Companies House identity verification for directors living abroad

Since 18 November 2025, anyone becoming a director of a UK company must verify their identity with Companies House, and existing directors have until their next confirmation statement. Here is how it works when you live outside the UK.

William Sunjo M.Operations and compliance editor

Published: 2 November 2026
Reading time: 2 min read

Forming a UK limited company used to take minutes and no proof of who you were. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 changed that. Companies House now verifies the people behind each company, and the rollout reaches every existing director by the end of 2026. Founders who run a UK Ltd from another country need to act before their next confirmation statement.

Who must verify

Every director of a UK company.
Every person with significant control (PSC), meaning broadly anyone with more than 25% of shares or votes, or the right to appoint most of the board.
LLP members.
Anyone filing documents for a company. Formation agents and accountants do this as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs).

The deadlines

Who	Deadline
New directors appointed from 18 November 2025	Before appointment
Existing directors	By the company's next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025
Existing PSCs who are not directors	Within 14 days of the company's confirmation statement date in the same 12-month period

In practice, every company files a confirmation statement once a year, so all existing directors and PSCs must verify by around November 2026, with the last ones landing in early 2027 depending on the filing date.

How to verify from abroad

Option 1: GOV.UK One Login. Download the GOV.UK ID Check app, scan a biometric passport and take a short video. Many non-UK passports work. When it succeeds, you get a personal code.

Option 2: an ACSP. A UK-registered agent checks your documents and verifies you. Use this if the app rejects your document or you cannot complete the video. Most formation agents now offer it for a fee.

Keep your personal code safe. You need it every time you take on a new role at any UK company.

What happens if you miss it

Acting as an unverified director becomes an offence. Companies House can show on the public register that a person has not verified, and can reject the company's filings. Banks check the register too: an unverified director looks like an unfinished company, and that can delay account openings or reviews. Our UK Ltd for non-residents guide covers the rest of running a UK company from abroad.

Before you open a business account

Have these ready together: certificate of incorporation, the current register showing verified directors and PSCs, each director's passport and proof of address, and a short description of what the company does. The UK business bank account guide explains what providers ask non-resident directors for.

UK companies on Rivet

Rivet opens accounts for UK limited companies whose owners live in the countries we support, with no UK residence needed. GBP details for Faster Payments come with the Growth plan, beside USD and EUR. See Bank accounts.

Questions people ask

Who has to verify their identity with Companies House?

Directors of UK companies, people with significant control (PSCs), members of LLPs, and anyone filing on a company's behalf. Agents filing for clients must register as Authorised Corporate Service Providers.

Can I verify from outside the UK?

Yes. The GOV.UK One Login route accepts biometric passports from many countries through the GOV.UK ID Check app. If that route does not work for your document, an Authorised Corporate Service Provider can verify you.

What is a Companies House personal code?

A unique code you receive once verified. You give it when you are appointed as a director, when you are named as a PSC, or when you confirm your verified status in a confirmation statement.

What happens if a director does not verify?

Acting as a director without verifying becomes an offence, and Companies House can mark the register to show the person is unverified. The company's filings can also be blocked.

Sources

Written by

William Sunjo M.

Operations and compliance editor

William covers what happens once a company starts moving money: getting the business verified, paying contractors and suppliers abroad, and keeping card spend under control. William writes for the founder or finance lead who has to make it work this week, and links every rule cited to the text it comes from.