companies established in Monaco.

Establishing a business in Monaco requires authorization from the Monegasque government (Direction de l’Expansion Economique), which reviews applications from foreign nationals. This makes Monaco’s commercial market more controlled than most other European jurisdictions.

What can you search?

The RCI portal supports:

• Company name search (French, full or partial)
• RCI registration number search

Results show: entity name, RCI registration number, legal form, registered address, registration date, and current status. Director names and certain constitutional details may be available from the RCI extract. Shareholder information for SAM companies is typically not publicly searchable through the online portal.

Monaco’s AML/CFT framework is governed by the Ordonnance Souveraine n. 2.318 du 3 août 2009 relative aux procédures de lutte contre le blanchiment de capitaux (as updated), supervised by SICCFIN (Service d’Information et de Contrôle sur les Circuits Financiers), Monaco’s Financial Intelligence Unit. The CCAF (Commission de Contrôle des Activités Financières) regulates investment activities and financial institutions.

Monaco does not have a formally public beneficial ownership register accessible online. UBO data is collected by licensed financial intermediaries and fiduciaries under AML obligations and is reported to SICCFIN. The register is not publicly searchable.

How much does it cost?

Fees are set by the Greffe and may be updated periodically. EUR/USD conversion: approximately 1.09 (May 2026; verify at point of transaction). Certified documents may require additional apostille fees for international use.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No. Basic company name searches on the RCI portal are publicly accessible without registration. Ordering certified extracts requires a formal request submitted to the Greffe, which can be done in person or by correspondence from foreign requesters. Payment is typically by bank transfer or in person.

Is the website in English?

No. The RCI portal and Monaco’s official registry documents are in French only. Monaco’s official language is French. For foreign compliance buyers:

• Browser-based translation tools (DeepL, Google Translate) provide workable access for basic navigation.
• Key terms: “actif” = active; “radié” = struck off/deregistered; “en liquidation” = in liquidation; “siège social” = registered office; “gérant” = manager; “administrateur” = director.
• Company names and RCI numbers are universal and do not require translation.
• A Monegasque or French-speaking intermediary is the most practical route for full document requests and interpretation.

What’s the turnaround time?

Online searches are instant. Certified extract requests submitted to the Greffe in person or by correspondence take 2-5 business days. Monaco’s small administrative scale (population approximately 40,000, including residents) means processing times are generally manageable, but the registry operates only during Monegasque business hours.

Is there an API?

No formal public API for the RCI is documented for external use as of May 2026. Monaco’s registry is relatively small-scale compared to major European registries. Compliance platforms must work through manual lookups or Monaco-based intermediaries.

What you legally cannot do

Monaco enacted the Loi n. 1.565 du 3 décembre 2023 relative à la protection des données à caractère personnel (Personal Data Protection Act), aligning Monaco’s data protection framework with GDPR principles. The EU has recognized Monaco’s adequate data protection. Restrictions include:

• Automated bulk extraction from the RCI portal for commercial redistribution is not authorized.
• Personal data of directors and officers obtained from the registry must be processed in compliance with Monaco’s data protection law.
• Certified RCI extracts for use in foreign legal proceedings require apostille authentication. Monaco is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
• UBO data held by Monaco financial institutions and SICCFIN is not publicly accessible; any attempt to obtain it through unauthorized means is a criminal offence under Monaco law.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Business formation is controlled. Opening a business in Monaco requires approval from the Direction de l’Expansion Economique (DEE). Foreign nationals must obtain a professional card (carte professionnelle) before conducting commercial activities. This gatekeeping means that RCI-registered entities have passed an initial government review, though it does not substitute for compliance due diligence.
• CCAF for financial entities. If your counterparty claims to be a Monaco investment manager, financial advisor, or asset manager, verify against the CCAF’s public list of approved entities at ccaf.mc. The CCAF regulates investment activity and financial intermediaries in Monaco.
• SICCFIN is the FIU. Monaco’s Financial Intelligence Unit is SICCFIN (Service d’Information et de Contrôle sur les Circuits Financiers). It supervises AML/CFT compliance and receives suspicious transaction reports. Monaco has cooperated actively with MONEYVAL’s evaluation process since 2002.
• Private banking context. Monaco’s economy is heavily oriented toward private banking, wealth management, and luxury services for high-net-worth individuals. Major banks with private banking operations in Monaco include Barclays Monaco, BNP Paribas Monaco, UBS Monaco, and several others. Enhanced due diligence applies to any Monaco-based counterparty with private banking or wealth management functions.
• French law overlap. Monaco’s legal system draws heavily on French law. The civil and commercial code provisions of France often apply by default in Monaco unless Monaco has enacted its own specific legislation. Legal advice on Monaco structures is typically provided by French-qualified attorneys with Monaco expertise, or by Monaco-qualified avocats.
• FATF/MONEYVAL history. Monaco was listed on the FATF Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCT) list in 2000, removed in 2001 after committing to reforms. Since then, Monaco has progressively strengthened its AML/CFT framework. Its most recent MONEYVAL evaluation reported continued improvement. Monaco is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

• CCAF register (ccaf.mc): approved investment and financial activity entities in Monaco.
• Direction de l’Expansion Economique (DEE): business authorization status and professional card holders.
• French-qualified attorneys and Monaco avocats: most practical route for certified RCI document retrieval and enhanced due diligence for material Monaco counterparties.

Local data suppliers

Monaco does not have its own dedicated commercial credit bureau. Due diligence on Monaco entities typically relies on:

• Monaco-based and French attorneys and financial intermediaries: practitioners in Monaco or adjacent Nice and the French Riviera with Monaco commercial experience provide the most direct route to registry access and enhanced due diligence.
• French credit bureaus and data providers (Ellisphere, Coface France): have partial coverage of Monaco-registered entities, particularly those with French commercial ties, though Monaco is a separate jurisdiction.
• International compliance platforms (LexisNexis, Refinitiv World-Check): include Monaco-registered entities in adverse media and sanctions screening.

FAQ

Is Monaco part of the EU?

No. Monaco is a sovereign principality and is not a member of the EU. It uses the euro under a monetary agreement with the EU (signed 2001, revised 2011), which allows Monaco to use the euro as its official currency and issue Monaco-specific euro coins in limited quantities. EU customs territory extends to Monaco for trade purposes, but Monaco is not subject to EU company law directives or most EU regulatory frameworks directly.

What are the main company types in Monaco?

The SAM (Société Anonyme Monégasque) is Monaco’s public limited company equivalent, requiring a minimum capital of EUR 150,000 and Monegasque government authorization. The SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) is Monaco’s private limited company. Both require Monegasque government approval before incorporation, unlike most EU jurisdictions where incorporation is a private matter between the founders and the registry.

Does Monaco have a public beneficial ownership register?

No. Monaco does not have a publicly accessible UBO register. Beneficial ownership information is collected by licensed Monaco financial institutions and intermediaries under AML obligations and reported to SICCFIN. The information is shared with foreign competent authorities through Monaco’s network of international information exchange agreements but is not accessible through a public portal.

Is Monaco on the FATF grey list?

No. Monaco is not on the FATF Increased Monitoring list as of May 2026. Monaco cooperates with MONEYVAL (Council of Europe’s AML evaluation body) and has been progressively improving its AML/CFT framework since being removed from the FATF NCCT list in 2001. See fatf-gafi.org for current status.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Répertoire du Commerce et de l’Industrie Monaco (rci.mc); Commission de Contrôle des Activités Financières (ccaf.mc); Gouvernement Princier de Monaco (gouv.mc); FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.