Companies House Identity Verification Starts

Companies House identity verification is no longer a future concept — it has formally entered the compliance timeline. From 18 November 2025, the legal requirements for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identity begin, with a 12-month transition period designed to phase the change in without disrupting day-to-day filings.

What has changed

From 18 November 2025:

  • New directors must verify their identity to incorporate a company or to be appointed to an existing company.

  • Existing directors will confirm they have verified their identity when filing their next annual confirmation statement, during the 12-month transition period.

  • Existing PSCs must verify their identity within an “appointed day” framework during the 12 months following the start date.

The purpose is straightforward: to improve trust in the register and reduce misuse and fraud by strengthening the link between legal roles and real people.

Who is in scope

You should assume you are in scope if your UK company has:

  • Directors (executive or non-executive).

  • PSCs (individuals meeting PSC conditions — for example, certain levels of shareholding/voting control or significant influence).

  • Anyone involved in new incorporations or new appointments after 18 November 2025.

If your company has multiple appointments (for example, the same person acts as director in several companies), it becomes especially important to manage identity verification centrally and consistently.

Key dates that matter

  • 18 November 2025 — identity verification becomes a legal requirement and the transition period begins (this date is not a single “deadline” for everyone).

  • Up to mid-November 2026 — broad window in which the remaining population is expected to complete verification, with role-based due dates and prompts.

  • PSCs may have a defined 14-day period linked to their situation, during which they must submit a statement confirming verification, together with their personal code.

How verification works in practice

Companies House provides two routes:

  1. GOV.UK One Login (free) — an individual verifies online.

  2. Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — verification can be done through an authorised provider.

Once successfully verified, the individual receives a Companies House personal code. From 18 November 2025, users will need to provide their personal code and a verification statement for each company role they hold.

What businesses should do now

Treat identity verification like a controlled compliance rollout, not an admin chore.

Step 1 — Map your people and roles

  • List all current directors and PSCs.

  • Identify who holds roles across multiple entities.

  • Confirm that internal records match what is shown on the Companies House register.

Step 2 — Decide your verification route

  • If you want the fastest and lowest-cost route, align on GOV.UK One Login.

  • If you want verification and filings controlled through a service provider workflow, consider the ACSP route.

Step 3 — Build a “personal code” control process

  • Collect and store personal codes securely (access control matters).

  • Define who is responsible for applying personal codes to filings.

  • Make sure directors/PSCs understand that personal codes should not be shared casually.

Step 4 — Align with your confirmation statement cycle
Existing directors will typically confirm verification alongside the next confirmation statement filing — meaning the timing depends on your company’s annual cycle.

Risks if you ignore it

The practical risks are not theoretical:

  • Delays to incorporation (new directors must verify before incorporation/appointment).

  • Operational disruption around confirmation statement deadlines (if verification is left to the last minute).

  • Increased exposure to compliance issues if Companies House queries inconsistent or incomplete data as reforms expand.

How Yudey Law Firm UK can support

Yudey can implement an end-to-end compliance workflow that reduces friction for directors and protects the business:

  • Identity verification readiness: role mapping, timeline planning, internal checklists.

  • Corporate maintenance: confirmation statements, changes to directors/PSCs, registered office processes.

  • Ongoing governance support: structured recordkeeping and “single source of truth” for corporate data.

If your group has multiple companies or international ownership layers, early planning avoids avoidable last-minute filings.