Director and PSC guide

Companies House Identity Verification: Do It Yourself.

Watch the two short videos below, follow the steps, then click straight through to GOV.UK. Most directors finish in 5 to 20 minutes. If anything sticks, the troubleshooting section and our team are right here.

Start on GOV.UK ▶ Watch the videos

Watch how it's done.

Two short tutorials that show the whole process on screen. New to this? Start with the full walkthrough. Short on time? The quick version covers the key screens.

Full walkthrough

Start here

Every screen of the GOV.UK route, from start to your personal code.

Quick version

2 minutes

A faster overview of the key decision points and what to expect.

Ready to verify? Have your UK passport or photocard driving licence, your phone and about 15 minutes.

It is free on the official GOV.UK service and opens in a new tab.

Start verification on GOV.UK

Deadline reminder: every company must have all its directors and PSCs verified by its next confirmation statement date. If yours is due in the next few months and you are not yet verified, treat this as a priority, because an unverified director now blocks the filing.

Who needs to verify.

You must verify your identity if you fall into one of these categories:

Directors of UK limited companies (private and public, sole director or board member)
Members of LLPs (Limited Liability Partnerships)
People with significant control (PSCs), typically anyone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or with the right to appoint or remove a majority of the directors

Nationality and residency do not matter. A British director living in Singapore must verify, an Italian director in London must verify, the sole shareholder-director of a small UK e-commerce company must verify. If your name appears on a UK register as a director or PSC, you verify.

Already verified for one company?

Then you do not need to verify again for others. Verification is personal and produces one personal code that works for every directorship you hold now or in the future. You only ever do the actual identity check once.

What you need before you start.

Five minutes of preparation saves a failed attempt. Before clicking Start on GOV.UK, gather the following:

Pre-flight checklist

Valid (not expired) UK passport or UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional both fine)
Phone case removed (if you'll be scanning your passport chip with NFC)
Good even lighting, no glare on the document or your face
15 to 20 minutes of uninterrupted time
Glasses, hats and masks off for the selfie step
Email inbox open in another tab (you'll get verification codes there)
Ability to set up two-factor authentication on a phone or authenticator app
Companies House records double-checked: name, date of birth and address must match your ID exactly

What is NOT accepted as ID

Old paper driving licence (without the photocard), birth certificate, national insurance card, council tax bill, utility bill, bank card, foreign passport (for the GOV.UK direct route, although foreign passports are accepted via the ACSP route). If your only photo ID is a foreign passport, jump straight to the methods comparison and pick the ACSP route.

The routes to verify, compared.

The GOV.UK system asks you a few questions and recommends the best fit, but you can choose freely. Here's the picture at a glance:

Fastest, free

1. GOV.UK ID Check app

Download the app on your phone
Scans your UK passport chip via NFC
Selfie video to match your face
5 to 10 minutes
Personal code issued instantly
Needs UK passport (not driving licence)

Online, free

2. Security questions online

Photograph your ID and a selfie in browser
Answer questions based on your UK credit history
Works with passport or photocard licence
10 to 20 minutes
Best if you have established UK credit and address history
Tricky for new arrivals or thin credit files

Face to face, free

3. Post Office

Enter ID details online, download a customer letter with QR code
Visit a participating Post Office branch
Staff scan your QR code, ID and take your photo
30 to 45 minutes including travel
Personal code emailed within a few hours
Good fallback when online routes fail

Broadest ID, paid

4. Via an ACSP

Authorised Corporate Service Provider (chartered accountant, solicitor, formation agent)
Uses regulated AML-grade ID checks
Accepts non-UK passports and broader documentation
Standard route for foreign directors
No need to use GOV.UK One Login
£30 to £100 typically; free for monthly LOYALS clients

Step by step walkthrough.

Below is the full GOV.UK direct route, numbered so you can follow along on screen. If you go via an ACSP, your provider does most of these steps for you and just asks you for ID and a selfie.

Open the GOV.UK Companies House verification service

Go to the official verification service and click the green Start now button.

identity.company-information.service.gov.uk opens in a new tab.

If you've previously checked your verification status, the page will tell you whether you're already verified. If you are, you can stop here.

Sign in or create a GOV.UK One Login

The verification system uses GOV.UK One Login as the front door. If you already have one (you'll have used it for Self Assessment, PAYE or other government services), sign in with the same email and password.

