Requesting a Chamber of Commerce extract: which type do you need?
Written by Ilias Aarrass4 min read · Published on · Last reviewed on 
In short
A Chamber of Commerce extract is a snapshot of your registration in the Business Register. The free view is not an official document; a digitally certified extract arrives by email within about ten minutes and a paper one within five working days. Most organisations want an extract no more than a month old.
- Only a certified extract is official proof.
- A digitally certified extract loses its value if you print it.
- There is no fixed validity; usually it may be at most a month old.
- Have changes processed before you order an extract.
After your registration with the Chamber of Commerce you are in the Business Register. An extract is a snapshot of that registration: your business name, registration number, address, activities, legal form and who is authorised. Clients, banks, landlords, municipalities and platforms regularly ask for one, usually as proof that you really are an entrepreneur. This article covers which types exist, when you need a certified copy and how to arrange it as quickly as possible.
Three types of extract
The Chamber of Commerce distinguishes a free view and two certified variants. The difference lies in evidential value: only a certified extract is an official document.
| Type | Delivery | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Online view, not certified | Immediately on screen, free | Your own check, informal proof |
| Digitally certified | Within about ten minutes by email, as a PDF with a digital seal | Banks, clients, municipalities, platforms |
| Paper certified | By post, within five working days | Agencies that require a paper original, for example abroad |
How to request one
You order an extract on the Chamber of Commerce website. Search for your business by name or registration number, choose the type of extract and pay. You do not need to log in for your own business; anyone can order an extract of any business. The certified variants cost a small fee; you see the current price when ordering.
The extract shows what is in the register at that moment. If you have just changed something, such as your address or activities, wait until the change has been processed before ordering. Otherwise you send on an outdated version. If your SBI code is wrong, have it corrected first.
How recent must it be?
An extract has no fixed validity period. It is valid as long as the organisation asking for it accepts it. In practice most parties want an extract no more than one month old. So do not order in advance, but only when someone asks for it.
Often something simpler is enough. If a client only wants to know that you are registered, your registration number on your invoice or a link to the free view is usually sufficient. Just ask what exactly they need.
Your home address on the extract
If you work from home, your home address appears as the business address on the extract. The Chamber of Commerce shields entrepreneurs' home addresses in the public data by default, but a business address at the same location remains visible. How that works and what you can do is explained in shielding your Chamber of Commerce address.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free extract valid?
The free view is not an official document. If an agency asks for an extract as proof, it usually means a certified copy.
How quickly do I get a digital extract?
Usually within ten minutes in your inbox, as a PDF with a digital seal.
How long is an extract valid?
There is no fixed term. Most organisations accept an extract no more than one month old.
Sources
- Requesting a Chamber of Commerce extractKVK · kvk.nl
Sources checked on
This article provides general information based on the rules known for 2026 and does not replace personal tax advice. For your specific situation, we're happy to take a look with you.
