Ukrainian nationals who act as directors or people with significant control, known as PSCs, of UK companies must complete Companies House identity verification by the deadline that applies to each role.

After you verify your identity, Companies House gives you an 11-character personal code. The code belongs to you rather than to one company. You can use the same code for every UK company where you act as a director or PSC. However, you must connect it separately to each appointment or role.

Quick Answer for Ukrainian Directors and PSCs

For most Ukrainian nationals, a valid Ukrainian international passport, known as a закордонний паспорт, provides the clearest Group A identity document.

A Ukrainian ID card and certain Ukrainian driving licences also appear on PRADO. They may therefore qualify as Group A photographic documents for a person-led ACSP check, subject to the exact document model, validity and successful verification.

For a person-led remote video check, you normally need either:

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

The strongest combinations will often be:

• Ukrainian international passport and Ukrainian ID card;
• Ukrainian international passport and PRADO-listed driving licence;
• Ukrainian ID card and PRADO-listed driving licence;
• Ukrainian international passport and bank statement;
• Ukrainian international passport and utility bill;
• Ukrainian international passport and mortgage statement;
• Ukrainian international passport and insurance policy;
• Ukrainian international passport and birth certificate; or
• Ukrainian international passport and marriage certificate.

Important Point About the Ukrainian ID Card

Ukraine calls its current national identity card the Passport of the Citizen of Ukraine in the Form of a Card, commonly known as the Ukrainian ID card or ID-картка.

PRADO lists the Passport of the Citizen of Ukraine as a photographic identity-card document. It also records technical versions including:

• UKR-TO-01002, first issued on 1 January 2016; and
• UKR-TO-01003, first issued on 1 January 2018.

The ID card uses bank-card format and contains the holder’s photograph. PRADO records both chip and non-chip versions of the 2016 document. The 2018 version also displays the Ukrainian taxpayer registration number on the reverse. Standard validity is four years for a holder aged 14 to under 18 and ten years for an adult, although the exact expiry shown on the individual card must always be checked.

Can the Ukrainian ID Card Provide Group A Evidence?

Potentially, yes.

Companies House includes “another type of photographic ID listed on PRADO” within Group A for a person-led Option 2 check. Since PRADO lists the Ukrainian ID card, an in-date physical card may qualify under that category.

The ACSP must still confirm:

• the exact document model;
• the printed expiry date;
• whether the card has been cancelled or replaced;
• whether the photograph matches the applicant;
• whether the document shows signs of alteration;
• whether the personal details match the other evidence; and
• whether the verifier can inspect its security features satisfactorily.

Can the Ukrainian ID Card Be the Single Document Under Option 1?

Do not assume that it can.

Companies House limits the Option 1 biometric identity-card category to identity cards from:

• the European Union;
• Norway;
• Iceland; and
• Liechtenstein.

Ukraine does not fall within that specified category. Therefore, the Ukrainian ID card should not be presented as the single biometric identity-card document under Option 1 merely because it contains a chip.

It may still qualify as Group A evidence under the person-led Option 2 route because PRADO lists it as photographic identification.

What About the Old Ukrainian Passport Booklet?

Many Ukrainian nationals still hold the older 1994-style internal passport booklet, commonly called a passport booklet, паспорт-книжечка or domestic passport.

Ukrainian authorities have not imposed a general deadline requiring every holder to exchange a valid booklet for an ID card. However, the booklet normally requires updated photographs when the holder reaches the ages of 25 and 45. A booklet that lacks the required photograph may not provide ordinary valid domestic identification outside the special wartime rules.

During martial law, Ukraine has allowed certain expired identity documents, and booklets missing the age-25 or age-45 photograph, to continue identifying their holders for some domestic purposes. However, those emergency Ukrainian rules do not automatically make the document acceptable under the Companies House identity verification standard. Companies House only allows expired documents in specific stated circumstances.

PRADO’s current Ukrainian identity-card entry describes the bank-card-format document rather than clearly confirming the 1994 booklet as the current qualifying Group A model.

The practical approach is:

Do not rely on an old Ukrainian passport booklet as one of the required Companies House documents without an individual review.

In particular, do not rely on a booklet where:

• the required photograph at age 25 or 45 is missing;
• the document is damaged;
• the document depends on wartime domestic validity rules;
• the holder has since received an ID card;
• the holder’s name has changed; or
• the booklet does not match the current Companies House information.

A Ukrainian international passport, current ID card or accepted Group B document will usually provide a clearer route.

Who Must Complete Companies House Identity Verification?

The requirement applies to Ukrainian nationals who are:

• directors of UK limited companies;
• becoming directors of UK companies;
• registered as PSCs;
• becoming PSCs of existing companies;
• forming UK companies in which they will act as directors or PSCs; or
• applying to register as Companies House authorised agents.

Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. That date started a 12-month transition period rather than creating one universal deadline for every existing director and PSC.

Existing directors normally provide their personal codes through their companies’ next confirmation statements.

A new company must provide a personal code for every proposed director during incorporation. Someone appointed as a new director must also provide the code as part of the appointment filing.

