Egyptian 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 personal code for every UK company where you act as a director or PSC. However, you must connect it separately to each appointment and role.

Quick Answer for Egyptian Directors and PSCs

For most Egyptian nationals, a valid Egyptian passport provides the clearest Group A identity document.

The Egyptian national identity card, commonly called the Egyptian National ID, National Number Card, Rakam Kawmi, بطاقة الرقم القومي or بطاقة تحقيق الشخصية, is an official Egyptian identity document.

However, the current PRADO page for Egypt lists Egyptian passports and a visa. It does not list the Egyptian national identity card or Egyptian driving licence.

Therefore, an Egyptian national identity card or driving licence should not be treated automatically as a formal Group A document under the current person-led Companies House route.

For a person-led remote check through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, known as an ACSP, you normally need either:

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

For many Egyptian directors and PSCs, the most practical combinations are:

• Egyptian passport and bank statement;
• Egyptian passport and utility bill;
• Egyptian passport and mortgage statement;
• Egyptian passport and insurance policy;
• Egyptian passport and Egyptian birth certificate;
• Egyptian passport and Egyptian marriage certificate;
• Egyptian passport and UK photocard driving licence;
• Egyptian passport and an eligible UK immigration document;
• Egyptian passport and another current passport held through dual nationality; or
• one machine-readable Egyptian passport through a suitable technology-led Option 1 process.

Direct answer: The strongest person-led route will usually use an Egyptian passport together with an accepted Group B supporting document. The Egyptian national ID card and driving licence can support the review, but they should not replace the formal document combination under the current published route.

Companies House permits passports under Group A and specifies the accepted Group B documents. It also permits another photographic identity document listed on PRADO. PRADO currently lists one ordinary Egyptian passport model but does not list an Egyptian national ID card or driving licence.

Important Point About the Egyptian National ID Card

Egypt issues a photographic national identity card called the:

• Egyptian National ID card;
• National Number Card;
• Rakam Kawmi;
• بطاقة الرقم القومي; or
• بطاقة تحقيق الشخصية.

It is a central Egyptian identity document and may contain information about the holder’s:

• full Arabic name;
• facial image;
• national number;
• date of birth;
• address;
• profession;
• religion;
• gender;
• marital status; and
• document validity.

Egyptian consular authorities use the card for passport, civil-status, military-service and other consular procedures.

The London Consulate allows eligible Egyptian nationals to renew an existing national ID card. Its guidance requires the previous card, an Egyptian passport and supporting Egyptian civil-status evidence where the holder wants to update marital status, address or profession.

However, Companies House applies its own evidence categories.

The fact that Egypt treats a card as official identity evidence does not automatically make it Group A or Group B evidence for Companies House.

The practical conclusion is:

Do not rely on the Egyptian national ID card as one of the two required documents under the current published Companies House person-led route.

An ACSP may still review the card as additional evidence.

For example, it may help compare:

• the applicant’s facial image;
• complete Arabic name;
• national number;
• date of birth;
• Egyptian address;
• registered profession;
• marital status;
• document status;
• information shown on a birth certificate; or
• information shown in an Egyptian passport.

The national ID card should supplement rather than replace the accepted passport and Group B document.

Why Does the Egyptian National ID Card Not Qualify Under Option 1?

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

• an EU country;
• Norway;
• Iceland; or
• Liechtenstein.

Egypt does not fall within that category.

Therefore, an Egyptian national identity card does not qualify under Option 1 merely because it:

• contains a photograph;
• is machine-produced;
• contains electronic or encoded information;
• is issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior;
• is used for official transactions; or
• is capable of being checked against Egyptian government records.

Option 1 may still be available through a qualifying biometric or machine-readable passport.

Why Does the Egyptian National ID Card Not Automatically Qualify Under Option 2?

Group A under person-led Option 2 includes another photographic identity document listed on PRADO.

PRADO’s current Egyptian document page does not contain a national identity-card category.

It lists:

• one ordinary passport;
• one diplomatic passport;
• one service or official passport; and
• one visa.

Therefore, the national identity card should not be treated as automatically qualifying through the PRADO route.

Can You Use an Expired Egyptian National ID Card?

Do not rely on an expired card as formal Companies House evidence.

An expired Egyptian national ID card may provide historical or linking information, but it can also contain:

• an old photograph;
• former address;
• former profession;
• outdated marital status;
• former name information; or
• information superseded by a replacement card.

Where the card has expired or been replaced, provide the current passport and another accepted document.

Can You Use a Replaced Egyptian National ID Card?

No document that has been cancelled or replaced by a newer document should be used as the formal evidence.

An old national ID card may still help explain a former address or earlier civil-status information, but it should not be presented as the applicant’s current identity document.

Can You Use a Photograph or Scan of the National ID Card?

You can send clear images for preliminary review.

However, during a person-led remote check, the verifier may require the applicant to show the original physical card and move or tilt it on camera.

Do not rely only on:

• screenshot;
• photocopy;
• cropped photograph;
• mobile-wallet image;
• image displayed on another device;
• government portal screen; or
• typed national number.

Egyptian National Numbers

The Egyptian national identity number is commonly called:

• the national number;
• National ID number;
• Rakam Kawmi;
• الرقم القومي; or
• Egyptian personal identification number.

The number contains 14 digits.

Egyptian official systems commonly request:

• the full Arabic name appearing on the national ID card;
• a four-part English name;
• the 14-digit national number; and
• passport information where the applicant is not using an Egyptian national number.

A national number is a personal identifier rather than a photographic identity document.

Do not submit only:

• the 14-digit national number;
• a written Rakam Kawmi;
• a screenshot showing the number;
• a tax record containing the number;
• a university or professional registration screen;
• a national ID application receipt;
• a birth-certificate application page; or
• a Digital Egypt account screen.

The national number may help the ACSP compare documents, but it does not replace the required photographic identity evidence.

Is an Egyptian National Number the Companies House Personal Code?

No.

The Egyptian national number belongs to Egypt’s civil-registration and identity 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 the personal code:

• Egyptian national number;
• Rakam Kawmi;
• Egyptian national ID card number;
• Egyptian passport number;
• Egyptian driving-licence number;
• UK National Insurance number;
• company authentication code;
• Egyptian tax number;
• military identification number; or
• immigration application reference.

Egyptian Digital Identity and Government Screens

Egypt provides online and digital government services through Ministry of Interior and other public-sector platforms.

These services may display or confirm:

• national number;
• name;
• civil-status information;
• application status;
• passport application details;
• address;
• family information;
• tax information; or
• government service requests.

However, a government login or digital screen does not automatically become an accepted Companies House identity document.

Do not rely only on:

• Digital Egypt profile;
• Ministry of Interior account;
• QR code;
• application-status page;
• national ID renewal receipt;
• screenshot;
• electronic civil-registry search;
• mobile identity screen; or
• downloaded account profile.

