Ethiopia: check company and licence data free through eTrade

Basic search: Free [1]
Entry: No sign-in [1]

Search and document delivery at a glance

Search online: Public search by TIN or business licence number, with registration and licence details. [1] [2]
Search language: Amharic, English and Afaan Oromoo in the language menu. [1]
Digital documents: Free HTML information. Certificates for the applicant’s approved and paid procedures can be downloaded from the account. [1] [2]
Document language: The free registry views are available in English and Amharic. [1] [2]
Paper and collection: Not specified
International delivery: Not specified

Fees at a glance: Public verification free; application certificates subject to a payment order
Access: TIN or licence lookup without an account; application and download area requires an account

Choose the right register

OTRLS means Online Trade Registration and Licensing System. The trade ministry, MOTRI, combines commercial registration with business licensing. The registration number, tax identifier TIN and individual licence numbers are different identifiers. Copy each in full. [2] [1]

The TIN search provides names in local script and English. It also shows registration details, legal form, capital and management. The related licence view adds information about activities, address and licence validity. Additional documents are needed for the complete company file. [1]

Names and abbreviations explained

TINTaxpayer Identification Number: Tax identification number accepted by the public search as a route to the registered business. [2]
Business LicenseBusiness licence: A separate authorisation for an activity, with its own number and validity. A company can have multiple licence entries. [1]

Search step by step

From identifier to a verifiable licence record

Enter the TIN or licence number
Open eTrade and use Search Existing Business or Verify. Enter the TIN or complete Business License Number. [2] [1]
Compare the language and company particulars
Select English in the language menu if needed. Compare name, legal form and registration number. The menu also offers Amharic and Afaan Oromoo. An English interface does not mean every filed company name or free-text field is translated. [1]
Open the individual licence
Choose the eye icon in the relevant Business List row. Check License No, Status, Valid and Sectors. [1]
Request an official file separately
For a certificate from the applicant’s own procedure, eTrade describes an account application, official review, a payment order by SMS and subsequent download in the account. If you need a certified copy as a third party, confirm the eligible route with support@etrade.gov.et or +251 116 67 85 69. [2]

Documents and fees

Document / information	Contents and purpose	Fee	How to get it
Public registration view [1] [2]	Name and registry identifiers, including the TIN, with details of legal form, capital, date and management.	Free	Enter the TIN or licence number in the Business License Checker. Format / delivery HTML in the browser. [1] Document language Amharic and English. Names may appear in both scripts. [1] International delivery Available online; no dispatch is needed for the browser view. [1]
Public licence detail view [1]	Licence number, company, activities, status, validity and address.	Free	Eye icon beside the licence in the Business List. Format / delivery HTML detail view, not a separately downloaded certificate. [1] Document language English view. Some original particulars remain in local script. [1] International delivery Direct online access to the view. [1]
Certificate from the applicant’s registration or licence procedure [2]	Certificate supplied by the authority after approval and payment for the requested procedure.	The authority sends a payment order by SMS; the amount depends on the procedure.	Application and download in the applicant’s account. Format / delivery Download in the account is expressly described; file format is not specified. [2] Document language The nationally applicable Commercial Registration Certificate confirms commercial registration. Article 11 of Directive 935/2022 requires it to be prepared in the competent authority’s working language and in English. [3]

Distinguish name clearance from company research

According to the homepage, Company Name Clearance checks a proposed name before registration. For existing businesses, eTrade specifically identifies the TIN or licence number. [2]

Check the date display with the language

The portal offers views in different languages. Check the calendar system and date format when using dates. For documentary purposes, record the language and original display. [1]

Language of the registration certificate

The nationally applicable Commercial Registration Certificate confirms commercial registration. Article 11 of Directive 935/2022 requires it to be prepared in the competent authority’s working language and in English. [3]

Avoid common mistakes

A replacement certificate for loss or damage is a service for the affected business person. [2]
Compare the specific licence number and its validity. Multiple licences in one company profile can cover different activities and periods. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Ethiopian identification for the free search?

The TIN search and licence view require neither login nor proof of identity. Certificate orders have separate application requirements. [1] [2]

Original sources

Sources reviewed: 16 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.

Business License Checker: public company and licence result Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, eTrade
Online Trade Registration and Licensing System Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration
Commercial Registration, Licensing and Post-Licensing Inspection Directive No. 935/2022 Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration; Ministry of Justice, Ethiopia

Ethiopia