If you have recently registered a UK limited company, one of the first documents you will need is your Certificate of Incorporation. It is the official document issued by Companies House confirming that your company has been legally incorporated. For many founders, the certificate arrives as part of the incorporation process and is easy to overlook once the company is registered. Later, however, a bank, payment provider, investor, accountant, supplier or overseas authority may ask you to provide it.

The good news is that finding your company information through Companies House is straightforward. However, there is an important distinction between viewing or downloading company information for free and ordering a certified company certificate. They are not necessarily the same thing. This guide explains how to download or obtain your Certificate of Incorporation, what to do if you have lost the original, when you need a certified copy, how much it costs, and what international founders should know before submitting the document to a third party.

What Is a Certificate of Incorporation?

A Certificate of Incorporation is the official document issued by Companies House when a company is successfully incorporated. It confirms that the company has been legally registered and provides important identifying information, including:

• Company name
• Company registration number
• Date of incorporation
• Type of company
• Registered office jurisdiction

The certificate is different from your company's general Companies House profile, annual accounts, confirmation statement, memorandum and articles of association, share certificate or HMRC UTR. For a new founder, the simplest way to think about it is: The Certificate of Incorporation is evidence that your company has been legally incorporated. Companies House provides a public search service where you can find company information, view filing history and access documents associated with a company.

Can You Download Your Certificate of Incorporation for Free?

This is where the process can be confusing. Companies House allows you to download company information and certain documents from its online services for free. However, if you specifically need a certified company certificate, Companies House operates a separate paid certificate-ordering service.

If you are simply trying to locate the original incorporation documents issued when your company was formed, you may also be able to access relevant documents through your incorporation provider or your company records. If an organisation specifically asks for a certified Certificate of Incorporation, do not assume that a screenshot or ordinary copy from the Companies House website will meet its requirements. The correct document depends on what the recipient has requested.

How to Find Your Company on Companies House

The first step is to locate your company's official Companies House record. Go to the official Find and update company information service:

You can search using your:

• Company name
• Company number
• Officer name

Companies House displays the company's profile, filing history and other information available on the public register.

Why Your Company Number Is Better Than Your Company Name

If you know your company number, use it. Company names can be similar, particularly when searching for common words such as "Global", "Digital", "Solutions" or "Consulting". Your company number uniquely identifies your registered company and reduces the risk of selecting the wrong business. For example, if your company is ABC Digital Ltd, searching by name may return multiple results. Searching by the company's registration number should take you directly to the correct record.

How to Download Your Incorporation Documents

If you are looking for documents associated with your company's incorporation, start from the company's Companies House record.

Step 1: Search for Your Company

Open the Companies House search service and enter your company name or registration number. Select the correct company from the results.

Step 2: Open the Company's Record

Once you have selected the company, you will see its public company profile. This normally includes sections such as:

• Company overview
• Filing history
• Officers
• Persons with Significant Control
• Charges
• More information

The Companies House service allows users to view company data and document images.

Step 3: Check the Filing History

Open Filing history and look for documents connected with the company's incorporation. The filing history contains documents submitted to or issued by Companies House during the company's life. Depending on the company and the information available, you may find incorporation-related documents and other filings. Companies House states that documents in the filing history can be downloaded from its service.

Step 4: Download the Available Document

If the document you need is available for download, open it and save a copy to your computer. It is a good idea to rename the file clearly, for example: ABC Digital Ltd Certificate of Incorporation.pdf, Then store it in your company's main corporate records folder.

What If You Cannot Find the Original Certificate?

This is common, particularly if the company was incorporated several years ago or through a third-party formation service. Do not panic. The company still exists even if you have lost your copy of the certificate. Companies House maintains the official company record, and its services allow you to order certificates and certified copies of documents. There are effectively two situations to distinguish:

You need an ordinary copy for your records:
Start by checking your existing company documents, incorporation email and Companies House records.

A bank, government authority, investor or overseas organisation specifically requires a certified certificate:
Use the official Companies House certificate-ordering service. That distinction can save you from paying for a certified document when an ordinary copy is sufficient.