An ACSP may use official electronic information as additional evidence where it can validate the issuer and connect the information to the applicant.

The formal document combination should still use an accepted passport and another Group A or Group B document.

Egyptian Machine-Readable Passports

The Egyptian ordinary passport is called:

• Egyptian passport;
• Arab Republic of Egypt passport;
• جواز سفر مصري; or
• جواز سفر جمهورية مصر العربية.

PRADO currently lists the ordinary Egyptian passport under reference EGY-AO-01001.

The model was first issued on 27 January 2008 and remains listed as valid.

PRADO records that the passport:

• is issued to Egyptian nationals;
• is an ordinary travel document;
• consists of a 52-page booklet;
• normally has seven-year validity;
• cannot be extended;
• has a grey-green cover;
• contains a laminated personal-details page; and
• contains holographic, optically variable and ultraviolet security features.

Current Egyptian Passport Model

The principal current PRADO-listed ordinary passport model is:

EGY-AO-01001

Its security features include designs associated with:

• scarab beetles;
• the Eye of Horus;
• the Egyptian national emblem;
• the Pyramids of Giza;
• Arabic microprinting;
• Latin-script wording; and
• ultraviolet printing.

A current Egyptian passport under this model normally provides the clearest Group A document.

Egyptian Passports Are Machine-Readable

The Egyptian Consulate General in London states that it began accepting applications for machine-readable Egyptian passports in April 2010.

A machine-readable passport may qualify under:

• technology-led Option 1, where suitable identity technology validates the required document features; or
• person-led Option 2 as a Group A passport.

Is the Current Egyptian Passport Biometric?

Do not assume that an Egyptian passport contains a biometric chip.

The current PRADO record for EGY-AO-01001 does not identify the document as electronic or chip-enabled. The London Consulate describes the passport as machine-readable.

Applicants should check the passport cover for the international biometric-passport symbol.

Where the passport does not contain a compatible biometric chip:

• it will not work through the GOV.UK One Login app;
• it may still qualify under ACSP Option 1 as a machine-readable passport where suitable technology can validate it; and
• it can still provide Group A evidence under person-led Option 2.

The GOV.UK One Login app requires a non-UK passport to contain a biometric chip. Companies House Option 1 is broader and permits a biometric or machine-readable passport.

Egyptian Passport Validity

The standard Egyptian passport is normally valid for seven years.

PRADO records a seven-year validity period and no extension.

However, Egyptian consular rules can result in a shorter individual passport.

The London Consulate states that:

• a passport issued using a valid Egyptian national ID is normally valid for seven years;
• an adult passport issued using a computerised or biometric Egyptian birth certificate or expired national ID may be valid for only one year; and
• children under 16 may receive a full-term seven-year passport.

Always check the expiry date printed on the individual passport.

One-Year Egyptian Passports

A one-year Egyptian passport is not automatically unacceptable.

It may still provide Group A evidence where:

• it is an ordinary Egyptian passport;
• it remains current;
• it belongs to the applicant;
• it has not been cancelled or replaced;
• the photograph matches;
• the personal-details page remains clear;
• its security features can be checked; and
• the information matches the other evidence.

However, a short-validity passport may require additional review.

The ACSP may ask why the passport was issued for one year and whether the holder has since obtained:

• a renewed national ID card;
• replacement passport;
• updated civil-status record; or
• another identity document.

Egyptian Passports Issued Through the London Consulate

An Egyptian passport applied for through the Consulate General in London remains an Egyptian passport issued through the competent Egyptian authorities.

It is not automatically a lower-status document because the application was submitted abroad.

The applicant normally attends with:

• current or previous Egyptian passport;
• valid Egyptian national ID or computerised birth certificate;
• photographs;
• UK residence evidence;
• military-service evidence where applicable; and
• marriage, divorce or death evidence where marital status needs updating.

The Consulate sends the application to the relevant issuing authority in Egypt.

The verifier should check:

• exact passport model;
• personal-details page;
• passport number;
• issue date;
• expiry date;
• photograph;
• issuing authority;
• machine-readable zone;
• document condition;
• marital-status or occupation entries where shown;
• observation pages; and
• whether another passport has replaced it.

Can You Use an Expired Egyptian Passport?

Potentially, depending on the route.

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

Under Option 1, suitable technology may accept a biometric or machine-readable passport that expired within the previous six months, provided the required security features can still be validated.

Under person-led Option 2, a passport may be accepted if it expired within the previous 18 months.

The passport must not have been:

• cancelled;
• replaced;
• reported lost or stolen;
• physically invalidated;
• seriously damaged; or
• altered.

A current passport will normally provide the clearest route.

Can You Use a Lost or Stolen Egyptian Passport?

No.

A passport reported lost or stolen should not be used even if the applicant later recovers it.

The London Consulate requires additional approval and police evidence for lost or stolen passport applications. Once a replacement is issued, the previous passport cannot provide current identity evidence.

Can You Use a Cancelled Egyptian Passport?

No.

Do not use a passport that:

• contains cancellation stamps;
• has been clipped;
• has a cut corner;
• has been perforated;
• has been officially marked invalid;
• has been surrendered after replacement; or
• has otherwise been cancelled.

It may provide historical linking evidence but should not be used as the formal current Group A document.

Egyptian Emergency Travel Documents

The Egyptian Consulate may issue an emergency travel document to an Egyptian citizen where:

• the passport has been lost;
• the passport has expired;
• an airline will not allow travel using the expired passport; or
• another urgent return-to-Egypt situation applies.

The London Consulate states that this emergency travel document:

• is issued only to Egyptian citizens;
• is valid for 30 days;
• is valid only for return to Egypt; and
• may require the applicant’s expired passport, national ID, police report and travel information.

Do not rely on an Egyptian emergency travel document as the routine Companies House Group A document.

PRADO’s current Egypt page does not list this emergency travel document.

The document may have:

• restricted purpose;
• short validity;
• no machine-readable security features;
• no biometric chip;
• limited territorial use; or
• no continuing validity after the return journey.

Use a current ordinary passport wherever possible.

Egyptian Diplomatic and Service Passports

PRADO also lists Egyptian diplomatic and service or official passports.

A current diplomatic or service passport may potentially provide Group A evidence because it is a passport.

However, it requires individual review.

The ACSP must check:

• exact passport category;
• PRADO model;
• holder’s identity;
• present validity;
• whether the holder remains entitled to use it;
• whether an ordinary passport also exists;
• any official restrictions;
• whether the passport has been cancelled; and
• whether the document’s security features can be validated.

A current ordinary passport will usually provide the simplest route for a private director or PSC.

Who Must Complete Companies House Identity Verification?

The requirement applies to Egyptian nationals who are:

• directors of UK limited companies;
• becoming directors of UK companies;
• directors of overseas companies registered in the UK;
• 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.

This date began a transitional process rather than imposing one universal deadline on every existing director and PSC.