PSCs follow separate 14-day compliance periods. The applicable period depends on whether the PSC also acts as a director and when Companies House first recorded the PSC.

How Can Ukrainian Nationals Verify Their Identity?

Ukrainian nationals can use one of two main routes.

1. Verify Through GOV.UK One Login

Companies House offers a free direct service through GOV.UK One Login.

Depending on your documents and circumstances, GOV.UK One Login may ask you to:

• use the GOV.UK One Login app;
• answer online security questions; or
• attend a participating UK Post Office.

Using a Ukrainian Biometric Passport

A Ukrainian national can normally try the GOV.UK One Login app with a current biometric international passport.

The app accepts a non-UK passport that contains a biometric chip. You must scan the passport’s personal-details page and electronic chip. You must also complete a facial comparison.

The app does not accept an expired passport.

PRADO lists the current Ukrainian ordinary international passport under reference UKR-AO-03003. Ukraine first issued this model on 23 February 2022. The document can have a maximum validity of ten years.

PRADO also lists earlier Ukrainian international passport versions first issued in 2015, including UKR-AO-03001 and UKR-AO-03002. An earlier model may remain usable where the individual passport remains valid, has not been cancelled and has not been replaced.

Ukrainian international passports normally remain valid for:

• four years where issued to a child under 16; and
• ten years where issued to a person aged 16 or over.

What If the Passport Does Not Have a Working Chip?

A passport with an unreadable chip may fail through the GOV.UK One Login app, even where the document remains legally valid.

An ACSP may still be able to consider the document under:

• Option 1, where suitable technology can validate it as a biometric or machine-readable passport; or
• Option 2, where a trained person examines it as a Group A passport.

The exact route depends on the document model, physical condition and available validation methods.

What About a Passport With Extended Validity?

From 29 October 2025, Ukraine stopped extending the validity of international passports and stopped adding children’s details to their parents’ passports. Ukrainian nationals whose passports are approaching expiry should now apply for new passports.

An earlier passport with an official extension requires individual review. The safest document is a current biometric passport showing an unexpired date on its personal-details page.

Do not assume that a handwritten or stamped extension will work through GOV.UK One Login. The app reads the passport’s chip and printed data.

Can You Use a Ukrainian ID Card in the GOV.UK One Login App?

The mobile app does not currently list Ukrainian national identity cards among its accepted app documents.

The app accepts:

• a UK passport;
• a non-UK passport with a biometric chip;
• a UK photocard driving licence;
• certain UK biometric immigration documents; or
• a UK Frontier Worker permit.

A Ukrainian ID card therefore does not provide the normal GOV.UK One Login app route.

Can You Use a Ukrainian Driving Licence in the App?

Not as the app’s driving-licence document.

The GOV.UK One Login app accepts a UK photocard driving licence rather than an overseas licence. A Ukrainian licence may still qualify for a person-led ACSP check where the physical card matches a PRADO-listed document model.

Can You Verify at a UK Post Office?

Potentially, but the online service must first offer you that route.

The Post Office route accepts:

• a UK passport;
• a non-UK passport;
• a UK photocard driving licence;
• an EU photocard driving licence; or
• a national identity photocard from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

A Ukrainian international passport may therefore work where GOV.UK One Login directs the applicant to a participating Post Office.

However, the published Post Office list does not include Ukrainian identity cards or Ukrainian driving licences within its EU document categories.

You must first:

1. start the Companies House identity verification service online;
2. enter the requested document details;
3. receive confirmation that the Post Office route is available;
4. download the customer letter containing the QR code;
5. attend a participating Post Office; and
6. take the original identity document.

A photocopy, scan or digital image will not work for the Post Office appointment.

2. Verify Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP, can verify a person’s identity for Companies House.

ACSPs commonly include regulated solicitors, accountants and company service providers. An ACSP can complete the checks remotely or in person, but it must follow the full Companies House identity verification standard.

The ACSP route may suit a Ukrainian director or PSC who:

• lives in Ukraine or another country outside the UK;
• cannot complete GOV.UK One Login verification;
• cannot scan the Ukrainian passport chip;
• wants to use a Ukrainian ID card or driving licence;
• holds an older passport or identity document;
• needs help selecting a Group B document;
• has a patronymic that Companies House does not show;
• has different Ukrainian, Russian and Latin spellings;
• changed their surname after marriage or divorce;
• has an incorrect date of birth on the Companies House register; or
• wants remote verification by video call.

The ACSP must collect the applicant’s full name, former names, date of birth, current home address, previous 12 months of address history and individual email address. It must also retain the required verification records for seven years.

How Many Documents Do You Need?

The number of documents depends on how the ACSP performs the check.

Option 1: Technology-Led Verification

One eligible photographic identity document may be enough where the ACSP uses suitable identity document validation technology.

The technology must validate the relevant cryptographic and physical security features.

Companies House permits the following documents under Option 1:

• a biometric or machine-readable passport;
• a UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or EU photocard driving licence;
• a biometric identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein;
• certain UK biometric immigration documents;
• a UK Frontier Worker permit; or
• an eVisa.

A biometric or machine-readable passport may be up to six months expired where the technology can still validate its security features.

