New Zealand 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.

Once 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 New Zealand Directors and PSCs

For most New Zealanders, a valid biometric New Zealand passport provides the clearest Group A identity document.

For a person-led remote video check 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.

New Zealand creates an important practical issue. PRADO currently lists New Zealand passports and travel documents, but it does not list New Zealand driving licences, national identity cards or general photo cards. A New Zealand driver licence cannot therefore qualify through the Companies House category for another type of photographic ID listed on PRADO. The separate driving-licence category only covers licences issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU countries.

For many New Zealand directors and PSCs, the most practical document combinations are:

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

Important Point About New Zealand Identity Documents

New Zealand does not issue one general national identity card to all citizens.

New Zealanders commonly use a passport, driver licence, Kiwi Access Card, firearms licence or RealMe verified identity for domestic identification. These documents and services may provide valid evidence for New Zealand organisations. However, Companies House uses its own approved document categories. Domestic acceptance in New Zealand does not automatically make a document suitable for Companies House identity verification.

PRADO’s New Zealand page currently contains only:

• passports, including ordinary, diplomatic, official and emergency documents; and
• travel documents issued to non-nationals.

It does not contain a New Zealand driving-licence or national identity-card category.

Practical conclusion: Most New Zealand applicants should prepare a New Zealand passport and an accepted Group B supporting document.

Can a New Zealand Driver Licence Be Used?

Do not rely on a New Zealand driver licence as one of the required Group A documents.

A New Zealand driver licence provides official photographic identification within New Zealand. New Zealand government agencies commonly accept it for domestic identity checks. However, that does not place it within the Companies House document list.

Under the current Companies House standard:

• Option 1 only accepts photocard driving licences from the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU;
• Option 2 uses the same stated jurisdictions for its direct driving-licence category; and
• a licence from another country must fit another permitted category, such as photographic ID listed on PRADO.

PRADO does not currently list a New Zealand driver licence. It should therefore not form one of the two required documents.

An ACSP may still review a New Zealand driver licence as additional information. For example, it may support a comparison of the applicant’s photograph, name, date of birth or activity. It should not replace the passport or Group B document used for the formal Companies House document combination.

Can a Kiwi Access Card Be Used?

Do not rely on a Kiwi Access Card as one of the required Companies House documents.

The Kiwi Access Card replaced the former New Zealand 18+ Card and provides recognised evidence of age and photographic identification within New Zealand. However, it is not a UK-accredited PASS card and does not appear on PRADO’s New Zealand document list.

Companies House’s Group A category refers specifically to a UK-accredited PASS card. It does not extend that category to overseas age cards or foreign equivalents. Companies House also states that an ACSP cannot use a foreign equivalent where the guidance specifies an issuing country or authority.

A Kiwi Access Card may provide extra background information, but it should not replace one of the required Group A or Group B documents.

Can RealMe Be Used?

A RealMe verified identity is a New Zealand government-issued digital identity linked to a RealMe account. It can confirm information such as the holder’s name, date of birth, gender and photograph for participating services.

However, RealMe does not replace one of the documents required by the current Companies House standard.

An ACSP may consider a reliable digital identity service when carrying out wider identity checks. Even so, a person-led Option 2 check still requires the approved documentary combination. Prepare a passport and another accepted document rather than relying only on:

• a RealMe login;
• a RealMe verified identity screen;
• a screenshot;
• an online profile;
• a digital verification result; or
• an email confirming RealMe status.

Can a New Zealand Firearms Licence Be Used?

Do not rely on a New Zealand firearms licence.

Companies House includes firearms licences issued by the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man within Group A. It does not extend that category to foreign firearms licences. The standard also says that an ACSP cannot use a foreign equivalent where the issuing country or authority has been specified.

A New Zealand firearms licence may provide official identification in some New Zealand processes, but it does not replace an accepted Companies House document.

Who Must Complete Companies House Identity Verification?

The requirement applies to New Zealand 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. Companies House introduced it through a transition period rather than 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. A person appointed as a new director must also provide the code as part of the appointment filing.

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

How Can New Zealand Nationals Verify Their Identity?

New Zealand nationals can use one of two main routes.

1. Verify Through GOV.UK One Login

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

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

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

The service decides which method it can offer based on your answers, device, identity documents and access to relevant UK records.

Using a New Zealand Passport

A New Zealander can normally try the app route with a current biometric passport.

