The verification process for the Register of Overseas Entities ensures that overseas owners of UK property and land disclose accurate and true information about who really controls them. Since the register was launched in August 2022, over 28,000 overseas entities have registered, and the database has been searched more than half a million times by the public, law firms, and regulators. This proves the importance of the register in providing confidence in the ownership and transparency of UK property by overseas entities. In this article, we will explain how the verification process works for the UK’s Register of Overseas Entities.
- Verification is mandatory under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022; entities cannot self-verify or use foreign professionals.
- Only UK-regulated verification agents supervised under AML regulations can verify beneficial owners and managing officers.
- An agent assurance code from Companies House confirms an agent is authorised to conduct verification checks.
- The OE VF01 Verification Checks Statement must be filed within 14 days, confirming compliant checks within the last three months.
- Using an experienced agent reduces errors, prevents delays to the Overseas Entity ID, and mitigates regulatory risks.
- Recent changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 increase scrutiny, especially for trusts and pre-registration ownership changes.
Why Is Verification Necessary?
Under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2023, overseas entities must verify the beneficial owners of UK property and land. Overseas entities cannot self-verify or rely on foreign professionals.
Companies House implemented the verification system to ensure that the information entered on the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE) is accurate, reliable, and not misused. Without having the information you provide to Companies House on beneficial owners verified by a UK-regulated agent, you cannot register (or maintain your registration) on the ROE.
Beneficial owner verification helps to:
- Prevent property ownership from being hidden behind complex offshore structures
- Increase public trust and transparency in UK land ownership, and
- Support enforcement against financial crime, money laundering, and sanctions breaches.
What Is a Verification Agent?
An ROE verification agent is a UK-based individual or organisation supervised under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017. The Register of Overseas Entities verification agents includes Solicitors, accountants, and company formation agents. These agents act as independent ‘gatekeepers’, giving Companies House the reassurance needed that all information submitted about beneficial owners and managing officers is true and accurate.
Only specific categories of relevant persons are permitted to verify information, including
- Company service providers (including company formation agents)
- Credit institutions and financial institutions;
- Auditors, insolvency practitioners, external accountants and tax advisers
- Independent legal professionals
- Trust providers
- Estate agents and letting agents.
What Is an Agent Assurance Code?
An ‘agent assurance code’ is a unique code given by Companies House to a UK-regulated verification agent. Only certain professionals, such as Solicitors, accountants, or company service providers, who are supervised under UK money-laundering regulations, can obtain one. The code confirms that the agent is officially authorised to carry out verification checks on overseas entities when they register or file their annual update statement. Each firm only needs one code, which can be used for all the overseas entities they verify.
While overseas property owners do not need this code themselves, it is helpful to know that only agents with a valid assurance code can complete verification for the Register of Overseas Entities. This helps ensure that an independent, UK-regulated professional has properly checked all ownership information added to the register, keeping the system secure and trustworthy.
What Is an Overseas Entity Verification Checks Statement?
The Overseas Entity Verification Checks Statement (Form OE VF01) is submitted to Companies House to confirm that all necessary verification checks have been completed for an overseas entity’s beneficial owners and managing officers. It is a legal requirement under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 and the Register of Overseas Entities (Verification and Provision of Information) Regulations 2022.
The form includes:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
|
Verification agent details |
Name, supervisory body, contact information, agent assurance code, and AML registration number |
|
Overseas entity details |
Entity name and Companies House application reference number |
|
Beneficial owners and managing officers |
Names and confirmation that their identities have been verified |
|
Verification date |
Date checks were completed (must be within three months of filing) |
|
Agent declaration |
Signed confirmation that all verification checks comply with legal standards |
The form must be emailed to Companies House within 14 days after an overseas entity submits its registration, update statement, or application for removal. It confirms to Companies House that the entity’s ownership information has been independently verified by a qualified, UK-regulated agent, helping maintain transparency and prevent false or incomplete filings.
What Are the Register of Overseas Entities Verification Steps?