How to Order a Certified Certificate of Incorporation

If you need an official certified certificate, Companies House provides an online ordering process. From the company's Companies House record, go to the More section and select the option to order a company certificate. Companies House confirms that certificates can be ordered through the Find and update company information service.

What You Need

For an online order, you will generally need:

• The correct company record
• A delivery address
• A credit or debit card
• Details of the certificate you require

Companies House allows UK and international delivery addresses for certificate orders.

How Much Does a Certified Certificate Cost?

As of 2026, Companies House lists the following charges for certified certificates and documents:

The express service requires orders to be placed before 11am for same-day dispatch. Orders placed after that time are dispatched on the next working day. These are charges for the Companies House certification service and are separate from any fees an incorporation agent may charge for its own services.

What Is an Incorporation Package?

Sometimes you may need more than the Certificate of Incorporation. Companies House allows you to order an incorporation package, which contains documents issued when the company was originally formed. This can be useful when a bank, solicitor, investor or overseas authority asks for a broader set of incorporation documents rather than just the certificate. For example, you might be asked for:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum of Association
• Articles of Association
• Incorporation-related company information

Instead of ordering individual documents without knowing exactly what is required, check with the organisation requesting them.

Certificate of Incorporation vs Certified Certificate

These terms can cause unnecessary confusion.

Certificate of Incorporation

This is the certificate issued when the company is incorporated. It confirms the company's incorporation and contains its core registration details.

Certified Company Certificate

This is a certificate ordered from Companies House containing certified information about the company. Companies House describes this as a certificate that can be used to prove that a company is incorporated and that no action is currently being taken to remove it from the register. If someone specifically says they need a certified certificate, make sure you order the appropriate Companies House product rather than simply downloading a normal copy of company information.

When Do You Need a Certified Certificate?

Not every business transaction requires certification. A normal copy may be enough for some purposes, while others may require a certified document. You may be asked for a certified certificate when dealing with:

• Overseas government authorities
• Foreign banks
• International payment providers
• Legal professionals
• Corporate service providers
• Investors
• Due-diligence processes
• Cross-border transactions
• Company registration authorities in another country

The exact requirement comes from the organisation requesting the document. If they say "provide your Certificate of Incorporation," ask whether they require an ordinary copy or a certified copy before ordering.

What If the Certificate Is Needed Outside the UK?

This is particularly important for international founders. Suppose you formed a UK company while living in Nigeria and now want to use the company to establish a business relationship with an organisation in another country. The organisation may ask for a certified Certificate of Incorporation and possibly additional authentication.

In some cases, you may need the document to be legalised. Companies House explains that certificates and documents can be legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) where the applicable requirements are met. For Hague Convention countries, legalisation can provide international authentication of the document. However, legalisation is not automatically required simply because the company or founder is based outside the UK. The safest approach is to ask the receiving authority exactly what it requires:

• Ordinary copy?
• Certified certificate?
• Certified incorporation documents?
• Legalised document?
• Apostille?
• Additional company documents?

This prevents unnecessary costs and delays.

Can a Certified Certificate Include Extra Information?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Companies House allows you to request additional certified facts on a company certificate. These can include information such as:

• Directors' names
• Certain director details
• Secretaries' names
• Registered office address
• Company objects
• A summary statement

Companies House says a summary statement confirms that the company has been in continuous existence since incorporation and that no action is currently being taken to remove it from the register, subject to the eligibility requirements. However, there are limitations. Companies House states that certificates cannot include additional information about:

• People with Significant Control
• Shareholders
• Shareholdings
• Statement of capital

If you need those details, you may need to obtain the relevant company information or documents separately.

What If You Need Proof That Your Company Is Active?

A Certificate of Incorporation proves that the company was incorporated. It does not, by itself, provide a complete picture of the company's current compliance status. For example, a company could have been incorporated in 2022 but later become overdue with accounts or confirmation statements.

If an organisation wants evidence that the company is currently in good standing or compliant, it may request additional documentation. Companies House offers a summary statement in certain circumstances, subject to eligibility requirements including the company's filing position. This is why it is important to understand exactly what the requesting organisation means by "company certificate."

