澤西島就允許具有「合法權益」的人訪問其受益所有權中央登記冊的計劃啟動了第二次諮詢。
在上述情況下，為了預防、偵查或調查洗錢活動而獲取資訊是金融行動特別工作組（FATF）的要求，該工作組制定了反洗錢（AML）立法的國際標準。歐盟第六項反洗錢指令（6AMLD）也對此有要求，澤西島雖然不是歐盟成員國，但必須遵守指令。
然而，「合法取得」條件的具體性質和適用條件因司法管轄區而異。這導致了許多延誤和分歧，例如，11個歐盟成員國未能依歐盟委員會設定的2025年7月最後期限將第六項反洗錢指令轉化為國內法。此外，金融行動特別工作組（FATF）本身的指南也承認，資訊揭露機制應包含「資料保護和隱私保障措施…包括限制登記冊和其他受益所有權資訊來源的不同使用者可取得的信息，以防止此類資訊被不當揭露」。
與全球許多其他司法管轄區一樣，澤西島認為，允許公眾無限制地查閱其受益所有權登記冊，既不符合其在《歐洲人權公約》下的國際義務，也不符合其國內法律。因此，澤西島修訂了其政策，重新聚焦於基於合法利益的查閱政策。
2025年初就這些提案進行的諮詢引起了行業機構的關注。大多數機構表示擔憂，認為2026年1月1日的最後期限不足以讓業者有足夠的時間進行調整。此外，他們還對成本、對行業和客戶的影響、競爭力以及隱私洩露是否會對私人財富業務造成影響表示擔憂。
澤西金融服務委員會表示，它仍然致力於與國際標準接軌。該委員會指出：“我們注意到，目前國際社會正在就個人隱私權與受益所有權透明度之間的平衡問題進行討論。”
澤西島政府就此次新一輪諮詢表示：“實現透明度沒有單一的解決方案。這不僅僅是讓所有人都能獲取信息。它需要採取全面負責的方式，確保收集、維護準確的信息，並使其能夠提供給需要的人，以預防和偵查金融犯罪。”
該司法管轄區打算採取基於風險的方法，在透明度需求與更廣泛的政策考量之間謹慎權衡，確保措施是相稱的、有效的，並且尊重個人權利。
擬議的申請流程將包括：申請人身份及其職業的身份核實；所請求獲取受益所有人資訊的法律實體的詳細資訊；解釋所請求資訊與申請人工作之間的關聯；資訊預期用途的具體細節；以及填寫資料保護聲明。在申請中提交虛假或誤導性資訊將受到相應的處罰，包括經濟處罰和刑事處罰。申請需繳交註冊處規定的費用。
政府表示，“增加特定人群獲取資訊的管道有助於打擊非法金融活動，但這絕不能以犧牲個人隱私權為代價。這份諮詢文件旨在探討如何平衡這兩者之間的關係。”
本次諮詢將於2026年1月30日結束。

Jersey resumes consultation on 'legitimate interest' access to beneficial ownership register

 
Jersey has launched a second consultation on plans to allow access to its central register of beneficial ownership to people who demonstrate a 'legitimate interest'.
Access under these circumstances for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating money laundering is a requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which sets the international standards for anti-money laundering (AML) legislation. It is also required by the EU’s Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD), to which Jersey must have regard, although it is not an EU Member State.
However, the exact nature and conditions to be applied to the 'legitimate access' condition is a matter for each jurisdiction. This has given rise to much delay and disagreement, as evidenced by the failure of 11 EU Member States to meet the July 2025 deadline set by European Commission for transposing the 6AMLD into national law. Moreover, FATF's own guidance recognises that a disclosure regime should include 'data protection and privacy safeguards...including restrictions on the information available to the different users of the register and other beneficial ownership information sources to prevent the improper disclosure of this information.'
Jersey, along with many other jurisdictions worldwide, has concluded that granting unlimited public access to its beneficial ownership register would not be compatible with its international obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights or with domestic laws. It duly revised its policy to refocus on a legitimate interest-based access policy.
A consultation on the proposals earlier in 2025 attracted concern from industry bodies. Most expressed concern that the 1 January 2026 deadline would not give industry sufficient time to conform. Concerns were also expressed regarding cost, impact on industry, clients, competitiveness and whether the loss of privacy might impact private wealth business.
The Jersey Financial Services Commission says it remains committed to aligning with international standards. 'We note that there are ongoing international discussions regarding the balance to be struck between individuals' right to privacy and transparency of beneficial ownership', it says.
The Jersey government said of the new consultation: '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.'
The jurisdiction intends to adopt a risk-based approach, carefully balancing the need for transparency with broader policy considerations, ensuring that measures are proportionate, effective and respectful of individual rights.
The proposed application process will include: identification and verification of the applicant and their occupation; details of the legal entity whose beneficial owner information is being requested; explanation of how the requested information relates to the applicant's work; the specific details of intended use of the information; and completion of a data protection declaration. Submission of false or misleading information within an application will be subject to appropriate penalties including financial sanctions and criminal. Applications will be subject to a fee, set by the Registry.
'Increasing access to information to certain categories of person can support efforts to tackle illicit finance, [but] it cannot come at the expense of an individual's fundamental right to privacy', said the government. 'The consultation paper seeks to explore that balance.’
The consultation closes on 30 January 2026.

Sources
• Jersey Department for the Economy
• Jersey government (consultation paper, PDF)
• STEP International News 13 October 2025: Jersey postpones decision on access to beneficial ownership for 2025
• STEP International News 8 May 2025: Jersey begins consultation on collecting 'disclosable' beneficial ownership data
• Jersey government (CDs commitment on beneficial ownership disclosure, December 2023)
• STEP International News 29 September 2025: Several EU Member States miss deadline on public access to beneficial ownership registers