Lobbying registers compared

Two models: broad and narrow

Some registers cover anyone paid to lobby, in-house staff included. Others cover only firms that lobby for clients. The UK is the clearest narrow model. Its 2014 Act defines consultant lobbying as making communications to a Minister of the Crown or a permanent secretary on behalf of others, in the course of a business and for payment ². The register then lists the clients named in quarterly returns ².

The United States, Canada, Ireland and Germany use broader tests that reach in-house lobbyists ^{1,6 7,10}.

United States: Lobbying Disclosure Act

Under the LDA guidance, a lobbyist is an individual paid by a client who makes more than one lobbying contact and spends at least a fifth of their time lobbying for that client in a three-month period ¹. A lobbying firm is exempt for a client if its lobbying income does not exceed $3,500 a quarter. An organization with in-house lobbyists is exempt if its lobbying expenses are $16,000 or less a quarter ¹.

Registration is due within 45 days. LD-2 activity reports are due 20 days after each quarter. LD-203 contribution reports are due by 30 January and 30 July ¹. All filings go through the system run by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House ¹.

European Union: Transparency Register

The EU register rests on an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission ³. Registrants declare whom they represent, which policies they seek to influence, how they are funded and the resources they devote to lobbying ³. The register says registration became de facto mandatory in 2021 and that new rules on meetings with interest representatives applied from 1 September 2025 ³.

United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland

The UK Registrar's search page listed 313 consultant lobbyists and 6,481 declared clients when read for this page ⁴. Quarterly returns are due within 2 weeks after each quarter ².

Canada's Lobbying Act and its regulations came into force on 2 July 2008 ⁵. Consultant lobbyists register each undertaking within 10 days. In-house lobbyists register when lobbying duties add up to 20% or more of one employee's duties ⁶. A monthly communication report is due for each oral and arranged communication with a designated public office holder, by the 15th day of the next month ⁶.

Ireland's Regulation of Lobbying Act took effect on 1 September 2015 ⁷. It covers employers with more than 10 staff who lobby, representative and issue-based bodies, and paid third parties. Returns are due three times a year ⁷. The register is kept by the Standards in Public Office Commission ⁸.

France and Germany

France's HATVP publishes the répertoire of interest representatives. On 5 November 2026 its page showed 3,715 registered representatives and 128,086 declared activities ⁹.

Germany's Lobbyregistergesetz took effect on 1 January 2022 ¹⁰. Registration is required for regular, long-term or commissioned lobbying, or for more than 30 different contacts in three months ¹⁰. Entries show lobbying spending in EUR 10,000 bands, public grants above EUR 10,000 per funder, and clients ¹⁰.