Non-British director or PSC? If GOV.UK One Login rejected your foreign passport, verify your Companies House identity fast through an ACSP - any nationality.
If you’re a Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK company, identity verification is no longer optional , it’s the law. From 18 November 2025, PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023. Missing your deadline can block your company from filing documents and even lead to prosecution. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to do, when, and how to stay compliant without the stress. What Is a PSC and Who Does This Apply To? A PSC (Person with Significant Control) is any individual who owns or controls more than 25% of a company's shares or voting rights, has the right to appoint or remove the majority of directors, or exercises significant influence over the company. This applies whether you live in the UK or abroad. If you hold a PSC role in a UK-registered limited company, LLP, or limited partnership, you must verify your identity , no exceptions. Why Has ID Verification for UK PSCs Become Mandatory? The UK government introduced mandatory ID verification for PSCs to tackle corporate fraud and improve transparency on the Companies House register. The goal is simple: every person listed on the public register must be who they claim to be. Non-compliance triggers serious consequences. Companies House will issue enforcement notices, prevent your company from filing confirmation statements, and in persistent cases, pursue prosecution and financial penalties. PSC Verification Deadlines: Know Your Timeline This is where many PSCs get confused. Unlike directors, PSCs do not all share the same deadline , your specific window depends on your situation. If you are both a Director and a PSC of the same company: You must provide your personal code within 14 days of your company's confirmation statement date. If you are a PSC but NOT a director of the same company: Your 14-day window begins on the 1st day of your birth month. For example, if your date of birth is 15 June, your compliance window opens on 1 June each year. If you became a PSC after 18 November 2025: You must provide your personal code either when your details are first added to the Companies House register, or within 14 days of being Added. The key takeaway: PSCs have a very tight 14-day window. Don not wait until the deadline arrives , verify your identity in advance so you are ready. What Is the Company's House Personal Code? Once you complete ID verification, Companies House issues you an 11-digit personal verification code. This code is unique to you as an individual , not tied to any single company. If you are a PSC in multiple companies, you verify once and use the same personal code across all your roles. This personal code must be submitted to Companies House within your specific 14-day window. Keep it safe , you will need it every time a related filing is made. How to Get Your ID Verification for UK PSCs Done There are two ways to complete your Companies House ID verification: Option 1 – Via GOV.UK One Login (Free) You can verify directly through the government's online portal using the GOV.UK ID Check app. This requires an NFC-enabled smartphone, a biometric passport or UK driving licence, and completion of a liveness face scan. While it's free, the government portal can fail to verify some individuals , and if it does,you don't get a second attempt through the same route. Option 2 – Via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) This is where a service like directorverifications.com comes in. As a Companies House-approved ACSP, we handle your entire ID verification process using enterprise-grade AI biometric technology , no app download required. Once verified, your 11-digit personal code is sent directly to your inbox. This is particularly valuable for PSCs who: Have already been rejected by the GOV.UK portal Don't have an NFC-enabled smartphone Need verification completed quickly with a same day director ID verification option Are non-UK residents managing bulk director ID verification for multiple people Bulk ID Verification for Advisers Managing Multiple PSCs Accountants, solicitors, and company formation agents managing multiple clients face a significant administrative challenge with PSC verification deadlines falling at different times throughout the year. Our bulk director ID verification service is designed specifically for advisers and businesses handling verifications at scale. Instead of chasing clients individually, you can manage multiple PSC and director verifications through a single, streamlined process ,ensuring no one misses their deadline and no confirmation statement gets blocked. What Happens If a PSC Misses the Deadline? Failing to verify your identity as a PSC isn't a minor admin issue. Companies House will: Issue formal enforcement letters threatening prosecution Prevent the company from filing its confirmation statement Restrict the company from making new director appointments Pursue financial penalties for continued non-compliance A single unverified PSC can block an entire company's ability to file. If you share a company with other directors and PSCs, their non-compliance affects you too. Stay Compliant Without the Stress PSC verification deadlines are tight, the consequences of missing them are serious, and the The GOV.UK portal doesn't always work the first time. Don't leave it to chance. directorverifications.com is a Companies House-approved ACSP offering fast, reliable ID verification for UK PSCs , from £24.99, no app required, with your personal code delivered straight to your inbox. Get Your PSC ID Verified Today , From £24.99.
Learn who must complete Companies House director identity verification under ECCTA, key deadlines, exemptions, penalties, and how to stay compliant.
If your Companies House ID verification failed, it’s usually down to one of seven common issues - mismatched personal details, an unsupported or expired document, poor photo quality, an old device, a shared email address, a previous failed attempt on GOV.UK One Login, or a system glitch. Most of these are fixable. And if the GOV.UK route has rejected you once, an approved ACSP like directorverifications.com can still get you verified - no app needed. Since mandatory ID verification kicked in on 18 November 2025, thousands of UK company directors and PSCs have run into the same wall. You carve out 20 minutes, work through the GOV.UK One Login process, and then - rejected. Frustrating doesn’t cover it.The good news? A failed Companies House ID verification isn't the end. Here are the 7 most common reasons it happens and, more importantly, exactly what to do about each one.
Struggling with Companies House ID verification? Learn why Gov.UK One Login fails and how to complete your identity verification quickly and easily.
