Germany Handelsregister vs a UK Certificate of Good Standing

30 October 2026

A German Handelsregister extract is evidence from the German commercial register, whereas a UK Certificate of Good Standing is evidence connected to a UK company’s Companies House record. They may play similar roles in a corporate pack, but they are not interchangeable.

This Advice Centre guide is practical document information, not legal advice, an immigration opinion, a banking decision or a promise of foreign acceptance. Ask the named recipient for its current written checklist before ordering.

Short answer

A German recipient may ask for a UK COGS because the applicant is incorporated in the UK, then request articles, directors, PSC information or a certified filing for additional questions. Do not translate “Handelsregisterauszug” into a promise that the UK document has identical contents. Confirm whether the recipient requires German translation, an apostille and a document issued within a particular period.

Different registers and legal forms

The Handelsregister records German entities and filings under German rules. Companies House records UK entities under UK rules. Terminology such as Geschäftsführer, director, shareholder, member and authorised representative should not be swapped casually. Identify the UK entity’s legal form and explain it accurately in the pack.

What the German reviewer may need

A bank or notary may need proof of current existence, registered office, directors, authority to sign, ownership or constitutional powers. A COGS may address only part of that list. Ask for the full checklist and identify which item is answered by the certificate, which by articles and which by a resolution or ownership document.

Translation and legalisation

German institutions vary in whether English is acceptable. Ask whether a certified German translation is required and whether it must accompany the apostilled document. Confirm whether the original electronic file or paper certificate is preferred. The apostille authenticates the relevant UK legalisation element and does not certify the accuracy of a translation.

Date and consistency checks

Compare the COGS issue date with the recipient’s freshness rule; around 90 days is common but not universal. Check legal name, number, registered office and officers across every document. If a recent filing is pending, tell the recipient rather than allowing an inconsistent pack to arrive without explanation.

Practical checklist

• Ask which Handelsregister-style questions the German recipient needs answered.

• Use the UK company number and exact registered name.

• Confirm current COGS, articles and authority documents separately.

• Ask about German translation and apostille format.

• Check date and consistency across the pack.

• Explain that UKCOGS service fees are separate from official charges.

Official fees and sources

Check the live GOV.UK guidance on ordering certified copies and certificates from Companies House before ordering. The current working figures for this batch are £22 for a standard Companies House certificate and £65 for a same-day certificate. These are official charges, not an agent’s full service price. Where legalisation is needed, the live GOV.UK document legalisation guidance lists £45 for a paper apostille, £35 for an e-Apostille, £40 for Next-Day and £100 for Urgent/Restricted Urgent where the relevant conditions apply. Certification, translation, courier, postage and any later embassy stage can be separate. UKCOGS does not claim FCDO partner status; use current official terms when describing any service.

Freshness is a recipient rule

There is no universal 90-day legal expiry for every Certificate of Good Standing. About 90 days is a common recipient habit, but a bank, authority, registrar or clerk may specify 30, 60, 180 days or a document issued after a particular filing. An apostille authenticates the relevant signature, seal or status; it does not refresh company information. Check the recipient’s written rule and the live Companies House record before presentation.

Questions to settle before payment

Ask the receiving organisation to confirm the exact document title, the legal entity, the maximum document age and the accepted delivery format. Ask whether it wants an original, a Companies House certified copy, a solicitor-certified copy or an electronic file. If the document will be used outside the UK, ask whether an apostille is enough or whether translation, embassy legalisation or local filing follows. Put the reply in the order file; a short written answer is more useful than an assumption based on a similar transaction. Also check the practical hand-offs: who will receive the certificate, whether a portal accepts the original electronic file, whether paper will be requested later and whether the courier address differs from the registered office. Keep tracking information and delivery confirmation with the final pack.

Keep the scope clear

A company certificate is one piece of evidence. It should not be described as a guarantee of incorporation history, ownership, financial health, tax compliance, authority to sign or permission to trade unless the document and recipient specifically establish that point. If a reviewer asks a question the certificate cannot answer, add the separate evidence it requests or obtain professional advice. Clear wording protects the client from relying on a document for a purpose it was never designed to meet.

Frequently asked questions

Is a UK COGS the same as a Handelsregister extract?

No. They come from different jurisdictions and registers.

Will German banks accept English documents?

Some may, but acceptance and translation rules vary.

Does a COGS prove signing authority?

Not necessarily. Authority may require articles, resolutions or another document.

Is apostille enough for Germany?

Confirm the recipient’s current route and format.

How recent should it be?

Use the recipient’s written requirement; 90 days is a common habit, not a universal expiry.

UKCOGS can help coordinate the relevant document route. See the Certificate of Good Standing service, apostille and legalisation information, order page or request a quote. Service prices and delivery times are separate from official fees, and the receiving organisation makes its own decision.