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Audience:

DevelopersOperators

🇩🇪 Germany

Registration documents and legal forms Swan accepts for account holders registered in Germany.

Mandatory documents ( in the Mandatory column) are required to verify an account holder, regardless of how they're retrieved. All other documents may be requested on a case-by-case basis.

Companies

Legal forms

Legal form (German)Description
Offene Handelsgesellschaft (oHG)General partnership
Kommanditgesellschaft (KG)Limited partnership
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH)Limited Liability Company
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung & Compagnie Kommanditgesellschaft (GmbH & Co. KG)Limited Partnership with a Limited Liability Company as General Partner
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung & Compagnie offene Handelsgesellschaft (GmbH & Co. oHG)General Partnership with a Limited Liability Company as General Partner
Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) (UG)Entrepreneurial Company (limited liability)
Aktiengesellschaft (AG)Joint-stock Company
Societas Europaea (SE)European Company
Europäische wirtschaftliche Interessenvereinigung (EWIV)European Economic Interest Grouping
Societas Cooperativa Europaea (SCE)European Cooperative Society
GenossenschaftCooperative Society
Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (eGbR)Registered Civil Law Partnership
Eingetragener KaufmannRegistered merchant

Accepted documents

Document type (German)DescriptionDetailsMandatory
Nachweis der FirmenregistrierungProof of Company Registration
  • Must be issued by the Handelsregister/Transparenzregister.
Gesellschaftsvertrag / SatzungenArticles of Association
  • Must be stamped and signed by a notary
  • Or uploaded from the official source.
  • Must be the most recently published version, or dated within the last 6 months if amendments have been made.
UBO-ZertifikatUltimate Beneficial Owners (UBO) certificate
  • Must include all direct and indirect UBOs (ownership ≥25%).
Personalausweis der wirtschaftlich Berechtigten (UBOs)Identity documents of UBOs
  • Valid identity documents in color
  • Both sides if applicable.
Vollmacht
Personalausweis
Power of Attorney and ID of the legal representative
  • Required if the legal representative is not the account holder.
Formular für politisch exponierte Personen (PEP)Politically Exposed Person (PEP) form
  • Swan sends this form to the end user (based on your communication preferences).
  • Must be dated and signed.
Finanzberichte (z.B. Steuererklärung)Financial statements
  • Most recent annual report or balance sheet.
Eidesstattliche ErklärungSworn statement
  • Must be signed and dated within the last 3 months.
Organigramm des UnternehmensCompany structure chart
  • An internal company document showing the holding structure.

Self-employed individuals and freelancers

Legal forms

Legal form (German)Description
FreiberuflerLiberal professionals or freelancers
Selbständig/GewerbetreibendeSelf-employed in trade or business
PartnerschaftPartnership
Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (GbR)Civil law partnership

Accepted documents

Document type (German)DescriptionDetailsMandatory
GewerbescheinBusiness or trade license
  • Required for self-employed in trade or business
  • Also for GbR, if available
  • Must be issued by local authorities and dated.
Berufsanmeldung or BerufszulassungProfessional registration or professional license
  • Required for regulated liberal professionals or freelancers.
Freiberufler-registrierungFreelancer registration
  • Required for liberal professionals or freelancers.
Satzung der GesellschaftArticles of Association
  • For Partnerships (Partnerschaft).
  • Must be dated and signed.
  • Must be the most recently published version.
  • If amendments have been made, it must be dated within the last 6 months.
Bescheinigung über die steuerliche ErfassungTax registration certificate
  • Required for liberal professionals or freelancers
  • Issued by the Finanzamt.
Brief vom FinanzamtLetter from the tax office
  • Letter confirming tax ID or VAT number.
SteuerbescheidTax declaration (most recent)
  • Must be issued by the tax office and dated within the last year.

