Ghanaian 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, not 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 Ghanaian Directors and PSCs

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

For a person-led remote verification through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP, you normally need either:

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

Ghana creates an important practical issue. PRADO’s current Ghana page lists passports and a visa, but it does not list the Ghana Card or a Ghanaian driving licence. Therefore, neither document currently qualifies through the Companies House category for “another type of photographic ID listed on PRADO.”

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

• Ghanaian passport and bank statement;
• Ghanaian passport and utility bill;
• Ghanaian passport and mortgage statement;
• Ghanaian passport and insurance policy;
• Ghanaian passport and birth certificate;
• Ghanaian passport and registered marriage certificate;
• Ghanaian passport and UK photocard driving licence; or
• Ghanaian passport and an eligible UK immigration document.

Direct answer: The safest person-led route for most Ghanaian nationals is a Ghanaian passport plus an accepted Group B supporting document.

Important Point About PRADO and Ghanaian Documents

PRADO’s Ghana page currently contains only five documents:

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

It does not contain a Ghanaian national identity card or driving-licence category. PRADO last reviewed its Ghana page on 30 July 2026.

The absence of Ghana’s new chip-embedded passport from PRADO does not prevent the passport from qualifying. Companies House lists a passport directly within Group A. The PRADO requirement becomes important when an applicant wants to use another type of foreign photographic identification.

Can a Ghana Card Be Used for Companies House Verification?

Do not rely on a Ghana Card as one of the two required Companies House documents under the current published route.

The Ghana Card is an official national identity card issued by Ghana’s National Identification Authority, or NIA. It contains a photograph, biometric information, a dual-interface chip, an e-passport symbol and a machine-readable zone. The card normally remains valid for ten years.

However, Companies House applies its own document categories. A foreign national identity card does not automatically qualify simply because the issuing country treats it as official identification.

Under person-led Option 2, a foreign photographic ID can qualify through the relevant category where PRADO lists the document. PRADO does not currently list the Ghana Card. The card also does not fall within the Companies House Group B list.

The practical conclusion is:

Do not use the Ghana Card as the formal Group A or Group B document for a person-led Companies House identity check.

An ACSP may consider Ghana Card information when reviewing a complex identity history. However, the formal document combination should use a passport, an eligible UK-issued photographic document or an accepted Group B document.

Important 2026 Rule About Copying and Checking the Ghana Card

Ghana introduced a new Ghana Card verification regime in June 2026.

The National Identification Authority announced that organisations using the Ghana Card for identity verification under Ghana’s system must use real-time biometric verification against the NIA database. The NIA also stated that visual inspection alone is no longer sufficient and that organisations must not photocopy, scan or retain Ghana Card copies for identity verification, except where the law permits it.

This Ghanaian rule and the Companies House evidence rules are separate. However, both lead to the same practical result for this service:

• a remote visual inspection of a Ghana Card does not create sufficient Companies House evidence;
• a scan of the card does not place it within Group A or Group B; and
• applicants should prepare an accepted passport and supporting document instead.

The Ghana Card Has E-Passport Features. Why Is It Still Not Enough?

The NIA states that the Ghana Card has e-passport features and may support travel in circumstances where immigration stamps are not required. It can also support travel to Ghana by Ghanaian citizens living abroad.

That function does not automatically make the Ghana Card a “passport” under the Companies House evidence rules.

Companies House distinguishes between:

• a passport;
• a biometric identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein; and
• another photographic identity document listed on PRADO.

The Ghana Card does not currently fall within those identity-card categories. Its domestic and regional functions do not change the published Companies House list.

Can a Ghanaian Driving Licence Be Used?

Do not rely on a Ghanaian driving licence as one of the required Group A documents under the current published rules.

Companies House directly accepts photocard driving licences issued by:

• the UK;
• the Channel Islands;
• the Isle of Man; and
• EU countries.

A foreign driving licence from another country may only qualify through another permitted category, such as photographic ID listed on PRADO.

PRADO’s current Ghana page does not list a Ghanaian driving licence. Therefore, a licence issued by Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, or DVLA, does not currently provide confirmed Group A evidence through the PRADO route.

This position applies even where the licence:

• contains a photograph;
• remains valid in Ghana;
• carries a smart chip;
• can be checked through a Ghanaian database;
• shows the same name as the passport; or
• works as official ID within Ghana.

