Companies House identity verification is one of the biggest changes to UK company administration in recent years. 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 purpose is straightforward: Companies House wants greater confidence that the people setting up, running and controlling UK companies are who they claim to be.

For founders, particularly those establishing a UK company from overseas, the new process adds an important compliance step. It does not replace company registration, tax registration or other regulatory requirements. Instead, it sits alongside them. This guide explains who needs to verify, how the process works, what a Companies House personal code is, when verification is required and what happens if you do not complete it.

What Is Companies House Identity Verification?

Companies House identity verification is a process used to confirm that an individual is genuinely the person they claim to be. It is designed to reduce the risk of fraudulent company registrations and improve the accuracy and reliability of the UK company register. The requirement applies to people in certain roles connected with UK companies, including:

• Company directors
• People with significant control (PSCs)
• Equivalent officers in certain other entities
• Directors of overseas companies registered in the UK
• Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)

Identity verification is generally a one-time process for an individual unless Companies House tells the person they need to verify again.

Why was identity verification introduced?

Companies House has traditionally operated as a public register, but the new reforms give it stronger responsibilities and powers. The wider objective is to make it harder for individuals to use companies anonymously for fraud, money laundering and other unlawful activities.

For legitimate founders, the practical implication is that company formation now involves more than choosing a name, appointing directors and submitting incorporation information. The people behind the company must also establish their identity.

Who Needs to Verify Their Identity?

The requirement depends on your role and, in some cases, when you became a director or PSC.

Company directors

Every director must verify their identity. If you are a director of several UK companies, your verification is associated with you as an individual, but you still need to provide your Companies House personal code for each relevant company filing when required. For a new company, directors will need to provide their personal codes as part of the registration process.

Existing directors are being brought into the system during a 12-month transition period that began on 18 November 2025. Their verification is connected with their next confirmation statement filing.

People with significant control

A PSC is generally an individual who owns or controls a company in a way that meets the statutory PSC criteria. PSC identity verification is also mandatory. For a PSC who became a PSC after 18 November 2025, the personal code can be provided when they are first added to the register or within 14 days of being added. The precise requirements can differ depending on when the individual became a PSC, so businesses should check their specific Companies House deadline rather than assuming that every PSC has the same date.

When Do You Need to Verify?

One of the most important points is that 18 November 2025 was the start of mandatory identity verification, not a universal deadline for every director and PSC. Companies House introduced a phased 12-month transition period. This gives existing companies time to bring directors and PSCs into compliance according to their individual due dates.

For directors, the requirement is generally linked to the company's next confirmation statement. For newly incorporated companies or newly appointed directors, identity verification requirements apply at the point of incorporation or appointment. Companies House has stated that it expects millions of individuals to complete verification during the transition year ending in November 2026.

Practical takeaway: don't wait for your company's next filing if you can verify earlier. Completing the process in advance can make subsequent compliance easier.

How to Verify Your Identity With Companies House

There are currently two main routes for individuals.

Option 1: Verify directly through GOV.UK One Login

You can use the official Companies House identity verification service through GOV.UK One Login. The service is free. Depending on your circumstances, you may be guided through different verification methods. You may need an accepted form of photo identification, such as:

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

The available options can depend on your circumstances and the information you provide during the process.

What happens during online verification?

The process is designed to establish that the person completing the verification is the genuine identity associated with the submitted information. You may be asked to:

1. Sign into or create a GOV.UK One Login.
2. Provide personal information.
3. Supply information from your identity document.
4. Complete the required identity checks.
5. Receive confirmation once verification is successful.

Companies House says that supporting information supplied for identity verification is not made publicly available through its register.

Option 2: Use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

You can also have your identity verified through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). An ACSP is an authorised agent such as an accountant, solicitor or company formation professional that meets the required conditions and is supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes.

This route can be particularly useful for international founders who are already working with a professional adviser. Instead of completing the entire process yourself, you can ask an eligible ACSP to carry out the verification. However, make sure the provider is genuinely authorised. Companies House maintains information about authorised agents, and the provider should be able to explain how it carries out the verification.

For global founders using a UK company formation and management platform such as IncorpUK, understanding whether the service operates through an appropriate authorised route is an important compliance question.

What Is a Companies House Personal Code?

After successfully verifying your identity, you receive a Companies House personal code. Think of this as a unique identifier connecting your verified identity with your Companies House records. It is not the same thing as your company's authentication code. This distinction is important.

Companies House personal code

Your personal code relates to you as an individual and your identity verification.

Companies House authentication code

A company's authentication code is used to access certain online filing services and make filings for a company. They serve different purposes and should not be confused. Companies House says directors will need to provide their personal code when submitting the company's confirmation statement, while newly incorporated companies require directors' personal codes as part of registration. Keep your personal code secure. It is associated with your verified identity and should not be treated as ordinary company information.

What Happens After You Verify?

Successful identity verification does not mean you have finished every Companies House compliance requirement. Instead, it establishes that your identity has been verified. You may then need to connect that verification to your role on the Companies House register by providing your personal code when required.

For PSCs, Companies House provides a specific service for submitting the personal code and confirming that the individual's identity has been verified. For directors, the personal code becomes relevant to company filings, particularly the confirmation statement. This is why businesses should keep a simple compliance record showing:

A basic compliance tracker can prevent an avoidable filing problem later.

What If You Have Several Companies?

This is especially relevant to entrepreneurs, investors and company formation professionals. You generally do not need to repeat the entire identity verification process simply because you are a director of another company. However, Companies House requires directors to provide their personal code for each relevant company when required. For example, imagine that Sarah is a director of three UK companies. She verifies her identity once and receives her personal code.