For a Ukrainian national, the most relevant Option 1 document will normally be:

• a Ukrainian biometric international passport;
• another machine-readable Ukrainian international passport that the technology can validate; or
• an eligible UK-issued immigration document or eVisa.

A Ukrainian ID card does not fall within Option 1’s specified EU and EEA identity-card category.

A Ukrainian driving licence also does not fall within Option 1’s UK and EU driving-licence category.

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

A trained person may inspect the documents remotely by video call or examine them in person.

Under this route, the applicant must provide either:

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

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

A passport may be up to 18 months expired under Option 2. However, the issuing authority must not have cancelled or replaced it.

Other documents normally need to remain current unless Companies House provides a specific exception.

Group A Photographic ID for Ukrainian Nationals

1. Ukrainian International Passport

A Ukrainian international passport normally provides the clearest Group A identity document.

PRADO lists the current passport as:

• UKR-AO-03003;
• an ordinary Ukrainian international passport;
• first issued on 23 February 2022;
• a valid passport model; and
• capable of a maximum ten-year validity.

The document uses a passport booklet and contains photographic, machine-readable and electronic security features.

For a person-led Option 2 check, Companies House may accept a passport that expired within the previous 18 months.

However, you cannot use a passport that:

• has been cancelled;
• has been replaced by a newer passport;
• contains cancellation marks;
• has been cut or clipped;
• has serious damage around the personal-details page; or
• cannot be validated satisfactorily.

Where you hold more than one Ukrainian international passport, use the document that:

• remains current;
• shows your present legal name;
• has a clear photograph;
• has a readable chip where relevant;
• has not been reported lost or stolen;
• has not been replaced; and
• matches the Companies House record.

2. Ukrainian ID Card

A current Ukrainian ID card may provide Group A evidence under person-led Option 2.

PRADO lists the card as Ukrainian photographic identity documentation and records physical versions issued from 2016 and 2018.

The verifier must inspect:

• both sides of the card;
• the photograph;
• document number;
• issue and expiry dates;
• physical security features;
• any chip or non-chip version;
• taxpayer number where displayed;
• signs of alteration; and
• consistency with the applicant’s passport and Companies House details.

Send clear images of the front and reverse before the appointment. You must also have the original physical card available during the video call.

3. Ukrainian Driving Licence

A valid physical Ukrainian driving licence may provide Group A evidence under a person-led Option 2 check.

PRADO lists several Ukrainian driving-licence models, including:

• UKR-FO-05001, first issued on 1 January 2021; and
• UKR-FO-04001, first issued on 1 January 2016.

PRADO records these as photographic card-format documents that can establish the holder’s identity within Ukraine. A driving licence does not, by itself, prove Ukrainian nationality.

Companies House allows another type of photographic ID listed on PRADO within Group A. A Ukrainian driving licence may therefore qualify where:

• the exact physical card matches a listed PRADO model;
• the individual licence remains valid;
• the photograph matches the applicant;
• the licence has not been replaced;
• the card shows no signs of alteration; and
• the information matches the other identity documents.

Does Every Ukrainian Driving Licence Qualify?

Not automatically.

Ukraine has issued several licence formats over time. Older paper documents, temporary permits, electronic extracts and cards from earlier series may require individual review.

The printed expiry date and exact document model control the assessment. Ukraine also changed certain driving-licence validity rules in July 2026, so applicants should not rely on a general assumption about how long every Ukrainian licence remains valid.

What About a Licence Extended During Martial Law?

Ukraine has allowed driving licences that expired during martial law to remain valid for domestic purposes in Ukraine. However, Companies House does not provide a general expiry exception for foreign driving licences.

Do not rely on an expired Ukrainian licence as one of the required documents merely because Ukrainian wartime rules permit continued domestic use.

Use a current licence or provide a passport with a suitable Group B document instead.

4. Eligible UK-Issued Photographic Documents

A Ukrainian national living in the UK may also hold another Group A document.

Examples include:

• a UK photocard driving licence;
• a UK biometric residence card;
• a qualifying UK biometric residence permit;
• a UK Frontier Worker permit;
• a photographic government-issued work permit;
• a photographic immigration document;
• a photographic visa; or
• an eVisa under the relevant verification route.

The ACSP must review the exact document and apply the current Companies House expiry rules.

A Ukrainian passport combined with a valid UK photocard driving licence can provide two strong Group A documents.

Ukrainian Documents and Numbers You Should Not Rely On Alone

Diia Digital Passport

Ukraine gives digital passports in the Diia app legal force for many uses within Ukraine. Diia can display both a domestic ID card and a biometric international passport.

However, those Ukrainian digital-equivalence rules do not change the Companies House evidence list.

Do not rely only on:

• a Diia passport screen;
• a screenshot;
• a QR code;
• a PDF copied from the app;
• a photograph of a digital document; or
• a screen recording.

For a person-led PRADO-based check, prepare the original physical passport, ID card or driving licence. The verifier must assess the document and its security features. A screenshot cannot show those features reliably.

Even within the Diia system, an ordinary static screenshot does not function as the live digital document.

Digital-Only Ukrainian Driving Licence

Ukraine recognises digital driving licences for many domestic purposes, and some holders may have a digital-only licence in Diia.

