As of 10 July 2026, beneficial ownership data in the Business Register will no longer be freely accessible to everyone. Going forward, the data may be accessed by competent authorities, obliged entities under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act, and persons who have a justified legitimate interest.

The changes affect companies that use beneficial ownership data for customer due diligence, risk management, sanctions screening and other background checks.

Beneficial ownership data will continue to be collected and used, but access to the data will change. Creditinfo’s aim is to help clients adapt to these changes smoothly and to continue providing solutions that comply with the new requirements.

“Beneficial ownership data from the Business Register is an important part of customer due diligence, risk management, and secure business decision-making for many companies. Creditinfo’s aim is to help clients use this data as smoothly as possible and in compliance with the law also under the new framework. We have submitted a proposal that the regulation should take into account not only data protection, but also the practical needs of businesses,” said Oksana Tolmatshova, CEO of Creditinfo Eesti.

What Does the Change Mean?

In practice, this means that the right of access will depend on the purpose for which a company uses beneficial ownership data.

For example:

• obliged entities under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act will be able to use the data to fulfil their customer due diligence obligations;
• other companies may be able to use the data on the basis of legitimate interest.

Another important change is that, according to the draft regulation, personal identification codes of beneficial owners will no longer be disclosed in queries made on the basis of legitimate interest. Instead, the date of birth will be provided.

Creditinfo Stands for the Interests of our Clients

Our aim is to help clients adapt to the changes as smoothly as possible and to reduce the impact on their daily work processes.

We have analysed the draft regulation and submitted proposals to the Ministry of Finance that would help preserve the practical usability of beneficial ownership data.

Among other things, we proposed to:

• establish a clear intermediary model for companies that provide services to obliged entities under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act;
• continue allowing the mediation of beneficial owners’ personal identification codes to obliged entities in cases where this is necessary to fulfil legal obligations;
• take into account the practical needs of sanctions screening also for companies that are not obliged entities within the meaning of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act.

We believe these proposals will help strike a balance between the protection of personal data and the legitimate need of businesses to use reliable beneficial ownership data.

What Should Companies Do?

If your company uses beneficial ownership data, we recommend preparing for the changes already now. If you are entitled to use beneficial ownership data from the Business Register and wish to continue using it through Creditinfo’s services, please contact your account manager or write to us at info@creditinfo.ee.

Please review:

• whether your company will continue to have a legal basis for using beneficial ownership data;
• whether you need to apply for access to beneficial ownership data. Applications can be submitted through the e-Business Register portal;
• whether your existing work processes need to be updated in connection with the new access model or the use of data.

We Will Keep You Updated

The final content of the regulation and the details of its implementation may still be specified further. Creditinfo is monitoring the progress of the changes and will adapt its services in line with the final requirements.

We will provide clients with additional information as soon as the implementation details have been confirmed.

Sources

• Draft regulation of the Minister of Finance amending “Establishment of the Beneficial Ownership Data Collection and its Statutes” – https://eelnoud.valitsus.ee/main/mount/docList/921ecc69-f46d-48e1-b415-896b919ba277#ag67EMh9
• Ministry of Finance press release “The Ministry of Finance updates the rules for using beneficial ownership data” – https://www.fin.ee/uudised/rahandusministeerium-uuendab-tegelike-kasusaajate-andmete-kasutamise-korda
• Business Register help information “Change in access to beneficial ownership data from 10.07.2026” – https://abiinfo.rik.ee/e-ariregistri-paringud/tegelikud-kasusaajad