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

A new company must provide the personal code for each proposed director during incorporation.

A person appointed as a new director must provide the code as part of the appointment filing.

PSCs follow separate 14-day compliance periods. The applicable dates depend on whether the PSC is also a director and when Companies House first recorded the PSC.

How Can Egyptian Nationals Verify Their Identity?

Egyptian nationals can use one of two main routes.

1. Verify Through GOV.UK One Login

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

Depending on the applicant’s documents and circumstances, the system may ask them to:

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

The available route depends on the applicant’s documents, device and access to relevant UK information.

Using an Egyptian Passport in the GOV.UK One Login App

The app accepts a non-UK passport only where it contains a compatible biometric chip.

The applicant must normally:

1. photograph the personal-details page;
2. scan the biometric chip;
3. scan their face;
4. complete a live identity comparison; and
5. finish the remaining identity checks.

The applicant must use the original passport.

The app does not accept:

• photocopy;
• scanned PDF;
• screenshot;
• photograph displayed on another device;
• passport number without the document;
• cancelled passport;
• replacement passport; or
• expired passport.

An Egyptian passport without a biometric chip will not work through the app.

How Do I Know Whether My Egyptian Passport Has a Chip?

Check the front cover for the international biometric-passport symbol.

The symbol resembles a small rectangle with a circle in the middle.

If the symbol is not present, do not assume that the passport can be scanned by the app.

An applicant can still consider:

• the Post Office route where offered;
• an ACSP technology-led check using a machine-readable passport; or
• an ACSP person-led check.

Answering Security Questions

Some Egyptian nationals who live in the United Kingdom may receive the option to answer security questions online.

The system may use information connected with:

• UK bank accounts;
• credit cards;
• loans;
• mortgages;
• mobile phone contracts;
• tax records;
• benefits; or
• other UK financial and government records.

The details must match closely.

An Egyptian director who lives outside the United Kingdom or has little UK financial history may find this route less practical.

Name differences may also cause matching problems, especially where:

• Arabic and English spellings differ;
• one record contains four names and another contains two;
• Mohamed appears as Mohammed or Muhammad;
• Abdel Rahman appears as Abdelrahman or Abdul Rahman;
• El appears as Al;
• a family name is omitted;
• a middle name is treated as a surname; or
• a current name differs from the company record.

Verification at a UK Post Office

GOV.UK One Login may direct some applicants to a participating Post Office.

The applicant must first:

1. start the Companies House identity-verification service online;
2. enter the requested photographic ID details;
3. receive confirmation that the Post Office route is available;
4. obtain the customer letter or QR code;
5. attend a participating Post Office; and
6. present the original document specified in the instructions.

The applicant cannot attend a Post Office without first completing the online stage.

The original photo ID must be presented. A photocopy or digital image is not accepted.

The customer letter normally gives approximately 15 days to attend.

A machine-readable Egyptian passport may be suitable where the system offers the applicant the Post Office route.

The applicant must follow the document instructions generated for their individual case.

Do not assume that the Post Office will accept:

• Egyptian national ID card;
• Egyptian driving licence;
• national-number printout;
• Digital Egypt screen;
• electronic birth certificate displayed on a phone; or
• emergency return document.

2. Verify Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

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

ACSPs commonly include regulated solicitors, accountants and company service providers.

An ACSP may complete checks:

• remotely;
• by video call;
• in person; or
• through appropriate identity document validation technology.

The ACSP must be registered with Companies House and supervised for UK anti-money laundering purposes.

The ACSP route may suit an Egyptian director or PSC who:

• lives in Egypt;
• lives elsewhere outside the United Kingdom;
• cannot use GOV.UK One Login;
• holds a machine-readable passport without a chip;
• cannot scan the passport;
• only has one accepted photographic document;
• needs help selecting a Group B document;
• has an Egyptian national ID card that is not PRADO-listed;
• has an Egyptian driving licence that is not PRADO-listed;
• has different Arabic and English name spellings;
• has several name elements;
• has a former or married name;
• has different names across two nationalities;
• has an incorrect date of birth at Companies House; or
• wants remote verification by video call.

How Many Documents Do You Need?

The number of documents depends on how the ACSP completes 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 all relevant:

• cryptographic features where the document contains them; and
• physical security features, such as holograms and security printing.

Companies House permits:

• 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.

For an Egyptian national, the most relevant Option 1 documents will normally be:

• machine-readable Egyptian passport;
• another current biometric passport held through dual nationality;
• UK photocard driving licence;
• eligible UK immigration document; or
• eVisa.

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

Can the Egyptian Passport Qualify Under Option 1 Without a Chip?

Potentially.

Option 1 permits a biometric or machine-readable passport.

Where the passport does not contain a chip, the technology must still validate the document’s physical security features and complete all the other Companies House checks.

Not every identity-checking platform can validate a non-chip Egyptian passport.

The ACSP must confirm that its system supports the exact document.

Can the Egyptian National ID Card Qualify Under Option 1?

No, not under the current published identity-card category.

Egypt is outside the list of countries covered by that category.

Can the Egyptian Driving Licence Qualify Under Option 1?

Do not assume that it qualifies.

The Option 1 driving-licence category covers specified UK and EU photocard licences.

Egypt is not an EU Member State.

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.

The applicant must provide either:

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

An applicant who lives outside the United Kingdom must provide at least one government-issued document.

A passport may be up to 18 months expired under Option 2, provided it has not been cancelled or replaced.

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

For many Egyptian applicants, the simplest Option 2 route is:

• Egyptian passport; and
• accepted Group B supporting document.

Group A Photographic ID for Egyptian Nationals

1. Egyptian Ordinary Passport

A current Egyptian passport normally provides the strongest Group A evidence.

The principal current PRADO-listed model is:

EGY-AO-01001

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;
• was reported lost or stolen;
• has a cut or clipped corner;
• contains serious damage;
• has an unreadable personal-details page;
• no longer matches the holder’s identity; or
• cannot be validated satisfactorily.

A current passport will normally make the process easier.

2. Another Passport Held Through Dual Nationality

An Egyptian national who also holds another nationality may provide a second passport.

Two current passports can potentially provide two Group A documents under person-led Option 2.

For example, the applicant may hold:

• Egyptian passport and British passport;
• Egyptian passport and EU passport;
• Egyptian passport and Canadian passport;
• Egyptian passport and Australian passport;
• Egyptian passport and United States passport; or
• Egyptian passport and another foreign passport.

The ACSP must connect the documents where they show:

• different Latin spellings;
• different surname forms;
• different name order;
• different numbers of given names;
• different place-of-birth descriptions;
• married and birth surnames; or
• different transliterations from Arabic.

3. UK Photocard Driving Licence

An Egyptian national living in the United Kingdom may hold a valid UK photocard driving licence.

A UK photocard driving licence may provide another Group A document.