Do not assume that a digital-only licence qualifies as the PRADO-listed physical card for Companies House verification.

Where you do not hold the original physical driving licence, use a Ukrainian passport together with another accepted Group A or Group B document.

Old Ukrainian Passport Booklet

Do not rely on a 1994-style booklet without individual review.

The booklet may remain legally valid in Ukraine, but PRADO’s current identity-card listing focuses on the physical ID-card format. The booklet also creates additional concerns where the age-25 or age-45 photograph is missing.

Expired Documents That Remain Valid Under Ukrainian Wartime Rules

Ukraine’s wartime arrangements may preserve the domestic use of certain expired identity documents and driving licences.

Companies House applies separate rules. Its published expiry exceptions do not automatically extend to every foreign document that another country continues to accept domestically.

Prepare an in-date document wherever possible.

Ukrainian Tax Number

The Ukrainian taxpayer registration number is commonly known as:

• RNTRC;
• РНОКПП;
• ІПН; or
• the Ukrainian tax identification number.

The number may appear on the reverse of some Ukrainian ID cards. However, it does not provide photographic identity evidence by itself.

Do not submit only:

• the tax number;
• a tax certificate;
• a screenshot from a tax account;
• a written number;
• a Diia tax record; or
• an email displaying the number.

The Ukrainian tax number is also not the same as a Companies House personal code.

Extract From the Territorial Community Register

Since December 2021, Ukraine generally records residential-address information separately rather than entering the current address on the visible ID card. An extract from the territorial community register can confirm a person’s declared Ukrainian residence. Ukrainian law recognises both electronic and paper versions of the extract.

However, Companies House does not expressly include a foreign municipal residence extract within Group B.

The document may support an address-history review, but it should not automatically replace:

• a bank statement;
• utility bill;
• mortgage statement;
• insurance policy; or
• another listed Group B document.

Internally Displaced Person Certificate

A Ukrainian internally displaced person certificate, known as a довідка ВПО, may help explain the applicant’s current living arrangements or address history.

Companies House does not expressly list a foreign internally displaced person certificate in Group B. Use it as additional evidence rather than as the required second document.

Certificate for Return to Ukraine

A Certificate for Return to Ukraine is an emergency travel document that allows its holder to return to Ukraine.

It should not normally replace a current international passport or another accepted Companies House document. The exact document requires individual review where no ordinary passport is available.

Group B Supporting Documents

Where you have only one suitable Group A photographic document, you can provide one Group B document.

Companies House Group B documents 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;
• mortgage statement showing the current address;
• utility bill showing the current address;
• insurance policy showing the current address;
• UK council tax statement; or
• a qualifying UK local-authority or social-housing rental agreement.

A Ukrainian bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement, insurance policy, birth certificate or marriage certificate may work where the ACSP can confirm that it:

• belongs to the applicant;
• comes from a genuine issuer;
• clearly shows the relevant personal details;
• contains no signs of alteration;
• supports the claimed identity or current address; and
• provides credible evidence of genuine activity.

Ukrainian Bank Statements

A Ukrainian bank statement may provide Group B evidence.

The statement should:

• show the applicant’s full name;
• identify the bank clearly;
• display a recent statement date;
• show genuine account activity;
• remain complete and legible;
• contain no signs of editing; and
• show consistent personal information.

A complete PDF downloaded directly from online banking will usually provide stronger evidence than a cropped mobile-banking screenshot.

Where the statement does not show a residential address, the ACSP may request separate address evidence. Companies House also encourages ACSPs to consider evidence of genuine activity, such as recent bank or credit-card transactions.

Ukrainian Utility Bills

A Ukrainian utility bill may provide Group B evidence where it clearly shows the applicant’s current residential address.

Examples may include:

• electricity bills;
• gas or heating bills;
• water bills;
• fixed-line telephone bills; or
• another genuine household utility account.

The verifier must be able to identify the provider and connect the account to the applicant.

A bill issued in another household member’s name will not normally establish the applicant’s address without further evidence.

Mortgage Statements and Insurance Policies

A Ukrainian mortgage statement may provide Group B evidence where it shows the applicant’s current home address.

An insurance policy may also qualify where it identifies the applicant and clearly shows the current address.

The document should come from an identifiable lender or insurer and remain capable of validation.

Ukrainian Birth Certificates

A Ukrainian birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Ukrainian and former Soviet authorities have issued several common formats, including:

• older Soviet-era A5 green booklet certificates;
• light-green Ukrainian certificates commonly issued between 2000 and 2005; and
• newer A4 blue certificates issued after 2005.

The exact appearance depends on when and where the civil registration took place.

Provide the complete official civil-registration certificate rather than:

• a hospital birth record;
• a medical birth notification;
• an informal family record;
• a cropped photograph;
• an application receipt;
• a translation without the original; or
• a screenshot from an electronic service.

The verifier should be able to identify:

• the issuing authority;
• the applicant’s full registered name;
• the date and place of birth;
• the parents’ details where shown;
• the certificate number; and
• any later amendment or reissue.

