How to verify a company in Africa

To verify a company in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana or Uganda, search the official company registry of that country, then compare the registered name, number and address with the documents the buyer sent you. The table shows where to search and what the registries' own pages say about cost and time. A registry search shows what is on file; it does not prove the buyer will pay.

Country	Registry	Free to see	Paid item and fee	Time	Guide
South Africa	CIPC	Not stated on the pages we opened	Electronic disclosure certificate R30.00; certificate on company information R50.00 for a company	Not stated on the pages we opened	How to check a South African company
Kenya	BRS via eCitizen	Not stated on the pages we opened	Official search of a company (CR12) KES 650; a later line shows KES 600	Instant for verified companies, 3 to 5 days for non-verified	How to check a Kenyan company
Nigeria	CAC	Basic information on the public search page	Full electronic search per entity NGN 1,000	Status report instant, search report 24 working hours	How to check a Nigerian company
Tanzania	BRELA ORS	Registration number, address and current status, for entities registered via ORS	Extract of "short or detailed information" — fee not published on the page; paid via Tigo Pesa or M-Pesa, or directly at CRDB or NMB	Not stated on the pages we opened	How to check a Tanzanian company
Ghana	ORC	Not stated on the pages we opened	Business Name/Partnership or Companies Register search GHS 30.00; charges and insolvency search GHS 150.00	Not stated on the pages we opened	How to check a Ghanaian company
Uganda	URSB eRegistry	Registered name, registration number (ERN), entity type and compliance status, via the portal's free Search Non-Individuals Register	Record search on the register of companies UGX 25,000	Not stated on the pages we opened	How to check a Ugandan company

Fees and procedures change, so confirm the amount on the registry's own page before you pay. This table was checked on 27 Oct 2026. The country guides give the steps and the limits of each registry.

Which registry do I search first?

Search the registry of the country where the buyer says it is incorporated. Use the registered name and number from the contract, not the trading name. If the buyer gives you only a website or a shop name, ask for the registration number before you search. A company that cannot or will not give one is telling you something.

What is the first thing to compare?

Compare three details: the registered name, the registration number and the registered address. They must match the contract and the invoice, and the bank account must be in the registered name. A mismatch is a warning sign, and it costs nothing to spot. Keep a dated note of what you searched and what came back.

Should I ask for a tax number?

Yes, ask for the buyer's tax registration number and the name it is registered under, then check that the name matches the registered company. Where possible confirm it with the tax authority or through your bank, not only from a document the buyer sent. This guide does not cover tax lookups for Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana or Uganda.

How do I check sanctions?

Screen the company and its directors against the lists you are legally required to use; they depend on your own country and business. South Africa implements UN Security Council financial sanctions through the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). B2B.Africa's screening uses the UNSC list via South Africa FIC TFS; it is not a full screen against OFAC, EU or UK lists. Read the guide to sanctions screening and ask your compliance adviser.

What do the domain and email tell me?

Check that the website domain, the email domain and the company name agree, and how long the domain has existed. A company that writes only from a free email address, or from a domain registered last month, deserves a second look. Ask for a call on the company's published number.

What are the red flags?

These patterns appear often in trade fraud and are reasons to slow down, not proof of wrongdoing:

• The buyer says money must be paid first for "court approval" or a "registration fee" before the order can proceed.
• Bank details change in the middle of the conversation.
• The contact uses only a free email address, or the domain is very new.
• The registered name or number differs between documents.
• The buyer pressures you with urgency or offers unusually large orders without detail.

Where does B2B.Africa fit in?

A report can collect public records in one place, but it cannot prove intentions or promise a deal. This page does not describe a B2B.Africa check for Kenyan, Nigerian, Tanzanian, Ghanaian or Ugandan companies; for South Africa, see How to check a South African company, and report prices are on the pricing page. This page covers six countries and no others. Get advice from a lawyer or your bank before relying on any single check. This is general information, not legal advice.