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  • What Is a Companies House Personal Code?

    What Is a Companies House Personal Code?

    Companies House guide

    A Companies House personal code is an important part of identity verification. Here is what it is, how it is sent and how to keep it secure.

    Secure email and personal code concept for Companies House identity verification

    What is a Companies House personal code?

    A Companies House personal code is a unique code issued to an individual after their identity has been successfully verified. It is connected to you as a person, rather than being connected to only one company. You may need to provide it when you take on a director role, file or confirm information for a company, or meet a PSC verification requirement.

    The exact way you use the code depends on your role and your company’s circumstances. For current information, check Companies House guidance on when to verify your identity.

    Key points

    • Your personal code belongs to you, not your company, accountant or authorised agent.
    • Companies House sends it directly to the email address used for the verification.
    • You may need to use the same code separately for more than one company or role.

    How do you receive a personal code?

    If an ACSP verifies your identity and makes a successful submission, Companies House emails your personal code to the email address you provided. This is why it is important to use an email inbox you can access and to double-check the address before completing the secure journey.

    Companies House says that you should receive the email within a few hours after an ACSP has verified you. In a managed service, allow time for the agent’s evidence review and submission first. With DirectorIDVerify, standard applications are aimed to be reviewed and submitted within 3-4 working days where complete and correct; priority applications received by 12:00 on a working day are aimed to be reviewed and submitted the same day.

    Does an agent receive the personal code?

    No. DirectorIDVerify does not receive or hold your personal code. Companies House sends it to you directly. This protects your control over a code that may be needed for future company roles.

    Do not email the code to us, include it in a contact form or send it to anyone unless a Companies House process explicitly requires you to use it. Treat it as confidential information.

    What if you are a director and a PSC?

    One person can have more than one relevant role. For example, you may be a director and also a PSC of the same company. You may need to provide the same personal code separately for each role or filing. It is therefore important not to assume that providing the code once completes every Companies House step.

    If you are involved with several companies, keep a secure record of your personal code and check the instructions for each role. The official timing and filing guidance is the right source if you are unsure.

    What if the email does not arrive?

    1. Check your spam and junk folders.
    2. Make sure you are checking the inbox used in the verification journey.
    3. If your verification has been successfully submitted but you have not received an email, contact the agent that verified you without sending sensitive information.
    4. If the email address supplied was wrong, the ACSP may need to correct it. Companies House also explains how it can resend the email in its ACSP guidance.

    How to keep your personal code safe

    Keep the code out of routine email threads, shared notes and unsecured documents. Do not confuse it with a company authentication code or a reference number. It is your own personal identifier, and it may be needed again.

    If you are only beginning the process, read our step-by-step guide to verifying your identity for Companies House. If you need a service, choose the UK resident or non-UK resident route based on where you currently live.

    Need help with the practical process?

    See the FAQs for clear answers on service timing, proof of address and how the secure journey works.

    Read the FAQs
  • How to Verify Your Identity for Companies House

    How to Verify Your Identity for Companies House

    Companies House guide

    If you are a director or person with significant control, identity verification may be part of keeping your company records up to date. This guide explains the practical route through a Companies House authorised agent.

    Secure online Companies House identity verification on a laptop

    At a glance

    • You can verify directly through Companies House or use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, known as an ACSP.
    • Choose a verification route by your current residence, then follow the secure evidence prompts after payment.
    • After a successful ACSP submission, Companies House emails your personal code directly to the email address provided.

    Why Companies House identity verification matters

    Companies House identity verification is intended to help improve the reliability of information on the UK company register. It can apply to directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and other people connected with a company. The point at which you need to provide a Companies House personal code depends on your role and circumstances.

    It is worth checking the official guidance before you start, particularly if you are taking up a new appointment, filing a confirmation statement or have more than one role. Companies House keeps the rules and timing under review, so the most reliable source is its guidance on when identity verification is required.

    Two routes to verification

    In many cases, you can complete identity verification yourself through the GOV.UK service. Alternatively, you can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. An ACSP is an authorised agent such as an accountant or solicitor that can verify an individual on behalf of Companies House.

    Using an ACSP can be helpful if you prefer a supported route or if the direct online route is not suitable for you. Companies House explains what an ACSP needs and what happens after verification in its official ACSP guidance.

    How the DirectorIDVerify route works

    1. Choose the service that matches where you live

    Choose the UK resident service if you currently live in the United Kingdom. Choose the non-UK resident service if you currently live outside the UK. This is based on your residence, not your nationality or the country where the company is registered.

    Both routes are available in standard and priority options. Standard cases are aimed to be reviewed and submitted within 3-4 working days where the information is complete and correct. Priority cases received with correct information by 12:00 on a working day are aimed to be reviewed and submitted the same day. Later or incomplete cases are normally reviewed the next working morning.

    2. Pay securely and follow the on-screen prompts

    After secure Stripe payment, the verification journey guides you through the evidence needed. You will be asked to provide personal details, an identity document and proof of your current address. Do not email passports, driving licences, address evidence or personal codes.

    3. Make sure your proof of address is usable

    Your proof of current address must be in English. If it is not, provide a certified English translation alongside the original document through the secure journey. You may also be asked for your address history for the previous 12 months, so it is useful to have those details to hand.

    4. We review the evidence before submission

    DirectorIDVerify reviews the evidence before making a submission. If something is missing, unclear or inconsistent, we may need to ask for clarification. This is why submitting clear, complete information is the best way to avoid delay.

    5. Companies House emails your personal code

    After a successful submission, Companies House emails the personal code directly to the email address provided for the verification. The code belongs to you, so keep it secure and do not send it by email. Check your inbox, spam and junk folders too.

    Important timing note

    Service timings are aims for complete and correct applications. Additional evidence, clarification or Companies House processing can affect the overall timing. An authorised agent cannot guarantee a Companies House outcome or the issue of a personal code.

    What to do next

    If you are resident in the UK, see the UK director identity verification service. If you currently live outside the UK, see the overseas verification service for non-UK residents. For a broader overview, visit the How it works page.

    Ready to start?

    Choose the verification service that matches your current residence and complete the secure online journey.

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