Ukrainian Marriage Certificates

A Ukrainian marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Ukraine has used several marriage-certificate formats, including:

• Soviet-era certificates;
• Ukrainian certificates issued after independence;
• older pink booklet-style documents; and
• newer civil-registration certificates.

Only a formally registered state marriage creates the relevant civil-status record for this purpose.

The certificate may help connect:

• a birth surname;
• a spouse’s surname;
• a double surname;
• a former married surname;
• a surname restored after divorce; or
• another name used on UK documents.

Provide the complete official certificate rather than only:

• a wedding photograph;
• a ceremonial record;
• a church certificate;
• a partial copy;
• an unofficial extract; or
• a translation without the original.

English Translations

Ukrainian international passports and newer ID cards contain Latin-script information that a trained verifier may understand.

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank statements, utility bills and other supporting documents may contain important information only in Ukrainian or Russian.

The ACSP may therefore request an English translation where it cannot clearly understand:

• the document type;
• issuing authority;
• applicant’s name;
• current address;
• date of issue;
• name-change information; or
• another material entry.

The translation supports the original document. It does not replace it.

Recommended Document Combinations

Ukrainian Passport and Ukrainian ID Card

This combination may provide two strong Group A photographic documents for a person-led Option 2 check.

The international passport confirms identity and Ukrainian nationality. The PRADO-listed ID card provides a second photographic identity document.

Both documents should show consistent:

• names;
• dates of birth;
• photographs;
• document status; and
• other personal details.

The ID card must remain current and match a PRADO-listed physical model.

Ukrainian Passport and Driving Licence

This combination may also provide two Group A documents.

The international passport confirms identity and nationality. A qualifying Ukrainian driving licence provides another photographic document where it matches a PRADO-listed model.

The licence must remain current and show no sign of alteration.

Ukrainian ID Card and Driving Licence

A current Ukrainian ID card and PRADO-listed driving licence may provide two Group A documents under Option 2.

The verifier may still request an international passport where the case needs clearer evidence of nationality, travel activity or identity history.

Ukrainian Passport and Bank Statement

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

It will often provide the clearest route where the applicant:

• does not drive;
• only has a digital driving licence;
• does not hold a current ID card;
• still has an old booklet passport; or
• wants to provide evidence of genuine financial activity.

Ukrainian Passport and Utility Bill

A utility bill may provide the required Group B document where it clearly shows the applicant’s current home address.

The provider and account details must remain capable of validation.

Ukrainian Passport and Mortgage Statement

This combination may work where the mortgage statement clearly shows the applicant’s current residential address.

Ukrainian Passport and Insurance Policy

An insurance policy may provide Group B evidence where it identifies the applicant and clearly shows the current address.

Ukrainian Passport and Birth Certificate

An official birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

This combination can help where:

• Companies House omits the patronymic;
• Ukrainian and Russian spellings differ;
• the applicant uses a different Latin transliteration;
• the passport omits part of the full registered name;
• the applicant changed their name; or
• the date of birth requires stronger support.

Ukrainian Passport and Marriage Certificate

A Ukrainian marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence and connect different surname formats.

This combination may help where:

• the applicant adopted a spouse’s surname;
• the international passport remains in a former name;
• a UK bank account uses a married surname;
• Companies House records an earlier surname;
• the applicant created a double surname; or
• the applicant returned to a former surname after divorce.

Ukrainian Passport and UK Photocard Driving Licence

A Ukrainian national living in the UK may use a valid UK photocard driving licence as the second Group A document.

This can provide two strong photographic identity documents.

Ukrainian Passport and UK Immigration Document or eVisa

An eligible UK photographic immigration document may provide another Group A document.

An eVisa may also qualify under the technology-led route. The ACSP must review the exact status, evidence and current Companies House category.

Ukrainian Names, Patronymics and Transliteration

They require careful review.

Ukrainian Three-Part Name Structure

A Ukrainian full name commonly contains:

1. a forename;
2. a patronymic; and
3. a surname.

For example:

• ОЛЕНА ВОЛОДИМИРІВНА ШЕВЧЕНКО;
• forename: Олена;
• patronymic: Володимирівна;
• surname: Шевченко.

However, naming structures can vary. The verifier should review the actual documents rather than assuming that every applicant follows the same format.

Patronymics in Ukrainian International Passports

A Ukrainian international passport normally provides the surname and forename in Ukrainian and Latin script.

The patronymic may appear in Ukrainian records but not in the Latin-script international-passport name used by UK systems.

This can create differences between:

• the Ukrainian ID card;
• internal passport booklet;
• birth certificate;
• international passport;
• UK immigration record;
• bank account; and
• Companies House register.

For example, the records may show:

• OLENA SHEVCHENKO;
• OLENA VOLODYMYRIVNA SHEVCHENKO; or
• OLENA V SHEVCHENKO.

The absence of the patronymic from the Companies House record does not automatically mean that the documents relate to different people. However, the ACSP must understand and document the difference.

Ukrainian and Russian Name Spellings

Many Ukrainian nationals have records that use both Ukrainian and Russian versions of their names.