An ACSP may review the licence as additional information, but it should not replace the required passport or Group B document.

Can a Ghanaian Voter ID Card Be Used?

Do not rely on a Ghanaian voter ID card as one of the required documents.

PRADO does not list a Ghanaian voter card, and Companies House does not include foreign voter cards in Group B. The card may provide additional background information, but it does not replace an accepted passport or supporting document.

Can SSNIT, NHIS or TIN Records Be Used?

The following records do not provide the required Companies House identity evidence by themselves:

• SSNIT card or number;
• National Health Insurance Scheme card;
• Tax Identification Number;
• Ghana Revenue Authority record;
• voter ID card;
• Ghana digital address;
• GhanaPost GPS screen; or
• an online government-account screenshot.

The NIA itself treats documents such as a driving licence, SSNIT card, NHIS card, TIN and voter ID as supporting records for data harmonisation rather than as the main mandatory identity evidence for Ghana Card registration.

These documents may help explain a mismatch. They do not replace an accepted Group A or Group B document.

Ghana’s New Chip-Embedded Passport

Ghana began the mass rollout of its new chip-embedded passport on 28 April 2025.

The new passport contains an embedded security chip, a durable polycarbonate personal-details page and expanded security features. Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes it as an ICAO-compliant biometric passport.

Ghana no longer issues the earlier biometric passport format for new applications. All new passport issuances use the chip-embedded system.

Can the New Ghanaian Passport Work With GOV.UK One Login?

Potentially, yes.

The GOV.UK One Login app accepts a non-UK passport that contains a biometric chip. The applicant must scan the passport’s personal-details page and chip and then complete a facial comparison. The app does not accept an expired passport.

A Ghanaian passport issued under the chip-embedded system from 28 April 2025 should therefore provide the clearest direct route, provided that:

• the passport remains valid;
• the chip works;
• the applicant has a compatible smartphone;
• the app can read the chip; and
• the applicant completes the facial check successfully.

The app may still fail where the chip is damaged, the phone cannot read it or the personal information does not match.

What About an Older Ghanaian Passport?

PRADO lists the earlier Ghanaian ordinary passport model GHA-AO-02001, first issued on 30 April 2010. PRADO records that model as a valid passport design with a maximum validity of five years. It also lists the older GHA-AO-01001 model.

An older passport may still provide Group A evidence where the individual document:

• remains valid or falls within a Companies House passport expiry exception;
• has not been cancelled;
• has not been replaced;
• remains in good condition; and
• belongs to the applicant.

However, an older Ghanaian passport may not contain the chip required by the GOV.UK One Login app.

An ACSP may still use an older passport:

• under Option 1 where suitable technology can validate it as a machine-readable passport; or
• under person-led Option 2 as a Group A passport.

This means a Ghanaian national may still have a remote ACSP route even where the GOV.UK One Login app cannot read the passport.

Who Must Complete Companies House Identity Verification?

The requirement applies to Ghanaian 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. 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 each 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 Ghanaian Nationals Verify Their Identity?

Ghanaian nationals can use one of two main routes.

1. Verify Through GOV.UK One Login

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

Depending on your documents and circumstances, the system may ask you to:

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

The system selects the available route based on your documents, device and access to relevant UK records.

Using the GOV.UK One Login App

The app accepts:

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

A Ghana Card or Ghanaian driving licence cannot replace a chip-enabled passport for the overseas app route.

Answering Security Questions

Some Ghanaian nationals living in the UK may receive the option to answer online security questions.

These questions may use information connected with:

• a UK bank account;
• credit record;
• mobile telephone contract;
• mortgage;
• HMRC record;
• National Insurance information; or
• Department for Work and Pensions records.

This route may offer less help to an overseas Ghanaian director who has little or no UK financial history.

Verification at a UK Post Office

GOV.UK One Login may offer some applicants the option to attend a participating Post Office.

The Post Office route accepts a non-UK passport. The passport does not need to come from an EU country. However, the system must first offer this route. You cannot simply visit a Post Office without starting the online process.

You must:

1. start the Companies House identity-verification service online;
2. enter the requested passport 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 passport.

The Post Office will not accept a photocopy or digital image. Staff will scan the original passport and take your photograph. GOV.UK One Login normally sends the result within one day.

This route may suit a Ghanaian national living in the UK. It offers less convenience to someone living in Ghana or another country.