New Zealand has issued e-passports with electronic chips since 2005. The chip links the passport to a digital version of the holder’s photograph and biographical information.

The GOV.UK One Login app requires a non-UK passport with a biometric chip. You must:

1. photograph the passport’s personal-details page;
2. scan its electronic chip;
3. complete a facial comparison; and
4. answer any remaining identity questions.

The app does not accept an expired passport.

Current New Zealand Passport Model

PRADO lists the current ordinary New Zealand passport under reference NZL-AO-04001.

The document:

• is titled URUWHENUA / PASSPORT;
• was first issued on 15 April 2021;
• uses a black cover;
• contains an integrated personal-details card;
• includes primary and secondary facial images;
• contains physical and electronic security features; and
• has a maximum validity of ten years.

New Zealand adult passports remain valid for a maximum of ten years. Child passports remain valid for a maximum of five years.

Earlier New Zealand Passport Models

PRADO also lists earlier ordinary New Zealand passport models, including:

• NZL-AO-03003, first issued in 2016;
• NZL-AO-03002, first issued in 2009; and
• earlier passport versions dating from 2000 and 2005.

An older model may still work where the individual passport:

• remains valid;
• contains a working biometric chip where the app route is used;
• has not been cancelled;
• has not been replaced;
• remains in good physical condition; and
• matches the applicant’s current legal details.

The relevant issue is the individual passport’s status, not simply the age of the document design.

Can You Use an Expired New Zealand Passport?

The answer depends on the verification 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, provided the technology can still validate its relevant security features.

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

In every case, the passport must not have been cancelled or replaced. A passport with cancellation marks, including a cut corner, cannot be used.

Lost, Stolen or Replaced New Zealand Passports

Do not use a passport that New Zealand authorities have cancelled after it was reported lost, stolen or damaged.

The New Zealand Passport Office permanently cancels a passport when the holder makes the relevant declaration. Companies House also bars documents that have been cancelled or replaced by newer documents.

Can You Use a New Zealand Driver Licence in GOV.UK One Login?

Not as the app’s driving-licence document.

The mobile app accepts a UK photocard driving licence. It does not list New Zealand driver licences. A New Zealand licence also falls outside the EU driving-licence category used for the Post Office route.

A New Zealand applicant who cannot use the passport app route may need to:

• answer UK security questions;
• use a New Zealand passport at a participating UK Post Office, where offered; or
• verify through an ACSP.

Can You Verify at a UK Post Office?

Potentially.

The Post Office route may accept a non-UK passport. However, GOV.UK One Login must first offer you that method. You cannot simply arrive at a Post Office and ask for Companies House identity verification.

You must first:

1. start the Companies House verification process online;
2. enter the requested photo-ID information;
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. present the original identity document.

The Post Office will not accept a photocopy, scan or digital image. Staff will scan the document and take your photograph.

This route may suit New Zealand nationals living in the UK. It usually offers less convenience to someone living in New Zealand or another country.

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. To register as an ACSP, the provider must remain supervised for anti-money laundering purposes.

Companies House allows an ACSP to complete identity checks remotely or in person. The ACSP must follow the full Companies House identity verification standard.

The ACSP route may suit a New Zealand director or PSC who:

• lives in New Zealand or another country outside the UK;
• cannot complete GOV.UK One Login verification;
• cannot scan the New Zealand passport chip;
• has a damaged but otherwise valid passport;
• only has a New Zealand driver licence as a second photographic document;
• only has a Kiwi Access Card or RealMe verified identity;
• needs help selecting a Group B document;
• has changed their name after marriage or civil union;
• has Māori macrons or other diacritics in their name;
• has a one-word legal name;
• has different names on New Zealand and UK records; 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 document may be enough where the ACSP uses suitable identification document validation technology, known as IDVT.

The technology must validate the relevant 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 if the technology can still validate its security features.

For a New Zealand national, the most relevant Option 1 document will normally be a biometric New Zealand passport.

A New Zealand driver licence does not qualify through the Option 1 driving-licence category. New Zealand also does not issue an identity card that falls within the specified European identity-card category.

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

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

Under this route, the applicant must provide either:

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

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

For most New Zealand applicants, the practical document set will consist of:

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

Group A Photographic ID for New Zealand Nationals

1. New Zealand Passport

A New Zealand passport normally provides the clearest Group A document.

