Companies House is introducing a new identity verification process to help deter those wishing to use companies for illegal purposes. Anyone setting up, running, owning, or controlling a company in the UK will need to verify their identity to prove they are who they claim to be.
These changes are Mandatory from 18 November 2025; however, you can verify your identity anytime before 18 November 2025.
The Key change:
Mandatory from 18 November 2025: All new directors and existing directors will need to be verified by this date or when their company’s next confirmation statement is filed, whichever is sooner.
Who needs to verify?
You’ll need to verify your identity if you are:
- A director
- The equivalent of a director – this includes members, general partners and managing officers
- A person with significant control (PSC)
- An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – also known as a Companies House authorised agent
- Someone who files for a company, for example, a company secretary
For multiple companies:
Regardless of how many companies you are managing/associated with, in most cases, you’ll only need to verify your identity once. You must not verify again unless you are requested to.
At the end of this process, you will get a personal code (11-digit XXX-XXXX-XXXX) which you need to keep in a safe place.
Please give this code to the Accountant/Professional who is submitting your documents (for example Annual Accounts, Companies House Confirmation, etc) on Companies House.
What happens if you do not verify?
You will not be able to:
- make any filings
- start a new company or entity
The key decision:
- Do you want to do this yourself? Or
- You want your Accountant to complete this process? This will involve fees.
The preparation:
- Please keep your Computer, Laptop, Tablet, etc, ready
- Please keep your Smart Mobile Phone ready
- You will need to use both of these devices
The process:
In order to verify your identity yourself, please follow these steps.
Step 1
Collect these documents and keep it ready to complete the “Identity Verification” process:
- 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)
Step 2
Create your account with Gov.UK One and verify your email address. Here is the link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house
Step 3
Read the page very carefully
Step 4
Start the process by clicking on the green button “Verify Your Identity”.
Step 5
Select “No” when asked the following question:
Has your identity been verified for Companies House?
Please remember:
- You will need to download the Gov.one on your Smart Mobile Phone
- If you are verifying from your computer, you will be asked to switch to your mobile device (Android or iPhone) to complete scanning of your passport and biometric reading.
- This app will scan your face for biometric reading
- Scanning a passport is a little difficult, but be patient and follow the online/screen instructions.
- For a passport, you will need to scan the inside page with your picture.
- For a passport, you will also need to scan with a camera the front page, see below
- After scanning the passport, your address verification process will start.
At the end of this process, you will get a personal code (11-digit XXX-XXXX-XXXX) which you need to keep in a safe place.
Please give this code to the Accountant/Professional who is submitting your documents (for example, Annual Accounts, Companies House Confirmation, etc) on Companies House.