Can Overseas Directors Verify Their Identity for Companies House?

Yes. Overseas directors can verify their identity for Companies House, and they do not need to live in the UK to complete the process. Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs), introduced as part of reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The requirement applies to directors of UK companies, including directors who live outside the UK.

For international founders, the important point is that UK residence and UK citizenship are not prerequisites for identity verification. An overseas director can generally verify directly through GOV.UK One Login using an eligible biometric passport, or use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an authorised accountant, solicitor or company formation agent.

This guide explains how the process works, what overseas directors need, what happens after verification, and what international founders should know before incorporating or managing a UK company.

What Is Companies House Identity Verification?

Companies House identity verification is a process designed to establish that the individual listed as a company director or PSC is genuinely the person they claim to be. The reform is intended to improve the accuracy and reliability of the Companies House register and make it harder for companies to be created or controlled using false identities.

Once you successfully verify your identity, Companies House gives you a unique personal code. This code belongs to you personally. It is not the company's code and does not change simply because you become a director of another company. You may need the code when:

• Incorporating a new company
• Being appointed as a director
• Filing a confirmation statement
• Connecting your verified identity to a PSC role
• Completing certain Companies House filings

If you are a director of several companies, your identity verification is generally performed once, but your personal code may need to be connected to each relevant company or role.

Can a Director Living Outside the UK Verify Their Identity?

Yes. Companies House specifically allows identity verification from overseas. There is no general requirement for a director to have a UK address, UK passport or UK residence status simply because they are a director of a UK company. For an international entrepreneur, this means someone living in Nigeria, the United States, India, the UAE, Canada, Australia or elsewhere can potentially become a director of a UK company and complete the required identity verification.

The critical issue is having an acceptable identity document and completing the verification process correctly. Companies House states that its online verification service accepts a biometric passport from any country, alongside certain UK-issued documents. That is particularly significant for overseas founders because a valid biometric Nigerian, Indian, American or other eligible foreign passport can be used through the official verification route.

How Overseas Directors Can Verify Their Identity

There are currently two main routes.

Option 1: Verify Directly Through GOV.UK One Login

The first route is to use the official Companies House identity verification service through GOV.UK One Login. The service is free. You will be asked questions about yourself and guided towards the verification method appropriate to your circumstances. Depending on the information available, the process may involve using an app, answering security questions or providing details from your photo ID.

For an overseas director, a biometric passport is particularly important because Companies House confirms that biometric passports from any country can be used for the online process.

Option 2: Use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

The second option is to use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). ACSPs are Companies House-authorised agents that can verify identities on behalf of clients. They can include accountants, solicitors and company formation professionals that meet the required regulatory conditions. This route can be useful for international founders who:

• Have difficulty completing the online process
• Prefer professional assistance
• Are already working with a UK accountant or solicitor
• Want assistance coordinating several company compliance requirements
• Have identity documents or circumstances that make the standard process less straightforward

An ACSP can conduct the required checks remotely or in person, subject to the applicable verification standards. The important distinction is that the agent must actually be authorised. Simply being a company formation consultant or accountant does not automatically make an organisation an ACSP.

What Documents Does an Overseas Director Need?

For the direct online route, the most important document is generally an acceptable biometric photo ID. Companies House currently states that the GOV.UK One Login route can use:

• A biometric passport from any country
• A UK photo driving licence
• A UK biometric residence permit
• A UK biometric residence card

For an overseas founder without UK-issued documents, the foreign biometric passport route is therefore particularly relevant. If you use an ACSP instead, the professional will work from Companies House' approved evidence requirements and may request additional documentation or information as part of the identity checks.

What if Your Passport Has Expired?

This is one area where international founders should be careful. Companies House has specific guidance covering expired photo identification. Rather than assuming an expired passport will be accepted, check the current GOV.UK requirements before starting the verification process. If your document cannot be accepted, an ACSP may be worth considering where appropriate.

Does an Overseas Director Need a UK Address?

Not simply to verify their identity. Identity verification and the company's registered office address are separate matters. A UK company must have an appropriate registered office address in the UK, but that does not mean every director must personally live at that address. This distinction is important for non-UK entrepreneurs.

For example, imagine a Nigerian entrepreneur establishes a UK private limited company with a London registered office while continuing to live and work in Lagos. The company can have a UK registered office while the director remains resident overseas. The director still has to provide accurate personal information to Companies House and complete identity verification when required.

When Must an Overseas Director Verify?

Identity verification became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025, but Companies House introduced the requirement through a phased 12-month transition period. The precise deadline depends on the person's role and circumstances.

New directors

For a new UK company, directors need to verify their identity as part of the incorporation process. If an existing UK company appoints a new director, the new director must complete the relevant verification requirement connected with the appointment.

Existing directors

Existing directors are being brought into the system during the transition period. Companies House says existing directors will need to provide their personal code when the company files its next confirmation statement. This means overseas directors of established UK companies should not assume that identity verification only matters when forming a new company.

What Happens After You Verify?

Successful verification produces your Companies House personal code. Think of this as the link between your verified identity and your roles on the Companies House register. The code should be kept securely. Companies House specifically advises people to share it only with people they trust, such as someone filing on their behalf.

For an international founder working with an accountant, solicitor or company formation provider, this distinction matters. Your personal code is not something that should simply be posted publicly or shared indiscriminately.

Your personal code is personal

If you become a director of three UK companies, you do not normally receive three different identity codes simply because you have three directorships. The code relates to you, rather than to a particular company. However, you may need to provide it separately in connection with your different company roles.

What If an Overseas Director Cannot Complete Online Verification?