The current passport confirms the holder’s identity and New Zealand nationality. It contains an electronic chip, an integrated personal-details card, facial images and multiple physical security features.

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

However, you cannot use a passport that:

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

A current passport will normally make the process easier.

2. New Zealand Emergency Travel Document

PRADO lists New Zealand emergency travel documents within its passport category, including references NZL-AP-01001 and NZL-AP-01002.

The New Zealand Passport Office states that an emergency travel document usually remains valid for seven months.

A current physical emergency travel document may potentially provide Group A evidence. However, it requires individual review because:

• it has limited validity;
• it may contain travel restrictions;
• a standard passport may later replace it;
• the document must remain current;
• the holder must show the original; and
• the ACSP must be able to validate its security features.

Where a standard New Zealand passport is available, it will normally provide the stronger option.

3. Eligible UK-Issued Photographic Documents

A New Zealand 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 applicable technology-led route.

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

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

New Zealand Documents and Numbers You Should Not Rely On Alone

New Zealand Driver Licence

A New Zealand driver licence provides valid domestic photographic identification, but PRADO does not list it and the Companies House foreign driving-licence category does not cover New Zealand.

Use it only as additional background information unless the Companies House rules or PRADO listing change.

Kiwi Access Card or 18+ Card

The Kiwi Access Card provides evidence of age and identity within New Zealand. However, it does not qualify as a UK-accredited PASS card and does not appear on PRADO.

Do not use it as one of the required documents.

RealMe Verified Identity

RealMe provides a New Zealand government-issued digital identity for participating online services. It does not replace the documentary evidence required by the Companies House standard.

IRD Number

A New Zealand Inland Revenue Department number, or IRD number, identifies a person for tax purposes. It is not a photographic identity document and is not the Companies House personal code.

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

• IRD number;
• New Zealand passport number;
• driver licence number;
• UK National Insurance number;
• company authentication code;
• RealMe login details; or
• New Zealand tax-account reference.

New Zealand Citizenship Certificate

A New Zealand citizenship certificate can provide evidence of citizenship in New Zealand processes. However, Companies House does not include a foreign citizenship certificate in its published Group A or Group B lists.

It may provide additional evidence of nationality or a change of name. It should not replace the required passport or Group B document.

New Zealand Firearms Licence

Companies House only lists firearms licences issued by the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. A New Zealand firearms licence does not fall within that category.

Digital Driver Licence or Government Wallet Credential

New Zealand is developing government digital-wallet services and digital credentials. However, a mobile-wallet screen, screenshot, QR code or digital credential should not replace the physical documents required for a person-led Companies House check.

Prepare the original passport and complete supporting document.

Certificate of Identity or Refugee Travel Document

New Zealand may issue a certificate of identity to a non-citizen who cannot obtain a passport from their country of citizenship. It may also issue a refugee travel document to a person with recognised refugee status.

Neither document proves that the holder is a New Zealand national. A certificate of identity can remain valid for up to two years, while a refugee travel document can remain valid for up to five years.

Someone holding one of these documents needs an individual assessment based on their actual nationality and immigration status.

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
• a qualifying UK local-authority or social-housing rental agreement.

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

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

New Zealand Bank Statements

A New Zealand bank or credit-union statement may provide Group B evidence.

The statement should:

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

Companies House encourages ACSPs to look for evidence of real activity, such as recent bank or credit-card transactions.

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

New Zealand Utility Bills

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

Examples may include:

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

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

A mobile telephone bill may require individual review, especially where it does not clearly establish a residential address.

Mortgage Statements and Insurance Policies

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

An insurance policy may also qualify where it clearly identifies the applicant and shows the current address. Companies House added insurance policies to the Group B list in June 2026.

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

New Zealand Birth Certificates

A New Zealand birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Births, Deaths and Marriages, or BDM, registers New Zealand births and issues official certificates. New Zealand normally expects parents to register a birth within two months.

New Zealand offers:

• a standard birth certificate;
• decorative forest or beach certificates; and
• packages containing both a standard and decorative certificate.

Both standard and decorative certificates are official documents. However, the standard certificate will usually provide the clearest professional verification document.

Birth-Certificate Printouts and Copies of the Record

Take care not to confuse a certificate with a copy or printout of the birth record.

New Zealand BDM states that a copy of the record is usually used for genealogical research and is not a legal document. It should not automatically be treated as the Group B birth certificate.