Examples may include:

• ІРИНА, IRYNA and IRINA;
• ОЛЕКСАНДР, OLEKSANDR and ALEXANDER;
• МИХАЙЛО, MYKHAILO and MIKHAIL;
• КАТЕРИНА, KATERYNA and EKATERINA;
• ЮЛІЯ, YULIIA, YULIA and JULIA;
• АНДРІЙ, ANDRII and ANDREY; or
• НАТАЛІЯ, NATALIIA and NATALIA.

Official Ukrainian documents use the Ukrainian spelling and an official Latin transliteration. Older documents, Russian-language records and documents issued abroad may use different spellings.

The current international passport’s Latin spelling will normally provide the clearest reference point for Companies House verification.

Transliteration Differences Between Passports

A person may receive a new Ukrainian passport with a different Latin spelling from an older passport.

This can happen because:

• transliteration rules changed;
• the earlier document used a Russian spelling;
• the applicant requested a spelling supported by another document;
• a clerical error occurred; or
• another country recorded the name differently.

Send both passport versions and any linking evidence where Companies House uses an older spelling.

Married and Former Surnames

A Ukrainian national may change their surname after marriage, divorce or another formal event.

Where the surname changes, Ukrainian authorities generally require the person to update their identity documents. The applicant should also update the Companies House record where it no longer reflects the current legal name.

Useful linking evidence may include:

• marriage certificate;
• divorce certificate;
• formal change-of-name certificate;
• updated international passport;
• updated ID card;
• previous passport;
• birth certificate; or
• another civil-registration document.

Surnames That Do Not Change by Gender

Many Ukrainian surnames remain the same for men and women, while some surnames have gendered forms.

The verifier should follow the spelling shown on the applicant’s own current passport rather than infer a surname from a relative’s documents.

Check Every Name Element

Before verification, compare:

• every forename;
• the patronymic;
• the surname;
• Ukrainian and Russian spellings;
• the official Latin transliteration;
• spaces and hyphens;
• former and married surnames;
• the full date of birth; and
• the Companies House record.

Check Your Date of Birth Before Verification

The date of birth linked to your personal code must match the date held by Companies House.

Problems can arise where:

• someone enters the personal code incorrectly;
• Companies House holds the wrong date of birth;
• an incorporation filing contained an error;
• the ACSP submits incorrect information;
• Ukrainian documents contain inconsistent dates; or
• an older Soviet record differs from a newer Ukrainian document.

Companies House may prevent the code from connecting to a director or PSC role where the details do not match. Correct an inaccurate date of birth before trying to provide the verification details.

Is a Ukrainian Tax Number the Companies House Personal Code?

No.

A Ukrainian RNTRC, РНОКПП or ІПН belongs to Ukraine’s tax and identity-administration system.

The Companies House personal code is a separate 11-character code created after successful Companies House identity verification.

Do not enter any of the following when Companies House asks for your personal code:

• Ukrainian tax number;
• RNTRC or РНОКПП;
• international passport number;
• ID-card number;
• driving-licence number;
• UK National Insurance number;
• company authentication code;
• Diia document number; or
• immigration application reference.

Same-Day Remote Verification by Video Call

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

Through our partner solicitor, we can arrange remote Companies House identity verification by video call for Ukrainian directors and PSCs.

Same-day identity checks and ACSP submission may be available where:

• we review and approve the documents in advance;
• the applicant provides all required personal information;
• the document combination meets the Companies House standard;
• the applicant has the original documents during the video call;
• the verifier can validate the documents;
• the applicant appears clearly on camera;
• the Companies House information matches; and
• no unresolved identity, document or compliance concerns arise.

Same-day service covers the identity check and ACSP submission. Companies House controls the later processing and delivery of the personal code.

How the Remote Verification Process Works

Step 1: Send Your Documents

Send clear images of the documents you want to use.

For an international passport, provide the complete personal-details page.

For an ID card or driving licence, send both the front and reverse.

Regarding a bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement, insurance policy or civil-status certificate, send the complete document rather than a cropped screenshot.

You must also provide:

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

Companies House requires ACSPs to collect this information and suitable evidence supporting the claimed identity.

Step 2: Confirm the Document Combination

We check whether each document falls within Group A or Group B.

The review may cover:

• the Ukrainian international passport model;
• whether the biometric chip works;
• whether the ID card matches a PRADO-listed model;
• whether the ID card contains a chip;
• whether the driving licence matches a PRADO-listed model;
• whether an old booklet passport remains suitable;
• whether any document relies on wartime domestic validity;
• the printed expiry dates;
• the physical condition of every document;
• Ukrainian, Russian and Latin name spellings;
• the patronymic;
• former and married surnames;
• the current home address; and
• the previous 12 months of address history.

Where the proposed evidence does not meet the standard, we identify a stronger combination before arranging the video call.

Step 3: Attend the Video Call

During the call, you must:

• appear clearly on camera;
• show the original documents;
• move or tilt them when requested;
• display their physical security features from different angles;
• confirm your personal information;
• complete a live facial comparison; and
• answer any necessary identity questions.

The verifier must confirm that you are a real person, that the documents appear genuine and that the identity belongs to you.

