Article 13Procedure for the verification and mutual recognition of a legitimate interest to access beneficial ownership information

1. Member States shall ensure that entities in charge of the central registers as referred to in Article 10 take measures to verify the existence of the legitimate interest referred to in Article 12 on the basis of documents, information and data obtained from the natural or legal person seeking access to the central register (‘applicant’) and, where necessary, information available to them pursuant to Article 12(3).

2. The existence of a legitimate interest to access beneficial ownership information shall be determined by taking into consideration:

(a)

the function or occupation of the applicant; and

(b)

with the exception of persons referred to in Article 12(2), first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), the connection with the specific legal entities or legal arrangements whose information is being sought.

3. Member States shall ensure that where access to information is requested by a person whose legitimate interest in accessing beneficial ownership information under one of the categories set out in Article 12(2), first subparagraph, has already been verified by the central register of another Member State, the verification of the condition laid down in paragraph 2, point (a), of this Article is satisfied by collecting proof of the legitimate interest issued by the central register of that other Member State.

Member States may apply the procedure set out in the first subparagraph of this paragraph to the additional categories identified by other Member States pursuant to Article 12(2), second subparagraph.

4. Member States shall ensure that entities in charge of central registers verify the identity of applicants whenever they access the registers. To that end, Member States shall ensure that sufficient processes are available for the verification of the identity of the applicant, including by allowing the use of electronic identification means and relevant qualified trust services as set out in Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (39).

5. For the purposes of paragraph 2, point (a), Member States shall ensure that central registers have mechanisms in place to allow repeated access to persons with a legitimate interest to access beneficial ownership information without the need to assess their function or occupation whenever accessing the information.

6. From 10 November 2026, Member States shall ensure that the entities in charge of central registers conduct the verification referred to in paragraph 1 and provide a response to the applicant within 12 working days.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, in the case of a sudden high number of requests for accessing beneficial ownership information pursuant to this Article, the deadline for providing a response to the applicant may be extended by 12 working days. If, after the extension has lapsed, the number of incoming requests continues to be high, that deadline may be extended by additional 12 working days.

Member States shall notify the Commission of any extension as referred to in the second subparagraph in a timely manner.

Where entities in charge of central registers decide to grant access to beneficial ownership information, they shall issue a certificate granting access for 3 years. Entities in charge of central registers shall respond to any subsequent request to access beneficial ownership information by the same person within 7 working days.

The article continues in the official text.