If you’ve used the usual Gov.UK One login for Companies House to verify your ID and it’s failed, meaning you were rejected, you aren’t alone by any means. Many directors and PSCs (Persons with Significant Control) are running into trouble since mandatory identity checks have now come into effect across the UK. This guide explains why rejections happen and exactly what you need to do. If the Gov.UK One login route has failed to identify you, you cannot use this route again If you’ve used your Gov.UK One login to try to verify your ID and it’s failed, you will not be able to use this route again. Nor will you be able to go to a Post Office for your ID to be verified in person. The only course of action available is for you to use an ACSP (Authorised Corporate Services Provider), usually a firm of accountants, who will perform the ID verification on your behalf and submit your verified details to the Companies House ACSP portal. directorverifications.com is an ACSP that’s authorised by Companies House and HMRC. Why ID verification is now mandatory Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) , Companies House requires all UK company directors, LLP members, Limited Partnership partners and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) to verify their identities. The objective is to improve corporate transparency and reduce economic crime. Common reasons why ID verifications are rejected when using the Gov.UK One login Here are the most frequent reasons why ID verifications fail when using the government’s website: 1. Personal details don't match your ID This is one of the most common issues. If the name or date of birth held by Companies House differs from what appears on your identity document, your verification will fail. Even small discrepancies, like a middle name being missing, can cause a rejection. 2. Unsupported or expired ID document Not all identity documents are accepted. Companies House only recognizes specific types of photo ID, including: A biometric or machine-readable passport (can be up to 6 months expired if cryptographic checks pass) A UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or EU photocard driving license (full or provisional) A biometric identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein A UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) can be up to 18 months expired A UK Biometric Residence Card (BRC) A UK Frontier Worker Permit If you submitted a document outside this list, it will be rejected automatically. 3. Poor photo or scan quality Blurry images, glare, cropped edges, or low lighting during the scanning process can prevent the system from reading your document accurately. The ID verification process relies on automated checks, so image quality matters significantly. 4. Technical or device issues Some users experience failures due to using older smartphones or incompatible browsers. The Gov.UK One Login system, which powers the verification process, works best on modern smartphones with up-to-date software. 5. Shared email accounts or account conflicts If your WebFiling account and your Companies House account use different email addresses, this can cause access problems. Only one email address can be linked to a Gov.UK One Login. Using a shared email that others also use can create conflicts. 6. Unexplained system errors There are also reported cases of unexplained technical glitches in the Companies House system. Once a glitch occurs, it can prevent users from moving forward without alternative action. What to do before using the Gov.UK One login: step-by-step Step 1: Check that your details match Log in to your Gov.UK One account (if you have one) and compare the name and date of birth on your profile against your ID document. If they don't match, you must update your details first and wait for the change to be processed before trying. Step 2: Ensure you have a supported device Biometric checks work best on a laptops, desktop computers and modern smartphones with up-to-date and working cameras. Avoid using older devices for the ID scanning step. Step 3: Ensure your photo submission is as good as it can be When photographing your ID for the Gov.UK One ID verification portal: Use good, even lighting and avoid brightly lit windows or lamps behind you Keep the entire document in the frame Avoid reflections or glare on the ID surface Hold the document steady to prevent blur Step 4: Login to the Gov.UK One service Visit the official " Verify your identity for Companies House " service. This is the only government/Companies House online route for self ID verification. You'll be guided through the process step by step. Step 5: If you do not want to use the Gov.UK One login, you can try in-person ID verification at the post office You may opt to verify your identity in person at a participating Post Office. This is a useful alternative for those who don't have access to a suitable smartphone or do not want to install the Gov.UK One app on their smartphone that they’ll need to use the government’s ID verification service. Important note: you will still need to use your Gov.UK One login and select Route 3 to use a Post Office to verify your identity. Another important note: if you’ve tried to use the Gov.UK One login on your smartphone to verify your identity and it’s failed to do so, you will not be able to try again, nor will you be able to visit a Post Office to try again. In this scenario your only option is to use an ACSP (Authorised Corporate Services Provider) such as directorverifications.com Step 6: Use an ACSP (Authorised Corporate Service Provider) If you do not want to use the Gov.UK One login route to verify your identity or visit a Post Office, or these routes have failed to verify your identity, you can use an ACSP (Authorised Corporate Service Provider) to verify your identity on your behalf. ACSPs are third-party professional companies registered with Companies House and/or HMRC that are supervised under Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. They include some firm of solicitors and accountants. A public list of ACSPs is available on GOV.UK . Always confirm that the provider is registered as an ACSP before proceeding. directorverifications.com is a trading name of Finovium Limited. Finovium Limited is an ACSP. What happens after verification? Once your ID verification is successfully completed you will receive a Companies House personal code, sent directly to your email inbox. This code must be used to file your company's annual confirmation statement. If multiple directors are involved, each person must verify separately and share their personal code with whoever files the statement. PSCs who are also directors only need to verify once, but the personal code must be submitted in both capacities, firstly as a director via the confirmation statement, and secondly as a PSC via the separate "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service. Quick tips to avoid rejection on the Gov.UK One login Always double check that your personal details on your Gov.UK One login match your ID document exactly before starting Ensure your Gov.UK One login uses your own email address, not a shared one Keep your accepted ID documents accessible and up to date Don't leave verification to the last minute before a filing deadline Final words A rejected ID verification after jumping through the hurdles stipulated on the Gov.UK One login is extremely frustrating. The most common causes are mismatched personal details, unsupported documents, photo quality issues or technical glitches. Start by reviewing your details, using a supported device and following the Gov.UK One login process carefully. You don’t have to submit your ID documents using the Gov.UK One login and downloading the government’s app that you’ll need to do to use this route. Instead, you can login into Gov.UK One and opt to take your ID document to a Post Office. If the online route doesn't work and/or rejects you and you don’t want to queue at a Post Office for in-person ID verification, the only alternative route is to use an ACSP such as directorverifications.com Unresolved ID verification issues may block your company's filings and create compliance risks.
