UK Companies House Identity Verification for Korean Nationals: A Clear Guide for Directors and PSCs

If you are a South Korean national acting as a director or person with significant control, known as a PSC, of a UK company, you must complete Companies House identity verification by the deadline that applies to your role.

Once your identity has been successfully verified, Companies House will issue your personal code. You must then use that personal code to connect your verified identity to each relevant director or PSC role you hold on the Companies House register. The same personal code can be used for multiple companies, but it must be connected separately to each appointment or role.

Direct Answer for South Korean Directors and PSCs

For most South Korean nationals, the clearest identity document is a valid Republic of Korea biometric passport.

A South Korean national may be able to verify directly through GOV.UK One Login using a valid Korean passport containing a biometric chip. The GOV.UK One Login app accepts non-UK passports with biometric chips.

For a person-led remote ACSP video check, you will usually need either:

• two Group A photographic identity documents; or
• one Group A photographic identity document and one Group B supporting document.

A strong document combination may therefore be:

• Korean passport and a PRADO-listed Korean driving licence; or
• Korean passport and an acceptable bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement or other Group B document.

The Korean Resident Registration Card, or 주민등록증, should not currently be relied on as one of the required documents because it is not shown on PRADO’s Republic of Korea list and is not included in Companies House’s published Group B list.

Who Needs Companies House Identity Verification?

The requirement is particularly relevant to South Korean nationals who are:

• directors of UK limited companies;
• registered as PSCs of UK companies;
• being appointed as new UK company directors;
• becoming PSCs of existing UK companies; or
• establishing a UK company in which they will be a director or PSC.

Identity verification became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025. This date began a 12-month transition period rather than creating one universal deadline for every existing director and PSC. The precise deadline depends on the person’s role and the company’s confirmation statement or PSC compliance period.

Before a company’s confirmation statement can be accepted, all of its directors must have verified their identities. The company must provide each director’s Companies House personal code and confirm that each director has completed verification. PSCs must complete their own separate personal-code process.

Two Ways Korean Nationals Can Verify Their Identity

1. Verify Through GOV.UK One Login

A South Korean national with a current biometric passport may first try the free GOV.UK One Login route.

The GOV.UK One Login app accepts:

• a UK passport;
• a non-UK passport with a biometric chip;
• a UK photocard driving licence;
• a UK biometric residence permit;
• a UK biometric residence card; or
• a UK Frontier Worker permit.

This means a valid biometric South Korean passport may be used. The applicant must have the original passport, a compatible smartphone and the ability to scan the passport’s biometric chip and complete the facial comparison check. An expired passport cannot be used through the app.

A South Korean driving licence cannot currently be used as the driving-licence document in the GOV.UK One Login app because that route only accepts a UK photocard driving licence. However, an eligible Korean driving licence may still be used through an ACSP under the PRADO-listed photographic ID category.

2. Verify Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP, is a Companies House authorised agent permitted to verify clients’ identities. ACSPs commonly include regulated solicitors, accountants and company service providers.

Companies House permits ACSP checks to be completed remotely or in person, provided that the ACSP completes every required step and is satisfied that the documents are genuine and belong to the person being verified.

The ACSP route can be particularly useful for South Korean nationals who:

• live in South Korea or another country outside the UK;
• cannot complete GOV.UK One Login verification;
• do not have a compatible smartphone;
• experience difficulty scanning the Korean passport chip;
• want to use a Korean passport together with a Korean driving licence;
• need their document combination reviewed before verification;
• have Korean and English name-format differences; or
• require remote verification by video call.

How Many Documents Are Required?

Companies House provides two ACSP evidence routes.

Option 1: Technology-Led Document Validation

One eligible document may be sufficient where the ACSP has suitable technology capable of validating the document’s cryptographic security features.

The eligible documents include a biometric or machine-readable passport. Therefore, a suitable South Korean biometric passport may potentially be sufficient under Option 1 where all required technological checks can be completed.

Option 2: Person-Led Remote or In-Person Verification

Where documents are checked by a trained person remotely or in person, the applicant must provide two documents in total:

1. two photographic identity documents from Group A; or
2. one photographic identity document from Group A and one supporting document from Group B.

A person who lives outside the UK must provide at least one government-issued document.