Not every international founder will have a straightforward experience. Problems can arise from:

• An unsuitable identity document
• Difficulties using the verification technology
• Inconsistent personal information
• Problems with the GOV.UK One Login process
• Changes in personal details
• Technical difficulties
• Identity information that cannot be matched successfully

In such circumstances, an ACSP can provide an alternative route. Companies House confirms that identity verification through an ACSP can be completed from any country, provided the agent is properly registered and authorised. That can be particularly useful for overseas entrepreneurs who are establishing UK companies remotely.

What About Overseas Companies Registered in the UK?

There is an important distinction between a UK company with an overseas-resident director and an overseas company that has registered a UK establishment. For an overseas company, Companies House requires all directors to have completed identity verification and obtained their personal codes.

The company must then file form OS VS01 confirming that all directors have verified their identities, unless that information has already been provided. This must be done by the anniversary of the date the UK establishment was opened. This is a separate compliance consideration for overseas companies operating through a UK establishment.

What Happens If an Overseas Director Does Not Verify?

Identity verification is not merely an administrative recommendation. Companies House states that failure to comply with the mandatory requirements can constitute an offence and may lead to enforcement action, including prosecution, fines or financial penalties.

There can also be practical consequences. For example, Companies House states that a company will be unable to file its confirmation statement unless all its directors have completed the required identity verification. For an overseas founder, this could become a serious operational issue.

A company may have customers, employees, bank accounts and contracts in the UK, yet a relatively small compliance failure can interfere with its ability to keep its Companies House records up to date.

A Practical Example for an International Founder

Consider David, who lives in Lagos and wants to establish a UK private limited company for a technology consultancy serving international clients. He is the sole director and shareholder. His basic process would look like this:

1. Choose an appropriate company structure and name.
2. Establish an eligible UK registered office.
3. Complete the incorporation requirements.
4. Verify his identity using the available Companies House route.
5. Obtain his Companies House personal code.
6. Provide the code when required for his director role.
7. Keep his company information and statutory filings up to date.

David does not need to relocate to the UK simply because he is a UK company director. However, incorporation should not be confused with obtaining UK immigration status, tax residence or permission to work physically in the UK. Those are separate legal and tax questions. For international founders, this distinction is crucial.

What Overseas Founders Should Prepare Before Verification

A little preparation can prevent unnecessary delays.

1. Check your passport

Make sure you know whether your passport is biometric and whether it is within the acceptable validity requirements.

2. Keep your personal information consistent

Your name, date of birth and other information should be consistent across the documents and records you use.

3. Use your own GOV.UK One Login

An email address can only be associated with one GOV.UK One Login identity for verification purposes. Do not casually share login credentials with an employee, agent or business partner.

4. Keep your personal code secure

Once issued, treat the Companies House personal code as confidential information.

5. Know your filing obligations

Verification does not replace the company's other compliance responsibilities. Annual accounts, confirmation statements, changes to directors, PSC information, registered office details and other filings may still need attention.

How IncorpUK Fits Into the Process

For global founders, company formation is rarely just about registering a name. There is a continuing compliance layer involving Companies House filings, directors, shareholders, PSC information and company records. IncorpUK is a UK company formation and management platform that can be relevant to international entrepreneurs navigating this broader process. For founders outside the UK, the key is to understand which tasks can be handled directly through official government services and which may benefit from professional assistance.

The best approach is not to outsource understanding of your company. Even when an agent handles filings, the directors remain responsible for making sure the company's information and obligations are properly managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a non-UK resident become a director of a UK company?

Yes. A person does not generally have to live in the UK to be a director of a UK company. However, directors must meet the applicable legal requirements, provide accurate information and comply with Companies House identity verification requirements.

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

Yes. Companies House states that identity verification can be completed from any country. You can use the GOV.UK One Login route or an appropriately authorised ACSP.

Can I use a foreign passport to verify my identity?

Yes. Companies House says the online GOV.UK One Login service accepts a biometric passport from any country.

Do overseas directors need a UK passport?

No. A UK passport is not required simply because you are a director of a UK company. A biometric passport from another country can be used for the online verification route, subject to the applicable requirements.

Does identity verification give me UK residency?

No. Companies House identity verification confirms your identity for corporate registration purposes. It does not give you immigration status, tax residence, a visa or permission to work in the UK.

Can an accountant verify my identity for Companies House?

Potentially, yes. An accountant can do so if they are registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider and meet the applicable requirements.

Do I have to verify my identity every time I become a director?

Generally, no. Companies House says that in most cases you only need to verify your identity once unless it specifically tells you to verify again. Your personal code can then be used to connect your verified identity with relevant roles.

What happens if I lose my Companies House personal code?

The personal code should be kept securely, but losing it does not mean that you have to repeat identity verification automatically. Use the current Companies House guidance for recovering or managing your code rather than attempting to create a second identity verification unnecessarily.

Can an overseas director use a company formation agent?

Yes. An overseas founder can use a professional company formation provider, but where the provider is handling identity verification, check that it is properly authorised as an ACSP where required.

Conclusion

Overseas directors can verify their identity for Companies House without living in the UK. For most international founders, the simplest route is the official GOV.UK One Login service, provided they have an acceptable identity document such as a biometric passport. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider offers an alternative for those who prefer professional assistance or cannot complete the standard process.

The bigger lesson for international entrepreneurs is that UK company formation is increasingly tied to verified identities and accurate corporate records. Identity verification is now part of the legal framework for operating through a UK company, rather than an optional administrative exercise.

If you are forming or managing a UK company from overseas, prepare your identity documents early, protect your personal code, understand your filing deadlines and distinguish company registration from immigration and tax matters. For global founders, being outside the UK is not necessarily the barrier. Failing to understand and manage the UK's compliance requirements is.