Notarised certified translation of a Swiss commercial register extract, Zefix and UID reference

Certified translation › Commercial register extract

Commercial Register Extract Translation Switzerland.

Commercial register extract translation for Switzerland is a notarised certified translation of your Swiss Handelsregisterauszug (Zefix/UID) by a qualified translator, for setting up abroad, a foreign bank account, a tender or a shareholding. The extract is issued by the cantonal Handelsregisteramt and any apostille by the Staatskanzlei, not by us. Binding fixed price from CHF 89, certification and shipping included.

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Notarised certified translation · cantonal Handelsregisteramt / Zefix / UID · apostille via the cantonal Staatskanzlei · DIN EN ISO 17100 · NDA on request

DIN EN ISO 17100certified · Reg. 7U517

Notarised certificationsignature certified by a Swiss notary

Price up frontfixed price plus VAT

Apostille guidancevia the cantonal Staatskanzlei

Commercial register extract translation

Does your company need a notarised certified translation of the commercial register extract?

Reviewed by specialists · FÜD editorial team · kept current

For business abroad, almost always yes. Registers, banks, notaries and tendering bodies abroad ask for the commercial register extract as proof of your company's existence, legal form and power of representation — and generally accept it only as a notarised certified translation, often together with an apostille. Bodies inside Switzerland conversely require the same for a foreign-language register extract.

The extract comes from the commercial register kept by the cantonal Handelsregisteramt and published centrally via Zefix, the portal of the Federal Office of the Commercial Registry (EHRA). We translate it true to form and layout — legal form, power of representation, commercial power of attorney (Prokura), share/nominal capital, UID and register details included. Rendering legal forms and representation terms accurately calls for legal precision — see also our legal translation service.

When you need a commercial register extract translation

When a Swiss commercial register extract needs a notarised certified translation.

The extract is a company's central proof of existence and representation. In cross-border business, these are the situations that come up most often.

Formation & subsidiary

To set up a branch or subsidiary abroad, the local register usually asks for the translated extract of the Swiss parent company, often with an apostille.

Bank account & financing

Banks abroad require the translated commercial register extract for a company account, credit line or KYC check.

Tenders & procurement

Public and private tenders abroad ask for proof of existence and representation as a notarised certified translation.

M&A & shareholdings

For a share purchase, joint venture or investment, the counterparty and the notary review the translated extract as part of due diligence.

Contracts, powers of attorney — and the reverse case

For contracts and notarial powers of attorney abroad, power of representation is evidenced through the translated extract. The same applies in reverse: Swiss notaries, banks and courts require a notarised certified translation of a foreign-language register extract before they accept it.

Abroad, only what reads as clearly certified counts.

Legal form, representation and capital have to be transferred precisely — settled first with the cantonal Handelsregisteramt and Zefix reference at hand.

Certified German translation

Who keeps the register — and who issues the apostille.

The Swiss commercial register is kept by the cantonal commercial-registry offices (Handelsregisterämter); entries are published centrally via Zefix, the portal of the Federal Office of the Commercial Registry (EHRA), under Art. 927 ff. of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR). Sole proprietorships and partnerships (Kollektiv- and Kommanditgesellschaft) are entered alongside companies (AG, GmbH); every legal entity carries a UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer, format CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx). There is a current extract and a chronological extract.

Because the extract comes from a cantonal authority, the apostille it needs for use abroad is issued by the state chancellery (Staatskanzlei) of that canton — never by the FÜD and never by a translation agency. Switzerland is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention but is not an EU member state, so EU Regulation 2016/1191 does not apply to Swiss documents.

Current extract, then apostille, then translation

Pull a current extract from the cantonal Handelsregisteramt or Zefix, check the apostille requirement with the receiving body, and — if needed — have the apostille affixed by the cantonal Staatskanzlei first. We then produce one notarised certified translation covering both the extract and the apostille, so the foreign body has nothing left to request.

Quality you only notice at the register

Mistakes only a legal professional translator catches.

A commercial register extract is checked against legal form, power of representation and register details. These are the most common pitfalls — and how a professional translator with legal expertise avoids them.