For Companies House verification, prepare an official standard or decorative birth certificate.

New Zealand Marriage Certificates

An official New Zealand marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

BDM issues the certificate after the marriage has been officially registered. A marriage printout or copy of the record is not the same as an official certificate.

New Zealand couples may also hold the marriage document signed on the day of the ceremony. HM Passport Office guidance distinguishes that document from the certified marriage record issued after official registration. For a stronger Companies House document set, use the official BDM marriage certificate.

New Zealand Civil Union Certificates

An official New Zealand civil union certificate may potentially provide Group B evidence under the Companies House category for a civil partnership certificate.

New Zealand permits civil unions for same-sex and different-sex couples. BDM issues official civil union certificates.

Use the official certificate rather than an informal ceremony document or registration printout.

New Zealand Adoption Certificates

An adoption certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Following a legal adoption, New Zealand can issue a new birth certificate showing the adoptive parents’ information. Pre-adoptive certificates and adoption records may follow separate access rules.

Send the exact document for review where adoption has created different birth, legal or family-name records.

Recommended Document Combinations

New Zealand Passport and Bank Statement

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

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

The bank statement should show the applicant’s full name and genuine recent account activity. Where it supports the current address, that address should match the information supplied for verification.

New Zealand Passport and Utility Bill

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

The provider and account information must remain capable of validation.

New Zealand Passport and Mortgage Statement

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

New Zealand Passport and Insurance Policy

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

New Zealand Passport and Birth Certificate

An official New Zealand birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

This combination can help where:

• Companies House omits a middle name;
• the passport and company record use different name formats;
• the applicant has changed their name;
• the applicant uses Māori macrons or another diacritic;
• the applicant has a one-word legal name; or
• the date of birth requires stronger support.

New Zealand Passport and Marriage Certificate

An official BDM marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

It can also connect:

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

New Zealand Passport and Civil Union Certificate

An official civil union certificate may provide Group B evidence and help explain a change to a partner’s surname.

New Zealand Passport and UK Photocard Driving Licence

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

This can provide two strong photographic identity documents.

New Zealand Passport and UK Immigration Document

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

The ACSP must review the exact document type, its current validity and any applicable expiry exception.

New Zealand Names, Māori Macrons and Name Changes

New Zealand identity records require careful name checks.

Official Registered Names

A New Zealand passport can show:

• the holder’s registered birth name;
• a married or civil union name;
• the name on a New Zealand citizenship certificate; or
• a name changed by deed poll or statutory declaration.

The Passport Office does not issue a passport in a nickname or another unregistered name used only informally.

The passport will normally provide the main name reference for a Companies House identity check.

Māori Macrons and Other Diacritics

New Zealand passport forms allow diacritics, including Māori macrons and umlauts. Applicants must make those marks clearly visible when entering their names.

Examples may include:

• MĀIA and MAIA;
• TĀNE and TANE;
• RĀWIRI and RAWIRI;
• HŌHEPA and HOHEPA; or
• another name containing ā, ē, ī, ō or ū.

A missing macron does not automatically mean that the records belong to different people. However, the ACSP must compare:

• the printed passport name;
• the machine-readable passport information;
• the birth or name-change certificate;
• the Companies House record;
• bank and address documents; and
• any former-name evidence.

One-Word Names

New Zealand permits a person to have only one legal name where religious or cultural beliefs require it.

New Zealand passport guidance tells an applicant with one name to enter it in the surname or family-name field.

Companies House and other UK systems may divide that name differently. Send the passport and Companies House record for review before verification.

Middle Names and Initials

Different records may show middle names differently.

For example:

• the passport may show every middle name;
• a bank statement may use initials;
• Companies House may omit one middle name;
• a driver licence may shorten the name; or
• business correspondence may use a preferred name.

A missing middle name does not automatically mean that the records relate to different people. The complete evidence must still support one identity.

Married and Civil Union Names

Following marriage or a civil union, a New Zealander may use the spouse or partner’s surname.

A person can continue travelling on a passport in their original or birth name. However, they must apply for a new passport if they want the passport to show the married or civil union surname.

This can create differences where:

• the passport remains in the birth surname;
• a New Zealand bank account uses the married surname;
• Companies House records the spouse’s surname;
• a UK document shows a double-barrelled surname; or
• the marriage or civil union name has not yet been added to the passport.

Provide the official marriage or civil union certificate and any other name-linking evidence.

