Verified professionally. Issued directly by Companies House.
Your identity is checked professionally. Your verification is reported through the appropriate authorised process. Your personal code is issued directly by Companies House.
UK Company Experts is an independent professional service and is not part of Companies House or the UK Government.
Understanding the New Identity Verification Requirement
Companies House identity verification is a legal identity-checking process designed to confirm that people registering, owning or managing UK companies are who they claim to be.
The requirement forms part of wider reforms intended to improve the reliability of information held on the Companies House register and reduce the misuse of UK corporate structures.
A successful identity check connects a verified individual to a unique Companies House personal code. That personal code can then be used to link the person's verified identity to the company roles they hold.
A person normally verifies their identity once and uses the same personal code for relevant Companies House roles. Official guidance confirms that directors and people with significant control use their personal code to confirm that their identity has been verified.
Who Is Required to Complete Identity Verification?
The requirement may apply to:
- Existing company directors
- New company directors
- People becoming directors
- People with significant control (PSCs)
- New people with significant control
- Individuals forming a company
- Individuals filing information for companies in certain circumstances
- Relevant officers of limited liability partnerships
- Overseas individuals who hold applicable UK company roles
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became compulsory for new directors and people with significant control as part of new incorporations and appointments. Existing directors and PSCs are subject to the applicable transition and filing requirements.
Whether verification is required depends on the person's formal role, including whether they are a director or person with significant control — not simply on holding shares.
Your Unique Companies House Personal Code
After a successful identity verification, Companies House issues the individual a unique personal code.
Your Companies House personal code is different from your company authentication code. The personal code relates to an individual's verified identity. The company authentication code is used for online company filings and is normally sent separately to the company's registered office.
- Belongs to the individual, not one particular company
- Connects the verified identity to relevant Companies House roles
- Can be used for more than one company role
- Must be stored securely
- May be shared with an authorised person filing on your behalf
- Should not be confused with the company authentication code
Why This Requirement Is Important
Identity verification may be needed to:
- Become a director of a new company
- Be appointed as a director
- Confirm an existing director's verified status
- Register or confirm a person with significant control
- Link an individual's identity to Companies House records
- Complete certain company filings
- Avoid delays with incorporations or appointments
- Maintain compliance with Companies House requirements
Failure to complete the required verification or provide the personal code within the relevant period may prevent certain company actions and may lead to compliance consequences.
How Our Companies House Identity Verification Process Works
Choose our Companies House Identity Verification service and complete your order. During checkout, you must provide the email address where you want to receive your Companies House personal code.Important: Please use an email address that has not previously been used for Companies House identity verification for the same individual. Each personal code is unique to the verified person, and using the correct email helps avoid unnecessary delays.
Once your order has been received, we will send you a secure identity verification link by email. If you do not see the email within a few minutes, please check your inbox, spam folder, junk folder and promotions folder (where applicable).
Open the verification link and follow the on-screen instructions to verify your identity. The process normally involves confirming your personal information and completing the required identity checks. After you have successfully completed the verification, please send us a screenshot of the confirmation page so that we can monitor the progress of your application and assist you if necessary.
Once your identity verification has been successfully completed, no further action is required from you. Companies House will process the successful verification and send your unique Companies House personal code directly to the email address you provided during your order. Most applicants receive the email quickly, but please allow up to 24 hours and remember to check your spam or junk folder before contacting us.
Your Companies House personal code is unique to you and should be kept secure. You may be asked to provide this code to the company formation provider, accountant or authorised agent assisting with your UK company, so they can complete the required Companies House filings on your behalf. Do not share your personal code publicly or with anyone you do not trust.
- One personal code is issued for each verified individual.
- Your personal code is issued directly by Companies House.
- UK Company Experts does not generate or issue the personal code.
- Please ensure the email address you provide is accurate and accessible, as Companies House will send your personal code to that email address.
What Documents May Be Required?
Depending on the client and the verification route, we may request:
- Valid passport
- UK photocard driving licence
- Biometric residence permit, where accepted
- Biometric residence card, where accepted
- National identity card, where accepted
- Other eligible government-issued photographic identification
- Bank statement (proof of address)
- Utility bill (proof of address)
- Council tax statement (proof of address)
- Government correspondence or tax document
- Full legal name, previous name, date of birth, nationality
- Current residential address and email address
- Companies House role and, where applicable, company name and number
Additional documentation may be requested where names differ between documents, the current address differs from the identification document, a document is not written in English, the applicant has recently changed their name, the photograph is unclear, the document cannot be validated, or enhanced checks are required. Documents must be genuine, valid, clear and unaltered. Screenshots, cropped images, blurred photographs or expired documents may not be accepted.
Identity Verification for Overseas Directors and Founders
You do not necessarily need to live in the United Kingdom to complete Companies House identity verification. UK Company Experts supports international founders, overseas directors and people with significant control who need to complete their verification from abroad.
