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Who Needs Director Identity Verification in the UK? Rules, Exemptions and Key Deadlines

Who Needs Director Identity Verification in the UK? Rules, Exemptions and Key Deadlines

June 11, 2026

By Tim R

Identity verification is transforming UK company compliance. Find out whether you need to verify your identity with Companies House, understand the 18 November 2026 backstop deadline, and learn how using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) can make the process faster, easier, and fully compliant.

Identity Verification in the UK

The UK's corporate compliance landscape has changed significantly. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), Companies House now requires many of the people behind UK companies to verify their identity. Mandatory identity verification came into force on 18 November 2025, and millions of directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) must complete it before their own deadline.

If you are a director, a PSC, an overseas company officer, or someone forming a new company, this guide explains who needs to verify, the limited exemptions, the deadlines that apply, and what happens if you miss them.

At directorVerifications.com, we help UK and overseas directors complete identity verification quickly, securely, and in full compliance with Companies House requirements.


What Is a Director Verification Service?


A director verification service handles the Companies House identity verification process on your behalf, so you don't have to navigate the government system yourself.

directorVerifications.com is a service provided by Finovium Limited, a firm of accountants based in West London. Finovium is registered with Companies House and HMRC as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) and is supervised for anti-money laundering purposes by HMRC. As an ACSP, Finovium is authorised to verify the identities of its customers and submit those verifications to Companies House.

We check your identity documents, carry out all the required checks, and make sure you receive your Companies House personal code - the unique code you'll need for company filings now and in the future. Using a professional ACSP reduces the risk of delays, rejected applications, and compliance problems, and ensures the process is completed correctly the first time.


Who Needs Director Identity Verification?


According to Companies House guidance, identity verification is mandatory for several categories of people connected to UK companies.


1. UK company directors


Every director of a UK limited company must verify their identity. This includes:


  • Existing (in-post) directors
  • Newly appointed directors
  • Sole directors
  • Directors of dormant companies


Verification confirms that directors are who they say they are and improves the accuracy and transparency of the Companies House register.


2. Overseas directors


Living outside the UK does not exempt you. Overseas directors of UK-registered companies must complete exactly the same identity verification process as UK-based directors.


3. Persons with Significant Control (PSCs)


A PSC is an individual who owns or controls a company - typically through significant shareholdings, voting rights, or the ability to exercise significant influence. If you are a PSC of a UK company, identity verification is required.


4. People forming a new company


Anyone incorporating a new company and being appointed as a director must verify their identity. Verification is now built into the company formation process.


5. People acting through Authorised Corporate Service Providers


Individuals who act as authorised agents at an ACSP must themselves be verified before they can carry out verification work for clients.


Who Benefits Most from a Director Verification Service?


While you can attempt verification independently, professional help is particularly valuable for:


  • Overseas directors and non-UK residents
  • Directors with expired or non-UK documents
  • Start-up founders going through formation for the first time
  • People who hold directorships across several companies
  • PSCs with complex ownership structures
  • Businesses that need to verify multiple directors at once


In all of these cases, an ACSP helps you stay compliant without unnecessary delays or rejections.


Are There Any Exemptions?


Many business owners assume their role is exempt - but the scope of the legislation is deliberately broad, and genuine exemptions are narrow.

Verification generally does not apply to:


  • People who are only shareholders and are not PSCs
  • Individuals with no director, PSC, or filing responsibilities


Most active directors and PSCs should expect to verify. Companies House may also extend verification to further roles as the rollout continues, so an exemption that applies today may not apply in future. If you are unsure whether an exemption genuinely covers you, it is worth getting professional guidance before assuming you are off the hook.


Key Director Verification Deadlines


Identity verification became mandatory on 18 November 2025. What you need to do - and by when - depends on your situation.

New directors and PSCs. Anyone appointed or registered on or after 18 November 2025 must verify their identity as part of the appointment or incorporation process. In practice, you cannot be properly appointed until verification is complete.

Existing directors. Directors already in post on 18 November 2025 must verify and provide their personal code as part of their company's next confirmation statement. For many companies that filing date arrives within months, not years - so the practical deadline is often much sooner than people expect.


Existing PSCs. Existing PSCs must also verify within the transition period set by Companies House.

The backstop deadline. Companies House has set a phased, 12-month transition period with a final backstop of 18 November 2026 for existing directors and PSCs. The transition gives millions of people time to comply - but if you hold roles across multiple companies, your real deadline is the earliest confirmation statement due across all of them. Leaving it to the last minute risks avoidable delays right when you need to file.


What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?


Companies House has been clear that identity verification is a legal requirement, and that acting as a director without verifying is a criminal offence under ECCTA. Potential consequences of non-compliance include:


  • Being unable to file confirmation statements and other documents
  • Restrictions on company appointments and filings
  • Financial penalties at company or individual level
  • Director disqualification, or the company being struck off the register, in serious cases
  • Criminal liability where there is deliberate evasion


Enforcement is designed to escalate: Companies House will typically prompt compliance first, then apply penalties, with criminal prosecution reserved for the most serious cases. The simplest way to avoid any of this is to verify in good time.


Why Use directorVerifications.com?


Choosing a trusted ACSP such as directorVerifications.com makes the whole process faster and far less stressful. With directorVerifications.com you get:


  • Fast, secure online verification for UK and overseas directors
  • Expert ACSP support from a regulated firm of accountants
  • A quick document review that reduces the risk of rejection
  • A fully Companies House–compliant process
  • Professional help from start to finish


Whether you're a director, a PSC, a startup founder, or an overseas business owner, we help you meet your legal obligations efficiently and correctly.


Conclusion


Director identity verification is now a core compliance requirement for UK companies. Directors, PSCs, overseas officers, and authorised agents all need to understand their responsibilities and verify within their deadlines. With enforcement now underway and the 18 November 2026 backstop approaching, the sensible move is to act early. Using a trusted provider such as directorVerifications.com simplifies the process, reduces your compliance risk, and gets it done right the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is director identity verification mandatory in the UK?

    Yes. Since 18 November 2025, most company directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House under ECCTA.

  • Do overseas directors need verification?

    Yes. Overseas directors of UK companies must complete the same identity verification process as UK residents.

  • What is a Companies House personal code?

    It's a unique 11-character code (a mix of letters and numbers) issued by Companies House after you successfully verify your identity. It is personal to you - not to a company - and you use the same code for all your roles and future Companies House filings, whether you're a director, PSC, LLP member, or limited partnership partner.

  • Can I verify my identity through an ACSP?

    Yes - and for most people it's the easier, more reliable route than attempting it yourself.

    In our own experience, the Companies House online check can be surprisingly difficult to pass. When we tried to verify directly on the Companies House system it failed on the first attempt - and when we contacted the Companies House helpline, we were told that once the online verification had failed, we could not reuse the website and the Post Office route was no longer available to us either. The only remaining option was to verify through an ACSP. Using an ACSP from the outset avoids that risk altogether.


  • What happens if I fail to verify on time?

    You may face filing restrictions, financial penalties, and - in serious cases - legal consequences, including criminal liability for acting as an unverified director.

  • Do directors of dormant companies need verification?

    Yes. Directors of dormant companies must comply with identity verification requirements just like any other director.

  • How long does director verification take?

    With directorVerifications.com, the part you complete takes just 2–3 minutes on our website when you have the correct documents to hand. We then submit your details through the Companies House ACSP portal, and Companies House issues your personal code via email directly to your inbox..

    We offer a standard service at £24.99, which typically takes a day or two, and a fast-track same-day service at £39.99 for customers who register and pay before 4pm on a weekday.

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