Registered Name Changes

New Zealand citizens and people who live permanently in New Zealand can register a name change with Births, Deaths and Marriages.

New Zealand passports normally use the name officially registered with BDM. A person seeking to change the name shown in the passport must apply for a new passport and provide the relevant evidence where required.

Useful linking evidence may include:

• a New Zealand name-change certificate;
• marriage certificate;
• civil union certificate;
• deed poll;
• statutory declaration;
• updated birth certificate;
• citizenship certificate;
• old passport; or
• updated passport.

A New Zealand name-change certificate is an official BDM document.

Apostrophes, Hyphens and Compound Surnames

New Zealand names may include:

• apostrophes;
• hyphens;
• several forenames;
• compound surnames;
• Māori macrons;
• letters with other diacritics; or
• culturally specific name orders.

Before verification, compare:

• every forename;
• all middle names;
• the complete surname;
• spaces and hyphens;
• apostrophes;
• macrons and accents;
• former and married names;
• the full date of birth; and
• the Companies House record.

Check Your Date of Birth Before Verification

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

Problems can arise where:

• someone enters the personal code incorrectly;
• Companies House holds the wrong date of birth;
• an incorporation filing contained an error;
• the ACSP submits incorrect personal information; or
• different documents contain inconsistent details.

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

Is an IRD Number the Companies House Personal Code?

No.

An IRD number identifies a person or organisation for New Zealand tax purposes.

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

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

• IRD number;
• New Zealand passport number;
• driver licence number;
• birth-certificate registration number;
• RealMe username;
• UK National Insurance number;
• company authentication code; or
• New Zealand citizenship-certificate number.

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 New Zealand 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 concerns arise.

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 personal code to the email address provided for the applicant. Companies House states that the email should normally arrive within a few hours, although that timing is not guaranteed.

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.

For a UK photographic card, send both the front and reverse.

For a bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement, insurance policy or 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 retain copies of the supporting 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:

• the New Zealand passport model;
• whether the biometric chip works;
• whether the passport remains valid;
• whether the passport has been replaced or cancelled;
• whether the applicant proposes to use a New Zealand driver licence;
• whether the second document fits Group B;
• the issuer and completeness of a bank statement or bill;
• Māori macrons and other diacritics;
• middle names and initials;
• one-word legal names;
• former, married and civil union surnames;
• the current home address; and
• the previous 12 months of address history.

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

Step 3: Attend the Video Call

During the call, you must:

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

The verifier must confirm that you are a real person, the documents appear genuine and 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 document copies to Companies House. However, it must keep:

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

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

Step 5: Receive Your Personal Code

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

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

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

How New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand nationals by:

• reviewing current and earlier New Zealand passports;
• checking whether a passport contains a readable biometric chip;
• assessing an emergency travel document where necessary;
• explaining why a New Zealand driver licence does not currently provide Group A evidence;
• explaining why a Kiwi Access Card or RealMe verified identity does not replace an accepted document;
• confirming the correct Group A and Group B combination;
• reviewing New Zealand bank statements and address documents;
• checking standard and decorative birth certificates;
• distinguishing legal certificates from non-legal BDM record printouts;
• reviewing official marriage and civil union certificates;
• checking Māori macrons and other diacritics;
• reviewing one-word names, middle names and initials;
• connecting birth, married, civil union and former surnames;
• identifying date-of-birth and address differences;
• arranging a remote video call;
• completing the required ACSP checks;
• submitting the verification to Companies House; and
• helping the applicant progress towards receiving the personal code.

Ginkgo Advisory’s Role

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my New Zealand passport?

Yes.

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

Can I use an expired New Zealand 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 an older New Zealand passport model?

Potentially.

PRADO lists several earlier New Zealand passport versions. The individual passport must remain valid or fall within an applicable Companies House expiry exception. It must not have been cancelled or replaced.

Can I use my New Zealand driver licence?

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

PRADO does not list a New Zealand driving-licence category, and the direct Companies House driving-licence category only covers the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU.

Can I use my New Zealand driver licence as additional evidence?

Potentially.

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

Can I use my New Zealand driver licence in GOV.UK One Login?

Not as the app’s driving-licence document.

The app accepts a UK photocard driving licence. A New Zealand biometric passport provides the clearest direct online route.

Can I use my Kiwi Access Card?

