Global Updates on Identity Verification, Transparency and Register Integrity
November was dominated by the UK's move to mandatory identity verification at Companies House and a parallel push to protect directors' personal addresses most notably New Zealand's anti-stalking law. Beneficial-ownership momentum continued from Ontario to Bermuda, while a striking investigation into the Cook Islands shipping register underscored the risks of registry misuse. Here is our round-up of the month's corporate-registry news.
Here are this month’s highlights:
- United Kingdom: Companies House identity verification goes live one million verify early
As mandatory ID verification under ECCTA began rolling out, Companies House reported more than a million people had already verified, with practitioner guides and Commons Library FAQs helping directors and agents prepare.
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- United Kingdom: Five million directors face verification deadline and a register clean-up
Commentators warned that up to five million company officers must verify their identity or risk being unable to file, a move expected to purge inaccurate entries from the corporate register.
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- New Zealand: Anti-stalking bill to shield directors' home addresses passes unanimously
Parliament passed the Companies (Address Information) Amendment legislation, allowing directors to keep residential addresses off the public register in defined circumstances a response to rising harassment risk.
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- Canada: Ontario debuts online beneficial-ownership registry
Ontario launched an online beneficial-ownership register from 20 November, giving police, regulators and tax authorities a new tool and setting a fresh compliance standard for corporations, with wider rollout targeted by 2027.
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- Bermuda: Legislation before the House to end bearer shares
Bermuda tabled clean-up legislation to abolish bearer shares and nominee-directorship anomalies, tightening controls in step with its new beneficial-ownership framework.
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- British Virgin Islands: Opposition backs premier on company register
Cross-party support emerged in the BVI for the government's position on its company register, as the territory weighs transparency demands against its offshore-finance model.
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- Jersey: Consultation resumes on legitimate interest register access
Jersey restarted its consultation on legitimate-interest access to the beneficial-ownership register, testing how journalists and civil society might obtain ownership data.
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- Singapore: Heavier penalties for directors who breach their duties
Singapore moved to strengthen corporate governance with heavier penalties for company directors who fail to act in the best interests of their firms.
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- Hong Kong: Bruno Luk appointed Land Registrar
The Hong Kong Government appointed Bruno Luk Kar-kin as its new Land Registrar, effective 6 November.
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- New Zealand: National Boat Register goes live
New Zealand launched a national recreational-vessel register aimed at improving marine traceability with commentators noting an opportunity to close a boat-versus-trailer gap in the PPSR.
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- Uzbekistan: 15-minute business registration from January 2026
Uzbekistan unveiled a fast-track system promising company registration in about 15 minutes from 1 January 2026, part of a drive to slash administrative cost.
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- Tanzania: BRELA strengthens online business registration
Tanzania's Business Registrations and Licensing Agency intensified its digital-systems work to cut bureaucracy and better protect business owners.
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- Serbia: Business Registers Agency introduces new fees
Serbia's APR adopted a new schedule of registration and service fees, revising types, amounts and payment methods.
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- MENA: Transparency International benchmarks beneficial-ownership frameworks
A new Transparency International study benchmarked beneficial-ownership transparency across the MENA region, mapping progress and persistent gaps.
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- Cook Islands: Privatised shipping register became a flag of choice for the shadow fleet
An NZ Herald investigation found the Cook Islands flag flew on more than 100 tankers accused of illicitly trading Russian and Iranian oil, spotlighting the risks of a privatised register that returns only modest fees to government.
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- Malta: Tax-office data breach exposes details of thousands of companies
Malta's tax administration launched an internal review after the details of some 7,600 companies were inadvertently emailed to thousands of recipients.
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Stay updated by visiting often our "Registry News Weekly" summary and the Foster Moore blog for more insights on these stories and other key registry news.
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