Identity verification is now mandatory for company formation under Companies House rules introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. All company directors, beneficial owners, and individuals involved in registering UK companies must verify their identity. Uniwide Formations simplifies this process, helping you meet the new requirements quickly and securely.
Why Identity Verification is Required
Companies House now legally requires this verification, ensuring all company details are accurate and reliable. By completing verification promptly, you avoid potential disruptions such as delayed registrations, rejected filings, or difficulties opening business bank accounts. Verified identities also streamline interactions with business partners, financial institutions, and suppliers, helping you build trust and maintain smooth operations.
Uniwide Formations is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), regulated and overseen by Companies House, assisting businesses through each step of the company formation process. Our responsibilities include verifying the identity of:
- Directors.
- Equivalents of directors, including members, general partners, and managing officers.
- Persons with Significant Control (PSC).
- Anyone filing documents for a company, for example, a company secretary.
Each person typically only needs to verify their identity once.
Information and Documents Required for Verification
To complete your identity verification, you must provide the following information:
- Full name, including any previous names.
- Date of birth.
- Current home address.
- Address history for the past 12 months.
- Valid email address.
Additionally, you will need to submit one of these accepted identity documents:
- Biometric or machine-readable passport (including Irish passport cards). Passports can be expired up to 6 months if cryptographic features are still 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 within 18 months.
- UK Biometric Residence Card (BRC).
- UK Frontier Worker Permit.
How Uniwide Formations Verifies Identity
Uniwide Formations verifies identities exclusively using advanced ID-checking software. Our verification platform confirms:
- Document authenticity, by examining cryptographic and optical security features.
- Real-time “liveness”, by matching your live selfie to your identity document.
This ensures a secure, reliable, and quick verification process that fully meets Companies House requirements.
No Manual or Face-to-Face Checks
- Uniwide Formations does not currently offer manual verification methods, such as video calls, face-to-face meetings, or solicitor-certified document checks. All identity verifications are completed digitally through our secure verification platform.
- We may, however, introduce manual verification options in the future.
Upcoming Changes to Company Formation Filing
Currently, all UK company formation agents, including Uniwide Formations, follow existing Companies House filing procedures. Companies House is planning to introduce new software-filing requirements – incorporating integrated identity checks – for company formation agents in Autumn 2025.
- Until then, our standard procedures remain unchanged. You can continue forming companies through our website as usual.
- Uniwide Formations will keep performing our internal standard identity checks for new company formations.
- We monitor updates closely and will publish detailed information on our website once Companies House confirms official changes.
Identity Verification as a Standalone Service
Uniwide Formations now offers identity verification as a standalone service, even if you are not registering a company with us. For new company formations, we continue using our internal standard identity checks. Official identity verification is currently not required.
When official verification becomes mandatory in the future, we do not intend to charge customers forming companies with us for these additional identity checks.
Cost of Service
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Companies House Identity Verification via ID-checking software | £80 + VAT |
How the Verification Process Works
Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Provide Details
Contact us and provide basic details about the individuals who require verification, along with your company’s name and registration number. We will confirm which documents and information are required.
Step 2: Prepare and Upload Documents
You will receive a secure invitation link to access our verification platform, either via our mobile app or through the web-based version. Follow the instructions to scan and upload one acceptable identity document, then complete a live selfie check.
Step 3: Instant Confirmation
Verification typically completes within minutes. Once verified, we securely submit your details to Companies House.
Step 4: Receive Your Personal Code
Companies House will send you a Personal Code directly, confirming your identity verification. Should you encounter any issues, we will provide support until resolved.
Your verified identity will remain valid for future company-related filings.