Companies House Identity Verification Legal Requirement

Companies House Latest News

Published November 18th, 2025

Detected February 11th, 2026

Summary

Companies House has issued guidance stating that identity verification for directors and persons with significant control will become a legal requirement from November 18, 2025. This marks the start of a 12-month transition period for companies to comply.

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What changed

From November 18, 2025, Companies House will legally require identity verification for all directors and persons with significant control (PSCs). This date initiates a 12-month transition period, meaning companies must ensure all relevant individuals have verified their identity by their respective due dates within this year.

Regulated entities, particularly those with directors and PSCs, must review their internal processes to ensure compliance. Companies need to guide their directors and PSCs on the available verification methods, including online verification via GOV.UK One Login using specific photo IDs or alternative methods like in-person verification at the Post Office or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Failure to comply by the end of the transition period may result in penalties, though specific consequences are not detailed in this guidance.

What to do next

Review Companies House identity verification requirements for directors and PSCs.
Develop or update internal procedures to facilitate identity verification for relevant individuals.
Communicate verification requirements and available methods to directors and PSCs.

Source document (simplified)

Guidance

Verify your identity for Companies House

Use this service to verify your identity for Companies House.

From: Companies House Published 8 April 2025 Last updated 10 February 2026
— See all updates Get emails about this page Print this page From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes a legal requirement.

This date is not a deadline. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving your company time to make sure all directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have verified their identity by their due dates.

Find out when you need to verify for Companies House.

What you need

You can verify yourself online with GOV.UK One Login if you have one of the following types of photo ID:

biometric passport from 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 need:
your current address, and the year you moved in
to sign in to or create a GOV.UK One Login
Your verified identity will be connected to your GOV.UK One Login. If other people use the same email address as you to access GOV.UK One Login, they’ll need to create their own using a different email address. An email address can only be used once to verify an identity.

What a biometric passport is

Biometric passports have a small rectangular symbol on the front cover. You can use them to go through electronic gates at airports and international train stations.

All UK passports issued after 2006 are biometric.

How to verify if you do not have these types of photo ID

Use this GOV.UK One Login service to find out how you can verify your identity.

If you live in the UK, the service will let you know if you can verify:

with bank or building society details - you’ll then need to provide your National Insurance number and answer some security questions
in person at the Post Office - you’ll need to enter your photo ID details in this service first Read the guidance about verifying your identity.

Verify your identity

Check service availability and status updates for GOV.UK One Login.

You can contact the GOV.UK One Login team to get help, report a problem or give feedback.

How your information is stored and used

To find out how your information is stored and used when you verify your identity with GOV.UK One Login, check the GOV.UK One Login privacy notice.

Other ways to verify

You can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor, to verify your identity on your behalf. This is also known as a Companies House authorised agent.

You’ll need to provide suitable identity documents.

How to find an ACSP

If you have an existing accountant or solicitor (or any other AML-supervised professional), you can ask them if they are registered with Companies House as an ACSP. If not, you can find one using the list of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs).

Fraud warning: do not let others use your identity.

Do not sell or give away your identity to enable people you do not trust to set up or run a company. Criminals can take out loans and other debt in your name, and you will be legally responsible.

Read advice from AbilityNet on how to adapt your device to meet your needs. For example, changing the background colour or text size.

Published 8 April 2025 Last updated 10 February 2026 show all updates
1.
10 February 2026

Added section "How your information is stored and used" with a link to the GOV.UK One Login privacy notice.
2.
27 November 2025

You cannot verify your identity at a Post Office without entering details from your photo ID on GOV.UK first. Content added to bullet to clarify - you must enter your photo ID details on this service first.
3.
17 November 2025

From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes a legal requirement. This date is not a deadline. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving your company time to make sure all directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have verified their identity by their due dates.
4.
5 November 2025

Section added – how to find an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
5.
4 November 2025

Section updated - How to verify if you do not have these types of photo ID.
6.
15 April 2025

Content added for clarity: Your verified identity will be connected to your GOV.UK One Login. If other people use the same email address as you to access GOV.UK One Login, they’ll need to create their own using a different email address. An email address can only be used once to verify an identity.
7.
8 April 2025

Added translation
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