If you don't have one, create it now:

Click "Create a GOV.UK One Login"
Enter your email address (use one you check often, you'll get codes here)
Create a strong password (16+ characters recommended)
Check your email for a 6-digit security code, paste it back into GOV.UK
Set up two-factor authentication: text message code or authenticator app
Confirm the recovery details so you can recover the account if locked out

Answer a few profile questions

GOV.UK One Login asks short questions about you to recommend the best verification method. Typical questions include:

Do you have a UK photocard driving licence?
Do you have a current UK passport?
Do you have a smartphone with a camera?
Have you lived at your current address for at least 3 years?
Do you have a UK bank account or credit card?

Answer honestly. Based on what you say, the system suggests the GOV.UK ID Check app, security questions, or Post Office. You can override the suggestion if you prefer a different route.

Choose your verification method

Pick the method that suits you. The full detail of each:

Method 1

GOV.UK ID Check app (fastest)

Best for: UK passport holders with a recent smartphone (NFC capable).

Download the GOV.UK ID Check app from the App Store or Google Play
Open the app and scan the QR code shown on your computer screen (or continue on the phone if that's where you started)
Hold the back of your phone against your passport's photo page; the app reads the chip via NFC
Take a short selfie video where you slowly move your head left, right, up, down (this is liveness detection)
Wait a few seconds for the check to complete
Personal code displayed on success

Method 2

Security questions online

Best for: anyone with a UK photocard driving licence and an established UK credit history.

Take photos of the front and back of your photocard licence (or your passport photo page) using your computer or phone camera
Take a selfie photo (clear face, no glasses or hat)
Answer 4 to 6 multiple-choice questions based on your UK credit file: previous addresses, mortgage details, account opening dates, credit limits
You usually need at least 3 correct out of the questions asked
Personal code displayed on success

Method 3

Post Office (face to face)

Best for: anyone uncomfortable with online photo capture, those who failed Methods 1 or 2, or those who prefer face-to-face.

Enter your ID details online and select "Verify at the Post Office"
Download and print your customer letter (contains a unique QR code)
See the dedicated Post Office walkthrough below for the in-branch part

Method 4

Via an ACSP (paid, broadest ID acceptance)

Best for: foreign directors, anyone without UK photo ID, those whose name has changed, or those whose other routes have failed repeatedly.

Contact a chartered accountancy or solicitor that is registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (LOYALS partners with one)
Submit your ID and supporting documents to them
They run regulated AML-grade ID checks
They submit verification confirmation to Companies House on your behalf
You receive your personal code without ever using GOV.UK One Login

Get your photos right (the bit most people fail)

Around 60% of failed verifications are photo quality. A few seconds spent on this saves a retry:

Photo capture checklist

Even lighting from the front, no shadows across the document or your face
No glare or reflection on the ID (move slightly until the glare disappears)
All four corners of the ID visible inside the frame
Document flat against a contrasting background (a dark surface for a light ID and vice versa)
Phone or camera held steady, no motion blur
For selfies: face the camera straight on, neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses, no hat
For selfie videos: move slowly and smoothly, follow the on-screen prompts

Receive your personal code

On success you'll see:

An on-screen confirmation that your identity is verified
Your 11-character personal code in the format ABCD-1234-EFGH
An email confirming success and including the code for your records

Save the code immediately. The most common reason people end up calling us is because they completed verification six months ago, then lost the code when they needed to file a confirmation statement.

Recommended places to save it:

Password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, Apple Passwords)
Encrypted notes app
Your accountant's secure portal (if applicable)
Your Companies House account (it's already there but you'll want a backup)

Link your personal code to each company

Verification gets you a personal code. The code then needs to be filed against each company where you're a director or PSC. This is a separate step.

Sign in to Companies House WebFiling at gov.uk/file-changes-to-a-company-with-companies-house
Select the company
File the appropriate notification adding your personal code to your director or PSC record
Repeat for each company where you're appointed
This must be done before each company's next confirmation statement filing date

If you use a chartered accountancy or company secretarial service, they typically do this for you as part of normal compliance work.

Foreign passport, name change, or just stuck?

Our ACSP partner verifies clients with broader ID acceptance, including non-UK passports. Free for monthly LOYALS clients, fixed fee one-off for everyone else.

Book a free 15-min call

The Post Office route, in 6 steps.

If you've chosen Post Office verification, here's exactly what happens from clicking the link to receiving your personal code:

Enter ID details online

Start at the GOV.UK service, enter your photo ID details and select Post Office as your verification method.

Download the customer letter

You'll be given a PDF customer letter with a unique QR code. Save it and print a copy if you can.

Find a participating branch

Use the Post Office branch finder. Not every Post Office offers ID verification; check before travelling.

Bring documents

Take the printed (or on-screen) customer letter and the same photo ID you entered details for online.

Complete in-branch

Staff scan the QR code on your letter, scan your ID and take your photo. Takes 5 to 10 minutes once you reach the counter.

