- Identity verification has been mandatory for all UK directors and Persons with Significant Control since 18 November 2025, with a 12-month transition window for existing officers.
- Verification can be completed free through GOV.UK One Login, in person at the Post Office, or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider such as Sleek.
- After verification you receive an 11-character personal code that must be linked to every Companies House filing involving you, including incorporations, appointments, and confirmation statements.
Companies House identity verification became mandatory for all UK directors and Persons with Significant Control on 18 November 2025, with a 12-month transition window for existing officers.
Every new director going through UK company incorporation must verify before any filing is accepted, and existing directors must verify before their next confirmation statement falls due.
Verification is free through GOV.UK One Login, takes around 15 minutes with a biometric passport, and ends with an 11-character personal code linked to every future Companies House filing.
Who needs to complete Companies House identity verification?
All UK company directors, Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), and members of Limited Liability Partnerships are required to verify their identity with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The rules apply equally to UK residents and overseas directors, regardless of how long the company has been registered.
The following roles must verify:
- Directors of every active limited company registered in the UK
- Persons with Significant Control listed on the public register
- Members of LLPs and General Partners of Limited Partnerships
- Anyone applying to incorporate a new UK company from 18 November 2025 onward
- Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) filing on behalf of clients
Company secretaries are not required to verify under the current rules. If you only hold a secretary position and are not a director, PSC, or LLP member, you fall outside the scope. You can read more about appointing a company secretary and how the role differs from a directorship.
When do directors need to verify by?
The verification deadline depends on your role and when you took it on. Existing officers have until the end of the 12-month transition window that began on 18 November 2025, and new appointees must verify before any filing involving them is accepted.
|
Scenario |
Verification deadline |
|
Existing director or PSC on 18 November 2025 |
Before your next confirmation statement due after 18 November 2025 |
|
New director appointed after 18 November 2025 |
Before the appointment is filed at Companies House |
|
Incorporating a new company |
Before incorporation is submitted |
|
LLP member added after 18 November 2025 |
Before the appointment is filed |
|
ACSP acting for clients |
Before the firm registers as an ACSP |
The 12-month transition window closes on 18 November 2026. Companies House has confirmed that filings made without a verified identity from this date forward will be rejected.
How do I verify my identity with Companies House?
There are three official verification routes. All three produce the same outcome, which is an 11-character personal code linked to your name on the Companies House register.
- GOV.UK One Login (free). Verify yourself through the GOV.UK One Login app or web service using the official Companies House verification guidance. The app uses your phone camera to scan a biometric passport or UK driving licence and check it matches your face. The process takes around 15 minutes when documents are valid.
- Post Office in-person verification (free). If you cannot use the app, you can verify in person at a participating Post Office branch using a one-time access code from GOV.UK One Login. You will need to bring a valid photo ID and proof of address.
- Authorised Corporate Service Provider (paid). ACSPs are regulated firms, including accountants, solicitors, and company formation agents, approved by Companies House to verify identities. They charge a fee but handle the process for you and can submit verification alongside other filings.
For most new directors incorporating a UK company, the ACSP route bundles identity verification with the wider formation paperwork. This is usually the fastest option when you are setting up a new limited company and want everything filed in one go.
If your passport has expired or is not biometric, the GOV.UK One Login app will reject it during scanning. Have a current biometric passport, UK photocard driving licence, or biometric residence permit ready before you start, or you will have to restart the process from scratch.
What documents do I need for verification?
You need one form of government-issued photo identification with biometric features. The GOV.UK One Login app accepts the following:
- UK biometric passport, current or expired within the last 18 months
- Non-UK biometric passport, current only
- UK photocard driving licence, full or provisional
- Biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC)
- UK national identity card in limited use cases
You will also need a smartphone with a working camera to complete the biometric face match. The Post Office route accepts the same documents but checks them in person rather than via the app.
What is the Companies House personal code?
The personal code is an 11-character identifier issued to you once your identity is confirmed. It is unique to you, not your company, and stays with you across every UK directorship or PSC role you hold. You will be asked for it whenever you appear on a filing, including incorporations, appointments, resignations, and confirmation statements.
Keep the code somewhere secure. It functions like a National Insurance number for your Companies House record. Sharing it gives someone the ability to confirm filings in your name, so avoid storing it in unsecured documents or sending it over email.
What happens if you don’t verify on time?
