Offshore and crown dependencies
Company registries in offshore centers and crown dependencies, from the BVI and Cayman to Jersey and the Isle of Man.
| Name | Region | Free online search | Who can see beneficial owners | Data access for developers | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | Offshore and crown dependencies | No | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API | |
| Bermuda | Offshore and crown dependencies | No | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API | |
| British Virgin Islands | Offshore and crown dependencies | Partial | Legitimate interest | No API | |
| Cayman Islands | Offshore and crown dependencies | No | Legitimate interest | No API | |
| Gibraltar | Offshore and crown dependencies | No | Public | No API | |
| Guernsey | Offshore and crown dependencies | Yes | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API | |
| Isle of Man | Offshore and crown dependencies | Partial | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API | |
| Jersey | Offshore and crown dependencies | Yes | Obliged entities and authorities only | Bulk data only | |
| Marshall Islands | Offshore and crown dependencies | Partial | No central register | No API | |
| Mauritius | Offshore and crown dependencies | Yes | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API | |
| Panama | Offshore and crown dependencies | Yes | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API | |
| Seychelles | Offshore and crown dependencies | No | Obliged entities and authorities only | No API |
Company registers in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Panama, Seychelles, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Many charge per search or keep officers and shareholders with a registered agent rather than on a public file.
Questions
Are offshore company registers free to search? Many are not: a company search costs $50 in the BVI, CI$30 in the Cayman Islands and $100 in the Bahamas, while Jersey and Guernsey have a free search.
Which offshore beneficial ownership register is public? Gibraltar’s UBO register is free and open to anyone; the BVI and Cayman Islands allow legitimate interest access.
Are directors of Marshall Islands companies public? No. Officers, directors and shareholders are not filed publicly in the Marshall Islands.
Sources: each listing is compiled from the registry’s own website, the government body that runs it, official fee schedules and legislation, and the EU e-Justice portal. Every source is linked on the listing with the date it was checked. How we compile this reference