Receive your code

Within a few hours (usually same day) you'll get an email confirming success and including your 11-character personal code.

Post Office tips that save a wasted trip

Phone the branch first to confirm they offer the service. Go mid-morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the lunchtime queue. Bring the original ID, not a photocopy. Budget 30 to 45 minutes including travel and waiting. If you're going during a school holiday or right before Christmas, double the time estimate.

Your personal code (and how to get it back).

Your Companies House personal code is the headline output of verification. It's 11 characters, alphanumeric, displayed in a pattern like ABCD-1234-EFGH, and is unique to you as an individual. The same code is used on every Companies House filing where you appear as a director, PSC or LLP member.

How to retrieve a lost code

If you can't find your code, don't panic. It's stored in your Companies House account. To retrieve it:

Sign in to your Companies House account at gov.uk/guidance/companies-house-account
Go to Manage account
Select View your personal code
Your 11-character code is displayed

Save it somewhere secure this time.

Treat the code like a password

The code is sensitive. Anyone with your code could (in theory) impersonate you on Companies House filings, change company details, or appoint themselves to your company. Store it in a password manager, never share it in email or chat, and only give it to your accountant securely.

If you think the code has been compromised

Act immediately:

Contact Companies House at gov.uk/contact-companies-house
Ask them to cancel and reissue your personal code
Once you have the new code, update it across all your companies (file the appropriate notifications)
Change your GOV.UK One Login password and turn on the strongest 2FA option available

Troubleshooting common failures.

If verification didn't work first time, you're in good company. Tap any problem below for the fix. There's no penalty for retrying.

My photo ID was rejected+

Common causes: ID is expired (renew first), photos blurry or have glare (retake in even lighting), corners of the ID cut off the photo (reframe), or wrong type of ID (must be UK passport or UK photocard driving licence). Fix the cause and retry; there's no penalty for retrying.

My date of birth doesn't match Companies House records+

You need to update Companies House first by filing a change of director details (form CH01 via WebFiling). Allow 24 to 48 hours for records to update, then attempt verification again. We handle this correction for clients before triggering verification.

I can't answer the GOV.UK security questions+

The questions are based on your UK credit history. If you're new to the UK, recently moved, or have a thin credit file, switch to the GOV.UK ID Check app (if you have a UK passport), the Post Office route, or the ACSP route. The system doesn't lock you out; you can switch route any time.

The GOV.UK ID Check app can't read my passport+

Make sure NFC is turned on in your phone settings (Connections menu on most Android, automatic on iPhone). Remove the phone case (thick or metal cases block NFC). Clean the passport's photo page with a soft cloth. Hold the phone flat against the back of the passport, not the spine. Move slowly until the app says "Reading"; once it starts, hold still for 5 to 10 seconds.

My selfie keeps failing+

Take it in soft, even lighting (a window facing you on a cloudy day is ideal). Remove glasses, hats and masks. Hold the phone at arm's length, face the camera straight on. For liveness videos, follow the on-screen prompts smoothly without jerky movements. If your appearance has changed significantly since your ID was issued, try a Post Office or ACSP route which use a less strict facial match.

I've lost my personal code+

Sign in to your Companies House account at gov.uk/guidance/companies-house-account, go to Manage Account, View Personal Code. The 11-character code will be displayed. Save it in a password manager.

My personal code may have been seen by someone else+

Contact Companies House immediately at gov.uk/contact-companies-house. Request that the old code is cancelled and a new one issued. Once you have the new code, update it across each of your directorships. Change your GOV.UK One Login password and turn on 2FA via authenticator app (stronger than text codes).

My confirmation statement deadline is in days and I'm not verified yet+

Don't wait another day. Start with the GOV.UK ID Check app (fastest, 5 to 10 minutes if you have a UK passport). If you fail, switch to security questions; if those fail, head to a Post Office. If none of those work for you, call us on 07450 258975 (Mon to Sat 10am to 7pm) and we can run an ACSP verification through our partner, often within the same day.

If you'd rather we did it for you.

This whole guide is built around doing it yourself, because for most directors the GOV.UK direct route is the fastest, free, and entirely manageable. But if any of the below applies, it's worth talking to us:

You've tried multiple times and it keeps failing
You hold a non-UK passport and don't have UK photo ID
Your name has changed and Companies House records are out of date
You're a director of multiple companies and want one provider to manage the whole compliance chain
Your confirmation statement is due in the next two weeks and you're not yet verified

What we offer

Monthly accounting clients: identity verification, personal code linkage, confirmation statement filing and routine Companies House compliance is included in the package at no extra charge
One-off ACSP verification: from £75 per person via our ACSP partner; useful when GOV.UK keeps failing or you're a foreign director
Verification plus full sweep: £250 fixed fee. We verify, link the personal code to each of your companies, and file the next confirmation statement
New incorporation including verification: see Limited Company Formation from £199

Free 15-minute call to scope what you need: book a call or WhatsApp us on 07450 258975.

