Access to Beneficial Ownership Information

About the consultation

​​​We want your views on the proposals to extend access to the central register of beneficial ownership to people who demonstrate a legitimate interest in accessing beneficial owner information for the purpose of preventing, detecting, or investigating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

Background​

Beneficial ownership transparency is a cornerstone of global efforts to combat illicit finance. It is embedded in the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international standard-setter in this area. 

However, there is no single solution to achieving transparency. It involves more than simply making information available to anybody. It requires a comprehensive and responsible approach to ensure that accurate information is collected, maintained, and made accessible to those who need it to prevent and detect financial crime.

Jersey has a long-standing commitment to upholding the highest standards in anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), and countering the financing of proliferation (CPF). 

It's widely recognised that countries should adopt a risk-based approach when implementing these standards. This means carefully balancing the need for transparency with broader policy considerations, ensuring that measures are proportionate, effective, and respectful of individual rights.

In the context of beneficial ownership transparency, this balance is particularly important. While increasing access to information to certain categories of person can support efforts to tackle illicit finance, it cannot come at the expense of an individual's fundamental right to privacy.

This consultation paper seeks to explore that balance. We invite views from stakeholders and the wider community to help shape a policy that will enable Jersey to meet its international commitments while maintaining a fair, proportionate, and effective framework.​

Consultation paper: Access to beneficial ownership information by persons with legitimate interest

How to submit comments to the consultation

Responses to the consultation​ should be submitted no later than the close of business on 30 January 2026. Pos​tal submissions must bear a postal date no later than that date.

Provide your feedback by completing the online survey.

Complete the legitimate interest consultation

Responses may also be submitted:

• directly by email to Economy@gov.je with a subject line FAO Legitimate interest access consultation
• indirectly by email to timothy.hart@jerseyfinance.com, marked FAO Legitimate interest access consultation
• in writing to
  Legitimate interest access consultation
  Department for the Economy
  Government of Jersey
  Union Street
  St Helier Jersey
  JE2 3DN​
  

Data Protection

The information you provide will be processed in compliance with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018. Find more information in the Department for the Economy Privacy Notice.

The Government of Jersey may quote or publish responses to this consultation but will not publish the name and addresses of individuals without consent. 

Types of publishing may include, for example, sending to other interested parties on request, sending to the Scrutiny Office, quoting in a published report, reporting in the media, publishing on the Government website, and listing on a consultation summary.

Confidential responses will still be included in any summary of statistical information received and views expressed.

Under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, information submitted to this consultation may be released if a Freedom of Information request requires it, but no personal data may be released.