Business verification in New Zealand
VBC certifies businesses registered in New Zealand. Verification starts from the official record: in New Zealand the company register is maintained by the New Zealand Companies Office, and the entity is identified by its company number, with the NZBN as the wider business identifier.
The New Zealand Companies Register is fully public, including directors, shareholders and filing history, so a substantial part of verification can be completed against the register itself.
Where a business is registered for tax, the IRD number is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why New Zealand businesses certify
The New Zealand Companies Register is fully public, including directors and filing history, so a large part of verification can be completed against the register itself. Exporters selling into distant markets benefit most from having that made portable.
What VBC verifies for a New Zealand business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a New Zealand business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Companies Register extract
- NZBN confirmation
- Proof of the registered office
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a New Zealand business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from New Zealand businesses
Can a business registered in New Zealand get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in New Zealand. Verification is based on records from the New Zealand Companies Office, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a New Zealand business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a New Zealand business normally supplies: certificate of incorporation; companies Register extract; nZBN confirmation; proof of the registered office. The IRD number is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the company number, with the NZBN as the wider business identifier used for in verification?
The company number, with the NZBN as the wider business identifier identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the New Zealand Companies Office. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a New Zealand business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in New Zealand?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in New Zealand remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a New Zealand business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.