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Notification of beneficial owners

Most companies must file a notification of their actual beneficial owners with the Finnish Trade Register and thereafter keep the details in the Trade Register up to date. For example, limited liability companies and co-operatives must file a notification of beneficial owners. Private traders do not file a notification.

The notification of beneficial owners is free of charge.

In most cases, the beneficial owners of a company are its owners.

Please observe that the company must file a notification even if the company has no beneficial owners or does not know them.

The Finnish Act on Money Laundering and the underlying EU directives on money laundering require that companies file the beneficial owners’ details for registration and keep the details up to date.

When do I file?

You must file a notification without delay in the following situations:

  • The company has not filed its beneficial owner details with the Finnish Trade Register between 1 July 2019 and 1 July 2020.
  • The beneficial owner details have changed.
  • A new company has been registered.
  • You are no longer a beneficial owner of the company

Who is a beneficial owner?

Those who meet any of the following requirements are considered as beneficial owners:

  • The person owns directly or indirectly more than 25 percent of the company shares.
  • The person holds directly or indirectly more than 25 percent of the voting rights in the company.
  • The person exercises actual control over the company on other grounds.

Please observe that the company must file a notification even if the company has no beneficial owners or does not know them.

Companies are each responsible for identifying their beneficial owners. In a company, there can be none, one, or several beneficial owners who meet the requirements above.

Read more about beneficial owners on the PRH website at prh.fi.Open link in a new tab

Which companies must file a notification of their beneficial owners?

Limited liability companies and co-operatives must notify the Trade Register of their beneficial owners.

General partnerships and limited partnerships do not usually have to file a notification of beneficial owners. Notification is required only if the beneficial owner is not a partner in the company.

Listed companies and private traders do not file a notification.

Housing companies, mutual real estate limited companies, foundations, religious communities and associations do not file a notification.

The branch of a foreign trader must file the beneficiary details in accordance with the legislation of the trader’s home country.

Read more about the companies that must file a notification at prh.fi.Open link in a new tab

How to file a notification

Filing the details of beneficial owners is free of charge.

File your notification of beneficial owners using the online service at ytj.fi. Any changes to the details should also be filed online.

To use the online service, you need to have a Finnish personal identity code and either personal internet banking codes or a mobile certificate or an electronic identity card (HST card).

Please note that the online service is available in Finnish and in Swedish.

The notification must be signed by the same person who signs the company’s other notifications to the Trade Register, for example a member of the board of directors, the managing director or a general partner. Read more about how to sign notifications online.

A company can authorise a representative so that he or she can file a notification on behalf of your company. Give authorisations using the online service at ytj.fi. Read more about how to authorise online.

There are further instructions on the PRH website about what to do if you cannot file your notification online.

Go to our instructions at prh.fi about how to file a notification of beneficial owners.Open link in a new tab