Associations

Legal forms

Legal form (German)Description
Eingetragener Verein (e.V.)Registered association
Nicht eingetragener VereinUnregistered association
Gemeinnütziger VereinCharitable association
StiftungFoundation

Accepted documents

Document type (German)DescriptionDetailsMandatory
Vereinsregisterauszug / VR-AuszugProof of registration
  • Must be issued by the Vereinsregister (association register).
  • Must be the latest available extract, with no dissolution or liquidation flags.
  • Retrieved by Swan when available; otherwise provided by the account holder.
Satzung des Vereins / VereinssatzungArticles of Association (statutes)
  • Must be dated and signed.
  • Must be the most recently published version.
  • If amendments have been made, it must be dated within the last 6 months.
Gründungsprotokoll / ErrichtungsurkundeFounding deed
  • Required when founding documents aren't included in the statutes or register extract.
Protokoll der MitgliederversammlungGeneral meeting minutes
  • Required when governance or representation powers aren't clear from the register extract.
  • Must be the latest version, showing names, roles, effective mandate date, and signatures.
VorstandswahlprotokollBoard or president appointment decision
  • Required when the register extract doesn't clearly show current board members or representation powers.
Organisationsstruktur / OrganigrammGovernance structure documentation
  • Required when the association's governance structure is complex or not clear from other documents.
Mitgliederliste / AufnahmeordnungMembership list or admission rules
  • Provided by the account holder.
Personalausweis / Reisepass des KontoverwaltersAccount administrator identity document
  • Must be a valid identity document in color.
  • Both sides, if applicable.
Identitätsprüfung des KontoverwaltersAccount administrator identity verification
  • Provided via eID, PostIdent, VideoIdent, or expert verification.
Personalausweis des gesetzlichen VertretersIdentity document of the legal representative
  • Must be a valid identity document in color.
  • Both sides, if applicable.
Vertretungsbescheinigung / VereinsregisterauszugLegal representative authority
  • Must confirm representation powers granted to the legal representative.
  • Must be dated.
Vollmacht zur Kontoeröffnung und -verwaltungPower of Attorney
  • Required when the person opening the account is not a legal board member (Vorstand).
  • Must clearly grant account-opening and management powers.
  • Must be signed by the correct legal representative(s) and dated within the last year.
Selbstauskunft zum wirtschaftlich Berechtigten / TransparenzregisterauszugUBO declaration (transparency register extract)
  • Provided by the account holder.
MittelherkunftsnachweisSource of funds evidence
  • Provided by the account holder.
Aktivitäts- und FinanzierungsfragebogenActivity and funding questionnaire
  • Provided by the account holder.
Finanzberichte / Jahresabschluss / TätigkeitsberichtAnnual accounts, financial statements, or evidence of financial activity
  • Most recent annual report or balance sheet.
KontoauszügeBank statements
  • 3-6 months of statements.
Spender- / BegünstigtenregisterDonor or beneficiary registers
  • Provided by the account holder.
Formular für politisch exponierte Personen (PEP)Politically Exposed Person (PEP) form
  • Swan sends this form to the end user (based on your communication preferences).
  • Must be dated and signed.

Homeowners associations

Legal forms

Legal form (German)Description
Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft (WEG)Homeowners association

Accepted documents

Document type (German)DescriptionDetailsMandatory
GrundbuchauszugProof of registration
  • Official registration document showing the homeowners association is active.
  • Must be dated.
TeilungserklärungDeclaration of division
  • The founding document of the homeowners association.
  • Must be the most recently published version.
Protokoll der EigentümerversammlungOwners' meeting minutes
  • Must be the most recent, within the last 2 years.
  • Should show the appointed property manager (Verwalter) or board members, their roles, and signatures.
Verwaltervertrag oder BestellungsbeschlussProperty manager contract or appointment resolution
  • Required to confirm who manages the association and has authority to open an account.
  • Must be signed and dated.
Vollmacht und Personalausweis des KontoeröffnersPower of Attorney and identity document of the account opener
  • Required when the account opener isn't the property manager or a directly authorized board member.
  • Must clearly grant account-opening and management powers.
  • Must be signed by the correct representative(s) and dated within the last year.
Personalausweis des gesetzlichen VertretersIdentity document of the legal representative
  • Must be a valid identity document in color.
  • Both sides, if applicable.