An Egyptian passport combined with a UK photocard driving licence can provide two strong photographic identity documents.

4. Eligible UK Immigration Document

An Egyptian national may hold an eligible UK photographic immigration document.

Examples can include:

• qualifying biometric residence permit;
• biometric residence card;
• UK Frontier Worker permit;
• photographic work permit;
• photographic immigration document;
• photographic visa; or
• eVisa under the relevant technology-led route.

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

5. Egyptian Diplomatic or Service Passport

A current Egyptian diplomatic or service passport may potentially provide Group A evidence.

The document requires individual review because the verifier must confirm:

• passport category;
• holder’s entitlement;
• current status;
• issue and expiry dates;
• whether it has been cancelled;
• whether an ordinary passport replaced it; and
• whether the security features can be validated.

Egyptian Documents You Should Not Rely On as Required Evidence

Egyptian National ID Card

Do not rely on the national ID card as one of the two formal documents.

PRADO does not currently list it.

The card may provide valuable supplementary evidence but should not replace the accepted passport and Group B document.

Egyptian Driving Licence

An Egyptian driving licence may be an official photographic document and may be described as machine-readable.

Egyptian consular guidance allows a machine-readable Egyptian driving licence to support certain Egyptian national ID renewal procedures.

However, PRADO does not currently list an Egyptian driving licence.

The practical conclusion is:

Do not rely on an Egyptian driving licence as the formal second Group A document under the current published Companies House route.

An ACSP may review it as additional evidence of:

• photograph;
• full Arabic name;
• national number;
• date of birth;
• Egyptian address;
• document number;
• recent government activity; or
• consistency with the national ID card.

Prepare the original physical licence and send clear images of both sides where the ACSP requests it.

Do not rely only on:

• digital driving-licence screen;
• screenshot;
• photograph;
• application receipt;
• traffic authority extract; or
• typed licence number.

Egyptian Emergency Travel Document

Do not rely on a 30-day return-to-Egypt document as the routine Group A evidence.

It is short-term and purpose-restricted, and PRADO does not currently list it.

Egyptian Military Identity Card

A military identity card may provide additional identity information.

However, it is not automatically included in the published Companies House Group A or Group B lists.

Egyptian Professional Union Card

A doctors’, engineers’, lawyers’, pharmacists’ or other professional union card may help verify occupation or professional activity.

It does not automatically provide Group A or Group B evidence.

Egyptian Work Permit

A government-issued photographic work permit may potentially fall within Group A.

However, the exact document must be reviewed individually.

A non-photographic work permit may instead fall within Group B.

Do not treat an employer letter, private company card or employment contract as automatically equivalent to a government-issued work permit.

Family Registration or Family Record

An Egyptian family registration document may help establish:

• parents;
• spouse;
• children;
• family relationships;
• former surname;
• military-service circumstances; or
• civil status.

However, Companies House does not expressly list a foreign family registration document in Group B.

Use it as additional evidence rather than as the formal second document unless the ACSP confirms that the document clearly constitutes an accepted birth or marriage certificate.

Egyptian Criminal-Record Certificate

An Egyptian criminal-record or police-clearance certificate may contain personal details and fingerprints.

However, it does not appear in the current Group A or Group B lists.

Do not use it as the required second document.

Egyptian Tax Card or Tax Record

A tax card or tax record may support additional checks but does not automatically provide the required Group A or Group B evidence.

Egyptian Health, Student or Membership Cards

Do not rely on:

• health-insurance card;
• student card;
• university card;
• employee card;
• professional membership card;
• syndicate card;
• public-transport card;
• payment card; or
• private club card

as one of the required documents.

Group B Supporting Documents

Where you only have 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
• qualifying UK local-authority or social-housing rental agreement.

An Egyptian 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;
• remains complete and legible;
• clearly shows the relevant personal information;
• contains no sign of alteration;
• supports the claimed identity or current address; and
• provides credible evidence of genuine activity.

Egyptian Bank Statements

An Egyptian bank statement may provide Group B evidence.

The statement should:

• show the applicant’s full name;
• identify the bank clearly;
• show a recent statement date;
• contain genuine account activity;
• remain complete;
• remain legible;
• contain no sign of editing; and
• show the current address where it is relied on as address evidence.

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

The statement may show:

• Arabic name only;
• English name only;
• shortened English name;
• different transliteration;
• initials;
• two names rather than four;
• omitted family-name element; or
• an old address.

This does not automatically make the statement unacceptable.

However, the ACSP must connect it to the passport and other evidence.

Where the document contains important information only in Arabic, provide an English translation if requested.

Egyptian Utility Bills

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

Examples may include:

• electricity bill;
• water bill;
• gas bill;
• fixed-line telephone bill;
• household internet bill where accepted as a utility; or
• another genuine household utility account.

The Egyptian Consulate itself accepts recent electricity, gas and water bills when an applicant needs to update the address on an Egyptian national ID card.

For Companies House purposes, the verifier must be able to identify:

• service provider;
• customer;
• service address;
• billing date;
• account information; and
• connection to the applicant.

A bill in another family member’s name will not normally establish the applicant’s address without additional evidence.

A payment receipt, mobile-wallet entry or direct-debit transaction does not necessarily amount to the complete utility bill.

Egyptian Mortgage Statements

An Egyptian mortgage statement may provide Group B evidence where it clearly shows:

• applicant’s name;
• identifiable lender;
• current residential address;
• statement date; and
• genuine mortgage information.

A purchase contract, property deed, property-tax record or real-estate registration extract is not automatically the same as a mortgage statement.

Egyptian Insurance Policies

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

Examples may include:

• home insurance;
• buildings insurance;
• contents insurance;
• vehicle insurance; or
• another genuine policy.

A payment receipt, quotation, renewal invitation or marketing email may not amount to the policy itself.

Egyptian Birth Certificates

An Egyptian birth certificate may be called:

• Egyptian birth certificate;
• computerised birth certificate;
• mechanised birth certificate;
• biometric birth certificate;
• شهادة ميلاد;
• شهادة ميلاد مميكنة; or
• شهادة قيد ميلاد.

An official Egyptian birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

The London Consulate describes current Egyptian birth certificates as computerised or biometric certificates issued through the Egyptian Civil Status Organisation.

A previously issued Egyptian birth certificate can be requested through the London Consulate. The certificate is issued in Cairo and may take at least two months to reach the Consulate.

For Companies House verification, provide the complete official certificate rather than:

• hospital birth notification;
• baptism certificate;
• religious record;
• cropped photograph;
• application receipt;
• national-number screen;
• translation without the original; or
• informal family document.

The ACSP should be able to identify:

• applicant’s complete registered name;
• date of birth;
• place of birth;
• national number where shown;
• parents’ details;
• issuing authority;
• date of issue; and
• any correction or later amendment.

Computerised Egyptian Birth Certificates

A current computerised birth certificate will normally provide clearer evidence than an older handwritten or damaged record.

