> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.baselayer.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# International Products: Basics

> See which countries are covered, and how verifying a non-US business differs from a US one.

## Baselayer International

Two of Baselayer's core US products - **Business Search** and **Web Presence** - have international counterparts for verifying businesses outside the United States.

* **International Business Search** returns corporate registration data (name, registration number, status, legal form, and more) for businesses in 76 countries and territories, sourced from foreign corporate registries.
* **Web Presence** works internationally out of the box: the same endpoint and response structure you already use for US businesses, with global coverage.

This is the **Basics** of Baselayer International. For the Business Verification product, see also the [API Quickstart](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/international-products-api-quickstart.md) and [Best Practices](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/international-products-best-practices.md).

***

### At a Glance: US vs. International

| | Business Search | Web Presence |
| - | - | - |
| **US Data Source** | Direct Secretary of State + IRS integrations | AI-powered web intelligence |
| **International Data Source** | Foreign corporate registries | Same as US (global coverage) |
| **International API route** | `POST /international/searches` (separate from US) | `POST /web_presence_requests` (same as US) |
| **International access** | API only | API and Console |

***

### International Business Search

#### How It Works

International Business Search is available using a separate set of endpoints from the US Business Search. Data returned maintains a consistent structure across jurisdictions, though information depth varies by country.

#### Two Ways to Search

`POST /international/searches` accepts two ways to identify a business. Both require `iso2_country_code`.

* **Name + address**: provide `name` **and** `address`. The standard approach, and all you need for the vast majority of searches.
* **Registration (filing) number**: provide `filing_number`. A good **optional** input to offer: in many countries, owners and finance staff know their registration number by heart. When provided, the registry is searched by that number first; a `name`, if also included, is used as a fallback if no company matches the number.

With a `filing_number`, the `name` and `address` are both **optional**: you can send the number on its own, or with either or both. Without a `filing_number`, `name` and `address` are both required. Every input you send is matched and contributes to the scores (see [Scores & Ratings](#scores-and-ratings) below); inputs you leave out are simply excluded.

> **Tip**: Label the registration-number field with the **local term** so users recognize it. In Spain, for example, it's the **CIF**. If you want to smooth matching in a specific market, you can also look candidates up first with `GET /international/registrations` (see below). Both are optional, a plain name + address search works well on its own.

#### Supported Countries

International Business Search is available for the following **76 jurisdictions**. \
**★ = Enhanced Profile available** (see [Enhanced Profiles](#enhanced-profiles-optional)); all others return the core profile.

| Region | Jurisdictions |
| - | - |
| **Europe (EU)** | Austria (AT) ★, Belgium (BE) ★, Croatia (HR), Cyprus (CY) ★, Czech Republic (CZ), Denmark (DK) ★, Estonia (EE) ★, Finland (FI) ★, France (FR) ★, Germany (DE) ★, Greece (GR) ★, Ireland (IE) ★, Italy (IT) ★, Latvia (LV) ★, Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU) ★, Netherlands (NL) ★, Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SI), Spain (ES) ★, Sweden (SE) ★ |
| **Europe (non-EU)** | Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Georgia (GE), Gibraltar (GI), Guernsey (GG) ★, Iceland (IS), Isle of Man (IM), Liechtenstein (LI), Montenegro (ME), Norway (NO) ★, Russia (RU), Switzerland (CH), United Kingdom (GB) ★ |
| **North America** | Canada (CA), Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (PM) ★ |
| **Central America** | Panama (PA) |
| **South America** | Brazil (BR) ★, Colombia (CO), French Guiana (GF) ★, Peru (PE), Uruguay (UY) |
| **The Caribbean** | Curaçao (CW), Dominican Republic (DO), Guadeloupe (GP) ★, Martinique (MQ) ★, Saint-Barthélemy (BL) ★, Trinidad & Tobago (TT), U.S. Virgin Islands (VI) |
| **Asia** | Brunei (BN), Cambodia (KH), China (CN) ★, Hong Kong (HK), Japan (JP) ★, Malaysia (MY) ★, Pakistan (PK), Singapore (SG) ★, Taiwan (TW) ★ |
| **Middle East** | Bahrain (BH), Israel (IL), Oman (OM), Qatar (QA) |
| **Oceania** | Australia (AU) ★, French Polynesia (PF) ★, Marshall Islands (MH), New Caledonia (NC) ★, New Zealand (NZ) ★, Samoa (WS), Solomon Islands (SB), Vanuatu (VU), Wallis and Futuna (WF) ★ |
| **Africa** | Mayotte (YT) ★, Réunion (RE) ★, Uganda (UG) |

**37** of the 76 jurisdictions offer Enhanced Profiles (★).

> **Note**: Country availability reflects current registry access and may change over time. The `iso2_country_code` must be one of the supported jurisdictions above, submitting an unsupported code returns a validation error. Contact your account manager for the latest list.