The process may require a valid photographic identity document, current residential-address evidence, accurate personal information, a working email address, clear document images and additional verification evidence where necessary. Acceptance depends on whether the documents meet the applicable verification standard.
We review your documents before completing the verification and will tell you if clearer or alternative evidence is needed.
Complete Identity Verification Service — £74
The £74 fee includes:
- Initial eligibility review
- Verification instructions
- Secure document checklist
- Review of identity documents
- Review of personal information
- Identity checks under the applicable standard
- Request for corrected or additional evidence where reasonably required
- Completion of the verification process
- Reporting of successful verification through the appropriate authorised route
- Notification when the verification has been completed
- Guidance on receiving and safeguarding the Companies House personal code
- Basic guidance on how the code is used for a director or PSC role
The personal code is issued directly by Companies House. UK Company Experts does not create or control the code.
How Long Does the Process Take?
Our target is to complete the identity-verification review promptly after receiving all acceptable documents and information. Delays may occur where documents are missing, images are blurred, information does not match, a document has expired, additional evidence is required, the applicant does not respond promptly, or the authorised system or Companies House requires further review.
After successful verification is reported, Companies House normally sends the personal-code email within a few hours. Once we confirm successful verification, please allow up to 24 hours for the Companies House email and check your spam or junk folder.
The 24-hour period is a service expectation, not a guaranteed Companies House processing deadline.
Keep Your Personal Code Safe
The personal code belongs to the verified individual. You should:
- Store the code securely
- Avoid publishing it online
- Use it only for legitimate Companies House purposes
- Share it only with a trusted person filing on your behalf
- Ensure the code is connected to the correct company role
- Keep the verification email for future reference
- Contact Companies House if the code is lost or compromised
The same code may be relevant to multiple roles held by the same individual.
Transparent and Professional Verification
UK Company Experts cannot:
- Accept fraudulent or altered documents
- Verify a person whose identity cannot be established
- Guarantee acceptance of every document
- Create a Companies House personal code
- Change Companies House records without proper authority
- Bypass identity-verification requirements
- Verify a different person using another individual's documents
- Guarantee a fixed Companies House email-delivery time
- Guarantee that every incorporation or filing will be accepted
Successful verification depends on the applicant providing genuine, valid and satisfactory evidence.
Companies House identity verification — FAQs
What is Companies House identity verification?+
It is a process used to confirm that a director, person with significant control or other relevant individual is who they claim to be, as part of reforms to improve the reliability of the UK company register.
What is a Companies House personal code?+
It is a unique code issued to an individual by Companies House after successful identity verification. It is used to link the verified identity to relevant Companies House roles.
Is the personal code the same as the authentication code?+
No. The personal code relates to an individual's verified identity. The company authentication code is used for online filings for a particular company and is normally sent separately to the company's registered office.
Who sends the personal code?+
Companies House sends it directly to the email address supplied during the identity-verification process. UK Company Experts does not create or issue the personal code.
How long does the code take to arrive?+
Companies House guidance states that the email should normally arrive within a few hours after successful ACSP verification. We recommend allowing up to 24 hours and checking the spam or junk folder.
Do you issue the personal code?+
No. We complete and report the successful identity verification through the appropriate authorised process. Companies House issues the code.
Can a non-UK resident complete the verification?+
Yes, potentially. The applicant must provide acceptable identification and any required supporting evidence that meets the applicable verification standard.
Does every director need a separate code?+
Each individual must complete their own identity verification and receives their own personal code.
Can one personal code be used for several companies?+
The code belongs to the individual and may be used to connect that person's verified identity to relevant roles across different companies.
Do I need to verify again for every company?+
Normally, identity verification is completed once. The same personal code can then be used for relevant roles, unless Companies House requires the person to verify again.
What happens if my document is rejected?+
We will explain the issue and may request a clearer image, another accepted document or additional evidence.
Can I use an expired passport?+
Normally, valid and current identification should be provided. Do not assume an expired document will be accepted.
Is the £74 fee refundable if I provide false or unusable documents?+
Please refer to our Refund and Cancellation Policy. We cannot promise a refund where the service has started or verification work has already been completed.
Does verification automatically update every company role?+
No. The personal code may still need to be provided to Companies House for each relevant director or PSC role.
Can you use the code for me?+
Only where you have authorised the relevant filing service and the filing is included or purchased separately.
Continue building your UK company.
Complete Your Companies House Identity Verification With Confidence
Avoid delays with your company formation, director appointment or Companies House compliance. Our team will review your documents, complete the identity checks and report your successful verification through the appropriate authorised process. Once completed, Companies House will send your unique personal code directly to your email address. Successful verification is subject to valid documents and satisfactory identity checks.
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