2. Verify Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

An ACSP can verify a person’s identity for Companies House.

ACSPs commonly include regulated solicitors, accountants and company service providers. Companies House permits an ACSP to complete the checks remotely or in person. The ACSP must follow the full Companies House identity-verification standard.

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

• lives in Ghana or another country outside the UK;
• cannot use GOV.UK One Login;
• has an older passport without a chip;
• cannot scan the passport chip;
• only has a Ghana Card as their second photographic document;
• only has a Ghanaian driving licence;
• needs help choosing a Group B document;
• has several forenames;
• uses an Akan day name or an alternative spelling;
• changed their name after marriage or through a formal process;
• 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 identity check.

Option 1: Technology-Led Verification

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

The technology must validate the document’s electronic and physical security features.

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.

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

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

• a chip-embedded Ghanaian passport;
• an older machine-readable Ghanaian passport that the technology can validate; or
• an eligible UK-issued immigration document or eVisa.

A Ghanaian driving licence does not qualify through the Option 1 driving-licence category.

The Ghana Card also does not qualify through the Option 1 biometric identity-card category because Companies House limits that category to the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

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 living 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.

For most Ghanaian applicants, the practical document set will contain:

• one Ghanaian passport from Group A; and
• one bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement, insurance policy, birth certificate or marriage certificate from Group B.

Group A Photographic ID for Ghanaian Nationals

1. Ghanaian Passport

A Ghanaian passport normally provides the clearest Group A identity document.

Applicants who hold the new passport issued under the system launched in April 2025 have a chip-embedded ICAO-compliant passport with an electronic security chip and polycarbonate personal-details page.

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;
• has been reported lost or stolen;
• contains cancellation marks;
• has a cut or clipped corner;
• has serious damage around the personal-details page; or
• cannot be validated satisfactorily.

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

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

2. Eligible UK-Issued Photographic Documents

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

Ghanaian Documents You Should Not Rely On as Required Evidence

Ghana Card

Do not rely on the Ghana Card as the formal Group A or Group B document.

It does not currently appear on PRADO’s Ghana list. Ghana’s new domestic verification rules also require real-time biometric verification and reject visual inspection alone.

Ghanaian Driving Licence

Do not rely on a Ghanaian driving licence as one of the required Group A documents.

PRADO does not currently list it, and the direct Companies House driving-licence category does not cover Ghana.

Voter ID Card

A Ghanaian voter card does not appear in Group A, Group B or PRADO’s Ghana list.

SSNIT Card or Number

A Social Security and National Insurance Trust card or number is not a photographic identity document for Companies House purposes.

NHIS Card

A National Health Insurance Scheme card does not replace an accepted Companies House identity or supporting document.

Ghanaian TIN

A Ghanaian Tax Identification Number is a personal tax identifier rather than photographic evidence.

Dual Citizenship Identity Card

Ghana recognises dual nationality, and qualifying people may hold a dual citizenship identity card. However, Companies House does not list a foreign citizenship or dual-nationality card as standard Group A or Group B evidence.

It may support a nationality or name-history review, but it should not replace the accepted document combination.

GhanaPost GPS or Digital Address

A Ghana digital address may help locate a residence, but the number or app screen is not a Group B document.

A bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement or insurance policy showing the current address provides a clearer route.

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 Ghanaian 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 sign of alteration;
• supports the claimed identity or current address; and
• provides credible evidence of genuine activity.

Ghanaian Bank Statements

A Ghanaian 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; and
• contain no sign of editing.

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

Companies House also encourages ACSPs to consider evidence of genuine activity, including recent bank or credit-card transactions.

Where the statement does not show the applicant’s current residential address, the ACSP may request a separate address document.

Ghanaian Utility Bills

A Ghanaian 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; or
• another genuine household utility account.

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

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

Mortgage Statements and Insurance Policies

A Ghanaian mortgage statement may provide Group B evidence where it clearly 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.

Ghanaian Birth Certificates

A Ghanaian birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Parents should register a birth with the local registrar within 12 months. Ghana allows late registration, and a person may register a birth up to the age of 59. Birth registrations are held centrally by Ghana’s Births and Deaths Registry.

Where the Registry corrects an error, it may issue a corrected certificate containing a margin note. The applicant should therefore provide the complete document, including every annotation or margin entry.

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

• hospital birth record;
• baptism certificate;
• school record;
• affidavit of age;
• cropped image;
• registration application;
• online screenshot; or
• informal copy.