For a person-led video verification service, South Korean applicants should therefore prepare two suitable documents before the appointment.

Group A Photographic ID for South Korean Nationals

1. Republic of Korea Passport

A South Korean passport is normally the clearest Group A identity document.

PRADO lists the current Republic of Korea ordinary passport model, reference KOR-AO-04001, first issued on 21 December 2021, together with earlier Korean passport versions. The current model is recorded as a valid travel document issued to Republic of Korea nationals.

For Companies House Option 2 verification, the published rules permit a passport to be up to 18 months expired. However:

• it must not have been cancelled;
• it must not have been replaced by a newer passport;
• it must not contain cancellation marks, such as a cut corner; and
• the ACSP must still be able to validate the document satisfactorily.

In practice, a current and valid Korean passport is preferable and may make the verification process simpler.

2. South Korean Driving Licence

Specific South Korean driving licence versions are listed on PRADO and can potentially qualify as Group A photographic identification under the “photographic ID listed on PRADO” category.

The Republic of Korea driving licence models currently shown on PRADO include:

• KOR-FO-03001, first issued on 25 February 2020; and
• KOR-FO-02001, first issued on 1 January 2016.

Both entries are recorded by PRADO as valid photographic driving licence documents.

The exact licence must be checked against the relevant PRADO model. A document should not be accepted merely because it is called a Korean driving licence. The card design, photograph, version, issue details, security features and validity must be consistent with the applicable PRADO entry.

Clients should normally provide clear images of both the front and reverse of the driving licence before the video appointment.

3. UK-Issued Photographic Immigration Documents

A South Korean national living in the UK may also hold another eligible Group A document, such as:

• a UK biometric residence permit;
• a UK biometric residence card;
• a photographic immigration document;
• a photographic government-issued work permit;
• a photographic visa;
• a UK photocard driving licence; or
• another eligible UK photographic identity document.

The document must fall within the relevant Companies House category and remain suitable for validation.

Can a Korean Resident Registration Card Be Used?

The South Korean Resident Registration Card is known in Korean as 주민등록증, or ju-min-deung-rok-jeung. It is an official identification card issued to South Korean citizens and contains personal information including the holder’s name, address, photograph and registration number.

However, an official national identity document is not automatically an acceptable Companies House Group A document.

Companies House permits “another type of photographic ID listed on PRADO” under Group A. As checked against the current Republic of Korea PRADO list, Korean passports and specific driving licence models are listed, but the Korean Resident Registration Card does not appear on that list. It is also not included in Companies House’s published Group B document categories.

The practical conclusion is:

Do not rely on a Korean Resident Registration Card as one of the required Group A or Group B documents for a person-led Companies House ACSP verification.

The card may be reviewed as additional background information where appropriate, but the required document combination should be built around an accepted passport, PRADO-listed driving licence or qualifying Group B document.

Group B Supporting Documents

Where only one Group A photographic document is being used, the second document may come from Group B.

Companies House’s published Group B categories include:

• birth or adoption certificate;
• marriage or civil partnership certificate;
• non-photographic immigration document;
• non-photographic visa;
• non-photographic work permit;
• bank or building society statement;
• rental agreement from a UK local authority or social-housing provider showing the current address;
• mortgage statement showing the current address;
• UK council tax statement showing the current address; and
• utility bill showing the current address.

A South Korean bank statement or utility bill may potentially be used where it is clear, current, genuine and capable of being independently validated.

Where a Korean document is not in English, the applicant may be asked to provide an English-language version or translation so that the document’s contents, issuer, date and address can be checked reliably.

Acceptance is not automatic. The ACSP must be satisfied that the document:

• belongs to the applicant;
• has not been altered;
• was issued by a genuine organisation;
• contains consistent personal information; and
• supports the claimed identity or current address.

Recommended Document Combinations for Korean Nationals

Korean Passport and Korean Driving Licence

This can provide two Group A photographic documents where the driving licence matches one of the Korean models listed on PRADO.

This is often the strongest person-led remote verification combination for a South Korean national.

Korean Passport and Bank Statement

This provides one Group A document and one Group B document.

The bank statement should clearly show the applicant’s full name. Where it is being used to support the current address, the address should be consistent with the information provided for verification.

Korean Passport and Utility Bill

This may be suitable where the utility bill clearly displays the applicant’s current residential address and can be validated.

