Companies House has confirmed that from 18 November 2025, identity verification will become a compulsory part of incorporation and new appointments of directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).
The latest date for existing directors and PSCs to verify themselves will be November 2026, and will depend upon when your next confirmation statement is due to be filed.
We are aware that these changes are the cause of some concern amongst directors, PSCs and partners, particularly in respect of which deadlines apply and what the process entails.
Whilst we urge you not to panic, we would also encourage you to prepare proactively, to prevent any disruption to your filings.
In this article we cover a number of practical tips and pointers to help you feel reassured, and confident in your ability to comply with the requirements.
1. The impact on new incorporations
If you are planning to incorporate your business on or after 18 November 2025, you should carefully consider how the new ID verification requirements will impact upon the process.
The new requirements are designed to improve transparency and prevent fraud, by ensuring that only verified individuals can act as company directors, secretaries, or beneficial owners.
Failure to verify your identity could result in unnecessary delays, and could mean your application to incorporate is rejected, which is why a proactive approach is advisable.
Familiarising yourself with the new requirements, and preparing the relevant documentation in advance will ensure a smoother incorporation experience under the new regulatory framework.
2. Know which deadline applies to you
Before anything else, it is important to identify exactly which of the ‘deadlines’ applies to you.
Incorporations / appointments on or after 18 November 2025
From Tuesday 18 November 2025, new directors will need to verify their identity in order to incorporate a company or to be appointed to an existing company.
New PSCs not previously identified will have a 14-day period after they have registered with Companies House to submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity.
Existing directors
Existing directors will need to have verified their identity before filing their next annual confirmation statement, during a 12-month transition period. This means that the latest date for verification will be 18 November 2026.
Be mindful of your next confirmation statement deadline, which you can check on the Companies House website, and seek advice proactively if you need support.
Existing PSCs who are directors
Where someone is both a PSC and a director, they will need to provide their code twice. Once in their capacity as director via the company’s confirmation statement and once via a separate service within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date.
Existing PSCs who are not directors
Existing PSCs who are not directors will have to submit a statement confirming that they have verified their identity within a 14-day period starting from the first day of their month of birth – i.e., if you were born in January, you will need to submit your statement by 14th January 2026.
Roles across multiple companies
If you hold roles across multiple companies you will only need to verify your identity once, but your deadline will be the earliest company requirement. For example, if Company A’s confirmation statement is due in December 2025, and Company B’s is due in February 2026, you must verify before December 2025.
3. Decide which form of ID you will use to complete the verification process
When preparing to complete the verification process, it is important to decide which form of identification you will use, as not all documents offer the same level of convenience or compatibility with the digital verification system.
Non-UK passports that do not have a biometric chip embedded, for example, can present challenges because they lack the security features needed for the automated checks.
Based on conversations we have had with clients so far, and our own experience of the identity verification process, where possible, it seems to be more practical and efficient to use a driving licence.
4. Retrieving, saving and sharing your verification code
Once your identity has been successfully verified, you will be issued with an 11-character verification code that is unique to you.
We are aware that there is a known glitch which means that some people are unable to see their code when they get to the end of the verification process.
Where this is the case, you may need to login to your companies house account using the GOV.UK One Login you created at the start of the process. Once logged in, click on “Manage account” and the code will be displayed under the “Identity Verification” section.
If you have had your identity verified by an Authorised Corporate Services Provider (ACSP), then you may need to save your unique code to your Companies House account.
To do this Sign in to your Companies House account using the email address you used for verification, and enter your personal code and date of birth when prompted.
It is advisable to take a screenshot of the code at the end of the process in case it does not come though on further communications.
5. Understand the consequences of non-compliance
Companies House will not be prosecute individuals for failure to comply in the first 12 months, but from November 2026 there will be severe consequences for non-compliance.
First and foremost, if you fail to verify your identity, you will be unable to submit your confirmation statement, regardless of whether your statement is due on or soon after the 18 November deadline.
Failure to submit this information is considered a criminal offence and persistent non-compliance can lead to directors being fined up to £5,000, potential director disqualification and Companies House striking the company off register.
Similarly, failing to verify your identity will be in breach of the law and you may be penalised accordingly, with disqualification being possible.
6. Know where to find support
In the majority of instances, we anticipate that people will opt to verify themselves directly with Companies House via the GOV.UK One Login, using photo ID such as a passport or driving licence.
If you are struggling to navigate the verification process, we encourage you to contact our team who can arrange for you to come into one of our offices and be supported through the process.
We are also developing helpful resources, available upon request, to walk you through the various steps.
Our handy factsheet gives you a breakdown of the steps involved, and explains why these changes are happening.
For those individuals who may find the digital aspect of the process more challenging, you can also opt to visit any local post office offering in-branch identity verification. You will still require photo ID, and you should receive an email with the results of your ID check within a day of your visit. Further information about using this service can be found here https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/govuk-one-login
GOV.UK also have a number of resources available online to aid you in exploring and understanding the changes.
We are here to help you navigate this process so, should you have concerns about what you need to do, or would like to speak to one of our team about the requirements, please contact us today.