A late-registered certificate does not automatically fail. However, the ACSP may request more evidence where the registration history, name or date of birth needs explanation.

Ghanaian Marriage Certificates

An official Ghanaian marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Ghana recognises several forms of marriage, including:

• civil marriage;
• ordinance marriage;
• customary marriage; and
• Islamic marriage.

Civil and Islamic marriages can produce marriage certificates. A customary marriage may produce an official register of customary marriage. Religious marriages must follow the registration requirements, including licensed premises or an authorised officiant where applicable.

Provide the complete registered document rather than only:

• wedding photograph;
• invitation;
• church programme;
• mosque record without civil registration;
• affidavit;
• partial scan;
• handwritten summary; or
• translation without the original.

The certificate may help connect:

• a birth surname;
• married surname;
• double-barrelled surname;
• former surname; or
• another name used in UK records.

Recommended Document Combinations

Ghanaian Passport and Bank Statement

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

For many Ghanaian directors and PSCs, it offers the clearest person-led remote route.

The statement should show the applicant’s full name and genuine recent account activity.

Ghanaian 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 and account information must remain capable of validation.

Ghanaian Passport and Mortgage Statement

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

Ghanaian Passport and Insurance Policy

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

Ghanaian Passport and Birth Certificate

An official birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

This combination can help where:

• Companies House omits one of several forenames;
• the applicant uses a shortened business name;
• a day name appears differently across documents;
• the surname differs from a parent’s surname;
• the applicant completed a formal name change; or
• the date of birth requires stronger support.

Ghanaian Passport and Marriage Certificate

An official registered marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

It can also help connect:

• a birth surname;
• married surname;
• double-barrelled surname;
• former married surname; or
• another surname used at Companies House.

Ghanaian Passport and UK Photocard Driving Licence

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

This combination can provide two strong photographic identity documents.

Ghanaian 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 status and evidence available.

Ghanaian Names, Day Names and Name Differences

Ghanaian names require careful review.

Up to Five Forenames

Official UK guidance states that Ghanaian names may contain:

• up to five forenames; and
• a surname.

A child’s surname can also differ completely from the surname used by either parent.

Different documents may therefore show the name in different ways.

For example:

• the passport may show all forenames;
• a bank statement may use initials;
• the Ghana Card may shorten a long name;
• Companies House may omit one or more middle names;
• business correspondence may use a preferred name; or
• the birth certificate may show a different surname from the parents.

A missing middle name does not automatically mean that the documents belong to different people. However, the complete document set must support one consistent identity.

Akan Day Names

Some Ghanaian communities use names linked to the day of the week on which a child was born.

Examples in Akan naming traditions include:

• Sunday: Akwasi or Kwasi, and Akosua;
• Monday: Kwadwo or Kojo, and Adwoa or Adjoa;
• Tuesday: Kwabena and Abena;
• Wednesday: Kwaku and Akua;
• Thursday: Yaw and Yaa;
• Friday: Kofi and Afua or Afia; and
• Saturday: Kwame and Ama.

This can create genuine spelling variations.

For example:

• KWASI and AKWASI;
• KWADWO and KOJO;
• ADWOA and ADJOA;
• AFUA and AFIA.

The verifier should not treat every variation as evidence of a different person. However, the applicant should provide documents that connect the forms where Companies House uses a different version from the passport.

Initials and Shortened Names

Ghanaian records may use initials where the full name contains several elements.

For example:

• the passport may show five forenames;
• a bank account may show only two;
• Companies House may record one forename and initials;
• a professional record may use a shortened name; or
• a person may use a well-known public or business name.

Before verification, compare:

• every forename;
• all initials;
• the complete surname;
• former names;
• the date of birth;
• the passport; and
• the Companies House record.

Formal Changes of Name

Name changes are legal in Ghana.

A person normally completes a sworn affidavit before a Commissioner for Oaths and then publishes the change in the Ghana Gazette.

Where the applicant changed their name, useful linking evidence may include:

• affidavit of change of name;
• Ghana Gazette notice;
• updated passport;
• updated bank record;
• updated Ghana Card information;
• marriage certificate;
• birth certificate; or
• another official document linking the names.

The affidavit or Gazette notice helps explain the change. It does not automatically replace one of the specified Group B documents.

