Summary
- From 18 November 2025, all directors, PSCs, and LLP members must verify their identity with Companies House or risk being unable to file documents, incorporate companies, or continue in their roles.
- Verification produces a personal code that must be submitted with relevant filings, and failure to comply may result in fines or disqualification.
- Verification can be completed online, at a Post Office, or through an authorised agent (ACSP).
- This article is a plain-English guide to the UK’s compulsory identity verification requirements at Companies House, written for business owners and directors operating in the United Kingdom.
- It has been produced by LegalVision, a commercial law firm that specialises in advising clients on corporate compliance and company law.
Tips for Businesses
Check that all Companies House records are accurate before the November deadline. Identify every director, PSC, and LLP member who needs to verify. Begin the GOV.UK One Login process early to avoid filing delays. If individuals cannot verify online, arrange Post Office or ACSP verification in advance.
Identity verification is a compulsory compliance requirement that confirms the identity of company directors, PSCs, and LLP members under UK law. From 18 November 2025, Companies House will require all such individuals to verify their identity as part of reforms designed to improve register accuracy and reduce fraud. This article details the key pieces of information you need to know.
When you incorporate a company in England and Wales, you must maintain a number of company registers at its registered office or at the Companies House. This template includes these company registers.
Why You Need to Verify
The UK government is introducing identity checks to ensure that individuals listed on the Companies House register are who they say they are. These changes are being introduced for the following reasons:
- to make it harder for fraudsters to misuse company structures;
- to increase trust in the information available on the register; and
- to help ensure the accuracy and integrity of business records.
Who Needs to Verify Their Identity?
From 18 November 2025, identity verification will be required for:
- new directors and people with significant control (PSCs);
- existing directors and PSCs; and
- new and existing members of a limited liability partnership (LLP).
These verification requirements also apply to individual directors of overseas companies with UK establishments.
Verification for the following people will be introduced at a later date:
- people who file at Companies House;
- limited partnerships;
- corporate directors of companies;
- corporate members of LLPs; and
- officers of corporate PSCs.
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When Does the Verification Need to Take Place?
From 8 April 2025, individuals can voluntarily verify their identity through Companies House through GOV.UK One Login. After successfully verifying their identity, Companies House will issue the person a personal code, which will link their identity to all positions they may hold. We have outlined below the current timeframes for individual directors, PSCs, and LLP members to verify their identities.
1. Existing directors who are also PSCs
Verification will need to be completed before the Company’s confirmation statement is due, as you will need to provide your personal codes with the confirmation statement in your capacity as a director.
Individual directors will then need to provide the code to Companies House via a separate service in their capacity as a PSC within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date.
2. PSCs who are not company directors
They will have 14 days, starting on the first day of their birthday month, to provide Companies House with their personal codes; therefore, the verification should be completed well in advance. For example, if the PSC’s date of birth is January 22, their 14-day period will begin on January 1.
3. Members of a limited liability partnership (LLP)
Similar to company directors, the identity will need to be verified before the next confirmation statement is due to have the codes ready to use when filing the confirmation statement.
4. Company/LLP incorporation and new director appointments, and new PSCs
Verification will need to be completed in advance of the incorporation, director appointment or share issue/transfer where there is a new PSC.
For incorporations, the code must be provided with the application. For appointments/PSC notifications, it must be provided with the filing.
If you become a PSC after 18 November 2025, you must provide your personal code within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register.
How to Verify Your Identity Online
You can verify your identity online using the Verify Your Identity for Companies House GOV.UK One Login service. To verify your ID online, you will need one of the following forms of photo ID:
- UK photocard driving licence;
- UK passport;
- non-UK passport with a biometric chip;
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP);
- UK biometric residence card (BRC); or
- UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP).
If you do not have one of these, but live in the UK, you can still verify using your bank or building society details.
At a Post Office
If you cannot verify online, and you are based in the UK, you might be eligible to do it in person at a participating Post Office branch. You will still need to start the process through the GOV.UK One Login service, which will let you know if this is an option for you.
Through an agent (ACSP)
An authorised agent can verify your identity for you. They must register with Companies House and a UK anti-money laundering supervisory body. You can do this from any country, but your agent may charge a fee for their service. You will need to check with your agent whether they are an authorised corporate service provider.
LegalVision will be an ACSP provider from 18 November 2025 and will be able to assist with verifying identities with Companies House from this date.
What Happens After You Verify Your Identity?
Once verified, you will be issued a unique Companies House personal code. This code connects your verified identity to your role(s) and will be needed for certain actions from Autumn 2025, such as:
- filing a confirmation statement; and
- being appointed as a director or PSC.
What If You Do Not Verify?
If you do not complete your identity verification, you will be unable to do any of the following things:
- start a new company; or
- submit filings to Companies House.
You could also be committing an offence. Directors and PSCs who continue in their roles without verifying may face fines, disqualification, or other legal consequences.
It is essential to be able to submit filings to Companies House as a business owner, as certain decisions must be filed with Companies House by law. These include the appointment or removal of a director, or the issuance of new shares in the company.
What Should You Do Now?
Companies House encourages individuals to verify their identities as early as possible. More than 300,000 individuals have already done so during the current voluntary period, which started in April 2025.
You should promptly:
- Check your current information – Make sure all your director and company details at Companies House are correct and up to date.
- Identify who needs to verify – Work out which individuals in your business need to complete identity verification.
- Monitor your email – Companies House is writing to all registered email addresses to inform companies about identity verification requirements.
- Check verification deadlines – From 18 November 2025, you can check the Companies House register to see identity verification due dates for all your roles.
Consider verifying voluntarily now – You can already start the process through GOV.UK One Login or by having an ACSP provider do this for you, which might save stress later.
LegalVision will be an ACSP provider from 18 November 2025 and will be able to assist with verifying identities with Companies House from this date.
Key Takeaways
From 18 November 2025, all directors, PSCs, and LLP members must verify their identity with Companies House. Verification can be done online, at a Post Office, or through an authorised agent, and results in a personal code linking your identity to company roles. Without verification, you cannot incorporate a company, file the required documents, or continue in certain roles. To avoid penalties or delays, update company details, identify who must verify, and consider completing the process early.
If you need assistance in verifying your identity with Companies House, our experienced corporate lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to solicitors to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
From 18 November 2025, verification is mandatory. Existing directors must verify before their next confirmation statement; existing PSCs have 14 days from the first day of their birthday month.
You can use bank or building society details if you live in the UK, verify in person at a participating Post Office, or use an authorised agent (ACSP) such as LegalVision.
You cannot incorporate a company, submit filings, or continue in your role. You may face fines, disqualification, or other legal consequences.
Yes. An authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) registered with Companies House and a UK anti-money laundering supervisory body can verify your identity for you, from any country. LegalVision will offer this service from 18 November 2025.
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