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

The card provides recognised evidence of age and identity in New Zealand, but it is not a UK-accredited PASS card and does not appear on PRADO.

Can I use my RealMe verified identity?

Not as a replacement for one of the required documents.

RealMe provides a government-issued digital identity for participating services, but the Companies House document standard still requires approved documentary evidence.

Can I use my New Zealand firearms licence?

Do not rely on it.

Companies House’s firearms-licence category only covers licences issued by the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Can I use my IRD number?

No.

An IRD number is a tax identifier, not a photographic identity document or Companies House personal code.

Can I use a New Zealand citizenship certificate?

Not as a replacement for one of the published Group A or Group B documents.

It may provide additional nationality or name-history evidence, but the formal combination should use a passport and another accepted document.

Can I use a New Zealand bank statement?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a New Zealand utility bill?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a New Zealand mortgage statement?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a New Zealand insurance policy?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a New Zealand birth certificate?

Potentially.

An official standard or decorative New Zealand birth certificate can provide Group B evidence. A copy or printout of the underlying record is not necessarily a legal certificate and requires separate review.

Can I use a decorative New Zealand birth certificate?

Potentially, yes.

New Zealand treats its decorative birth certificates as official documents. However, a standard certificate may provide a clearer professional document set.

Can I use a New Zealand birth-record printout?

Do not assume that it qualifies.

BDM describes a copy of the record as a document generally used for genealogical research and not as a legal document. Use an official birth certificate instead.

Can I use a New Zealand marriage certificate?

Potentially.

An official BDM marriage certificate falls within Group B and may also connect a birth surname with a married surname.

Can I use the marriage document signed on the wedding day?

Do not rely on it as the formal certificate.

Use the official certificate issued after Births, Deaths and Marriages registers the marriage.

Can I use a New Zealand civil union certificate?

Potentially.

An official civil union certificate may fall within the Companies House civil-partnership certificate category.

Can I use an emergency travel document?

Potentially, but it requires individual review.

PRADO lists New Zealand emergency travel documents within its passport category. The document normally has short validity and may later be replaced by a standard passport.

Can I verify my identity while living in New Zealand?

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 New Zealand documents need an English translation?

New Zealand documents normally use English, so a translation will rarely be necessary.

A translation or explanation may still be required where material information appears only in te reo Māori or another language and the verifier cannot understand or validate it fully.

What if my name contains a Māori macron?

Send the passport and all relevant supporting documents.

New Zealand passport forms permit names containing macrons and other diacritics. The verifier should compare the printed passport name, machine-readable information and Companies House record.

What if Companies House omits one of my middle names?

Send the complete document set for review.

The verifier must compare the passport, supporting documents and Companies House record. A missing middle name may be explainable, but the evidence must support one consistent identity.

What if I only have one legal name?

Send the passport and Companies House record for review.

New Zealand passport guidance places a single legal name in the surname or family-name field. The UK company record may divide or display the name differently.

What if I changed my surname after marriage or civil union?

Provide your current passport, official marriage or civil union certificate and any other document showing the name used at Companies House.

You may continue using a passport in your birth name, but you need a new passport if you want it to show the married or civil union surname.

What if I changed my name by deed poll or statutory declaration?

Provide the official name-change evidence and the current passport.

New Zealand passports can be issued in a name changed by deed poll or statutory declaration.

Must I post my original New Zealand 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 and complete all checks without an unresolved issue.

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

Need Companies House Identity Verification for a New Zealand Director or PSC?

New Zealand nationals will usually have one of these practical document routes:

• a New Zealand biometric passport plus an accepted Group B supporting document;
• a New Zealand passport plus a valid UK photocard driving licence;
• a New Zealand passport plus an eligible UK immigration document; or
• one New Zealand biometric passport under a suitable technology-led Option 1 process.

Unlike nationals of some EU countries, New Zealand applicants should not currently rely on a domestic driver licence or general photo card as the second Group A document. PRADO does not list either type of document for New Zealand.

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

• only a New Zealand driver licence as the second photographic document;
• only a Kiwi Access Card;
• only a RealMe verified identity;
• only a New Zealand firearms licence;
• an expired, damaged or cancelled passport;
• an emergency travel document;
• a birth-record printout rather than an official certificate;
• a wedding-day marriage document rather than a registered certificate;
• Māori macrons or another diacritic;
• a one-word legal name;
• several middle names;
• a married or civil union surname;
• a formal name change;
• 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.