Marriage Does Not Automatically Change a Ghanaian Woman’s Name

The NIA states that marriage does not automatically change a woman’s legal name or give her the husband’s surname.

A woman who wants to adopt her husband’s surname must complete the applicable legal name-change process, including gazetting the change. A marriage certificate alone may not establish that the applicant formally changed her name.

This point matters where:

• the passport shows the birth surname;
• a bank statement uses the husband’s surname;
• Companies House records the married surname;
• the Ghana Card uses another version; or
• the applicant uses a double-barrelled surname.

Provide the marriage certificate together with the affidavit, Gazette notice and updated identity documents where relevant.

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:

• Companies House holds the wrong date;
• someone made an error during incorporation;
• the passport and birth certificate show different dates;
• a late birth registration contains an issue;
• the Ghana Card contains a different date;
• the ACSP submits incorrect information; or
• someone enters the personal code incorrectly.

Companies House may prevent the personal code from connecting to a director or PSC role where the details do not match. Corrections can take up to 20 working days, so check the public register early.

Is a Ghana Card PIN the Companies House Personal Code?

No.

A Ghana Card Personal Identification Number usually begins with Ghana’s country code and identifies the individual within Ghana’s national identity system.

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

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

• Ghana Card PIN;
• passport number;
• Ghanaian driving-licence number;
• SSNIT number;
• NHIS number;
• TIN;
• voter ID number;
• UK National Insurance number;
• company authentication code; or
• GhanaPost GPS address.

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 Ghanaian 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 most person-led Ghanaian cases, the applicant should prepare:

• a Ghanaian passport; and
• a suitable Group B supporting document.

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 a passport, provide:

• the complete personal-details page;
• any observation page;
• any page showing a name amendment; and
• any relevant endorsement.

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:

• 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:

• whether the Ghanaian passport has a chip;
• whether the passport works with GOV.UK One Login;
• whether an older passport remains valid;
• whether the passport has been cancelled or replaced;
• whether the applicant proposes to use a Ghana Card;
• whether the applicant proposes to use a Ghanaian driving licence;
• the printed expiry dates;
• the physical condition of every document;
• multiple forenames;
• Akan day-name variations;
• former and married names;
• the current residential address; and
• the previous 12 months of address history.

Where the proposed evidence does not meet the standard, we identify a stronger document 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 the passport when requested;
• display its 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 used under the Companies House route;
• supporting evidence;
• records of the checks;
• details of failed verification attempts; and
• other required verification information.

The ACSP must retain these records for seven years from the date it completes the identity 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. Companies House sends the code only to that email address.

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

How Ghanaian 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.

A company cannot file its confirmation statement unless all its directors have met the identity-verification requirements.

How Ghanaian 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 Ghanaian nationals by:

• reviewing new chip-embedded Ghanaian passports;
• checking older machine-readable Ghanaian passports;
• assessing whether a passport should work through GOV.UK One Login;
• explaining why a Ghana Card does not currently replace an accepted Companies House document;
• explaining why a Ghanaian driving licence does not currently provide confirmed Group A evidence;
• confirming the correct Group A and Group B combination;
• reviewing Ghanaian bank statements and address evidence;
• checking Ghanaian birth certificates and margin notes;
• reviewing civil, customary, ordinance and Islamic marriage evidence;
• checking multiple forenames and initials;
• reviewing Akan day-name spelling differences;
• connecting birth, married and former surnames;
• reviewing affidavits and Ghana Gazette name-change notices;
• 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 Ghanaian passport?

Yes.

A Ghanaian passport provides Group A photographic identity evidence. The new chip-embedded passport may also work through the GOV.UK One Login app where the chip can be read successfully.

Can I use an older Ghanaian passport?

Potentially.

An older passport may provide Group A evidence through an ACSP where it remains valid or falls within the applicable passport expiry exception and has not been cancelled or replaced.

It may not work through the GOV.UK One Login app if it does not contain a biometric chip.

Can I use an expired Ghanaian 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 my Ghana Card?

Do not rely on it as one of the required Group A or Group B documents.

PRADO does not currently list the Ghana Card. Ghana’s NIA also requires real-time biometric verification rather than visual inspection when institutions use the Ghana Card for identity verification under Ghana’s system.

Can I use a copy of my Ghana Card?

Do not use a scan or photocopy as the formal Companies House evidence.

