Every director must have verified their identity before a new company can be registered: Companies House asks for each director's personal code in the filing. Verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login is free; an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) charges its own fee. The rule has applied to new incorporations since 18 November 2025, and a PSC can give their code when first added to the register or within 14 days after.
- Identity verification has been compulsory for new directors and PSCs at incorporation since 18 November 2025. (Companies House transition plan)
- A new company's registration filing asks for the personal code of each director. (GOV.UK)
- A personal code is 11 characters and belongs to the individual, not the company. (GOV.UK)
Who has to verify before a company can be formed?
Every director, before the registration filing. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 requires a confirmation that each proposed director's identity is verified, and in practice the filing asks for each director's Companies House personal code. A director without one stops the application.
People with significant control (PSCs) are treated a little differently. A PSC added to the register after 18 November 2025 can give their personal code when first added, or within 14 days of being added. Many founders are both director and PSC, and one verification covers both roles.
This page covers new companies. Directors who were already in post before 18 November 2025 are on a separate transition, set out in our identity verification guide.
GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP?
Most founders can verify themselves through GOV.UK One Login, which is free. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor supervised for anti-money-laundering, is the alternative when One Login does not suit.
| GOV.UK One Login | ACSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Set by the provider |
| Time | Online, done by you; the Post Office route needs a visit | Companies House sets no timescale; ask the provider |
| Documents | Biometric passport from any country, UK photo driving licence, UK biometric residence permit or card, or Frontier Worker permit; plus your address and a One Login account | Suitable identity documents, as the provider asks |
| Best for | Most founders, including many overseas directors with a biometric passport | People who cannot use One Login, or who want a professional to handle it |
Source: Verify your identity for Companies House, checked 3 November 2026
UK residents can also verify with bank or building society details plus a National Insurance number, or at a Post Office after entering their photo ID details online. Passports cannot be expired; other photo IDs can be, within limits the GOV.UK page sets out.
In what order do the steps go?
Verify first, collect the codes second, file last. The filing cannot be completed in any other order, because the codes are part of it.
- Each director verifies. Through GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP, whichever suits their documents.
- Each director receives a personal code once verification succeeds.
- The codes go to whoever is filing. A director can share their code with an accountant or formation agent filing for them.
- The registration is filed with each director's code included.
- Any PSC who is not a director gives their code when first added to the register, or within 14 days.
If you are choosing your company name at the same time, see our guide to choosing a company name, so a name refusal does not hold up a filing you have already prepared.
Personal code or company authentication code?
They are different codes for different things, and mixing them up is a common slip. The personal code belongs to one individual. The company authentication code belongs to the company.
- Personal code: 11 characters, issued when you verify. It is yours, not the company's, and one code works for every company where you are a director or PSC. You can share it with the person filing on your behalf.
- Company authentication code: belongs to the company and authorises its filings. It does not prove anyone's identity.
Keep your personal code somewhere safe: you will be asked for it again when you are appointed to another company.
What changes after the company exists?
Two further changes are still ahead, and neither affects a first incorporation. Companies House says the transition for existing directors and PSCs will be completed no earlier than the end of 2026, which is also when compliance action against people who have not verified can begin. It has not given a fixed date.
Anyone presenting a document for filing will also need to verify, and third-party agents will need to register as ACSPs. That starts no earlier than November 2027, with at least six months' notice. Until then an agent can still file for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a personal code before I can form a company?
Yes for every director. Companies House asks for each director's personal code as part of the registration filing, so each director verifies first. A PSC can give theirs when they are first added to the register, or within 14 days of being added.
Is verifying with GOV.UK One Login free?
Yes. Verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login costs nothing. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider sets its own price, so ask before you book.
Can a director with a foreign passport verify online?
Often, yes. GOV.UK One Login accepts a biometric passport from any country, as well as a UK photo driving licence, a biometric residence permit or card, or a Frontier Worker permit. Someone with none of these can use the Post Office route or an ACSP.
Is the personal code the same as the company authentication code?
No. The personal code is an 11-character code that belongs to one individual and works for every company they direct. The company authentication code belongs to the company and is used to authorise its filings.
Do I need a new code for each company I form?
No. You verify once and use the same personal code for every company where you are a director or PSC. Each company still needs to be given the code separately.
Can my formation agent file for me without my personal code?
No. The registration filing asks for each director's code, whoever files it. You can share your code with the person filing on your behalf, such as an accountant or formation agent.
Sources
- Verify your identity for Companies House, GOV.UK (page updated 30 April 2026). Checked
- When you need to verify your identity for Companies House, GOV.UK (page updated 30 July 2026). Checked
- Companies House personal codes for identity verification, GOV.UK (page updated 13 July 2026). Checked
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act outline transition plan for Companies House, Companies House (updated 23 October 2026). Checked
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Part 1, legislation.gov.uk. Checked
Need your identity verified?
Basics is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, so we can verify your identity for Companies House. It is included when you form a company with us. Already have a company? Director identity verification is also available on its own for £20.
Verify your identity with BasicsForming a new company? Verification is included with formation