UK law does not require a director or shareholder to live in the UK or hold British citizenship. The company does need a UK registered office address, and every director must verify their identity.
What a UK limited company is
A UK limited company, often written “Ltd,” is a separate legal entity registered with Companies House. It can trade, hold a bank account and enter contracts in its own name, and your personal liability is generally limited to what you have invested in the company.
What the law requires from you
- No UK residency or citizenship. Directors and shareholders can live anywhere.
- A UK registered office address. This is where official post from Companies House and HMRC is sent.
- Identity verification for every director. Since 18 November 2025, each new director must verify their identity before the company can be incorporated. Read how identity verification works from outside the UK.
What you need to apply
- Photo identification for verification, such as a passport
- Your proposed company name
- Director and shareholder details
- A description of what the company will do
Bristol Co’s registered office covers the UK address requirement, so you do not need one of your own before you apply.
What Companies House charges
These are Companies House’s own fees, as published on GOV.UK in September 2026.
| Filing | Fee | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation, online | £100 | Once |
| Incorporation, paper | £124 | Once |
| Same-day incorporation (software filing) | £156 | Once |
| Confirmation statement, online | £50 | At least once every 12 months |
| Confirmation statement, paper | £110 | At least once every 12 months |
Bristol Co’s formation packages start from £199 (Basic) and £480 (Advance). See what each package includes, or ask for a free estimate.
What comes after formation
Once your company exists, it has regular filings with Companies House and HMRC, wherever its directors live:
- Confirmation statement: at least once every 12 months.
- Annual accounts: the first are due 21 months after registration, then 9 months after each financial year ends.
- Corporation Tax: paid 9 months and 1 day after the accounting period ends.
- Company Tax Return: filed 12 months after the accounting period ends.
- VAT: if your business is based outside the UK and supplies goods or services in the UK, it must register for VAT whatever its turnover. Read VAT for UK companies run from abroad.
Bristol Co’s Accounting & Bookkeeping and UK Tax & VAT services support you with this work once your company is trading.
Banking and payment platforms
Once your company is formed you can apply directly to UK banking providers, and Bristol Co provides setup support for payment platforms such as Wise and Payoneer. Approval is decided by each provider individually, not by Bristol Co.
Those decisions often depend on where you live. Two examples from the providers’ own help pages:
- Wise only lets residents of the countries on its list hold money in a Wise account. Saudi Arabia is on that list; Algeria and Morocco currently are not.
- Stripe says the bank account you connect “can’t be a virtual bank account.”
Ask before you apply. If a particular bank or payment platform matters to your business plan, tell us where you live and which provider you need before you apply, so you know your options in advance.
Tax where you live
Your country of residence has its own rules on taxing you and the income you take from your company. Your company’s UK filing duties apply either way, so check your personal position with a tax adviser where you live.
How to open your UK company with Bristol Co
- 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.
Sources
This guide explains the general rules and was checked against the sources above on 27 October 2026. Fees and provider rules change, and this isn’t legal or tax advice for your situation.