A copy does not place the card within Group A or Group B. Ghana’s 2026 verification regime also restricts organisations from copying or retaining Ghana Cards for identity-verification purposes except where the law permits it.

Can I use my Ghanaian driving licence?

Do not rely on it as one of the required Group A documents.

PRADO does not currently list a Ghanaian driving-licence category. The Companies House direct driving-licence category also does not cover Ghana.

Can I use my Ghanaian driving licence as additional evidence?

Potentially.

An ACSP may review it to support a photograph, name or date-of-birth comparison. However, it should not replace the required passport or Group B document.

Can I use my voter ID card?

Do not rely on a voter card as one of the required documents.

It does not appear on PRADO’s Ghana list or within the published Group B categories.

Can I use my SSNIT card?

No.

A SSNIT card or number does not provide the required photographic identity or Group B evidence.

Can I use my NHIS card?

No.

A Ghanaian health-insurance card does not replace an accepted passport or supporting document.

Can I use my Ghanaian TIN?

No.

A TIN is a tax identifier rather than photographic identity evidence. It is also different from the Companies House personal code.

Can I use a Ghanaian 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 Ghanaian utility bill?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a Ghanaian mortgage statement?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a Ghanaian insurance policy?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a Ghanaian birth certificate?

Potentially.

A birth certificate falls within Group B. Provide the complete official certificate issued through Ghana’s Births and Deaths Registry. Include every margin note or correction.

Can I use a late-registered Ghanaian birth certificate?

Potentially.

Late registration does not automatically prevent use. However, the ACSP may ask for more evidence where the registration history, name or date of birth needs explanation.

Can I use a Ghanaian marriage certificate?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a customary marriage document?

Potentially, where the marriage has been formally registered and the applicant provides the official register of customary marriage.

Send the complete document for review.

Can I use an Islamic marriage certificate?

Potentially, where it is the official registered marriage certificate.

The verifier must review the issuing authority, registration information and complete document.

Does marriage automatically change a Ghanaian woman’s surname?

No.

The NIA states that a marriage certificate does not automatically change a woman’s legal name. A woman who wants to adopt her husband’s surname must complete the required legal name-change process and gazette the change.

What if I legally changed my name in Ghana?

Provide:

• affidavit of change of name;
• Ghana Gazette publication;
• current passport;
• previous identity documents where available; and
• documents showing the name used at Companies House.

Ghanaian name changes normally involve a sworn affidavit and public Gazette notice.

Why does my Ghanaian name contain several forenames?

Ghanaian names may contain up to five forenames and a surname.

Different records may shorten or omit some forenames. The verifier must compare the full document set.

Why is my surname different from my parents’ surnames?

A Ghanaian child’s surname may differ completely from the surname used by either parent.

This does not automatically indicate an identity problem. The birth certificate and other family records may help explain the connection.

What if my documents say both Kwasi and Akwasi?

These may represent recognised variants of an Akan day name.

Send all relevant documents so the verifier can connect the spellings.

Can I verify my identity while living in Ghana?

Yes.

An ACSP can complete the check remotely from any country 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 Ghanaian documents need an English translation?

Ghanaian official documents usually use English, so a translation will rarely be necessary.

A translation or explanation may still be required where part of a supporting document uses another language or the verifier cannot understand a material entry.

Must I post my original Ghanaian 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 a Ghanaian Director or PSC?

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

• a chip-embedded Ghanaian passport plus an accepted Group B supporting document;
• an older valid Ghanaian passport plus an accepted Group B document;
• a Ghanaian passport plus a valid UK photocard driving licence;
• a Ghanaian passport plus an eligible UK immigration document; or
• one biometric or machine-readable Ghanaian passport under a suitable technology-led Option 1 process.

Unlike nationals of some countries, Ghanaian applicants should not currently rely on a domestic driving licence or Ghana Card as the second Group A document. PRADO does not list either document type for Ghana.

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

• only a Ghana Card as the second photographic document;
• only a Ghanaian driving licence;
• only a voter, SSNIT or NHIS card;
• a passport issued before the chip-embedded rollout;
• a passport that the GOV.UK One Login app cannot read;
• an expired, damaged or replaced passport;
• several forenames or initials;
• an Akan day-name spelling difference;
• a surname that differs from the parents’ surnames;
• a married name that was not formally gazetted;
• a late-registered birth certificate;
• a corrected birth certificate with margin notes;
• 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.