#### API Endpoints

```javascript Text theme={null}
POST /international/searches
GET  /international/searches/{id}
GET  /international/searches
GET  /international/registrations
```

For the complete API reference, see [Post International Search](https://docs.baselayer.com/api-reference/international/post-international-search.md) and [Search International Registrations](https://docs.baselayer.com/api-reference/international/search-international-registrations.md).

#### Making a Request

A request always requires `iso2_country_code`, plus either `name` + `address` or `filing_number` (on its own, or with `name` and/or `address`).

```javascript Text theme={null}
POST /international/searches

{
    "name": "Acme Ltd",
    "address": "1 Parliament St, London SW1A 2JR, United Kingdom",
    "iso2_country_code": "GB"
}
```

**Optional fields** include:

* `filing_number` — the company registration number (see *Two Ways to Search* above)
* `officer_names` — known officers or directors
* `website` — business website URL
* `phone_number` — business phone number
* `email` — business or contact email
* `alternative_names` — trading names or DBAs
* `reference_id` — your internal ID for tracking this request
* `options` — separately-billed add-ons (see *Enhanced Profiles* below)

#### Enhanced Profiles (optional)

By default a search returns the **core registration profile**: name, file number, status, country and addresses. In supported jurisdictions (★ above), you can request an **Enhanced Profile** with the `Order.Enhanced` option, which adds **directors, ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), shareholders, and share capital** where available.

```javascript Text theme={null}
POST /international/searches
{ "filing_number": "01234567", "iso2_country_code": "GB", "options": ["Order.Enhanced"] }
```

Enhanced Profiles are **billed separately, per country**, and coverage varies by jurisdiction. Contact your account manager for complete details.

#### International Registrations Search

`GET /international/registrations` returns a **list of matching registrations** without running a full search. Its main use is to **disambiguate** before a precise search: look up candidates, let your user pick the right one, then search with that result's `filing_number`.

```javascript Text theme={null}
GET /international/registrations?iso2_country_code=GB&name=Acme%20Ltd
```

Query parameters: `iso2_country_code`, `name`, and/or `filing_number`. This is an optional add-on, most useful where several businesses share a similar name.

#### Understanding the Response

When a search completes, the response includes a `business` object. The following fields are present across all countries:

* `name`: the official registered name
* `file_number`: the registration/filing number in the local registry
* `status`: normalized to `active`, `inactive`, or `unknown`
* `country`: the ISO2 country code of the registration

The response also reports **how well your inputs matched** the company found, the same match signals as the US Business Search:

* `business_name_match`: `EXACT`, `SIMILAR`, or `NO_MATCH` (identical to the US)
* `business_address_match`: `EXACT`, `CITY`, `REGION`, `COUNTRY`, or `NO_MATCH` (international granularity)
* `filing_number_match`: a boolean specific to international search: `true` if the `filing_number` located the company, `false` if the search fell back to the name, `null` if no filing number was provided

> **Important**: Data depth varies significantly by country. Most countries return the core fields above; some return more.

#### Watchlist Screening

Every international search is screened against Baselayer's watchlists: **OFAC**, the **Consolidated Screening List (CSL)**, **FBI**, **Canadian sanctions**, and **OIG**. Screening covers the company's registered name, any `alternative_names` you supply, and the company's current officers and beneficial owners.

**PEP** screening also runs when the search includes the `Order.Pep` option. Which lists run, and how closely a name must match before it's reported as a hit, follow your organization's [Account Settings](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/account-settings.md), the same settings that apply to US Business Search.

Results appear in `watchlist_hits` on `GET /international/searches/{id}`, in the same shape as US watchlist results (`code`, `name`, `count`, `details`):

* A list with a `count` of `0` was screened with **no match**.
* A list that is **absent** was not screened (for example, it's turned off in your settings, or PEP wasn't ordered). Don't read an absent list as a clean result.

A confirmed **OFAC** hit sets the search's Risk score to `0` and its Risk grade to `F`, the same as US Business Search.

#### Scores and Ratings

International Business Search returns **KYB and Risk ratings on the same scale** as the US product, so you can apply the same thresholds and decisioning logic you already use for US searches. See [Scores & Ratings](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/baselayer-scores-ratings.md).

**Key factors influencing the international KYB score**

| Factor | Description |
| :- | :- |
| Filing Number Match | Whether the registration number you sent located the company at the registry |
| Business Name Match | Accuracy between the submitted name and the official registry record |
| Address Match | How closely the submitted address matches the registry record |
| Registry Status | Whether the company is active in the local registry |

Only the inputs you send are scored: a filing-number-only search is not penalized for a missing name or address. Registry status always carries significant weight.

