How to Get Your UK Certificate of Incorporation

How do I get a certified copy of my certificate of incorporation?

A certified copy is an official version stamped and signed by Companies House, and you order it directly from them for £22. Banks, courts, and overseas authorities often insist on a certified copy rather than a self-printed PDF, because it carries the Registrar’s authentication.

You can order one in two ways: through the Find and update company information service under the ‘More’ tab, or by calling the Companies House contact centre on 0303 1234 500.

There are two dispatch speeds:

The lower price covers a company certificate with certified facts. The higher price covers a certified copy of the actual incorporation documents. Check which one the person requesting it actually needs before you order, as they are not the same thing.

When do you need a certified copy?

You will usually be asked for a certified copy at moments where a third party needs proof your company is genuine and in good standing. Common triggers include:

• Opening a business bank account or applying for a business loan
• Buying or leasing property in the company’s name
• Bringing in new investors or selling the company
• Applying for certain grants, licences, or permits
• Setting up an account with a specialist supplier

In many everyday cases the requester will simply check the online register themselves, which is faster and confirms the company has not been dissolved. Ask first, because a free download often does the job.

How do I get an apostilled certificate of incorporation for use abroad?

If you are using your certificate of incorporation overseas, you will usually need it apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which costs £45 for the standard paper service. An apostille is an official stamp that confirms the document is genuine so authorities in another country will accept it.

This matters when you are opening an overseas bank account, registering a branch abroad, or closing an international deal. A plain UK certificate on its own is often not enough.

The FCDO offers a few routes:

To be apostilled, a Companies House document generally needs the original signature of a British public official, which is why a certified certificate or certified copy is the right starting point rather than a self-printed PDF.

If your certificate is going to a country outside the Hague Convention, an apostille alone may not be enough and you may also need embassy or consular legalisation. Check the destination country’s requirements before you start.

For companies operating across borders, this often comes up alongside wider questions about structure and residency. If you are weighing up an overseas move, our guide on how to move a UK company to a different country walks through the considerations.

What if the details on my certificate are wrong?

The certificate of incorporation is a permanent historical record, so it is never edited or reissued to fix details after the fact. It captures your company exactly as it was registered on the date of incorporation, and that snapshot does not change.

That surprises people who spot an old company name or an outdated detail and expect a corrected version. Here is how the main scenarios actually work.

If you have changed your company name

You do not get a replacement certificate. Instead, Companies House issues a separate ‘Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name’, which sits alongside your original. It shows both the old and new names and the date the change took effect. Keep both documents together, because some parties will want to see the full chain.

If there is a genuine error

If the certificate contains a mistake made at registration, that is different from a detail that has simply changed over time. Contact Companies House directly to correct the record. For an overseas party checking your company, it also helps to understand how verifying a UK company as a foreigner works, since they will often cross-check the certificate against the live register anyway.

Once your company is running, the certificate is only one piece of your compliance picture. Staying on top of your annual confirmation statement filing keeps the public record accurate, which is what most third parties rely on in practice.

How Sleek helps with your certificate of incorporation

Getting hold of your certificate is straightforward once you know where to look, but it tends to come up at pressured moments, such as a bank deadline or an overseas deal that cannot wait.

Sleek forms your company, stores your incorporation documents in one place, and can help when you need a certified or apostilled copy for something official. You get the paperwork sorted without chasing the register yourself.