Failure to verify by your deadline carries direct consequences for both you personally and the company linked to your record. Companies House has confirmed the following sanctions:
- Filings involving an unverified director or PSC will be rejected
- The company may receive an annotation on the public register flagging non-compliance
- Financial penalties can be issued under the new Companies House enforcement powers
- Persistent failure can result in director disqualification proceedings
- Knowingly providing false information during verification is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison
A rejected filing often triggers a chain reaction. If your annual return is rejected because you have not verified, the overdue confirmation statement tips the company into late filing territory and increases the risk of further penalties or strike-off action.
How does verification work for non-UK residents?
Overseas directors and PSCs must verify using the same routes as UK residents, but the document rules are stricter. The GOV.UK One Login app accepts non-UK biometric passports, but it does not accept foreign driving licences or national identity cards. If you do not hold a biometric passport, an ACSP is usually the only practical option.
If you are setting up from abroad, our guide to verifying a UK company as a foreigner walks through the full process, including the additional address checks involved.
Can a third party verify your identity for you?
The verification itself must be completed by you in person or via the app. No one else can scan their face or present your passport on your behalf. An ACSP can guide you through the steps, collect the required documents, and submit verification to Companies House, but you still need to provide the biometric data in real time.
Many founders use an ACSP not to skip the identity step, but to bundle it with company formation, ongoing compliance, and director filings into a single managed service. The outcome is the same personal code, but with one provider handling Companies House paperwork end to end.
How Sleek helps with Companies House identity verification
Sleek is a Companies House-authorised provider, so we can verify your identity, file your formation paperwork, and manage every subsequent filing involving your verified status. For new directors, that means a single process covering identity verification, incorporation, and ongoing compliance.
For existing directors, we link your personal code to your record and handle every confirmation statement and director change going forward. Our limited company accountants keep the filings flowing so you stay compliant without chasing deadlines.
Stop juggling Companies House deadlines and let our authorised team verify, file, and keep you compliant from day one.
Disclaimer: The preceding information is not legal advice. This content is aimed to provide general guidance. For more formal or legal advice, contact Sleek directly.
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FAQs on Companies House identity verification
How much does Companies House identity verification cost?
Verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login or the Post Office is free. Authorised Corporate Service Providers typically charge between £30 and £80 per person, depending on whether verification is bundled with formation or filing services. The fee covers the provider’s regulatory checks and submission to Companies House. There is no charge from Companies House itself for issuing the personal code once verification is complete.
Do I need to verify again if I become a director of another company?
No. The personal code is tied to you, not the company, so it works across every UK directorship or PSC role you hold. You only verify once, then quote the same 11-character code on every filing where your name appears. If your circumstances change significantly, such as a legal name change, you must update your record but you do not start verification again from scratch.
Can I verify my identity before I incorporate a company?
Yes. Companies House actively encourages prospective directors to verify in advance through GOV.UK One Login so the personal code is ready when incorporation paperwork is submitted. Over one million people verified early before the November 2025 deadline for exactly this reason. Having the code in hand removes a bottleneck on the day you file and avoids any delay in getting your new company registered.
What happens to my verified status if I resign as a director?
Your personal code stays active and remains linked to your Companies House record even after resignation. If you take on a new directorship or PSC role later, the same code applies and no fresh verification is needed. Companies House retains your verified status indefinitely unless the record is suspended for fraud, false information, or a successful challenge to your identity documents.
Is GOV.UK One Login the same as Government Gateway?
No. GOV.UK One Login is a newer single sign-on service replacing the older Government Gateway for many UK services, including Companies House identity verification. The two systems use different credentials, so existing Government Gateway logins do not carry over. You need to create a One Login account separately, even if you already file Self Assessment or VAT returns through the older Gateway system.
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What if my identity verification fails during the app process?
Verification fails most often because the document is not biometric, the photo match is unclear, or the camera cannot read the document chip. GOV.UK One Login lets you retry the scan up to three times in one session. If it still fails, switch to the Post Office route or use an ACSP, which can verify using broader document checks and manual review rather than automated biometric matching.
Do dormant company directors need to verify their identity?
Yes. The rules apply to every director and PSC on the active Companies House register, regardless of whether the company is trading or filing dormant accounts. A dormant status does not exempt you from verification. The deadline still falls before your next confirmation statement, so directors of dormant companies should treat verification with the same urgency as those running active businesses.