It may include:

• machine-printed civil-status information;
• national number;
• complete Arabic name;
• parents’ names;
• official stamps;
• serial information; and
• security features.

The term biometric birth certificate used by Egyptian consular guidance does not mean that the paper certificate becomes photographic Group A evidence.

It remains a birth certificate and is therefore considered under Group B.

Older Egyptian Birth Certificates

An older official Egyptian birth certificate may potentially provide Group B evidence.

However, the ACSP may request:

• a newer computerised copy;
• confirmation from the issuing authority;
• English translation;
• current passport;
• current national ID card;
• family registration; or
• another document connecting the certificate to the applicant.

An old certificate may be more difficult to validate where it is:

• handwritten;
• damaged;
• partially illegible;
• missing the national number;
• issued under a former name;
• missing later civil-status changes; or
• available only as a photocopy.

Egyptian Nationals Born in the United Kingdom or Another Country

An Egyptian national born abroad may have:

• foreign birth certificate;
• Egyptian computerised birth certificate;
• Egyptian passport;
• Egyptian national number;
• Egyptian national ID card;
• parents’ Egyptian passports; or
• evidence that the foreign birth was registered in Egypt.

The London Consulate requires an apostilled foreign birth certificate, parental identity documents and marriage evidence when registering a foreign birth.

For Companies House verification, useful evidence may include:

• original foreign birth certificate;
• Egyptian birth certificate;
• current Egyptian passport;
• current foreign passport;
• English translation;
• Egyptian civil-registration evidence; and
• documents connecting the different name versions.

Egyptian Marriage Certificates

An Egyptian marriage certificate may be called:

• marriage certificate;
• marriage contract;
• Egyptian marriage document;
• قسيمة الزواج;
• وثيقة الزواج;
• عقد الزواج; or
• computerised marriage certificate.

An official Egyptian marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

It can also help connect:

• birth and married names;
• social use of a spouse’s surname;
• former surname;
• differences in marital status;
• Egyptian and foreign name forms;
• information shown in the passport;
• information shown in the national ID card; or
• a former Companies House record.

Provide the complete official certificate rather than:

• wedding photograph;
• informal religious letter;
• partial scan;
• ceremonial document without official registration;
• untranslated extract;
• online screenshot; or
• application receipt.

The document should clearly identify:

• both spouses;
• date of marriage;
• place of marriage;
• official registering authority;
• signatures or official authentication;
• document number; and
• other relevant civil-status information.

Egyptian Civil and Religious Marriage Documents

Egyptian marriage records can take different forms depending on:

• religion;
• place of marriage;
• nationality of the spouses;
• whether the marriage took place in Egypt or abroad; and
• whether the foreign marriage was later authenticated or registered.

An Islamic marriage contract or religious marriage record may be relevant where it is the officially recognised and registered marriage document.

A purely ceremonial or unofficial document may not be sufficient.

The ACSP must confirm that the document proves a legally recorded marriage rather than merely a religious or social ceremony.

Egyptian Citizens Married in the United Kingdom

An Egyptian national who marries in the United Kingdom may have:

• UK marriage certificate;
• FCDO apostille;
• Egyptian consular authentication;
• Egyptian endorsement or registration;
• updated Egyptian marriage certificate;
• updated national ID card;
• updated passport marital-status information; or
• documents showing different surname use.

The London Consulate requires original identity documents, birth certificates and authenticated marriage evidence for marriage endorsement and registration procedures.

An official UK marriage certificate can itself provide Group B evidence.

The ACSP may request Egyptian linking evidence where the applicant’s names or marital-status details differ.

Divorce, Widowhood and Civil-Status Evidence

An Egyptian divorce certificate, death certificate or civil-status record may help explain differences between documents.

The London Consulate requires Egyptian marriage, divorce or death evidence where the holder wants to update the marital status shown on the national ID card.

For passport-related changes, British documents may require FCDO legalisation before Egyptian consular use.

These records normally act as linking evidence.

They do not automatically replace the required Group A and Group B combination unless the document itself falls within an accepted category.

English Translations

Egyptian passports contain Arabic and Latin-script information.

However, national ID cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, utility bills, bank statements and other civil-status records may contain material information only in Arabic.

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

• document type;
• issuing authority;
• applicant’s name;
• parents’ names;
• spouse’s name;
• current address;
• date of issue;
• date of birth;
• marital-status information;
• profession;
• former name; or
• another material entry.

Provide:

• complete original document; and
• complete English translation.

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

A translation alone does not prove that the underlying document is genuine.

Recommended Document Combinations

Egyptian Passport and Bank Statement

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

It often provides the clearest route where the applicant:

• does not hold a UK driving licence;
• has only an Egyptian national ID card as another photographic card;
• has no second passport;
• wants to demonstrate genuine financial activity;
• needs to establish an Egyptian or UK address; or
• has a name-format difference across documents.

Egyptian Passport and Utility Bill

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

The provider, account and service address must remain capable of validation.

Egyptian Passport and Mortgage Statement

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

Egyptian Passport and Insurance Policy

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

Egyptian Passport and Birth Certificate

An official Egyptian or foreign birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

This combination can help where:

• Companies House omits one or more name elements;
• Arabic and English spellings differ;
• the passport and company record use different transliterations;
• date or place of birth requires clarification;
• the applicant was born abroad;
• the applicant changed their name;
• the passport was issued using a birth certificate; or
• the verifier needs stronger civil-registration evidence.

Egyptian Passport and Marriage Certificate

An official Egyptian or foreign marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

It can also help connect:

• registered name;
• name used after marriage;
• former name;
• marital-status information;
• Egyptian and UK records;
• Egyptian and foreign passports; or
• another name used at Companies House.

Egyptian Passport and UK Photocard Driving Licence

An Egyptian national living in the United Kingdom may use a valid UK photocard driving licence as the second Group A document.

This combination provides two strong photographic identity documents.

Egyptian Passport and UK Immigration Document

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

An eVisa may qualify under the technology-led route.

The ACSP must review the exact document and status.

Egyptian Passport and Second Foreign Passport

An Egyptian dual national may use a second current passport as another Group A document.

This combination can be strong where the ACSP can connect any name, nationality or place-of-birth differences.

Egyptian Names and Arabic-to-Latin Transliteration

Egyptian identity records require careful name checks.

Arabic names do not always have one mandatory English spelling.

The same Arabic name can appear in several legitimate Latin-script forms.

Four-Part and Multi-Part Egyptian Names

Many Egyptian records use several name elements.

Egyptian official systems may request a four-part name in English.

A person’s name may include:

• personal or given name;
• father’s name;
• grandfather’s name;
• great-grandfather’s name;
• family name;
• surname;
• religious or compound element; or
• another inherited name element.