Pitfalls in commercial register extract translations and how FÜD resolves them
Pitfall	Why it goes wrong	How FÜD solves it
Legal form equated with "Ltd/LLC/Inc."	AG, GmbH, Kollektiv- or Kommanditgesellschaft have no identical counterpart abroad; a false equivalence changes liability and legal status.	The legal form stays in the original and is placed in context with an explanatory translator's note, without implying a foreign company type.
Power of representation & Prokura shortened	Sole signing authority, joint signature or Prokura (commercial power of attorney) affect liability; an imprecise rendering puts the transaction at risk.	Representation rules and Prokura are translated in full and true to meaning, explained where needed.
Company name, UID & register number wrong	Company name, UID and register number identify the extract for the receiving body; errors make it unusable.	Company name, UID, register number and Handelsregisteramt are carried over completely and in the correct position.
Handelsregisteramt translated instead of named	A translated cantonal registry office cannot be found or verified by a foreign body.	The name of the Handelsregisteramt stays in the original, with an explanatory equivalent in brackets.
Capital & shareholding figures imprecise	Share/nominal capital, shareholdings and contributions matter for review; rounding or omissions stand out at due diligence.	Capital, shareholding and contribution figures are carried over exactly and in the correct format.
Apostille "ordered" from the translator	For a register extract, the apostille comes from the cantonal Staatskanzlei — without it, the foreign body will reject the document.	We do not issue apostilles; we name the competent cantonal Staatskanzlei and then translate the apostille together with the extract.

Legal basis

Why the notarised certified translation is recognised.

Reviewed by specialists · FÜD editorial team · kept current

Switzerland has no system of state-sworn or court-authorised translators, unlike Germany or Austria. Certification works differently here: a professional translator signs the translation to attest its accuracy and completeness, and a Swiss notary (Notariat) certifies that signature — confirming the translator's identity, not the linguistic content itself. Together this produces a notarised certified translation, the form registers, banks and notaries recognise.

You receive the translation as a PDF in advance and then the notarised original by post. For use abroad, we clarify apostille requirements with the relevant cantonal Staatskanzlei up front, and whether recognition in the target country calls for a translation authorised there too. An NDA is available on request for B2B engagements.

So it works

How to order a notarised certified translation of your commercial register extract.

You upload a current, complete extract (current or chronological printout) from the cantonal Handelsregisteramt or Zefix, and tell us the destination country and receiving body. We review scope and language direction and confirm a binding fixed price — for ongoing business abroad, also as a B2B framework rate with an NDA on request. Once approved, a professional translator renders legal form, representation, capital and register details precisely, and signs the certification statement; a Swiss notary then certifies that signature.

You receive the document as a PDF in advance and the notarised original by post. If an apostille from the cantonal Staatskanzlei is planned, we agree the sequencing with you — extract first, then apostille, then translation — so nothing has to be redone.

Before you upload

So your register extract clears the first time.

With this information, a professional translator can render your extract accurately from the start.

Current, complete extract — current or chronological printout from the cantonal Handelsregisteramt or Zefix, including all pages and register details.
Destination country & receiving body — register, bank, notary or procurement office; it determines the language and form required.
Company name & legal form — your preferred spelling of the company name; the legal form itself stays in the original.
Apostille clarified? — whether the extract needs an apostille from the cantonal Staatskanzlei; we never issue it ourselves.
Current vs. chronological extract — which version the receiving body requires.
Deadline, confidentiality & delivery — by when you need it; an NDA is available on request.

For ongoing business abroad, we set up a B2B framework with fixed terminology and named contacts — so company names and representation terms stay consistent across every translation.

Use cases

Three typical paths for a commercial register extract translation.

The purpose determines the version, language direction and apostille requirement. Three common scenarios in B2B business.

Formation

Extract for a subsidiary abroad

Starting point: An AG is setting up a subsidiary abroad; the local register requires the apostilled, translated extract of the Swiss parent company.
Process: We clarify the apostille requirement with the cantonal Staatskanzlei, flag the correct sequencing, and produce a notarised certified translation of the extract and apostille together, with legal form and representation placed in context.
Outcome: Notarised certified translation with a certification statement — PDF in advance, original by post, matched to the foreign register's requirements.

