Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- Anyone may inspect the companies register. JustizOnline document purchases require ID Austria; authorised providers have their own access arrangements. [5] [1]
- Search language
- The JustizOnline search form is available in German and English. [6]
- Digital documents
- JustizOnline documents are downloaded after purchase; email carries the order confirmation. An electronically signed extract for a specified date is described separately. [5] [1]
- Document language
- GISA offers searches and officially signed trade-licence extracts in German and English. Use the English search for an English extract. The wording of the authorised trade remains in German. [7]
- Paper and collection
- Not specified
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- From 1 August 2026: current online extract €4.89, including deleted entries €8.20, individual filing €1.52. Extract at court €19. Access-provider charges may be added.
- Access
- Anyone may inspect the register. Buying documents through JustizOnline requires ID Austria. Officially authorised access providers offer alternative accounts and terms.
Choose the right register
The Firmenbuch is maintained by regional courts, with the Commercial Court responsible in Vienna and the Regional Court for Civil Matters in Graz. It contains a main register and a document collection. The main register holds entries; the collection contains supporting filings. All courts converted their document collections to electronic systems by autumn 2005. [1]
Public trade information complementing the company register.
Application and evidence requirements.
Courts, notaries and authorised access providers.
Names and abbreviations explained
- FNFirmenbuchnummer
- Company-register number of up to six digits and a check letter. Include the letter when searching. [1]
- OG / KGOffene Gesellschaft / Kommanditgesellschaft
- General and limited partnerships entered in the register. [1]
- FlexCoFlexible Kapitalgesellschaft
- An Austrian flexible company form, registered alongside GmbH and AG entities. [1]
- GISAGewerbeinformationssystem Austria
- Official information on trade licences, locations and licensed businesses. [2]
- WiEReGWirtschaftliche Eigentümer Registergesetz
- The legislation governing the separate Beneficial Owners Register. [4]
- VerrechnungsstelleAuthorised register access provider
- A Justice Ministry-appointed company providing register access and billing. [1]
Search step by step
Obtain current entries and filings
Search the company
Open JustizOnline and select Firmenbuchabfrage. Search by company name or FN. Compare the seat and identifier. Use available filters to narrow similar names. [5]
Choose the document
A free current partial extract provides limited information. Select the current extract for registered status or the historical variant for deleted entries. Choose accounts and articles individually from the document collection. [5] [1]
Sign in and download
Use ID Austria to proceed with the order. Check the details and pay by Visa, Mastercard or EPS online banking. Download the purchased file; order confirmation is sent to the supplied email address. [5]
Research without a suitable JustizOnline login
Use an official alternative
Choose an authorised access provider linked by the USP and check its account requirements and additional charge. Courts and notaries also provide inspection. General inspection rights are not confined to Austrian founders. [1]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current online extract [1] | The currently registered company information. | Court fee €4.89. | JustizOnline or an authorised access provider. |
| Extract including historical entries [1] | Current and deleted entries since electronic recordkeeping began. | Court fee €8.20. | Select the historical version. |
| Individual filing [1] [5] | For example articles, financial statements or a specimen signature. | €1.52 per document online. | Choose the document from the collection. |
| Beneficial-ownership extract [3] [4] | Ownership information according to the applicant’s entitlement. | Legitimate-interest extract €4; for obliged professionals, simple €4, extended €5, with compliance package €10. | BMF application or an authorised USP account. |
| GISA trade-licence extract [7] | Trade authorisation and the corresponding register information. | 0 € | GISA search without registration. Switch to English before obtaining the English version.
|
Coverage and register contents
Coverage includes GmbH, AG and FlexCo companies, OG and KG partnerships, cooperatives and private foundations. Registered sole traders and Austrian branches of foreign entities also appear. A missing result does not rule out a small licensed business: GISA is the official complementary source for unregistered sole traders. [1] [2]
The main record includes name, legal form, seat, service address and business activity. It also records authorised representatives, the start and nature of their powers, and commercial powers of attorney. Required insolvency decisions and liquidation entries may appear. [1]
Person-based searches and history
General company-register enquiries can identify an FN through the name of an official. Other routes include previous HRA, HRB or GEN numbers and searches for changes. These belong to the documented enquiry services; availability depends on the chosen provider. JustizOnline’s FAQ specifically names company name and FN as search fields. [1] [5]
Historical extracts extend only to the start of electronic recordkeeping. Contact the responsible court for earlier matters and non-electronic documents. Filed accounts are separate documents; they are not reproduced in full within a current company extract. [1]
Evidence as an official instrument
Where an official instrument is required, request a certified extract from a court or notary. The USP also describes an electronically signed date-specific extract carrying the judiciary’s signature. Confirm the receiving organisation’s format requirements before ordering. [1]
Beneficial ownership
Private individuals and organisations must demonstrate a legitimate interest connected with anti-money-laundering, counter-terrorist-financing or applicable sanctions. Explain and support the request, for example with evidence of the relevant business relationship. After approval, an email provides payment and retrieval links; the extract costs €4. Own-company extracts and access for obliged professionals use separate USP procedures. [3]
Official samples and reading guides
Official beneficial-ownership extract examples
The Finance Ministry illustrates simple and extended extracts, with explanations and ownership structures. [4]
Simple beneficial-ownership extract: German sample
The Finance Ministry’s sample shows a simple extract with current beneficial-ownership information. [8]
Extended beneficial-ownership extract: German sample
The Finance Ministry explains an extended extract using an entity exempt from reporting as its example. [9]
Avoid common mistakes
- The €4.63, €7.80 and €1.44 fees predate August 2026. JustizOnline’s free partial extract is also a different product from chargeable person-limited partial extracts. [5] [1]
- GISA records trade licences; the Firmenbuch records corporate-law facts. Both may be necessary for a useful assessment. [2] [1]
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Austrian business to research another company?
No. Inspection is open to anyone. Technical access and purchases nevertheless have their own login conditions. [1] [5]
Where are the financial statements?
In the document collection when the relevant accounts have been filed and are available. Select the particular accounts document. [1]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 14 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- Firmenbuch: Inhalt, Abfragen und Gebühren Unternehmensserviceportal der Republik Österreich
- GISA-Auszug und Auskünfte Unternehmensserviceportal / Wirtschaftsministerium
- Einsicht bei berechtigtem Interesse Bundesministerium für Finanzen
- Auszüge aus dem Register der wirtschaftlichen Eigentümer Bundesministerium für Finanzen
- JustizOnline: Firmenbuch-FAQ Bundesministerium für Justiz
- JustizOnline: Suchmaske JustizOnline
- GISA: searches and signed extracts in German and English Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus
- Einfacher Auszug einer einfachen mehrstöckigen Struktur mit gemeldeten wirtschaftlichen Eigentümern Bundesministerium für Finanzen
- Vollständiger erweiterter Auszug eines meldebefreiten Rechtsträgers (mit Erläuterungen) Bundesministerium für Finanzen