From autumn 2025, every UK director and Person of Significant Control must verify their identity at Companies House. Verification is done through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. New appointees must verify before they can act as a director. Existing directors and PSCs have until autumn 2026 to verify or face penalties.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) transformed Companies House from a passive registry into an active gatekeeper. Identity verification is the most visible new requirement. It catches every UK director, including overseas directors of UK companies.

Who must verify

The verification requirement applies to:

All UK company directors, current and future.
All Persons of Significant Control (PSCs) of UK companies.
Members of LLPs.
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) and their authorised individuals.
People filing on behalf of others (when filing requires it).

It does not apply to:

Shareholders who are not PSCs.
Junior employees of UK companies.
Employees acting on a director's instructions.

When you must verify

Phased rollout:

April 2025: voluntary verification opened. Early adopters can verify ahead of mandates.
Autumn 2025 (specific date TBC): mandatory for new directors and PSCs at the point of appointment.
Autumn 2026 (specific date TBC): mandatory for all existing directors and PSCs to be verified.

For a new company being incorporated in 2026 or later, all directors and PSCs must verify before the company can be incorporated.

For an existing UK director appointed before the mandate started, the deadline to verify is autumn 2026. Missing this deadline triggers penalties.

How to verify (two routes)

The free DIY route. You verify directly with the UK government through the GOV.UK One Login service.

Process:

Set up a GOV.UK One Login account if you don't have one.
Provide one form of UK ID (passport, driving licence, biometric residence permit).
Provide one form of address verification (utility bill, bank statement, council tax bill).
Complete a live photo/video selfie check that matches the ID.
Receive your verification ID, which is then linked to Companies House.

Most UK residents with a current passport can complete this in 15-30 minutes through the GOV.UK app.

Limitations for overseas residents: limited options for non-UK ID and address proofs. Some residents may struggle with the live photo check.

Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

The professional route. Use a regulated accountant, solicitor, or TCSP authorised by Companies House to verify your identity.

Process:

Engage an ACSP who offers verification services.
Provide ID documents to the ACSP.
Meet the ACSP in person or via video.
The ACSP performs the verification and confirms it to Companies House.

Cost: typically £30-£150 per verification.

The ACSP route is more flexible for:

Overseas residents.
People who fail the GOV.UK One Login automated checks.
People who want a paper trail of their verification (useful for accompanying overseas-recognised company secretaries).

Many UK accountants and solicitors are registering as ACSPs through 2025 and 2026. Verify they're authorised before paying.

What gets recorded

Once verified, you have a unique verification ID on Companies House. This is:

Linked to your director / PSC record on every company.
Visible on the public register that an individual is verified.
Not the underlying identification documents (those stay private).

If you're a director of multiple UK companies, one verification covers all of them. You don't need to verify separately for each company.

Penalties for not verifying

After the mandatory dates:

The company cannot make filings that require a verified director (e.g. new appointments, certain changes).
Companies House can refuse to accept other filings until verification is complete.
The unverified individual faces fines for acting as a director without verification.
Persistent non-compliance can trigger company strike-off proceedings.

The penalty regime is structured to compel verification rather than punish. Most non-compliers will be pushed to verify before any fine is imposed. But the costs of delay accumulate.

What changes after verification

Verification is a one-time act for most people. Once you're verified:

You appear as "verified" on Companies House public records.
No annual renewal of verification (unless you change your name or main identifying details materially).
You can act as a director on multiple UK companies without re-verifying.

If you change name (marriage, etc.), notify Companies House so the verification record is updated.

Overseas directors

The verification requirement applies regardless of where the director lives. An overseas-resident director of a UK company must verify before acting.

The practical challenges for overseas directors:

GOV.UK One Login may not accept non-UK address evidence reliably.
Live photo check requires a UK-compatible smartphone setup.
Time zones complicate any live video verification.

For most overseas directors, the ACSP route is more reliable. The ACSP can verify the director through standard professional onboarding processes, with the UK government accepting the ACSP's confirmation.

What to do this quarter

If you're a UK director or PSC and haven't verified yet:

If you have UK ID and address, try GOV.UK One Login first. Most UK residents can complete it quickly and at no cost.
If you have overseas elements or fail the automated check, engage an ACSP.
Do not wait until autumn 2026. Last-minute verification overload is expected; capacity at ACSPs is finite.

For new company incorporations or new director appointments, plan verification before the appointment effective date. Companies House will reject incorporations or appointments where verification is incomplete.

Bottom line

The verification requirement is straightforward for most UK-resident directors via GOV.UK One Login. Overseas directors should plan the ACSP route. The deadlines are real and the penalties accumulate. Verify ahead of time, not at the deadline.

Companies House identity verification: what UK directors must do