From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes a legal requirement for UK company formation and ongoing corporate administration. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) must verify their identity and link it to each company role. We at Uniwide Formations outline what changes, by when, and how to stay compliant without disrupting filings.
- Verification is mandatory from 18 November 2025 for all directors and PSCs, with timelines differing for new and existing appointees.
- Directors must be verified before the next confirmation statement; filings require a personal code and verification statement per director.
- PSCs not serving as directors have a specific 14‑day window tied to their month of birth; Companies House sets individual dates.
- Two routes: GOV.UK One Login using approved photo ID, or an ACSP such as Uniwide Formations for supervised checks.
- Verification is two‑step: obtain a personal code, then link each role; ensure data consistency to avoid failed linkages and filing delays.
Identity Verification: Scope and Start Dates
From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes mandatory for every director and every Person with Significant Control (PSC). The deadline depends on whether the individual is newly appointed or already on the register.
Companies House will introduce these requirements in stages over the following 12 months, so existing directors and PSCs will reach their individual verification deadlines at different points between 18 November 2025 and around mid-November 2026.
For company formations and ongoing administration, identity checks apply to the main UK entity types as follows:
- Private companies limited by shares – every individual director and every individual PSC.
- Private companies limited by guarantee – every individual director and every individual PSC.
- Public limited companies (PLCs) – every individual director and every individual PSC.
- Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) – every individual member (LLP partner) and any individual PSC.
Some categories will follow later. The requirement for limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of LLPs, and officers of corporate PSCs will be introduced at a later date. Companies with complex structures should monitor forthcoming commencement regulations.
Who Must Verify and When
New directors – at appointment or incorporation
Anyone becoming a director on or after 18 November 2025 must complete verification as part of the appointment or incorporation filing. Their Companies House personal code must be provided before the appointment can be accepted.
Existing directors – before the next confirmation statement
Directors already on the register must be verified before their company files its first confirmation statement due after 18 November 2025. Companies House will not accept the filing until all directors are verified, and a missed deadline may place the company at risk of strike-off.
New PSCs – at formation or when registering a new PSC
A PSC added on or after 18 November 2025 must complete verification when their details are submitted to Companies House. The PSC record will not be registered until verification is complete.
Existing PSCs who are also directors – follow the director timetable
If the PSC already serves as a director, they are treated as a director for verification purposes. Their verification must be completed before the next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025.
Existing PSCs who are not directors – a personal 14-day window
PSCs who are not directors will be required to complete verification within a 14-day period linked to their month of birth on the Companies House register. Companies House will specify the exact dates for each individual.
Director and PSC Duties Linked to Confirmation Statements
Once a director has verified their identity, they must link their verified status to every company where they serve as a director. This is done by providing their personal code and a verification statement when each confirmation statement is filed. If any director has not completed this linkage, Companies House will reject the confirmation statement. This can interrupt banking processes, credit checks, supplier onboarding, or tenders that depend on an up-to-date filing record.
Directors with roles in multiple companies must link their verified identity to each company separately. The same personal code is used, but the linkage is done per company.
Consider this concise case example. A director sits on the boards of three private companies with confirmation statements due on 31 January, 30 April, and 30 September 2026. The director verifies once, receives a Companies House personal code, and files a verification statement for each company before each respective due date. Missing one would block that company’s confirmation statement and expose it to potential penalties for late filing.
Every Person with Significant Control must also give Companies House their personal code and link it to their PSC role. Companies should review Companies House guidance to understand the specific deadlines for each PSC and to plan around board and filing calendars. This helps ensure that no PSC or director-PSC misses their required verification point.
Verification Routes: One Login or an ACSP
There are two approved routes to verify your identity.
GOV.UK One Login
You can use the “Verify your identity for Companies House” online service via GOV.UK One Login. The system will guide you through verification methods based on your device, location and documents. The required photo-ID documents for this route are:
- A biometric passport from any country.
- A UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional).
- A UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
- A UK Biometric Residence Card (BRC).
- A UK Frontier Worker Permit.
Importantly: do not post or email identity documents directly to Companies House.
If you do not hold one of these documents, you may need to use an ACSP route instead.
You may verify through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as a company formation agency, accountant or solicitor, provided the ACSP is registered with Companies House and supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering supervisory body. You will provide identity documents from an approved list. They may charge a fee.
Uniwide Formations is a registered ACSP and can complete identity verification for directors and PSCs as part of our identity verification services. We (as an ACSP) accept the following identity documents:
- Biometric or machine-readable passport (including Irish passport cards) from any country. Passports may be expired for up to six months if cryptographic features remain readable.
- UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or EU photocard driving licence (full or provisional).
- Biometric identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
- UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), expired for up to 18 months.
- UK Biometric Residence Card (BRC).
- UK Frontier Worker Permit.
For boards with cross-border officers, the ACSP route often offers smoother onboarding, clearer audit trails and centralised checks for multiple officers. Whether you use One Login or an ACSP, build in contingency time for any document queries.
Personal Code, Linking Roles and Data Checks
Identity verification is a two-step process.
Step one is verifying your identity and receiving your Companies House personal code. This personal code is an 11-character code that is unique to you and stays the same for all of your roles and filings.
Step two, from 18 November 2025, is linking that verified identity to each company role by providing your personal code and a verification statement per role. Companies with multiple directors should schedule these linkages in advance.
Where you find your personal code depends on the route used. If you used GOV.UK One Login, it appears in the “manage account” section of your Companies House account. If you used an ACSP, it is sent to you by email. You may share the code with those you trust to file on your behalf. Keep the code secure and treat it like a digital key to your Companies House filings.
Data consistency is essential for linking to succeed. If the date of birth on your identity documents does not match the date of birth on the register, the link will fail. Before 18 November, check and correct your records to avoid delays. Some corrections, such as changes to incorporation documents, must be made on paper forms, so allow time for processing.
A short pre-November checklist helps keep company formation and routine filings on track:
• Compare each officer’s date of birth against the Companies House register.
• Confirm current legal names match passport or national ID documents.
• List all directors and PSCs per company, including cross-directorships.
• Identify due dates for confirmation statements for the next 12 months.
• Decide on a verification route (GOV.UK One Login or ACSP) for each person.
Legal and Practical Consequences of not Verifying
Failure to complete identity verification and link each role on time has serious legal and practical consequences for directors, PSCs and their companies. Under the Companies Act 2006, as amended by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, it is a criminal offence for an individual to act as a director once the identity-verification rules apply if their identity is not verified, and for a company to allow an unverified director to act. PSCs who do not complete or maintain verification when they are required to do so can also commit an offence and may face fines.
Identity-verification offences and repeated filing breaches can be treated as evidence of “unfit conduct” when the Insolvency Service asks the court to disqualify a director. Courts can make a disqualification order for up to 15 years.
From 18 November 2025, you must include the personal codes of all directors on the confirmation statement. If any director is not verified, Companies House will reject the filing. Continued failure to file confirmation statements is itself an offence and can lead to compulsory strike-off, with the company being removed from the register and dissolved. Lenders, banks and other counterparties are likely to treat visible non-compliance as a warning sign when assessing risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same Companies House personal code for several companies?
Yes. Your personal code is linked to you, not to any specific company. If you are a director or PSC (Person with Significant Control) in more than one company, you will use the same code to link your verified identity to each role by the deadlines that apply to those companies.
Do I need to complete identity verification every year?
No. Identity verification is a one-time process. Once Companies House confirms your identity, you will receive a personal code, and this code remains valid without expiry. You will use the same code whenever you file documents or link your roles in future.
What if I am an overseas director or PSC (Person with Significant Control)?
Overseas directors and Persons with Significant Control must complete identity verification in the same way as UK-based individuals. If you do not hold a biometric passport, the GOV.UK One Login service may not be able to verify you, and you will need to use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) instead.
What is Companies House personal code?
Companies House personal code is an 11-character code that confirms your identity has been verified. It is issued once to each individual after successful identity verification and is used whenever you link your identity to a role (for example, as a director or PSC), incorporate a company, or file a confirmation statement.
The personal code is linked to you, not to any single company, and you will use the same code for all companies where you are a director or Person with Significant Control. It is separate from the company “authentication code”, which belongs to a specific company. You must keep your personal code secure and only share it with people you trust to file on your behalf.
Conclusion
The legal shift on 18 November 2025 affects both new company formation and ongoing filings. Directors must be verified to submit confirmation statements, and PSCs face 14‑day windows to link their roles. Early checks of officer data and a clear plan for verification and linkage will minimise disruption and reduce filing risk.
For new company formations, Uniwide Formations can help obtain a personal code for anyone who does not yet have one. If you are incorporating through us, every individual who passes our anti-money laundering checks is automatically verified with Companies House, and no separate fee is charged, as this step is included in our formation packages.
For step‑by‑step support on identity checks and linking roles, see “Identity verification services for directors and PSCs“.
