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Czech Republic – Changes to UBO Register Accessibility
The Czech Ministry of Justice has announced significant changes to the accessibility of the Czech Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Register following a Supreme Court ruling.
Effective since the 17th of December 2025, public access to the register has been removed to align with the European Union’s privacy and data protection laws, while access for authorized entities remains intact.
Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court held that:
- Legal entities cannot be compelled to register UBO information under provisions that conflict with EU privacy rules.
- Sanctions under the existing Act cannot apply while the legal conflict persists.
- The core issue stemmed from the public accessibility of the UBO register, which the Court found inconsistent with EU data protection requirements.
In response, the Ministry of Justice has restricted access to the register to eliminate the legal conflict and restore the enforceability of UBO obligations and associated sanctions. The Ministry has confirmed that limiting public access satisfies the Supreme Court ruling, allowing the Czech authorities to reapply compliance obligations and reinstate sanctions under the Act.
Who retains access?
Access will be limited exclusively to authorized parties, including:
- Banking institutions
- Advocates
- Competent authorities
Public access will no longer be available.
Risks of Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with Czech UBO obligations may result in:
- Suspension of voting rights
- Prohibition on profit distributions
Background Ruling from the European Courts
This change follows broader EU-level developments and previous rulings made by the Court of the European Union (CJEU) addressing the need to balance transparency with the protection of personal data.
In November 2022 the CJEU found that unrestricted public access violates fundamental rights to privacy and personal data protection. Consequently, many EU member states closed their registers to the general public, restricting access to authorities, financial institutions, and parties with a demonstrated “legitimate interest”.
How Mercator® by Citco (Mercator) Can Help
Our team can support with assessing UBO obligations, preparing required filings, and ensuring records remain compliant under the revised Czech framework. For assistance, please contact mercator@citco.com