A UK company record may show only:

• first name and surname;
• first two names;
• first name and final family name;
• initials;
• shortened professional name; or
• one everyday name.

A shortened UK record does not automatically mean that it relates to a different person.

However, the complete evidence must support one consistent identity.

Arabic and English Name Differences

Different records may use different Latin spellings because of:

• Arabic-to-Latin transliteration;
• different English-speaking authorities;
• passport renewal;
• family preference;
• French-influenced spelling;
• pronunciation;
• spacing;
• hyphens;
• omitted name elements; or
• data-entry limitations.

Common examples include:

• Mohamed, Mohammed and Muhammad;
• Mahmoud and Mahmud;
• Ahmed and Ahmad;
• Hassan and Hasan;
• Hussein, Hussain and Husayn;
• Youssef, Yousef and Yusuf;
• Ibrahim and Ebrahim;
• Ismail and Ismael;
• Mostafa, Mustafa and Moustafa;
• Abdel Rahman, Abdelrahman and Abdul Rahman;
• Abdel Aziz, Abdelaziz and Abdul Aziz;
• El Sayed, El-Sayed, Elsayed and Al Sayed;
• Abu Bakr, Abou Bakr and Abubakr; or
• Sherif and Sharif.

These differences do not automatically indicate different people.

The current passport’s Latin spelling will normally provide the clearest starting point.

El and Al

Arabic names beginning with ال may appear as:

• El;
• Al;
• Al-;
• El-;
• one joined word;
• two separate words; or
• omitted in a shortened record.

For example:

• El Sayed;
• El-Sayed;
• Elsayed;
• Al Sayed; or
• Al-Sayed.

The ACSP should compare the full document set rather than treating spacing or article choice as conclusive.

Abdel, Abd El and Abdul

Names containing عبد may appear in many forms.

For example:

• Abdel Rahman;
• Abd El Rahman;
• Abdelrahman;
• Abdul Rahman;
• Abd al-Rahman;
• Abd El-Rahman; or
• Abdurrahman.

Similar differences can arise with:

• Abdel Aziz;
• Abdel Hamid;
• Abdel Fattah;
• Abdel Latif;
• Abdel Nasser;
• Abdel Salam; or
• Abdel Wahab.

Provide the passport, national ID card and supporting civil-status records.

Joined and Separated Name Elements

One document may join a name that another document separates.

For example:

• Abdelrahman and Abdel Rahman;
• Abdallah and Abd Allah;
• Elsayed and El Sayed;
• Aboulfotouh and Abou El Fotouh;
• Abuzeid and Abu Zeid; or
• Elmasry and El Masry.

The verifier should compare:

• Arabic spelling;
• visible passport spelling;
• machine-readable zone;
• national ID card;
• birth certificate;
• bank statement;
• marriage certificate; and
• Companies House record.

Name Order

An Egyptian record may display names in a different order from a UK record.

A passport may identify:

• surname;
• given names; and
• machine-readable surname and given-name fields.

An Arabic civil-status document may present the full name as a continuous sequence.

A UK form may incorrectly divide the name into:

• first name;
• middle name;
• surname; or
• family name.

The ACSP should use the labelled passport fields as the primary guide.

Several Given Names

A passport may show several names in the given-name field.

Companies House or a UK bank may record only one or two of them.

Provide the complete passport and any supporting records so the verifier can determine whether the shorter record refers to the same person.

Family Name Missing From One Document

An Egyptian record may not always divide the name in the same way as a UK record.

A person may believe that the final name is the family name, while another authority treats a different element as the surname.

The ACSP should not infer the correct surname solely from the position of the name.

Use:

• passport surname field;
• passport machine-readable zone;
• birth certificate;
• national ID card;
• second passport;
• marriage certificate; and
• official correction or name-concordance evidence.

Egyptian Passport Machine-Readable Spellings

The machine-readable zone removes Arabic script and simplifies punctuation and spacing.

It may:

• remove apostrophes;
• remove hyphens;
• merge several spaces;
• remove accents from a foreign-origin name;
• truncate very long names;
• divide surname and given names differently; or
• use a different transliteration from another document.

The ACSP should compare both:

• visible personal-details page; and
• machine-readable zone.

A difference between the visible name and machine-readable spelling does not automatically mean that the passport is inconsistent.

Married, Former and Socially Used Names

Marriage can create differences between Egyptian and UK records.

A person may:

• continue using the registered Egyptian name;
• use a spouse’s surname socially;
• use a spouse’s surname professionally;
• use a married surname in the United Kingdom;
• retain a birth surname on the Egyptian passport;
• have marital status updated without changing the name;
• use different names under two nationalities; or
• have an old company record under a former name.

Egyptian consular guidance requires marriage, divorce or death evidence where marital status is changed on a passport or national ID card.

Provide:

• current passport;
• national ID card;
• marriage certificate;
• divorce certificate where applicable;
• former passport;
• second passport;
• name-change evidence; and
• documents showing the name used at Companies House.

Formal Name Changes and Civil-Registry Corrections

The Egyptian Consulate provides a process for rectifying civil-registry certificates.

The applicant must normally provide:

• current passport or national ID card;
• document requiring correction; and
• supporting evidence relevant to the requested change.

Where Companies House records an earlier or incorrect name, useful evidence may include:

• current passport;
• former passport;
• current national ID card;
• corrected birth certificate;
• corrected marriage certificate;
• official civil-registry correction;
• foreign passport;
• marriage or divorce evidence; or
• another document connecting the former and current names.

Egyptian and Foreign Versions of the Same Name

An Egyptian dual national may hold a foreign passport showing a different name form.

Differences may result from:

• different transliteration;
• fewer name elements;
• different surname selection;
• marriage;
• compound-name treatment;
• hyphenation;
• foreign naming laws;
• data limitations;
• correction of earlier spelling; or
• use of an English everyday name.

Provide all relevant passports and civil-status documents so the ACSP can connect the versions.

Check Your Date of Birth Before Verification

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

Problems can arise where:

• Companies House holds the wrong date;
• someone made an error during incorporation;
• passport and company record differ;
• Egyptian civil-status information contains an error;
• a national number is copied incorrectly;
• the ACSP submits incorrect information;
• the applicant enters the personal code incorrectly; or
• a foreign document uses a different date format.

Do not rely only on the structure of the Egyptian national number.

Use:

• passport;
• birth certificate;
• national ID card; and
• other official civil-status evidence.

Companies House may prevent the personal code from connecting to a director or PSC role where the details do not match.

Correct an inaccurate date of birth before the compliance deadline.

Egyptian Addresses and Address History

Companies House requires an ACSP to collect:

• current home address; and
• address history for the previous 12 months.

An Egyptian applicant’s documents may show different addresses because:

• national ID card shows a family home in Egypt;
• applicant lives permanently abroad;
• passport does not show a residential address;
• bank statement uses a correspondence address;
• utility bill is in a relative’s name;
• applicant recently moved;
• address is written differently in Arabic and English; or
• the applicant has both Egyptian and UK homes.