Korean Passport and Mortgage Statement

This can provide one Group A and one Group B document where the statement shows the applicant’s current address.

Korean Passport and Birth or Marriage Evidence

This combination may be useful where the applicant needs to explain:

• a former name;
• a married name;
• a difference between Korean and English name formats;
• a family-name change; or
• another discrepancy between identity documents.

Korean civil-status documents should be reviewed before the appointment to determine whether they fall within the relevant Companies House category.

Korean Name Order, Romanisation and Hyphenation

South Korean identity documents require particular attention to name format.

Korean names generally consist of one surname and one forename. However, the Roman-alphabet presentation of the forename may contain:

• a space;
• a hyphen;
• two joined syllables;
• different capitalisation; or
• a different order from the Korean-language version.

HM Passport Office guidance also notes that a South Korean passport name may sometimes differ from the name appearing in other Korean records.

Before verification, check carefully:

• the surname and given-name order;
• the exact Roman-alphabet spelling shown on the passport;
• whether the given name contains a space or hyphen;
• whether Companies House records include only an initial;
• whether a former or married name has been disclosed;
• the full date of birth; and
• the current residential address.

For example, the following forms should not automatically be treated as identical without review:

• MIN SEO KIM
• MIN-SEO KIM
• KIM MIN SEO
• KIM MINSEO

Small presentation differences may be capable of explanation, but a material mismatch can delay verification or prevent the personal code from connecting successfully to the Companies House record.

Companies House states that personal details linked to the code must match its records. An incorrect date of birth may need to be formally corrected before the verification details can be connected.

Same-Day Remote Verification by Video Call

Our Legal Consultant is registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

Working with our partner solicitor, remote identity verification can be arranged by video call for South Korean directors and PSCs. Same-day verification and submission may be available where:

• the proposed documents have been reviewed in advance;
• the applicant has supplied all required personal information;
• the document combination satisfies the Companies House standard;
• the applicant has the original documents during the video call;
• the documents can be validated;
• the applicant’s face can be compared clearly with the photographs;
• the Companies House details are accurate; and
• no unresolved identity, fraud or document concerns arise.

Same-day service refers to the verification and ACSP submission process. The timing of the personal code being issued remains subject to Companies House processing.

How the Remote Verification Process Works

Step 1: Send the Documents for Preliminary Review

The applicant provides clear images of the proposed documents.

For a passport, the complete biodata page should be visible. For a Korean driving licence or other card, both the front and reverse should be provided.

The applicant will also need to supply:

• full name and any former names;
• date of birth;
• current home address;
• address history for the previous 12 months; and
• an individual email address.

Companies House requires ACSPs to collect this information as part of the identity verification process.

Step 2: Confirm the Correct Document Combination

We review whether the documents fall within Group A or Group B.

Where a Korean driving licence is proposed, we check whether its design and version correspond with a relevant PRADO entry.

Where the proposed documents are insufficient, we identify an alternative combination before arranging the video call.

Step 3: Attend the Video Verification Call

During the video call, the applicant must:

• appear clearly on camera;
• show the original identity documents;
• present the documents from different angles where requested;
• confirm their personal details;
• complete a live likeness and presence check; and
• answer any necessary identity-verification questions.

The verifier must be satisfied that the person is real, the documents are genuine and the identity belongs to the person appearing on the call.

Step 4: ACSP Submission to Companies House

After all checks have been completed satisfactorily, the ACSP submits the required information to Companies House through the authorised verification service.

Document copies are not normally submitted to Companies House, but the ACSP must retain the required verification records for seven years.

Step 5: Receive the Companies House Personal Code

Once verification has been accepted, Companies House provides the individual with a personal code.

The code belongs to the person, not to a particular company. It should be kept securely but may be shared with a trusted accountant, solicitor or company administrator who needs to file on the person’s behalf.

How Korean Directors Use the Personal Code

A person appointed as a director from 18 November 2025 must provide the personal code as part of the appointment filing or when the company is incorporated.

An existing director must provide the code through the company’s relevant confirmation statement.

Where a person is a director of several companies, the same personal code can be used for every appointment. However, it must be provided separately for each company role.

How Korean PSCs Use the Personal Code

A PSC must connect the verified identity separately to the PSC role, even where the person has already provided the same code as a director.

