Setting up a UK Ltd as a non-resident: registration, tax and banking
Anyone can form a UK limited company, wherever they live. Since November 2025, directors must verify their identity first. Here is the full process.
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"Uk ltd registration non resident" is searched by founders who sell to UK and European clients and want a company those clients recognise. The UK makes formation easy and cheap. The parts that take planning are identity checks, tax residence and the bank account.
Who can form a UK Ltd
Anyone, wherever they live. A private limited company needs:
- at least one director, who must be an individual, aged 16 or over
- at least one shareholder (can be the director)
- a registered office address in the UK, in the same part of the UK as registration
- a person with significant control (PSC) statement listing anyone holding over 25%
Step 1: verify identity
Since 18 November 2025, new directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House, through GOV.UK One Login or an authorised agent. Do this first; the company cannot be registered with an unverified director.
Step 2: register the company
Register online with Companies House. The fee is 100 GBP. Registration typically completes within a day or two. You receive a certificate of incorporation and a company number.
Step 3: the yearly obligations
| Obligation | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation statement | Every 12 months | 50 GBP |
| Annual accounts to Companies House | 9 months after year end | Free to file |
| Company tax return to HMRC | 12 months after year end | Free to file |
| Corporation tax payment | 9 months and 1 day after year end (smaller companies) | 19% to 25% of profits |
Accounts filed at Companies House are public.
Tax residence: the part founders miss
A company incorporated in the UK is UK tax resident. But if it is managed and controlled from another country, that country may also treat it as resident there, and treaty tie-breaker rules decide. A UK Ltd run entirely from Lagos or Karachi can end up with tax questions in both places. Get advice before you rely on the UK rate.
US LLC or UK Ltd?
The US LLC guide compares the two side by side. A UK Ltd suits founders selling into the UK and Europe who are comfortable with public accounts; a US LLC suits founders selling mostly to US clients and platforms.
Banking the company
High-street UK banks often want a UK-resident director or an in-person meeting. Online providers usually do not, but each has its own list of accepted countries for owners. See UK business bank accounts for non-residents.
On Rivet
Rivet opens accounts for UK limited companies whose owners live in the countries we support. GBP details for Faster Payments come with the Growth plan, alongside USD and EUR. See Bank accounts.
Questions people ask
Can a non-resident open a UK limited company?
Yes. There is no residency or nationality requirement for directors or shareholders. The company needs a registered office address in the UK, and directors must verify their identity with Companies House.
How much does it cost to register a UK Ltd?
Registering online with Companies House costs 100 GBP. Each year the company files a confirmation statement (50 GBP) and annual accounts (free to file). A registered office service and an accountant are extra.
Do non-resident directors pay UK tax?
The company pays UK corporation tax on its profits. Directors who live abroad are generally taxed in the UK only on UK-source income, such as a salary for work done in the UK, but dividends and treaty rules vary. Take advice for your country.
Can a UK Ltd owned by a non-resident open a bank account?
Yes, but many high-street banks want a UK-resident director or a branch visit. Online business accounts and payment institutions are usually easier, subject to the countries where the owners live.
Sources
Rashidatou writes Rivet's guides to how money moves between countries: the payment rails, what each one costs, and the account details a company needs to get paid in another currency. Every figure in Rashidatou's articles is traced to the scheme rulebook, the regulator or the provider's published price list, and those sources are listed at the end.
More from Rashidatou K. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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