The applicant should provide the actual current residential address.

Where the national ID card shows an old Egyptian address, use a suitable current Group B document.

Useful additional evidence may include:

• current bank statement;
• utility bill;
• mortgage statement;
• insurance policy;
• UK council tax statement;
• UK tenancy evidence where it falls within the accepted category;
• current immigration record; or
• another credible address document.

Same-Day Remote Verification by Video Call

Ginkgo Advisory 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 Egyptian 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 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 concern arises.

For many person-led Egyptian cases, the applicant should prepare:

• Egyptian passport; and
• one accepted Group B supporting document.

Alternative combinations may include:

• Egyptian passport and UK photocard driving licence;
• Egyptian passport and eligible UK immigration document;
• Egyptian passport and another foreign passport; or
• another approved Group A combination.

The Egyptian national ID card and driving licence may be requested as additional evidence, but they should not replace the formal combination.

Same-day service covers the identity check and ACSP submission.

Companies House controls the later processing and delivery of the personal code.

After an ACSP completes the verification, Companies House sends the code to the applicant’s individual email address. The email should normally arrive within a few hours.

How the Remote Verification Process Works

Step 1: Send Your Documents

Send clear images of the documents you want to use.

For a passport, provide:

• complete personal-details page;
• machine-readable zone;
• any observation page;
• any page showing a name amendment;
• any page containing relevant marital-status or occupation information; and
• any relevant endorsement.

For an Egyptian national ID card or driving licence provided as additional evidence, send both the front and reverse.

For a bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement, insurance policy, birth certificate or marriage certificate, send the complete document rather than a cropped screenshot.

You must also provide:

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

Companies House requires ACSPs to retain the required verification evidence for seven years.

Step 2: Confirm the Document Combination

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

The review may cover:

• whether the Egyptian passport is machine-readable;
• whether the passport contains a biometric chip;
• whether the passport matches EGY-AO-01001;
• whether the passport has seven-year or one-year validity;
• whether the passport has expired;
• whether the passport was cancelled or replaced;
• whether the applicant proposes to use the national ID card formally;
• whether the applicant proposes to use an Egyptian driving licence formally;
• condition of each document;
• Arabic and Latin name spellings;
• four-part and shortened names;
• El and Al variations;
• Abdel and Abdul variations;
• joined and separated name elements;
• former and married names;
• Egyptian and foreign passport versions;
• current residential address; and
• 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 security features from different angles;
• confirm your personal information;
• complete a live facial comparison; and
• answer necessary identity questions.

The verifier must confirm that:

• you are a real person;
• the documents appear genuine;
• the identity belongs to you; and
• the evidence meets the Companies House standard.

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 submit copies of the documents.

However, it must keep:

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

The records must be retained for seven years from the date the identity verification is completed.

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;
• you can access the account;
• you check the spam or junk folder; and
• you keep the code secure.

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

How Egyptian Directors Use the Personal Code

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

A director of more than one company must connect the code separately to each company.

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 normally verify your identity only once.

However, you must connect the same code to every separate director appointment.

How Egyptian 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.

Director and PSC of the Same Company

A person who acts as both director and PSC must provide the code separately for each role.

As a director, the person provides the code through the company’s confirmation statement.

As a PSC, the person provides it during the applicable 14-day period beginning on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

PSC Who Is Not a Director of the Same Company

A PSC who is not a director of the same company normally provides the code during the first 14 days of their birth month.

New PSC

A person who became a PSC after 18 November 2025 can provide the code when first added to the register or within 14 days of being added.

The same personal code can cover several companies and roles.

However, it must be connected separately to every relevant director and PSC position.

How Our Legal Consultant Can Help

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

• reviewing Egyptian machine-readable passports;
• checking whether a passport matches EGY-AO-01001;
• checking seven-year and one-year passports;
• assessing whether a passport may work through GOV.UK One Login;
• assessing whether a non-chip passport can be used through an ACSP;
• reviewing expired Egyptian passports;
• checking whether a passport has been cancelled or replaced;
• reviewing Egyptian national ID cards as additional evidence;
• explaining why the national ID card does not automatically qualify as Group A;
• reviewing Egyptian driving licences as additional evidence;
• explaining why the Egyptian driving licence does not automatically qualify;
• reviewing emergency travel documents;
• distinguishing ordinary, diplomatic and service passports;
• explaining why a Rakam Kawmi is not the Companies House personal code;
• confirming the correct Group A and Group B combination;
• reviewing Egyptian bank statements and address documents;
• checking Egyptian utility bills;
• checking Egyptian birth certificates;
• checking Egyptian marriage certificates;
• reviewing computerised civil-status documents;
• reviewing foreign certificates for Egyptians born or married abroad;
• comparing Arabic and English name spellings;
• reviewing four-part and shortened names;
• checking El and Al spelling differences;
• checking Abdel and Abdul spelling differences;
• checking joined and separated name elements;
• connecting married and former names;
• comparing Egyptian and foreign passports;
• 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

Ginkgo Advisory and our 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 Egyptian Passport?

Yes.

An Egyptian passport provides Group A photographic identity evidence.

The principal PRADO-listed ordinary passport model is EGY-AO-01001.

Is the Egyptian Passport Biometric?

Do not assume that it contains a biometric chip.

Check the cover for the international biometric-passport symbol.

The current PRADO record does not identify EGY-AO-01001 as an electronic passport, while the London Consulate describes Egyptian passports as machine-readable.

Can I Use My Egyptian Passport in the GOV.UK One Login App?

Only if the passport contains a compatible biometric chip.

The app requires a non-UK passport with a biometric chip.

A machine-readable passport without a chip will not work through the app.

Can a Non-Biometric Egyptian Passport Still Be Used?

Potentially.

A machine-readable passport may qualify:

• under Option 1 where suitable technology validates the document; or
• under person-led Option 2 as a Group A passport.

How Long Is an Egyptian Passport Valid?

The ordinary PRADO-listed passport model normally has seven-year validity.

However, an adult passport issued using an expired national ID or computerised birth certificate may be valid for only one year.

Check the expiry date printed in the passport.

Can I Use a One-Year Egyptian Passport?

Potentially.

A current one-year passport may provide Group A evidence where it remains genuine, valid and has not been replaced.

Can I Use an Expired Egyptian Passport?

Potentially.

Option 1 may allow a biometric or machine-readable passport expired by up to six months.

Person-led Option 2 may allow a passport expired by up to 18 months.

The passport must not have been cancelled or replaced.

Can I Use a Cancelled Egyptian Passport?

No.

A cancelled passport may provide historical evidence but cannot provide current formal identity evidence.

Can I Use a Lost Passport That I Later Recovered?

No.

A passport reported lost or stolen should not be used.

Can I Use an Egyptian Passport Issued Through the London Consulate?