Bank

Extract for a company account abroad

Starting point: A bank abroad requires the translated commercial register extract for a company account and KYC checks.
Process: We produce a notarised certified translation of existence, legal form and power of representation, carrying over UID and capital details in position.
Outcome: A verifiable proof of existence and representation that the bank accepts without a query.

Tender

Proof of representation for a foreign procurement process

Starting point: For a tender abroad, a Swiss company must prove existence and power of representation as a notarised certified translation.
Process: A professional translator renders the representation rules and Prokura in full and explains liability-relevant terms.
Outcome: A notarised certified translation the procurement body accepts as a duly formed proof.

What a German translation costs

What does a commercial register extract translation cost in Switzerland?

A standard extract is usually billed at a flat fee per extract; longer, chronological extracts are priced per standard line. For ongoing business abroad, we offer B2B framework rates with an NDA on request. We confirm a binding fixed price after a brief review — notarised certification and postal delivery included.

Binding fixed price

flat fee per extractstandard extract · chronological extracts from CHF 1.09 / standard line · B2B framework rates

Price up front · plus VAT · no unannounced extra costs

Notarised certified translation by a professional translator	✓included
Notarised certification (signature certified by a Swiss notary)	✓included
Advance PDF for review	✓included
Postal delivery of the notarised original	✓included
Quality assurance & final check	✓included

A standard line is 55 characters incl. spaces; a standard extract is usually a flat fee per document. The exact fixed price depends on volume, language combination and file condition — plus VAT in Switzerland. A required apostille is issued by the cantonal Staatskanzlei and is not part of our service. How the price is made up →

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Sources & legal basis

Where these statements come from.

Every legal and procedural claim on this page is tied to a primary, verifiable source — the Swiss commercial register portal, Swiss federal law, the responsible federal and cantonal authorities and the relevant Hague/EU instruments. Acceptance of any individual document is always decided by the receiving body.

FAQ

Commercial register extract translation — frequently asked questions.

Does my company need a notarised certified translation of the commercial register extract in Switzerland?

For business abroad, almost always yes — registers, banks, notaries and tendering bodies generally accept the extract only as a notarised certified translation, often together with an apostille. Bodies inside Switzerland conversely require the same for a foreign-language register extract.

How is the Swiss commercial register organised?

It is kept by the cantonal commercial-registry offices (Handelsregisterämter) and published centrally via Zefix, the portal of the Federal Office of the Commercial Registry (EHRA). Sole proprietorships and partnerships (Kollektiv- and Kommanditgesellschaft) are entered alongside companies (AG, GmbH). Every legal entity carries a UID; legal form, company name and register number are carried over exactly.

Do I also need an apostille — and who issues it?

For many countries, yes. Because the extract comes from a cantonal authority, the apostille is issued by the state chancellery (Staatskanzlei) of that canton, not by the translation provider. It belongs on the document before translation; we then translate it together with the extract.

How are the legal form and power of representation translated?

Legal forms such as AG or GmbH stay in the original and are placed in context with a translator's note, rather than being equated with Ltd or LLC. Power of representation and Prokura (commercial power of attorney) are translated in full and true to meaning, because they affect liability.

Should the extract be current or chronological?

That depends on the receiving body. A current extract is often enough; for due diligence or a history check, the chronological extract is required. Tell us the requirement and we translate the matching version.

What does a notarised certified translation of a commercial register extract cost in Switzerland?

A standard extract is usually translated at a flat fixed fee; longer, chronological extracts are priced per standard line, from CHF 1.09. For ongoing business abroad we offer B2B framework rates on request, with an NDA available. Notarised certification, an advance PDF and postal delivery are included. How the price is made up →

Our commercial register extract was translated with an apostille for setting up our subsidiary abroad — legal form and power of representation placed cleanly in context. The foreign register raised no objection.

★★★★★

Dr. K. Weiss · Legal Counsel, Zug