Companies House ID Verification Guide
Companies House identity verification (IDV) is now a legal requirement and one of the biggest UK compliance shifts in years. If your directors and PSCs don’t verify correctly (and provide their personal codes at the right time), your company can be blocked from key filings such as the confirmation statement—creating avoidable compliance risk for UK and overseas founders alike.
From 18 November 2025, Companies House identity verification (IDV) became mandatory, with a transition period to bring existing directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) onto the new system. This is designed to improve trust in the UK companies register by ensuring the people running and controlling companies are genuine, identifiable individuals.
For businesses, the practical impact is simple but significant: verification is step 1, and using the Companies House personal code correctly is step 2. If you miss step 2, you can still get stuck when filing (especially at confirmation statement time).
Quick takeaway: Most people verify once and receive a Companies House personal code.
You then provide that code when required for your role (director / PSC) and filing trigger (e.g., confirmation statement).
Why identity verification is being introduced
Identity verification is part of the wider Companies House reforms to improve the accuracy and integrity of the UK corporate register. The goal is to reduce misuse of UK companies and make it harder to hide behind false or stolen identities. Once verified, the system links your identity to your Companies House roles via a personal code.
Who needs to verify?
Identity verification applies to a wide range of roles, including:
- Directors of UK limited companies
- People with Significant Control (PSCs)
- Individuals in director-equivalent roles (e.g., managing officers in certain entities)
- Directors of some overseas companies registered in the UK
- Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) (authorised agents who can verify and file for clients)
Additional groups are introduced in phases (for example, some people who file at Companies House, certain partnership structures, corporate officers of corporate PSCs, etc.). If you operate a group structure or have corporate PSC chains, it’s worth mapping roles early.
Key dates and timeline (2025–2026)
| Date / period | What happens | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| 8 April 2025 | Voluntary identity verification became available | Anyone in scope could verify early |
| 18 November 2025 | ID verification becomes a legal requirement; transition period begins | Directors, PSCs and others as phased in |
| Role-specific due dates | Check the next confirmation statement for directors and the separate applicable 14-day period for PSCs. | Existing directors and PSCs; check each role separately. |
Important: 18 November 2025 is not a single deadline for everyone.
It marks the start of the mandatory regime. Your “real” due date depends on your role and the next filing trigger.
How to verify: two routes
You can verify your identity in one of two ways:
- Directly via GOV.UK One Login (usually free).
- Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) (authorised agent; may charge a fee).
| Route | Typical cost | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verify directly (GOV.UK One Login) | Free | Most directors and PSCs with suitable ID | Fast if you can complete the online steps without support |
| Verify via ACSP | Paid (varies) | Overseas founders, complex structures, or those needing guided support | ACSP must be authorised and must meet the IDV standard under the regime |
What you need for online verification (GOV.UK One Login)
Online verification requires eligible photo ID and supporting details. Companies House guidance lists these common accepted photo IDs:
| Accepted photo ID (online verification) |
|---|
| Biometric passport (any country) |
| UK photo driving licence (full or provisional) |
| UK biometric residence permit (BRP) |
| UK biometric residence card (BRC) |
| UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP) |
You’ll also typically need your current address and the year you moved in, plus a unique email address for GOV.UK One Login. If you cannot complete the online route, an authorised agent (ACSP) may be able to support verification under the rules.
The Companies House personal code
After verifying, you receive a Companies House personal code. This code is personal to you (not your company). You use it to link your verified identity to Companies House roles and filings. Keep it secure and only share it with trusted people responsible for filings.
Common mistake: completing verification but not providing the personal code at the next filing point.
Verification is step 1; using the code correctly is step 2.
When must you provide the personal code? (Directors vs PSCs)
Directors (and equivalent roles)
- Existing directors: the personal code is typically provided in the company’s next confirmation statement. If directors are not verified/linked correctly, the confirmation statement may not be accepted.
- New incorporations: you must provide the Companies House personal code for each director as part of the registration filing.
- Overseas companies with a UK establishment: confirm that all directors have verified their identity by the anniversary of the UK establishment’s registration.
PSCs (People with Significant Control)
PSC timing can be more nuanced than director timing because it can involve a 14-day submission window depending on the scenario. If you have multiple PSCs (or corporate PSC chains), it’s wise to add reminders to your compliance calendar.
| PSC scenario | When you must provide the personal code |
|---|---|
| PSC and director of the same company | Provide the director code in the confirmation statement. Then provide the PSC code via the PSC service within the relevant statutory window linked to that confirmation statement. |
| PSC but not a director of the same company | Provide the PSC code in the statutory window applicable to your circumstances (commonly linked to birth-month rules under the regime). |
| Became a PSC after the mandatory regime started | Provide the personal code when PSC details are first added/updated (or within the statutory timeframe). |
What happens if you don’t verify (or miss the due date)?
Failing to comply can result in enforcement action, including penalties. In practice, the immediate business risk is often filing disruption—especially for confirmation statements—because the system may require verified roles and valid personal codes before it will accept certain submissions.
Practical checklist: what to do now (especially for non-UK resident directors)
- Map roles: list every director and PSC (including overseas directors and corporate PSC structures).
- Verify early: don’t wait for the confirmation statement deadline—avoid last-minute ID, access, or admin issues.
- Confirm ID options: ensure each person has eligible photo ID for the online route, or plan for an ACSP route.
- Secure personal codes: store safely and define who can use them for filings (and when).
- Update your filing workflow: ensure your next confirmation statement captures directors’ personal codes correctly.
- Diarise PSC steps: set reminders for PSC windows and PSC updates (especially where roles overlap).
Need help keeping everything compliant?
If you’re an overseas founder, you manage multiple directors/PSCs, or you want to avoid confirmation statement issues, Accusolve can help you map your obligations, align your filings, and keep your UK company compliant without overcomplicating the process.
Sources & official guidance
FAQs: Companies House identity verification
No. It marks the start of the mandatory identity verification regime. Your practical “deadline” depends on your role
and the next filing trigger (for example, the next confirmation statement for existing directors).
You generally verify once and receive a personal code. You then use that code to link your verified identity to each
Companies House role where it’s required (for example, across multiple companies where you are a director or PSC).
It’s a unique code issued after you verify. It links your verified identity to your Companies House appointments and
is used during certain filings and role updates. Keep it secure and share it only with trusted people handling filings.
If required verification and personal code details are missing or incorrect, your company may be unable to complete the
confirmation statement filing. This can create a knock-on compliance risk and may lead to enforcement action if not resolved.
Yes. Many non-UK residents can verify using a biometric passport via the online route. If you cannot complete the online steps,
you may be able to use an authorised agent (ACSP) who can carry out verification checks under the rules.
Verify directly if you have eligible ID and you’re comfortable with the process. Consider an ACSP if you want guided support,
have more complex structures, or need help coordinating verification across multiple directors/PSCs.
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