Yes, subject to the normal checks.

It remains an Egyptian passport issued through the competent Egyptian authorities.

Can I Use an Egyptian Emergency Travel Document?

Do not rely on it as the routine Group A document.

The London Consulate’s emergency document is normally valid for 30 days and only for return to Egypt.

Can I Use My Egyptian National ID Card?

Do not rely on it as one of the two formal documents.

PRADO does not currently list the Egyptian national identity card.

It may provide useful additional evidence.

Is the Egyptian National ID Card Group B?

No.

A foreign national identity card is not included in the published Group B list.

Can I Use an Expired National ID Card?

It may provide historical or supplementary information.

However, use a current passport and another accepted document for the formal check.

Can I Use My Rakam Kawmi?

No.

The 14-digit national number is a personal identifier rather than a photographic identity document.

It is also different from the Companies House personal code.

Can I Use a Digital Egypt Screen?

Do not rely on a government portal screen alone.

It may provide supplementary information but does not replace the accepted documents.

Can I Use My Egyptian Driving Licence?

Do not rely on it as the formal second Group A document.

PRADO does not currently list an Egyptian driving licence.

The ACSP may review the physical licence as supplementary evidence.

Can I Use a Digital Egyptian Driving Licence?

Do not rely on a digital version alone.

Prepare the original physical card.

Can I Use an Egyptian Military ID Card?

Do not assume that it qualifies.

It may provide additional government-issued identity information, but it is not expressly included in the published document lists.

Can I Use an Egyptian Professional Union Card?

Not as the required formal document.

It may provide supplementary evidence of occupation or professional activity.

Can I Use an Egyptian Bank Statement?

Potentially.

A bank statement falls within Group B.

The statement must be genuine, complete, clear and capable of validation.

Can I Use an Egyptian Utility Bill?

Potentially.

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

Can I Use an Egyptian Mortgage Statement?

Potentially.

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

Can I Use an Egyptian Insurance Policy?

Potentially.

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

Can I Use an Egyptian Birth Certificate?

Potentially.

An official Egyptian birth certificate falls within the Group B birth-certificate category.

Can I Use a Computerised Egyptian Birth Certificate?

Yes, potentially.

Provide the complete official certificate.

A computerised certificate will normally provide clearer evidence than an old handwritten copy.

Is a Biometric Egyptian Birth Certificate Group A?

No.

Despite the terminology used by the Egyptian Consulate, it remains a birth certificate and is considered under Group B.

Can I Use an Older Egyptian Birth Certificate?

Potentially.

The ACSP may ask for a newer computerised certificate where the older document is difficult to validate.

Can I Use a Foreign Birth Certificate?

Potentially.

Provide the complete official certificate together with any required translation, authentication and Egyptian linking evidence.

Can I Use an Egyptian Marriage Certificate?

Potentially.

An official Egyptian marriage certificate falls within the Group B marriage-certificate category.

Can I Use an Islamic Marriage Contract?

Potentially where it is the official legally registered marriage document.

A purely ceremonial or informal religious document may not be sufficient.

Can I Use a UK Marriage Certificate?

Potentially.

An official UK marriage certificate is a Group B marriage certificate.

Additional Egyptian evidence may be needed where names or marital-status records differ.

Do Egyptian Documents Need an English Translation?

Some documents may need a translation.

Egyptian passports contain Latin-script information.

National ID cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank statements and utility bills may contain material information only in Arabic.

Provide both the original and English translation where requested.

What If My Arabic and English Names Are Different?

Send the complete document set for review.

Different transliterations can be legitimate.

The ACSP should compare the Arabic name, passport spelling, machine-readable zone, national ID card and supporting documents.

What If My Name Has Four Parts?

Provide the complete passport and civil-status documents.

A UK company record may show only the first and final name. The ACSP must determine whether the shorter record relates to the same person.

What If Companies House Omits One of My Names?

Provide the passport and supporting evidence.

A shortened company record may still relate to the same identity.

What If My Name Is Spelled Mohamed on One Document and Mohammed on Another?

This can arise from Arabic-to-Latin transliteration.

Provide all relevant documents so the ACSP can connect the versions.

What If My Name Uses El on One Document and Al on Another?

Provide the complete document set.

El and Al may represent the same Arabic article.

The verifier should compare the Arabic spelling and all other identity information.

What If Abdel Rahman Is Written as One Word?

Joined and separated versions can refer to the same Arabic name.

Provide the passport, national ID card and civil-status evidence.

What If My Middle Names Are Missing From My UK Records?

Provide the complete passport.

Egyptian names may contain several paternal and family-name elements that a UK system shortens or classifies differently.

What If I Use a Married Name in the United Kingdom?

Provide:

• current passport;
• national ID card;
• marriage certificate;
• foreign passport where relevant;
• former passport; and
• documents showing the name used at Companies House.

What If I Have Egyptian and British Passports With Different Names?

Provide both passports and the documents connecting the names.

The ACSP should determine the current legal identity and explain the difference.

What If My Date of Birth at Companies House Is Wrong?

Correct the Companies House record before attempting to connect the personal code.

The date of birth linked to the code must match the company record.

Can I Verify My Identity While Living in Egypt?

Yes.

An ACSP can complete the check remotely where the document combination meets 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 the required document and identity features.

Must I Post My Original Egyptian 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 the director role and 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;
• the applicant provides all required information;
• the documents pass the necessary checks;
• the Companies House record matches;
• the applicant completes the video call; and
• no unresolved identity or compliance concern remains.

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

Need Companies House Identity Verification for an Egyptian Director or PSC?

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

• Egyptian machine-readable passport plus accepted Group B supporting document;
• Egyptian passport plus valid UK photocard driving licence;
• Egyptian passport plus eligible UK immigration document;
• Egyptian passport plus another current passport held through dual nationality; or
• one eligible machine-readable Egyptian passport under a suitable technology-led Option 1 process.

Unlike nationals of some countries, Egyptian applicants should not currently rely on the national ID card or Egyptian driving licence as the formal second Group A document.

PRADO does not currently list either document.

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

• passport without a biometric chip;
• one-year passport;
• expired passport;
• cancelled or replaced passport;
• lost or stolen passport;
• emergency return document;
• only an Egyptian national ID card as the second photographic document;
• only an Egyptian driving licence as the second photographic document;
• expired national ID card;
• only a national number;
• only a Digital Egypt or Ministry of Interior screen;
• Arabic-only supporting documents;
• four-part name shortened in UK records;
• Mohamed, Mohammed or Muhammad spelling differences;
• El and Al spelling differences;
• Abdel and Abdul spelling differences;
• joined and separated name elements;
• several paternal names;
• married or former name;
• Egyptian and foreign passports with different spellings;
• overseas birth or marriage;
• old handwritten civil-status certificate;
• incorrect date of birth;
• current address different from the Egyptian national ID address; 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.