When the relevant confirmation statements become due, her verified identity needs to be connected appropriately to each company's filing. The important distinction is: One individual identity verification does not mean one filing obligation. Each company remains responsible for its own Companies House compliance.

What Happens If You Do Not Verify?

Ignoring identity verification is not simply an administrative inconvenience. Companies House states that failure to comply with mandatory identity verification requirements can amount to an offence. Potential consequences include prosecution and a fine through the courts or a financial penalty. Companies House also indicates that, in future, a non-compliance note may appear against an individual's name on the public register. Further restrictions can include being unable to:

• Become a new director of an existing company
• Register a new company or entity
• Register as an ACSP

For directors, continuing to act as a director after the relevant deadline without completing the requirements can itself create a legal issue. The company and its directors may also be affected. This makes identity verification a genuine company-law compliance issue rather than merely an optional security feature.

What Does Identity Verification Mean for Overseas Founders?

UK companies are frequently established by entrepreneurs who live outside the UK. The new system does not mean that you must necessarily be a UK resident to verify your identity. For example, Companies House states that a biometric passport from any country can be used as an accepted form of photo ID for online verification, subject to the applicable verification process.

This is significant for international entrepreneurs. A founder based in Nigeria, India, the United States, the UAE or another country may be able to complete the identity verification process without becoming a UK resident. However, identity verification should not be confused with immigration permission, tax residence or the right to work in the UK.

Verifying your identity for Companies House does not give you a UK visa or UK immigration status. Similarly, having a UK company does not automatically make the owner UK tax resident. Those are separate legal and tax questions.

Common Companies House Identity Verification Mistakes

1. Confusing the personal code with the authentication code

They are different credentials with different purposes. Store both separately and label them clearly.

2. Assuming 18 November 2025 was everyone's deadline

It was the date mandatory verification began. Existing directors and PSCs have been brought into the system through a phased process.

3. Waiting until a filing is due

Leaving verification until the last minute can create unnecessary pressure, particularly where several directors or PSCs are involved.

4. Using someone else's GOV.UK One Login

Identity verification is personal. Companies House guidance makes clear that an individual needs their own appropriate login and identity verification process.

5. Assuming verification completes all company compliance

It does not. You may still need to file confirmation statements, accounts and changes to company information and comply with HMRC obligations and other applicable regulations.

6. Ignoring a failed verification

If you cannot complete verification successfully, do not simply abandon the process. Check the information you entered, review the available verification options and consider using an ACSP where appropriate.

Identity Verification vs Other UK Company Requirements

It helps to see identity verification as one part of the wider compliance picture. A UK limited company may have obligations involving:

Companies House

• Confirmation statements
• Annual accounts
• Changes to directors
• Changes to PSC information
• Registered office changes
• Share information

HMRC

• Corporation Tax
• PAYE, where applicable
• VAT, where applicable
• Other tax obligations

Identity verification

• Directors
• PSCs
• Other roles as the requirements expand

These systems interact, but they are not the same system. A company can therefore be properly incorporated while still having outstanding tax or Companies House obligations.

Why Companies House Identity Verification Matters for Businesses

For founders, the biggest change is cultural as much as procedural. Historically, company formation could feel like a largely document-based exercise. The new regime puts greater emphasis on establishing the identity of the individuals behind companies. That should matter to legitimate businesses.

Reliable company-register information can help customers, investors, lenders and commercial partners assess who they are dealing with. Companies House says the reform is intended to improve transparency, trust and the accuracy of register information while reducing fraud.

For startups seeking investment, this can become particularly relevant. Investors conducting due diligence are likely to pay attention not only to the company's shareholding and accounts but also to whether its statutory information is being maintained correctly.

Companies House Identity Verification FAQ

Is Companies House identity verification mandatory?

Yes. Identity verification became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025 for directors and PSCs, with implementation being phased over a 12-month transition period.

Do I need to verify my identity if I am a UK company director?

Yes, if you are a director within the scope of the requirement. Your deadline depends on your circumstances and when you became a director.

Can a foreign national verify their identity?

Yes. Companies House accepts a biometric passport from any country as one of the forms of photo ID that may be used for online verification.

Is Companies House identity verification free?

Direct verification through the GOV.UK One Login service is free. An ACSP may charge its own professional fee for providing verification services.

What is a Companies House personal code?

It is a unique code issued after you successfully verify your identity. Directors and PSCs use it to connect their verified identity with the relevant Companies House records and filings.

Is the personal code the same as the Companies House authentication code?

No. The personal code relates to individual identity verification. The company's authentication code is a separate credential used for company filing access.

Do I need to verify my identity every year?

Generally, no. Companies House says most people only need to verify their identity once unless they are specifically instructed to verify again.

Can my accountant verify my identity for Companies House?

An accountant may be able to do so if they are registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). ACSPs must meet Companies House requirements and be appropriately supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes.

What happens if I miss my identity verification deadline?

Failure to comply can result in an offence, potential financial penalties and other Companies House consequences. Directors may also be restricted from acting or undertaking certain company-related activities if they remain non-compliant.

Final Takeaway

Companies House identity verification is now a core part of running a UK company. For directors and PSCs, the process is relatively straightforward: verify your identity, obtain your Companies House personal code and provide it when required for the relevant company records or filings. The important part is understanding when you need to do each step.

For international founders, the process is also worth planning early. A UK company can have overseas directors and owners, but those individuals still need to meet the applicable Companies House identity requirements. The safest approach is simple: verify early, keep your personal code secure, monitor your Companies House deadlines and treat identity verification as part of your wider corporate compliance system, not as a one-off administrative formality.

As Companies House continues implementing the reforms introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, staying ahead of the requirements will help founders avoid unnecessary filing problems and keep their companies in good standing.