Companies House identity verification

Why this exists

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 gave Companies House new powers to improve the accuracy of the register. Identity verification is the centrepiece: the people who run and control UK companies must prove who they are.

Who must verify

• Every company director
• Every person with significant control (PSC)
• Anyone who files documents at Companies House on behalf of a company

When it applies to you

Identity verification became compulsory from 18 November 2025. Anyone appointed as a director from that date must be verified before the appointment is filed, and new PSCs must verify shortly after being registered. When you buy a ready made company you are a new director and a new PSC, so verification comes before the transfer filings.

How to verify

• Directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login, using a passport or other photo ID. This route is free.
• Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as a registered accountant or formation agent, who checks your documents and confirms your identity to Companies House.

Your personal code

Once verified, you receive a Companies House personal code. It is linked to you, not to a company, and you use the same code for every appointment. We ask for it when preparing your director appointment.

If you live outside the UK

Non-UK residents can verify too. The GOV.UK route accepts many biometric passports through its app, and an ACSP can verify people who cannot use the online route.

What happens if you do not verify

An unverified person cannot be validly filed as a new director, and acting as a director without verification is an offence. In practice, the transfer simply cannot complete until verification is done, so we deal with it at the start.

Next step

Verification takes most people under fifteen minutes. Once you have your personal code, the rest of the transfer process moves quickly. See UK ready made companies.