GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

UBO Check

Unlike a basic company registration check, a UBO Check actively verifies who ultimately stands behind an entity as its beneficial owner, exposing layered or concealed ownership structures.

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Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/anti-money-laundering-and-countering-financing-terrorism/ultimate-beneficial-owner_en

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Logistics Concept

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1 min

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104

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Definition & Explanation

Unlike a basic company registration check, a UBO Check actively verifies who ultimately stands behind an entity as its beneficial owner, exposing layered or concealed ownership structures. Freight forwarders, customs brokers, and importers conduct UBO checks as part of their Customer Due Diligence (CDD) obligations – to limit money laundering and corruption exposure and to comply with international sanctions regimes. The process typically involves document review, commercial registry searches, and, in higher-risk cases, extended field investigation to trace the control chain to the natural person at the top. A UBO Check goes beyond standard KYC onboarding, which often stops at the legal entity level.

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UBO Check

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