The relevant period depends on the circumstances:

• A person who is both a director and PSC of the same company must provide the PSC code separately during the 14-day period beginning on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.
• A PSC who is not also a director of the same company generally provides the code during the first 14 days of their birth month.
• A person who became a PSC after 18 November 2025 may provide the code when first added to the register or within 14 days of being added.

How Our Legal Consultant Can Help

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can assist South Korean nationals by:

• reviewing Korean passports and driving licences;
• checking whether a Korean driving licence matches a PRADO listing;
• explaining why a 주민등록증 should not currently be relied on;
• confirming the correct Group A and Group B document combination;
• reviewing Korean bank statements and address documents;
• identifying name-order, spacing, hyphenation and Romanisation issues;
• checking for date-of-birth or address inconsistencies;
• arranging remote identity verification by video call;
• completing the required ACSP identity checks;
• submitting the verification through the authorised Companies House route; and
• assisting the applicant in progressing towards receipt of the Companies House personal code.

Ginkgo Advisory’s Role

The identity verification service is provided through our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor.

Ginkgo Advisory supports the process through document coordination, preliminary document review, client communications, appointment arrangements and practical case handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a South Korean national verify through GOV.UK One Login?

Yes, potentially. A South Korean national may use a valid Republic of Korea passport with a biometric chip. The applicant will need a compatible smartphone and must be able to scan the chip and complete the facial check.

Can I use my Korean passport for Companies House verification?

Yes. A Korean passport is a Group A photographic identity document. It is normally the clearest identity document for a South Korean director or PSC.

Can I use my Korean driving licence?

Potentially. PRADO currently lists Korean driving licence models first issued in 2020 and 2016. The exact document version and design must be checked before it is accepted.

Can I use my Korean driving licence with GOV.UK One Login?

Not as a driving licence. The GOV.UK One Login app currently accepts a UK photocard driving licence, rather than foreign driving licences. A PRADO-listed Korean driving licence may nevertheless be used through an ACSP as Group A photographic identification.

Can I use my Korean Resident Registration Card?

It should not currently be relied on as one of the required documents. Although the 주민등록증 is an official Korean identity card, it does not currently appear on PRADO’s Republic of Korea document list and is not included in the Companies House Group B list.

Is the Korean Resident Registration Card the same as a biometric residence card?

No. A Korean Resident Registration Card is a South Korean domestic national identity document. A UK biometric residence card is a UK immigration document and falls within a separate Companies House document category.

Do I always need two documents?

For a person-led remote or in-person Option 2 check, yes. You need two Group A documents or one Group A document and one Group B document.

One document may be sufficient under Option 1 where the ACSP has suitable technology to validate the document’s cryptographic features.

Can I complete verification while living in South Korea?

Yes. Companies House permits ACSP identity checks to be completed remotely, provided that all required checks are performed and the ACSP is satisfied with the person’s identity and documents.

Do I need to post my original Korean passport?

Physical posting will not usually be necessary for an approved remote video process. Clear document images are reviewed in advance, and the applicant must have the original passport and other original documents available during the video call.

Can I use a Korean bank statement?

A bank statement falls within Group B. A Korean bank statement may potentially be accepted if it is genuine, sufficiently clear and capable of validation. It should be reviewed before the video appointment.

Do Korean documents need to be translated?

A translation may be requested where important information appears only in Korean and cannot otherwise be reliably understood or validated. English-language or bilingual documents are preferable where available.

Can I use the same personal code as both director and PSC?

Yes. The code belongs to the individual. However, it must be connected separately to the director role and the PSC role.

Can verification be completed on the same day?

Same-day verification and ACSP submission may be possible where the document set has been approved in advance, the applicant is available for the video call and all required checks are completed satisfactorily.

Need Companies House Identity Verification for a Korean Director or PSC?

South Korean nationals should review their documents before beginning Companies House identity verification.

In particular, applicants should not assume that a Korean Resident Registration Card can be used simply because it is an official national identity document. For a person-led remote check, a Korean passport combined with a PRADO-listed Korean driving licence or an acceptable Group B document will usually provide a clearer route.

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can review your document set, confirm the appropriate Companies House verification route and arrange remote verification by video call. Same-day verification and submission may be available for suitable cases with a complete and approved document set.