Registers/Core register

In order for citizens to be able to make best use of government services, (personal) data about them is required. For natural persons (private individuals), that includes their name and address, and for companies it may also include details of who has power of representation. This data is stored in electronic administrative registers (i.e. databases). In the case of a query, the data is sent electronically in a secure, encrypted process and made available to the person or e-government application making the enquiry. The same process takes place when officials fill in forms. The information stored in the register is not saved by the officials working with it, for data security reasons. Within the register, there are also processes for updating data. Some of these are required by legal reporting requirements. The data is regularly adjusted, merged and harmonised. The database incorporates some automated query options. These require standardised interfaces with other public administration register systems.

The core register

If administrative processes are to run efficiently so that the data can be called up reliably when it is needed, high-quality databases are required. Relevant attributes for all natural and legal entities are stored in the core register. Because of the personal data that is stored there, this also serves as an important means of implementing the "one-stop-shop" principle. Detailed processes have been specified, governing what kind of entries should be made to the core register and when it must be updated to ensure that the dataset is consistent in its logic and content.

Central Civil Status Register and Citizenship Register

The Central Civil Status Register and Citizenship Register contain information about the marital status and nationality of natural persons (private individuals). Because these registers can be used for queries by various online services in the Republic of Austria, citizens hardly ever need to present documents such as birth certificates or proof of citizenship to officials any more. This information can be searched for securely using standardised interfaces. The Central Civil Status Register and Citizenship Register also include the core register of natural persons. That contains, for example, dates of birth, marriage (or entry into civil partnership) or divorce.

Business Register

This contains data about legal entities, drawing on information from the Companies Register, the central Register of Associations and other databases.

Central Commercial Register (GISA)

The Central Commercial Register (GISA – Austrian Business Licence Information System) contains, for example, details of companies' addresses and premises. It can be of assistance in business-related administrative procedures and also provides access to the core register, enabling businesses to be registered and searched for.

The SourcePIN Register

Electronic processes in the public administration system use the sourcePIN (Source Personal Identification Number) as the basis for identifying natural persons (private individuals) and generating sector-specific personal identifiers (ssPIN). The sourcePIN of a natural person is derived from the number that was uniquely assigned to them in the Austrian Central Register of Residents (Zentrales Melderegister, ZMR) or else it is generated by an entry in an alternative register, the Supplementary Register for Natural Persons.

For non-physical entities, the sourcePIN is based on the Companies Register number, their number in the Central Register of Associations, the Global Location Number (GLN) that was assigned when they were registered in the Business Register, or their registration number in the Supplementary Register for Other Data Subjects (ERsB).

The sourcePIN registers for natural persons (private individuals) are therefore the Austrian Central Register of Residents (Zentrales Melderegister, ZMR) and the Supplementary Register for Natural Persons (Ergänzungsregister für natürliche Personen, ERnP). The sourcePIN registers for legal entities are the Companies Register, the Central Register of Associations (Zentrales Vereinsregister, ZVR), the Supplementary Register for Other Data Subjects (Ergänzungsregister für sonstiges Betroffene, ERsB) and the Business Register.

Supplementary registers

The Supplementary Register for Natural Persons was set up to enable people who do not need to register residence (e.g. Austrians living abroad) to have access to online public administration services using their Citizen Card or ID Austria account.

There are also non-physical entities, e.g. churches, municipalities and consortiums (ARGE), which are not registered in either the Companies Register, the Central Register of Associations or the Business Register. In these cases, the Supplementary Register for Other Data Subjects offers a way of participating in e-government using a uniquely assigned identity.

The SourcePIN Register Authority looks after sourcePINs and sector-specific personal identifiers and the corresponding registers for uniquely identifying individuals and their powers of representation.

An overview can be found in the Bundesregister Österreich.

There are four main register systems which contain all the data relating to individuals and businesses that is relevant to public administration services in Austria: the Central Civil Status Register and the Citizenship Register for personal data; the Business Register, which contains information about legal entities, and the Central Commercial Register (GISA – Austrian Business Licence Information System), containing details, for example, about company premises. The SourcePIN and Supplementary Register help with accessing data within the above databases.