Identity verification is now a legal requirement for UK company directors. For founders outside the UK, the route you choose decides how simple it is.
What changed
Companies House opened voluntary identity verification on 8 April 2025. Since 18 November 2025, it has been mandatory: every new company director must verify their identity before a company can be incorporated, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
The requirement covers:
- Directors, and equivalents such as LLP members
- People with significant control (PSCs) of a company
- Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) themselves
If you are already a director, you give your verification details with your company’s next confirmation statement. Companies House is clear that a company “will be unable to file its confirmation statement unless all its directors are verified.” PSCs each have a 14-day period to provide theirs, with dates that depend on when they were registered.
The two ways to verify
Companies House accepts only two routes. You must not post or email identity documents to Companies House.
| GOV.UK One Login | Through an ACSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does it | You, using the “Verify your identity for Companies House” service | An authorised agent, such as an accountant or solicitor, verifies you |
| How | By app, by answering security questions online, or by entering photo ID details and then visiting a participating Post Office | You provide documents from an approved list to the agent |
| From outside the UK | Depends on your answers; the Post Office option means visiting a UK Post Office in person | “You can do this from any country” |
| Cost | Free | The agent may charge a fee |
An ACSP must be registered with Companies House and supervised by a UK anti-money laundering body. That is why the ACSP route is usually simpler if you are applying from outside the UK.
Your Companies House personal code
When your identity is verified, you receive a unique Companies House personal code. The code is personal to you, not to your company or any company you work for.
You need it for filings such as confirmation statements and director appointments. Share it only with people you trust, such as the agent handling your filings.
What to prepare before you apply
To verify your identity and form your company, have these ready:
- Photo identification for verification, such as a passport
- Your proposed company name
- Director and shareholder details
- A description of what the company will do
Your company also needs a UK registered office address. Bristol Co’s registered office covers that requirement, so you do not need a UK address of your own before you apply.
Checking an ACSP. Companies House publishes a list of ACSPs that have agreed to be listed, plus a list of ACSPs whose status has ended or been suspended. The first list is opt-in, so an agent can be authorised without appearing on it.
Verifying through Bristol Co
Bristol Co is a registered ACSP. We verify your director’s identity as part of your formation package, so you don’t have to complete the GOV.UK process yourself. ID verification for one director is included in both the £199 Basic and £480 Advance packages.
- Submit your information. Tell us which country you are applying from, then give us your director’s details and identification for ID verification.
- Application processing. We verify your director’s identity, prepare your formation documents, and file your application with Companies House.
- Receive your documents. You receive your certificate of incorporation and company documents, plus a year of mail forwarding to your UK registered address.
Once your application and ID verification are complete, Companies House typically incorporates a company within 24 hours. That depends on Companies House’s own workload and whether every detail in your application is correct the first time.
Sources
This guide explains the general rules and was checked against GOV.UK on 27 October 2026. It isn’t legal advice for your situation.
