Companies House identity verification FAQs.

A personal code is a unique code issued by Companies House after a successful identity verification. It belongs to you, not to your company or agent. You may need it for a company appointment, confirmation statement or PSC identity-verification requirement.

The requirement can apply to directors, equivalent officers and people with significant control (PSCs), among other roles. The timing depends on your role and circumstances.

Read the current Companies House guidance on who needs to verify.

Identity verification is generally completed once, but you may need to provide your personal code separately for each relevant company or role. Check the official guidance and keep your personal code private.

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), also known as a Companies House authorised agent, is a business such as an accountant or solicitor that can verify an individual’s identity for Companies House. DirectorIDVerify is a trading name of SB Business Consulting Limited, a Companies House authorised agent.

Read GOV.UK guidance on using an ACSP.

Choose the service by your current residence, not by your nationality or the country where the company is registered. Use the UK resident service if you live in the UK. Use the non-UK resident service if you live outside the UK.

For the UK resident route, a valid passport, ID card or driving licence may be accepted, subject to the secure journey confirming the document is eligible. You will also need proof of your current address.

The non-UK resident route is passport-only. Have a valid passport ready before you pay, together with proof of your current address.

Yes. Proof of your current address must be in English. If the original document is not in English, provide a certified English translation with it through the secure journey.

You need proof of your current address. The secure journey may also ask you to provide your address history for the last 12 months. Only upload evidence that is requested during the secure process.

After secure Stripe payment, you are guided through on-screen prompts to submit the requested evidence. Do not email identity documents, proof of address or personal codes to us.

For complete and correct applications, we aim to review and submit standard applications within 2 working days. We may need to contact you if clarification or more evidence is required.

If correct and complete information is received by 12:00 on a working day, we aim to review and submit it the same day. Applications received later, or needing clarification, are normally reviewed the next working morning.

No. After a successful submission, Companies House emails the personal code directly to the email address provided for the verification. Check your inbox, junk and spam folders. We do not receive or hold your personal code.

First check your spam and junk folders. If you have been told the verification was successfully submitted and you have not received the email, contact us by email without sending sensitive information. We can check that the email address provided to Companies House was correct.

No. For security, do not email identity documents, proof of address, dates of birth, home addresses or personal codes. Use the secure on-screen journey after payment.

No. We aim to review complete applications carefully and make a submission only when the required standard has been met. Companies House controls the final processing and personal-code issue.

Yes. DirectorIDVerify is a trading name of SB Business Consulting, an accounting firm. You can book a free initial consultation with a Chartered Accountant about wider accounting, tax and company compliance needs.