Quick reference, straight answers.

The questions we get asked most often. Tap a question to open the answer.

Who needs to complete Companies House identity verification?+

All directors and people with significant control (PSCs) of UK companies and LLPs. PSCs are typically anyone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or with the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board. Members of LLPs must also verify. The requirement applies regardless of nationality or residency. Sole director and shareholder of a small limited company? You must verify.

Is Companies House identity verification mandatory in 2026?+

Yes. Voluntary verification opened in April 2025 and verification became mandatory for new directors and PSCs from autumn 2025. Existing directors and PSCs of UK companies must verify within a rolling 12 month transition aligned to each company's confirmation statement filing date. By autumn 2026 every active director and PSC should be verified.

What is the deadline for existing directors to verify?+

Your company's next confirmation statement filing date that falls in the 12 month transition window. Companies House will not accept a confirmation statement filing if any director or PSC named on it is unverified. Late confirmation statement filing triggers civil penalties (£150 plus, up to £1,500) and persistent non-filing risks strike-off.

What is a Companies House personal code?+

An 11 character alphanumeric code unique to you that is issued once your identity has been successfully verified. The same code works across every company and LLP where you are a director or PSC. You only verify once. The code is required on every Companies House filing relating to your appointments going forward. Treat it like a password.

What ID do I need for Companies House verification?+

A current (not expired) UK passport or UK photocard driving licence is required for the direct GOV.UK One Login route and for the Post Office route. If you only hold a non-UK passport or no UK ID at all, the only realistic route is verification via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), where the rules on accepted ID are broader and based on regulated identity checks.

How long does Companies House identity verification take?+

Five to ten minutes via the GOV.UK ID Check app if you have a UK passport. Ten to twenty minutes for the security questions route. Thirty to forty five minutes including travel for the Post Office route. ACSP route depends on the provider but is typically same day for clients with documents ready. Personal code is issued immediately on success or by email within a few hours for Post Office.

What if my photo ID is rejected?+

Common reasons are expired ID, blurry or glare-affected photos, ID corners cut off, or wrong type of ID (must be UK passport or UK photocard driving licence). Fix the cause and retry; there is no penalty for retrying. If multiple attempts fail, switch route (app to security questions to Post Office to ACSP). LOYALS clients get troubleshooting support included.

What if my date of birth does not match Companies House records?+

You need to update Companies House first by filing a change of director details (form CH01 or via WebFiling). Allow 24 to 48 hours for records to update, then attempt verification again. We handle this for clients before triggering verification.

What if I cannot answer the GOV.UK security questions?+

The questions are based on your UK credit history. If you are new to the UK, recently moved, or have a thin credit file, switch to the GOV.UK ID Check app (if you have a UK passport), the Post Office route, or the ACSP route. The system does not lock you out; you can switch route any time.

What if I lose my personal code?+

Your personal code is stored in your Companies House account. Sign in at gov.uk/guidance/companies-house-account, go to Manage Account, View Personal Code. If you suspect the code has been compromised, contact Companies House at gov.uk/contact-companies-house to cancel and reissue.

Do I need to verify separately for each company I am a director of?+

No. Identity verification is personal, not company-specific. Verify once, receive your 11 character personal code, then link that code to each company where you are appointed. The company-side filing must be done before each company's next confirmation statement, but you only complete the actual verification process once.

What does it cost and can LOYALS help if I get stuck?+

Direct verification via GOV.UK One Login is free. Post Office verification is free. ACSP verification typically costs £30 to £100. LOYALS clients on any monthly accounting package have identity verification co-ordinated as part of normal compliance work at no extra charge. We also handle one-off verifications for non-clients via our ACSP partner; ask for a fixed quote.

This guide reflects Companies House identity verification rules under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 as implemented to June 2026. Implementation is rolling; check the current Companies House guidance for the latest deadlines for your specific company. This is general information, not personal advice. LOYALS Accountants is a chartered accountancy practice; identity verification is performed via our registered ACSP partner.

Verified, or want a hand?

If you've finished, store your personal code somewhere safe. If you'd rather not deal with it at all, we run identity verification via our ACSP partner (free for monthly clients, fixed fee for one-offs). Either way, there's a free 15-minute call if you want to talk it through.

Book my free 15-min call