The process of getting information verified when registering for or updating the Register of Overseas Entities involves several steps, as follows:
1. Appointing a verification agent – The verification process begins when the overseas entity appoints a verification agent. Remember, you cannot self-verify the information yourself. Uniwide Formations is a fully registered overseas entities verification agent and can undertake this process on your behalf. We will first collect details about your entity’s ownership, structure, and property interests, together with identification documents for beneficial owners and managing officers.
2. Identification of beneficial owners – Your verification agent will confirm who ultimately owns or controls the entity, applying the tests set out in UK law (for example, owning more than 25% of shares or voting rights).
3. Verification Checks – We will check the relevant documents, including:
- Personal identity documents (passports, proof of address)
- Corporate documents (certificates of incorporation, registers, or filings)
- Trust documentation (if applicable)
The verification process must be completed within three months of your overseas entity filing its application or update statement.
4. Agent assurance code and filing – Once the verification process has been completed, we will submit a ‘verification statement’ to Companies House using our agent assurance code, confirming they have checked the data in line with the regulations.
How Verified Information Is Submitted to Companies House
Once your beneficial owner verification is complete, your approved agent will submit the information to Companies House through its secure online portal. After successful registration, your overseas entity will receive an Overseas Entity ID, which is required for buying, selling, or leasing UK property. The verified data is then added to the public register.
In some cases, Companies House may ask you for clarification or extra documentation. An experienced verification agent will ensure that the details provided to Companies House are entirely accurate and true, reducing the likelihood of further follow-up.
The Importance of Using an Experienced Verification Agent
Verification agents must:
- Confirm that all submitted information is accurate and independently checked
- Apply risk-based due diligence, especially for complex international structures, and
- Keep audit trails of the checks carried out
If an agent submits misleading or incomplete information, they can face regulatory sanctions, financial penalties, and potential removal from their professional register. Appointing an experienced verification agent saves time, reduces errors, and avoids costly rejections by Companies House. Attempting to handle verification without expert support can lead to:
- Delays in obtaining the Overseas Entity ID
- Rejections due to missing or unverified documents
- Increased scrutiny from regulators
Specialist providers such as Uniwide Formations routinely work with overseas clients, ensuring verification and registration are completed accurately and efficiently.
What Are Some of the Common Challenges During the Verification Process?
Verification can become especially complicated when there are multiple layers of corporate ownership, especially if they are located in multiple jurisdictions. In this situation, it is essential to gather the correct documents showing the connections between each layer to avoid potential questions from Companies House.
Other common challenges include:
- Where beneficial owners are tied up in trust structures.
- Beneficiaries are resident abroad
- Document authentication delays from overseas registries
- Where sanctions screening or politically exposed persons (PEPs) checks are required
Experienced agents understand how to overcome these challenges, including by arranging certified translations, working with contacts in-country, and ensuring documentation meets UK verification standards.
What Is Necessary When Verifying the Beneficial Owners of a Trust?
Where a trust forms part of the ownership chain, additional disclosure is required. The entity must provide:
- The trust’s name and date of creation
- Details of the trustees, settlors, beneficiaries, and anyone with control
- Information about changes that took place during the period leading up to registration (the pre-registration period)
Verification agents ensure that all trust-related data is accurate, complete, and compliant with any confidentiality requirements.
Recent Changes to the Verification Process
Overseas entities with land and property interests in the UK must keep up to date with any changes to the corporate transparency laws here. Verification requirements have changed under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. One of these relates to the disclosure of changes in beneficial ownership during the pre-registration period (from 28th February 2022 to 31st January 2023). Furthermore, there is now greater scrutiny of trust-related information and stronger verification of trustees and beneficiaries.
Your ongoing compliance with the law is critical as Companies House and HM Land Registry now share data to flag non-compliance and block property dealings. This is why it is essential to remain abreast of the latest requirements, or work with an agent who can handle this process for you.
Final words
While it may feel like a frustrating administrative burden, the verification process for the Register of Overseas Entities is important in maintaining transparency and trust in the UK property market. Ultimately, it protects against financial crime and ensures that overseas investors can confidently own and transact in property in accordance with the law. For assistance with the verification process for the Register of Overseas Entities, the team at Uniwide Formations is here to help you.