**KYB rating scale**

| Rating | Score Range | Interpretation |
| :- | :- | :- |
| A | 90-100 | Highly reliable verification with the submitted identifiers matching the registry |
| B | 80-89 | Generally reliable verification with minor discrepancies |
| C | 60-79 | Verification with notable discrepancies |
| F | 0-59 | Significant verification concerns, such as an inactive registration or critical mismatches |

Only **A** and **B** ratings count as `verified`.

#### Webhooks

International Business Search emits three webhook events:

* `InternationalBusinessSearch.submitted`: accepted and processing
* `InternationalBusinessSearch.completed`: results available
* `InternationalBusinessSearch.failed`: no associated business found

These follow the same structure as US Business Search webhooks. See the [Webhooks at Baselayer](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/webhooks-at-baselayer.md).

#### Key Differences from US Business Search

* **Separate API route**: international searches use `/international/searches`, not `/searches`. The two are not interchangeable.
* **No TIN verification**: IRS TIN matching is a US-only capability.
* **Online-presence add-ons**: for website analysis, industry prediction, and other online-presence signals internationally, use the **Web Presence** endpoint (below).
* **Country-specific pricing**: negotiated separately from your US contract.
* **API-only access**: not available through the Console (yet).

***

### Web Presence (International)

#### How It Works

Baselayer's Web Presence endpoint works internationally using the **same API route and response format** as US requests. When you include a non-US `iso2_country_code`, Baselayer automatically routes the request through its international processing pipeline; the response structure is identical.

Web Presence is available via both the API and the Baselayer Console.

#### Supported Countries

Web Presence offers **global coverage**: any country with a valid ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code is supported. This is much broader than International Business Search because Web Presence relies on Baselayer's AI-powered web intelligence rather than corporate registry access.

#### API Endpoint

```javascript Text theme={null}
POST /web_presence_requests
GET  /web_presence_requests/{id}
GET  /web_presence_requests
```

This is the same endpoint used for US Web Presence. See [Post Web Presence Request](https://docs.baselayer.com/api-reference/web-presence/post-web-presence-request.md).

#### Making a Request

Include the `iso2_country_code` field; the minimum required fields are `name` and `address`.

```javascript Text theme={null}
POST /web_presence_requests

{
    "name": "Siemens AG",
    "address": "Werner-von-Siemens-Straße 1, 80333 München, Germany",
    "iso2_country_code": "DE"
}
```

Optional fields that improve results include `website`, `officer_names`, `phone_number`, `email`, `alternative_names`, `reference_id`, and `options`. See [Online Presence: Basics](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/online-presence-basics.md).

#### Understanding the Response

The response mirrors the US response. The `request_type` field is set to `INTERNATIONAL` (instead of `UNITED_STATES`), and you receive the same key data points. See the [Online Presence: Best Practices](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/web-presence-orderables.md).

#### Webhooks

Web Presence uses the same webhook events for both US and international requests:

* `WebPresenceRequest.submitted`: accepted and processing
* `WebPresenceRequest.completed`: results available
* `WebPresenceRequest.failed`: could not be completed

***

### Quick Reference

#### International Business Search

| Field | Details |
| - | - |
| **Endpoint** | `POST /international/searches` |
| **Required fields** | `iso2_country_code` + (`name` + `address`) **or** `filing_number` |
| **Watchlists** | OFAC, CSL, FBI, Canadian sanctions, OIG; PEP with `Order.Pep` |
| **Enhanced add-on** | `options: ["Order.Enhanced"]` (★ jurisdictions, billed per country) |
| **Lookup helper** | `GET /international/registrations` |
| **Access** | API only |
| **Coverage** | 76 jurisdictions (37 with Enhanced) |
| **Webhooks** | `InternationalBusinessSearch.submitted` / `.completed` / `.failed` |

#### Web Presence (International)

| Field | Details |
| - | - |
| **Endpoint** | `POST /web_presence_requests` |
| **Required fields** | `name`, `address`, `iso2_country_code` |
| **Access** | API and Console |
| **Coverage** | Global |
| **Webhooks** | `WebPresenceRequest.submitted` / `.completed` / `.failed` |

***

### Where to Go Next

* **[International Products: API Quickstart](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/international-products-api-quickstart.md)**: Step-by-step, from request to response.
* **[International Products: Best Practices](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/international-products-best-practices.md)**: Search inputs, Enhanced Profiles, match indicators, and what varies by country.
* **[Scores & Ratings](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/baselayer-scores-ratings.md)**: How KYB and Risk ratings are calculated.
* **[Account Settings](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/account-settings.md)**: Choose which watchlists you screen against and how strict matching is.
* **[Webhooks](https://docs.baselayer.com/docs/webhooks-at-baselayer.md)**: Configuring event delivery.


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