Companies House identity verification for directors living outside the UK
Short answer: every director and person with significant control of a UK company must verify their identity with Companies House, wherever they live. Existing directors must do it by the company's next confirmation statement; the 12-month transition ends in mid-November 2026. From China, the free route is the GOV.UK One Login app with a biometric passport; otherwise an authorised agent can verify you remotely.
Who must verify?
- Every company director, including non-UK nationals and directors living abroad. There is no exemption for residence.
- Every person with significant control (broadly, anyone holding more than 25% of shares or votes, or otherwise controlling the company).
- Members of limited liability partnerships.
- Agents filing for companies will later need to be authorised corporate service providers (not before November 2027).
When is the deadline?
| Who | Deadline |
|---|---|
| New directors and new companies | Since 18 November 2025, before appointment or incorporation |
| Existing directors | By the date of the company's next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025 |
| Existing people with significant control who are not directors | Within the first 14 days of their birth month, as shown on the register |
| UK establishments of overseas companies | Linked to the anniversary of the establishment's registration |
The 12-month transition period ends in mid-November 2026, so most existing companies should already have verified or will need to at their next filing.
How can a director in China verify?
| GOV.UK One Login (direct) | Authorised Corporate Service Provider (agent) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | The agent's fee; standalone checks are often around £25 plus VAT |
| What you need | A biometric passport from any country, a smartphone that can read the passport chip, and a face scan | Identity documents checked by the agent; wider range accepted, including non-biometric passports and national ID cards |
| Common problem | If the passport check fails, the fallback questions rely on UK credit records, which non-residents usually cannot answer | Make sure the agent actually offers verification, not just filing |
| Result | The same Companies House personal code, which you give to the company or its agent for filings | |
What happens if you do not verify?
Acting as a director without verifying is an offence under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. In practice the company cannot file its confirmation statement, the register can show that a director is unverified, appointments and changes are blocked, and financial penalties can follow.
Practical tips
- Check the passport has a chip symbol on the cover and is not expired before you start.
- Use the name exactly as it appears on the passport; mismatches with the Companies House record cause delays.
- Keep the personal code safe and send it to whoever files for the company.
- Verify a few weeks before the confirmation statement is due, not on the day.