What Information Do You Need to Appoint a New Company Director?

Appointing a new director to a UK limited company is relatively straightforward, but Companies House requires specific information before the appointment can be properly registered. For an individual director, the company will generally need details such as the director’s full name, former names, nationality, country or state of residence, month and year of birth, occupation, service address, residential address, appointment date, and Companies House identity-verification details. The director must also consent to acting in the role.

Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has become a legal requirement for new directors. A person being appointed to an existing company must verify their identity before the appointment is notified to Companies House. This guide explains exactly what information you need, what becomes public, what remains private, and the practical steps involved.

What Information Is Needed to Appoint a Director?

For a typical individual director, prepare the following:

• Company name and Companies House number
• Proposed director's full legal name
• Any former names used for business purposes in the last 20 years
• Country or state of residence
• Nationality
• Month and year of birth
• Full date of birth
• Business occupation, if applicable
• Service address
• Usual residential address
• Date of appointment
• Companies House personal code
• Confirmation that the director has consented to act
• Identity-verification confirmation

The exact information is reflected in the current AP01 appointment of director process. Companies House also requires the director's identity-verification details as part of the appointment filing. Let's look at each requirement in more detail.

1. Company Name and Companies House Number

You first need to identify the company receiving the new director. This normally means having:

• The company's registered name
• Its Companies House registration number

The company number is particularly important because many companies can have similar names. It ensures the appointment is being made against the correct legal entity. Before submitting the filing, check the company's current information on the Companies House register.

2. The Director's Full Name

You need the proposed director's name as it should appear on the Companies House record. This includes their full forename or forenames and surname. It is important to use accurate information rather than a nickname or informal version of the person's name.

There is, however, a distinction between the name used on the appointment filing and the name verified through the Companies House identity-verification process. The current AP01 process asks whether the name provided matches the verified name and provides options where there is a legitimate difference, such as a legally changed name, preferred name, translation, or different naming convention.

What if the director has changed their name?

Companies House asks for former names used for business purposes during the previous 20 years. For example, someone who previously operated professionally under a different surname may need to disclose that former name when appointed. This is particularly important for directors who have changed their name through marriage, divorce, legal change or another circumstance.

3. Nationality

The director's nationality is required. Companies House uses a standard list of nationalities and countries when completing the appointment information. For international founders, this is an important point: a director does not generally need to be a British citizen to become a director of a UK company.

A Nigerian, Canadian, Indian, American, South African or other overseas national can potentially become a director, provided the legal requirements are satisfied. Nationality should not be confused with tax residence or immigration status.

4. Country or State of Residence

You also need the director's country or state of residence. This relates to the person's usual residential address rather than the location of the company. For example, a UK company could appoint a director who ordinarily lives in:

• Nigeria
• the United States
• Germany
• the United Arab Emirates
• Singapore

The fact that a director lives outside the UK does not, by itself, prevent the appointment. However, international directors should consider separate tax, immigration and regulatory consequences before taking the role. Being appointed as a UK company director does not itself give someone permission to live or work in the UK.

5. Date of Birth

Companies House requires the director's full date of birth, but the information is treated differently from most information on the public register. The full date of birth is not publicly displayed. For directors appointed after 10 October 2015, Companies House generally makes only the month and year publicly available.

So you should have the director's complete date of birth available when completing the appointment. This is one reason it is important to distinguish between information required by Companies House and information that appears publicly.

6. Business Occupation

The appointment information can include the director's business occupation. If the person has a business occupation, it can be entered. If they do not, the field can be left blank. This does not mean the director needs to be employed by the company. For example, a company could appoint someone whose occupation is:

• Consultant
• Software developer
• Accountant
• Entrepreneur
• Marketing professional
• Business owner

The director's occupation is separate from their legal responsibilities as a company director.

7. Service Address

Every individual director needs a service address for official correspondence. This is the address that appears on the public Companies House record. It can be the director's home address, but it does not have to be.

A director may therefore use an appropriate professional or company-related address as their service address rather than publicly displaying their residential address. For founders concerned about privacy, this distinction is extremely important.

Service address vs residential address

These are not necessarily the same thing.

A service address must be a physical location where official documents can be delivered; it should not simply be treated as a substitute for a PO Box. Companies House guidance also makes clear that the service address can be the same as the company's registered office.

8. Usual Residential Address

Companies House also requires the director's usual residential address. Unlike the service address, this information is not normally available for public inspection. This information is held in the company's residential address records and is used for official purposes.

This means an overseas director can provide their actual overseas residential address. They do not need to invent or obtain a UK home address simply to become a director.

9. Date the Appointment Takes Effect

You need to specify when the person becomes a director. The appointment date matters because the company has a legal obligation to notify Companies House of changes to its directors. Companies House must generally be notified of a director appointment within 14 days of the person becoming a director.

This should not be confused with the date on which the company decides internally to appoint someone if the legal appointment takes effect on a different date. Good corporate records should clearly document the decision and effective date.

10. Companies House Personal Code

This is one of the most important changes for anyone appointing a new director today. A new director must verify their identity before their appointment is notified to Companies House. After successful verification, the individual receives an 11-character Companies House personal code.

The code belongs to the person, not to the company. If someone is a director of several companies, they normally verify their identity once and use the same personal code for each relevant appointment, while still providing it separately for each company.

How can a director verify their identity?

