Electronic verification (KYB) in the Nordics is built around authoritative business registers and strong national e-IDs. You verify legal existence, status, control, and signatory rights against government data, then authenticate real people with BankID/MitID-style e-IDs. The result is fast onboarding with high assurance and clear audit trails under EU eIDAS and AML rules.

What “electronic verification” means in the Nordics

Electronic verification here combines two layers. First, machine checks against official business registers to confirm a company’s identity and facts. Second, e-ID authentication of representatives to prove they have authority to act. Together they answer the core KYB questions: who is the company, who controls it, and who can sign?

Core building blocks

• Authoritative registers: CVR (Denmark), Bolagsverket (Sweden), Brønnøysundregistrene (Norway), PRH/YTJ (Finland), RSK Company Register (Iceland).
• Unique IDs: CVR number (DK), organisationsnummer/org.nr. (SE/NO), Business ID (FI), company identification number (IS).
• e-IDs for people: MitID (DK), BankID/Freja eID (SE), BankID (NO), Finnish Trust Network (FI), Icelandic e-ID (IS).

Denmark: CVR + MitID

Denmark’s Central Business Register (CVR) is the master government database for all Danish and Greenlandic businesses. It’s accessible via the state Datafordeler services and third-party APIs for automated lookups. MitID provides high-assurance e-ID for representative authentication.

From 1 September 2025, public access to beneficial-owner data in CVR is being limited, so plan for role-based access and alternative evidence. For onboarding flows, pair CVR queries with MitID signing or login to capture consent and authority proof.

Fast flow (DK):

• Input CVR number → fetch legal status, address, form, and signatory roles via Datafordeler.
• Cross-check representative’s role.
• Trigger MitID for the representative to authenticate and e-sign the onboarding or mandate.

Sweden: Bolagsverket + BankID

Bolagsverket exposes up-to-date company data and change notifications; a separate register holds beneficial owners (verkliga huvudmän). For person-level proof, BankID provides e-ID at eIDAS “substantial” assurance. Combine registry data with BankID to validate both facts and the person acting.

You can search basic company information for free and integrate selected APIs for automation. Beneficial-owner registration is mandatory for in-scope entities, with an online filing process.

Fast flow (SE):

• Input org.nr → pull company basics and board/signatory info.
• Retrieve beneficial-owner info if relevant to risk.
• Authenticate the signatory with BankID; capture a tamper-evident log.

Norway: Brønnøysundregistrene + BankID

Norway centralizes company data in Brønnøysundregistrene (notably the Enhetsregisteret/Foretaksregisteret), with open data and APIs for organisations, roles, and signature/procuration rights. In October 2024, Norway opened its Register of Beneficial Owners with mandatory registration by 31 July 2025. Norwegian BankID covers high-assurance identity for representatives.

Fast flow (NO):

• Input org.nr → fetch entity facts and signature rights via Brreg APIs.
• Check beneficial-owner status where risk requires.
• Authenticate the signatory with BankID and record consent.

Finland: PRH & YTJ + Finnish Trust Network

Finland’s PRH and the YTJ Business Information System issue and manage the Business ID (Y-tunnus). You can search register status and filings in YTJ; most companies must file beneficial-owner details with PRH and keep them updated. Authentication uses the Finnish Trust Network e-IDs through approved brokers.

Fast flow (FI):

• Input Business ID → confirm register entries in YTJ.
• Check that beneficial-owner filing exists and is current.
• Trigger FTN e-ID login for representative, then archive evidence.

Iceland: RSK Company Register + Icelandic e-ID

In Iceland, company registration and data are managed by RSK (Directorate of Internal Revenue). Electronic filings require Icelandic e-ID, and entities must notify beneficial owners under Act No. 82/2019 using form RSK 17.27. Verification combines register lookups with e-ID steps for directors or procuration holders.

Fast flow (IS):

• Search the company in the RSK register and confirm status/ID.
• Check that beneficial owners are registered as required.
• Authenticate a representative with Icelandic e-ID and capture consent.

One-glance comparison

The standard KYB flow (you can implement it today)

• Collect a company ID (CVR/org.nr/Business ID) and legal name from the applicant.
• Query the national register to confirm legal status, address, form, and registration history. Save a JSON/CSV snapshot.
• Resolve control and authority: pull signatory/procuration roles; where needed, retrieve or require proof of beneficial owners.
• Authenticate people: trigger the relevant e-ID (MitID/BankID/BankID NO/FTN/IS e-ID) for directors or authorized signatories.
• Risk-rate and decide: cross-check sanctions/PEP where applicable and store audit evidence to meet AML and eIDAS auditability.

What you can verify electronically (and where)

• Legal existence & status — active/dissolved, legal form, registration dates. (All registers)
• Addresses & industry codes — including changes over time. (All registers)
• Board & signatory rights — who can bind the company. (SE/NO data points explicitly exposed)
• Beneficial ownership — country-specific access; DK public access narrows in 2025, NO registry operational since 2024, FI filing mandatory, SE/IS registers in place.

Practical tips for product & compliance teams

• Design for multi-eID: detect country and route to MitID/BankID/FTN/IS e-ID; fall back to qualified signatures where needed.
• Cache with care: store register snapshots with timestamps to defend audit decisions and speed repeat checks.
• Plan for UBO access variance: implement workflows that accept company-attested UBO declarations when public data is limited, then re-verify on trigger events.
• Automate change monitoring: subscribe to register change feeds where available to refresh risk profiles.

Country quick-start table for engineers