Step 4: Complete the ACSP Submission

After completing the required checks, the ACSP submits the verification information to Companies House.

The ACSP does not normally send the identity-document copies to Companies House. However, it must keep:

• copies of the documents;
• supporting evidence;
• records of the checks;
• details of failed verification attempts; and
• other required verification information.

The ACSP must retain the records for seven years from the date it completes the verification.

Step 5: Receive Your Personal Code

Companies House sends the 11-character personal code to the individual email address supplied during the ACSP submission.

Make sure that the email address is correct and that you can access it.

Keep the code secure. You may share it with a trusted solicitor, accountant or company administrator who needs to file on your behalf.

How Ukrainian Directors Use the Personal Code

An existing director normally provides the personal code through the company’s next confirmation statement.

A new director provides the code as part of the appointment filing.

When forming a new company, the incorporation application must include a personal code for each proposed director.

You only need to verify your identity once. However, you must connect the same code to every separate director appointment that you hold.

How Ukrainian PSCs Use the Personal Code

A PSC must connect the personal code separately to the PSC role.

This applies even where the same person has already provided the code as a director.

The deadline depends on the circumstances:

• A person who acts as both director and PSC of the same company normally provides the PSC code during the 14 days beginning on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.
• A PSC who does not act as a director of the same company normally provides the code during the first 14 days of their birth month.
• A new PSC may provide the code when Companies House first records the PSC or within 14 days of being added.

The same personal code can cover several companies and roles. You must still connect it separately to every relevant director and PSC position.

How Our Legal Consultant Can Help

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can help Ukrainian nationals by:

• reviewing Ukrainian biometric international passports;
• checking earlier Ukrainian international passport models;
• assessing passports with earlier validity extensions;
• reviewing Ukrainian ID cards;
• matching ID cards against the relevant PRADO entries;
• reviewing Ukrainian driving licences;
• checking whether a licence matches a PRADO-listed physical model;
• explaining why a Diia screen does not replace the original document;
• assessing old passport booklets;
• identifying documents that rely on wartime validity rules;
• confirming the correct Group A and Group B combination;
• reviewing Ukrainian bank statements and address documents;
• checking birth and marriage certificates;
• comparing Ukrainian, Russian and Latin name spellings;
• checking patronymics and transliteration differences;
• connecting birth, married and former surnames;
• identifying date-of-birth and address differences;
• arranging a remote video call;
• completing the required ACSP checks;
• submitting the verification to Companies House; and
• helping the applicant progress towards receiving the personal code.

Ginkgo Advisory’s Role

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor provide the identity verification service.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Ukrainian international passport?

Yes.

A Ukrainian international passport provides Group A photographic identity evidence. A current biometric passport may also work through the GOV.UK One Login app.

Can I use an expired Ukrainian international passport?

Potentially, depending on the route.

The GOV.UK One Login app does not accept an expired passport.

Under ACSP Option 1, suitable technology may accept a biometric or machine-readable passport that expired within the previous six months.

A person-led Option 2 check may accept a passport that expired within the previous 18 months.

The passport must not have been cancelled or replaced.

Can I use a Ukrainian passport with an official validity extension?

It requires individual review.

Ukraine stopped extending international passport validity on 29 October 2025. A current passport showing an unexpired printed date provides a clearer route. An earlier passport carrying an official extension may not work through the GOV.UK One Login app.

Can I use my Ukrainian ID card?

Potentially, yes.

PRADO lists the Ukrainian ID card as photographic identity evidence. It may provide Group A evidence for a person-led Option 2 check where the exact physical card remains valid and passes the required checks.

Can the Ukrainian ID card be my only Option 1 document?

Do not assume that it can.

Companies House limits the Option 1 biometric identity-card category to the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Ukraine is not included in that category.

Can I use my Ukrainian ID card in the GOV.UK One Login app?

Not through the mobile app based on the current published document list.

A current Ukrainian biometric international passport provides the clearest app route.

Can I use my old Ukrainian passport booklet?

Do not rely on it without an individual review.

A booklet may remain valid under Ukrainian law, but the current PRADO identity-card entry focuses on the card-format document. A booklet missing the age-25 or age-45 photograph creates additional problems.

Can I use a booklet with no photograph added at age 25 or 45?

Do not use it as the formal Companies House identity document.

Ukrainian wartime rules may allow continued domestic identification in some circumstances, but that does not automatically satisfy the Companies House standard.

Can I use my Ukrainian driving licence?

Potentially.

PRADO lists current Ukrainian driving-licence models, including UKR-FO-05001 and UKR-FO-04001. A physical card that matches a listed model, remains valid and passes the checks may provide Group A evidence under Option 2.

Can I use an expired Ukrainian driving licence that remains valid during martial law?

Do not rely on it.

Ukraine may continue recognising the licence domestically, but Companies House does not provide a general expiry exception for Ukrainian driving licences.

Can I use my digital driving licence in Diia?

Do not rely on the digital version alone.

Diia may give the digital licence legal force within Ukraine, but the PRADO route concerns the qualifying physical photographic document. Prepare a passport and another accepted document where you do not hold the physical card.

Can I use a Diia digital passport?