Identity verification can be completed through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an eligible accountant or solicitor.

For online verification, acceptable identity documents can include a biometric passport from any country, as well as certain UK identity documents. This is particularly useful for non-UK directors because a British passport is not a requirement simply to complete Companies House identity verification.

11. Consent to Act as Director

The proposed director must agree to act as a director. This is more than an administrative formality. A director takes on legal responsibilities once appointed. The company should therefore make sure the individual understands the role before submitting the appointment.

Companies House guidance and the relevant legislation require the appointment notification to include the appropriate consent to act. A person should never be added as a director simply because someone wants to use their name, address or identity.

What Documents Does the New Director Need?

It is useful to distinguish between information needed for the appointment filing and documents needed for identity verification. For the appointment itself, Companies House primarily requires the relevant director information and identity-verification details.

For identity verification, the proposed director needs suitable identity documentation. GOV.UK One Login can accept a biometric passport from any country, among other qualifying documents. An ACSP may have its own process and may request additional documentation to complete the verification. The safest approach is to prepare the person's identification before starting the appointment process.

Does the New Director Need to Be a Shareholder?

No. A director and a shareholder have different legal roles. A company can appoint someone as a director without giving that person any shares. For example, suppose Sarah owns 100% of a UK company but wants her experienced operations manager, David, to join the board. David can become a director while Sarah remains the sole shareholder. If David is subsequently given shares, that is a separate ownership transaction and may create additional Companies House reporting requirements.

Does Appointing a Director Make Them a PSC?

Not automatically. A Person with Significant Control (PSC) is generally someone who, for example, owns more than 25% of the company's shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove a majority of the directors, or otherwise exercises significant control.

Therefore, appointing a new director does not by itself make them a PSC. However, if the new director also receives significant ownership or control rights, the company's PSC position should be reviewed. This is an area where founders can easily overlook a second filing obligation.

A Practical Checklist for Appointing a New Director

Before submitting the appointment, gather:

Company information

• Company name
• Companies House number
• Effective appointment date

Director information

• Full name
• Former names used for business purposes
• Nationality
• Country/state of residence
• Month and year of birth
• Full date of birth
• Business occupation, where applicable
• Service address
• Usual residential address

Verification and consent

• Completed identity verification
• Companies House personal code
• Confirmation that the director has agreed to act

After appointment

• Notify Companies House within 14 days
• Check the public register
• Review whether the appointment affects PSC information
• Update internal company records
• Give the new director access to relevant company information and governance documents

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the wrong address

Do not confuse the company's registered office with the director's service address or residential address. They serve different purposes.

Assuming a UK address is mandatory for an overseas director

It is not generally necessary for an individual director to live in the UK. The company itself must maintain the appropriate registered office requirements.

Forgetting identity verification

Under the current regime, identity verification is a fundamental part of appointing a new director. The appointment cannot simply be treated as an old-style Companies House formality.

Giving someone shares without considering PSC requirements

If the new director also receives substantial ownership or control, review the company's PSC position rather than treating the share transfer or allotment as unrelated paperwork.

Treating a director as a nominee

A director has genuine legal responsibilities. Appointing someone merely to lend their name or identity can create serious problems for both the company and the individual.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information do I need to appoint a director in the UK?

You generally need the director's name, former names, nationality, country or state of residence, date of birth, occupation where applicable, service address, residential address, appointment date, identity-verification details and Companies House personal code.

Does a new director need a UK address?

Not necessarily. An overseas individual can be a director of a UK company. The director must provide the required service and residential address information, while the company separately needs a compliant UK registered office.

Does a director need a UK passport?

No. UK citizenship or a UK passport is not a general requirement for becoming a director. Identity verification can accept qualifying identification such as a biometric passport from any country.

Is a director's home address publicly visible?

The director's usual residential address is generally kept off the public Companies House register. The service address, however, is publicly available.

Does a director need to own shares?

No. A director can have no shares in the company. Directorship concerns management and governance, while shareholding concerns ownership.

How long do I have to notify Companies House of a new director?

The company generally has 14 days from the director becoming a director to notify Companies House.

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

Yes. A director does not generally have to live in the UK. However, international founders and directors should consider tax, social security and immigration consequences separately from the Companies House appointment.

Does appointing a director automatically make them a PSC?

No. Directorship and significant control are separate concepts. A director becomes a PSC only if they meet the relevant control criteria.

Conclusion

Appointing a new UK company director is straightforward when the required information is prepared correctly. The core requirements are the proposed director's personal details, service and residential addresses, appointment date, consent to act and, under the current Companies House regime, successful identity verification and the individual's personal code.

For founders, the most important lesson is to treat the appointment as more than simply adding another name to Companies House. A director takes on legal responsibilities, and the appointment can have wider consequences for company governance, PSC reporting, tax, banking and day-to-day management. For international entrepreneurs, the process is also more accessible than many assume: a director can generally live overseas and does not need to be a UK citizen or hold a UK passport.

Platforms such as IncorpUK, a UK company formation and management platform for global founders, can be useful for navigating the wider administrative infrastructure around running a UK company. The legal responsibility for ensuring that director information is accurate and that statutory obligations are met, however, remains with the company and its officers.

The best approach is simple: collect the correct information, verify the new director's identity, document the appointment properly, file it within 14 days, and check whether the change creates any additional PSC or corporate reporting obligations.