Common Problems When Downloading a Certificate

You Are Looking at the Wrong Company

Always verify the:

• Legal company name
• Company number
• Registered office details

before downloading or ordering anything.

You Are Searching Only by Company Name

Use the company number whenever possible. It is much more precise than a name search.

You Need a Certified Copy but Downloaded a Normal Document

A downloadable Companies House document may not satisfy a request for certification. Check the wording of the request before submitting your document.

You Need an Overseas-Use Document

If the certificate will be submitted to an overseas authority, determine whether certification, legalisation or an apostille is required before ordering.

You Need More Than the Certificate

A bank or investor may request several incorporation documents. If they ask for "incorporation documents," they may not be referring exclusively to the Certificate of Incorporation.

How Global Founders Should Store Their Certificate

For founders running UK companies remotely, document management is particularly important. Create a secure digital company folder containing:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Share certificates
• PSC information
• Confirmation statements
• Annual accounts
• HMRC correspondence
• UTR information
• Companies House filings
• Banking documentation
• Important contracts

Keep at least one secure backup. If you operate a company from outside the UK, this can prevent a simple lost-document problem from becoming a delay when opening a bank account, applying for a payment service or completing business verification.

IncorpUK takes this broader company-management approach for global founders, combining UK company formation with company document support, registered office and mail services, banking and payment guidance, compliance resources and AI-powered company-management tools. The platform is designed to help founders manage the responsibilities that continue after incorporation rather than treating company formation as a one-off event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download my Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House?

You can access your company's information and available documents through the Companies House online service. However, if you specifically require a certified company certificate, you need to use the Companies House certificate-ordering service.

How do I find my Certificate of Incorporation online?

Search for your company on the official Companies House service using its company name or registration number. From the company record, check the available documents and the More section for certificate-ordering options.

Is a Certificate of Incorporation free?

Your original Certificate of Incorporation is issued as part of the incorporation process. Companies House also provides free access to company information and certain documents. However, ordering a certified certificate is a paid service. The current standard certified certificate fee is £22.

How much does a certified Certificate of Incorporation cost?

As of 2026, Companies House charges £22 for a standard certificate and £65 for an express certificate. Incorporation document packages have separate fees.

Can I get my Certificate of Incorporation if I lost it?

Yes. Losing your copy does not affect the company's legal existence. You can use Companies House to order a company certificate or certified copies of relevant documents.

Can I order a Certificate of Incorporation from outside the UK?

Yes. Companies House accepts international delivery addresses for certificate orders.

What is the difference between a certificate and an incorporation package?

A certificate provides evidence of the company's incorporation and certified company information. An incorporation package contains documents issued when the company was originally formed.

Do I need an apostille for my Certificate of Incorporation?

Not necessarily. It depends on the organisation and country where the document will be used. If authentication is required, Companies House provides guidance on legalising certificates through the FCDO.

Does a Certificate of Incorporation prove that my company is currently compliant?

No. It confirms incorporation, but ongoing compliance involves other responsibilities such as filing accounts, confirmation statements and maintaining accurate company information.

Can a Certificate of Incorporation prove my company is still active?

Not by itself. If you need evidence of the company's current status or filing position, the requesting organisation may require additional Companies House information or a certificate containing relevant certified facts.

Conclusion

Downloading or obtaining your Certificate of Incorporation is usually straightforward once you understand which document you actually need. Start by searching for your company on the official Companies House service using your company number. Check the company's filing history and available documents. If you simply need an ordinary copy for your records, the information and documents available through Companies House may be sufficient. If a bank, government authority, investor or other organisation specifically requires a certified certificate, use the Companies House certificate-ordering service instead.

For international founders, pay particular attention to whether the certificate needs to be certified or legalised before it is submitted abroad. Most importantly, keep your Certificate of Incorporation securely stored alongside the rest of your company's corporate documents. It is one of the foundational records of your UK company, and having it readily available can make future banking, investment, payment and business-verification processes considerably easier.