Companies House Identity Verification: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overseas Directors

Companies House identity verification is now a legal requirement for every director and every Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK company, wherever they live. New directors and PSCs must verify before the company is incorporated, and existing directors and PSCs must verify when they file their next confirmation statement. You can verify yourself through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as Keystone.

This guide explains who must verify, the deadlines, the two routes, and the practical problems overseas directors most often meet.

What is Companies House identity verification?

Identity verification is a check that a person is who they say they are. It was introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, usually shortened to ECCTA. The aim is to make the public register more reliable and to make it harder to use UK companies for fraud.

Before ECCTA, anyone could be appointed as a director without proving their identity. Now each person verifies once and receives a unique Companies House personal code. That code is then used to link the verified person to each company they are involved with.

You only need to verify once. If you are a director of three companies, one verification covers all of them, but you will provide your personal code for each role.

The official guidance is on GOV.UK: Verifying your identity for Companies House.

Who needs to verify their identity?

The requirement applies to people, not companies. You must verify if you are:

• A director of a UK limited company, including a non-resident director
• A PSC, meaning a Person with Significant Control. In simple terms, this is someone who holds more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove most of the board, or otherwise has significant influence or control
• A member of an LLP with equivalent roles
• Anyone filing documents on behalf of a company, unless they file through an ACSP

Nationality and residence do not matter. A director living in Dubai, Mumbai or New York has exactly the same obligation as a director living in London.

If a company is a PSC (for example, a foreign parent company), the company itself does not verify in the same way. Instead, the individuals who manage that corporate shareholder are expected to verify where the rules require it. If your structure includes corporate shareholders, it is worth checking the position with a named UK-based specialist before filing.

When do you need to verify?

The timing depends on whether you are new or already in post.

• Forming a new company (from 18 November 2025) - When you must verify: Before incorporation. Each director and PSC must be verified and provide a personal code on the application.
• Being appointed as a new director of an existing company - When you must verify: Before or at the point of appointment.
• Existing director at 18 November 2025 - When you must verify: At the company's next confirmation statement during the 12-month transition period.
• Existing PSC at 18 November 2025 - When you must verify: At the company's next confirmation statement during the 12-month transition period.

A confirmation statement is the yearly filing that confirms the company's details on the public register are correct. If you are unsure when yours is due, our guide what is a confirmation statement explains the basics.

Do not leave verification to the last day. If the identity check fails or needs extra documents, you may run out of time to file.

What happens if you do not verify?

Companies House treats verification as a legal duty. If a director acts without being verified, both the director and the company may commit an offence and face penalties. A company may also be unable to file its confirmation statement, and the public register may show that a person has not completed verification.

For overseas founders, the bigger practical risk is knock-on problems. Banks, payment providers and business partners check the register. A gap or warning against a director's name can cause delays or uncomfortable questions.

How do you verify through GOV.UK One Login?

This is the free, do-it-yourself route. It works best if you hold a passport with a biometric chip and a modern smartphone.

1. Create a GOV.UK One Login account. Use an email address you check regularly. You will set up two-factor security, usually by text message or an authenticator app.
2. Start the identity check. You can use the GOV.UK ID Check app on your phone. It asks you to scan your photo ID and take a short video or photo of your face.
3. Scan your document. A biometric passport is the most widely accepted option for non-residents. Some UK documents, such as a UK photocard driving licence or biometric residence permit, may also be accepted.
4. Match your face. The app compares your face with the photo on your document.
5. Receive your personal code. Once verified, Companies House gives you a personal code. Keep it safe, as you will need it for every company role.
6. Link your code to the company. Provide your code on the incorporation application, the appointment filing, or the confirmation statement, as relevant.

Many people finish in under half an hour. Others find the app will not read their passport chip, or the face match fails due to lighting. If this happens repeatedly, the ACSP route is usually easier.

How do you verify through an ACSP?

An ACSP is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. It is a firm that is supervised for anti-money laundering purposes in the UK and has registered with Companies House to carry out identity checks for clients.

The ACSP route is often the better choice for overseas directors because:

• You do not need a UK document, and the ACSP can review a wider range of international documents
• A person reviews your documents rather than relying only on an app
• The ACSP can also handle the filing that uses your verification, such as the incorporation or confirmation statement
• You have someone to ask when something does not look right

The steps are usually:

1. You send the ACSP your identity documents, typically a passport and a recent proof of address.
2. The ACSP carries out its checks, which may include a short video call.
3. The ACSP confirms your verification to Companies House.
4. You receive your Companies House personal code.
5. The ACSP links your verification to the relevant company filing.

Keystone includes identity verification in its £600 one-off UK company formation fee, alongside the Companies House fee, VAT and a structure review.

GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP: which should you choose?

• Cost - GOV.UK One Login: Free - ACSP: Charged by the provider, or included in a package
• Documents - GOV.UK One Login: Best with a biometric passport - ACSP: Wider range of international documents
• Support - GOV.UK One Login: Online help only - ACSP: A named contact
• Filing - GOV.UK One Login: You file separately - ACSP: Can file for you
• Best for - GOV.UK One Login: Confident users with compatible documents - ACSP: Overseas directors, complex structures, busy founders

Neither route is "more legal" than the other. Both result in the same verified status and the same personal code.

What documents do overseas directors need?

Have these ready before you start:

• A valid passport, ideally with a biometric chip. Check the expiry date first.
• A recent proof of address, if using an ACSP. A utility bill or bank statement from the last three months is common.
• Your email and phone number, for security codes.
• Your full name exactly as it appears on your passport. Small differences in spelling, such as transliterated Arabic or Urdu names, are a common cause of mismatches with the existing register.

If your name on the register differs from your passport, sort this out before verifying. Our director and shareholder changes service can update the register for you.

Does verification put more of my personal data on the public register?

No. Your identity documents are not published. The public register will show that you are verified, but your passport details and photo are not made public.

Your usual residential address should already be protected if you use a service address. If you are worried about this, read our guide to how to keep your home address off Companies House.

How does verification fit with other overseas compliance duties?

Identity verification is one part of a wider set of transparency rules. Overseas-owned companies should also check that their PSC information is correct, as explained in our guide to the PSC register for foreign shareholders. If an overseas company owns UK property, the separate Register of Overseas Entities may also apply, and that has its own verification rules.

For a broader overview of running a UK company from abroad, visit our Expat Hub.

Frequently asked questions

Can I verify my identity with Companies House from outside the UK?

Yes. You can use GOV.UK One Login from anywhere if your documents are compatible, or use an ACSP, which can review international documents remotely.

How long does Companies House identity verification take?

The app route can be finished in under an hour if it works first time. An ACSP check depends on the provider and how quickly you send documents. We cannot promise a fixed timescale, so start early.

Do I need to verify again for each company?

No. You verify once and receive a single personal code. You then provide that code for each company where you are a director or PSC.

Is there a Companies House fee for identity verification?

Verifying through GOV.UK One Login is free. ACSPs set their own charges. At Keystone, verification is included in our £600 company formation fee.

What if my passport will not scan in the app?

This is common with some older or non-UK passports. Try again in good light, and if it still fails, use an ACSP, which can check your documents another way.

Does verification affect my personal tax position?

No. Identity verification is a Companies House transparency rule. It does not change your tax residence or tax duties. Speak to a local tax adviser for tax questions.

Talk to a named UK specialist

If you would rather not deal with the app, or your structure includes overseas shareholders, a named UK-based specialist at Keystone can carry out your Companies House identity verification as an ACSP and handle the related filing. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Start your enquiry or call 0330 043 2654.