Not as the only evidence for a person-led PRADO-based check.

Prepare the original physical international passport or ID card so the verifier can inspect its security features.

Can I use my Ukrainian tax number?

No.

An RNTRC, РНОКПП or ІПН is a personal tax number rather than a photographic identity document. It is also different from the Companies House personal code.

Can I use a Ukrainian bank statement?

Potentially.

A bank statement falls within Group B. The document must be genuine, complete, clear and capable of validation.

Can I use a Ukrainian utility bill?

Potentially.

A utility bill falls within Group B where it clearly shows the applicant’s current residential address.

Can I use a Ukrainian mortgage statement?

Potentially.

A mortgage statement may provide Group B evidence where it shows the applicant’s current home address.

Can I use a Ukrainian insurance policy?

Potentially.

An insurance policy falls within Group B where it clearly shows the applicant’s current address.

Can I use a Ukrainian birth certificate?

Potentially.

A birth certificate falls within Group B. Provide the complete official civil-registration certificate rather than a hospital record, screenshot or incomplete copy.

Can I use a Soviet-issued birth certificate?

Potentially.

Older Soviet certificates may remain official civil-status records. The ACSP must review the exact document, issuing authority, condition and personal information. An English translation may also be required.

Can I use a Ukrainian marriage certificate?

Potentially.

A marriage certificate falls within Group B and may also connect birth, married and former surnames.

Can I use a church marriage certificate?

Do not rely on it as the formal Group B marriage certificate.

Provide the official state civil-registration certificate.

Can I use a Ukrainian territorial-community address extract?

Do not rely on it as the formal Group B document without prior review.

It may support the address-history check, but Companies House does not expressly list foreign municipal residence extracts in Group B.

Can I use a довідка ВПО?

It may provide useful additional address information, but it should not replace one of the listed Group B documents.

Can I verify my identity while living in Ukraine?

Yes.

An ACSP can complete the check remotely where the documents meet the Companies House standard and the video process allows the verifier to confirm the applicant’s identity.

Do I always need two documents?

You need two documents for a person-led remote or in-person Option 2 check.

One eligible document may be enough under Option 1 where suitable technology validates all required security features.

Do Ukrainian documents need an English translation?

Some documents may need a translation.

International passports and newer identity cards contain Latin-script information. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank statements and utility bills may contain material information only in Ukrainian or Russian.

Provide both the original document and the translation where requested.

Why does my Ukrainian passport omit my patronymic?

The international passport may not display the patronymic in the Latin-script name fields used by UK systems.

The patronymic may appear in Ukrainian civil records or domestic identity documents. Send the complete document set where Companies House includes or omits it differently.

What If Companies House Uses the Russian Version of My Name?

Send the current Ukrainian passport, the Companies House record and any earlier documents for review.

Differences such as IRYNA and IRINA, or OLEKSANDR and ALEXANDER, may result from Ukrainian, Russian or English transliteration. The ACSP must confirm that the records relate to one person.

What If Companies House Omits My Patronymic?

A missing patronymic does not automatically prevent verification.

The verifier must compare the passport, ID card, birth certificate and Companies House record. Additional evidence may be needed where the remaining details do not clearly establish the same identity.

What If I Changed My Surname After Marriage?

Provide:

• the current international passport;
• marriage certificate;
• previous passport where available;
• updated ID card;
• documents showing the name used in the UK; and
• the Companies House record.

The verifier must understand how the former and current names connect.

Must I Post My Original Ukrainian Passport?

Usually not for an approved remote video process.

You send clear images for preliminary review and show the original documents during the video call.

Can I Use One Personal Code as Both a Director and PSC?

Yes.

The personal code belongs to you. However, you must connect it separately to your director role and your PSC role.

Can You Complete the Verification on the Same Day?

Same-day identity checks and ACSP submission may be available where we approve the document set in advance and complete all checks without an unresolved issue.

Companies House controls when it issues and delivers the personal code.

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

Ukrainian nationals will usually have one of these practical document routes:

• a Ukrainian biometric international passport plus a PRADO-listed Ukrainian ID card;
• a Ukrainian international passport plus a PRADO-listed driving licence;
• a Ukrainian ID card plus a qualifying driving licence;
• a Ukrainian international passport plus an accepted Group B supporting document; or
• a Ukrainian passport plus an eligible UK photographic document.

Some cases need extra care, especially where the applicant has:

• only an old Ukrainian passport booklet;
• a booklet missing the age-25 or age-45 photograph;
• a passport or licence relying on wartime domestic validity;
• an earlier passport with a validity-extension stamp;
• a damaged or unreadable biometric chip;
• only a Diia digital passport or driving licence;
• an older driving-licence model;
• a patronymic omitted from UK records;
• different Ukrainian, Russian and Latin spellings;
• a married or former surname;
• an outdated passport following a name change;
• only an RNTRC, ІПН or Diia screen as additional evidence;
• an incorrect date of birth; or
• information that does not match the Companies House register.

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can review your documents, confirm the most suitable route and arrange remote Companies House identity verification by video call.

Same-day identity checks and ACSP submission may be available where the applicant provides a complete and suitable document set.