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

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

Quick Answer for Sri Lankan Directors and PSCs

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

A physical Sri Lankan driving licence may also provide Group A evidence where the card matches the specific document model listed on PRADO.

For a person-led remote verification by 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.

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

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

Companies House accepts a passport directly within Group A. A passport does not need to appear on PRADO to qualify under the passport category. PRADO matters when an applicant wants to use another type of foreign photographic identification.

Important Point About PRADO and Sri Lankan Documents

PRADO’s current Sri Lanka page lists only one document:

• Sri Lankan Driving Licence — LKA-FO-01001

It does not currently list:

• the Sri Lankan National Identity Card;
• the Sri Lankan Smart National Identity Card;
• the proposed electronic National Identity Card;
• a temporary National Identity Card document; or
• a separate Sri Lankan passport model.

The absence of a passport from the Sri Lanka PRADO page does not prevent a passport from qualifying. Companies House lists passports separately within Group A.

However, the absence of the National Identity Card means that applicants should not rely on a Sri Lankan NIC under the Companies House category for “another type of photographic ID listed on PRADO.”

Direct answer: The strongest person-led route will normally use a Sri Lankan passport with either the PRADO-listed driving licence or an accepted Group B supporting document.

Can a Sri Lankan National Identity Card Be Used?

Do not rely on a Sri Lankan National Identity Card, or NIC, as one of the two required Companies House documents under the current published route.

Sri Lanka requires citizens to apply for an NIC from the age of 15. The Department for Registration of Persons also issues newer smart cards with 12-digit identity numbers and is developing an electronic NIC system. However, official status within Sri Lanka does not automatically make the card acceptable under the Companies House standard.

Companies House permits another foreign photographic identity document under Group A where PRADO lists that document. PRADO’s current Sri Lanka page does not include an identity-card category. The NIC also does not appear in the published Group B list.

This position applies to:

• an older laminated Sri Lankan NIC;
• a newer Smart National Identity Card;
• a National Identity Card with a 12-digit number;
• an NIC translation;
• an NIC confirmation letter;
• an NIC information-verification result;
• an electronic NIC application;
• an e-NIC project record;
• an NIC application receipt; and
• an NIC number by itself.

An ACSP may review an NIC as additional background evidence. It may help compare the applicant’s:

• photograph;
• full name;
• former name;
• date of birth;
• old NIC number;
• new NIC number; or
• address information.

However, it should not replace the passport, PRADO-listed driving licence or accepted Group B document used for the formal Companies House document combination.

What About Sri Lanka’s Electronic NIC Project?

Sri Lanka is developing an electronic National Identity Card system. The project aims to collect biographical and biometric information and issue electronic identity cards linked to a Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity number.

The development of the e-NIC system does not change the current Companies House position. An electronic or biometric card does not automatically qualify as Group A evidence.

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

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

Sri Lanka does not fall within that category. For Option 2, the foreign photographic document must appear on PRADO. The Sri Lankan NIC does not currently appear there.

Can a Sri Lankan Passport Be Used?

Yes. A Sri Lankan passport can provide Group A photographic identity evidence.

Companies House lists passports directly within Group A. For a person-led Option 2 check, the passport can be up to 18 months expired, provided that the issuing authority has not cancelled or replaced it.

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.

A current passport in good condition will normally provide the clearest route.

Sri Lanka currently issues N-series passports. The Department of Immigration and Emigration states that these passports normally remain valid for 10 years unless the passport shows another period.

Does a Sri Lankan Passport Have a Biometric Chip?

Do not assume that every Sri Lankan passport contains a chip simply because the applicant provided fingerprints during the passport application.

Sri Lanka has collected fingerprints and ICAO-standard photographs from passport applicants since August 2015. However, collecting biometric information during an application does not necessarily mean that the passport booklet contains an electronic chip.

Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration was still procuring the issuance system, public-key infrastructure and technical components needed to personalise e-passports during 2025 and 2026. This strongly suggests that applicants should check the individual booklet rather than assume that it is a chip-enabled e-passport.

Check the front cover for the international biometric-passport symbol. It resembles a small rectangle with a circle in the centre.

The presence of that symbol normally indicates that the passport contains a chip.

Can a Sri Lankan Passport Be Used in the GOV.UK One Login App?

Potentially, but only where the passport contains a working biometric chip.

The GOV.UK One Login app accepts a non-UK passport with a biometric chip. It does not accept an expired passport. The applicant must have the original document and complete both a chip scan and facial comparison.

A Sri Lankan passport without a chip will not work through the app.

However, the passport may still work through:

• ACSP Option 1, where suitable technology can validate it as a machine-readable passport;
• ACSP Option 2, where a trained person checks it as a Group A passport; or
• the UK Post Office route, where GOV.UK One Login offers that option.

Can a Machine-Readable Sri Lankan Passport Be Used by an ACSP?

Potentially, yes.

Companies House Option 1 accepts a biometric or machine-readable passport. The ACSP must use suitable identity document validation technology to inspect the document’s available security features.

A person-led Option 2 check also accepts a passport as Group A evidence. This means that a Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan nationals who are:

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

Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. That date began a 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. 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 applicable period depends on whether the PSC also acts as a director and when Companies House first recorded the PSC.

How Can Sri Lankan Nationals Verify Their Identity?

Sri Lankan nationals can use one of two main routes.

1. Verify Through GOV.UK One Login

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

Depending on 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 service decides which route it can offer based on the information, documents and UK records available.

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 Sri Lankan driving licence or National Identity Card cannot replace a chip-enabled passport for the app route.

Answering Security Questions

Some Sri Lankan nationals who live in the UK may receive the option to answer security questions online.

The service may use information linked to:

• a UK current bank account;
• credit cards or loans;
• mobile telephone contracts;
• a mortgage;
• HMRC records;
• National Insurance information; or
• Department for Work and Pensions records.

This route may be less suitable for an overseas Sri Lankan director who does not have a substantial UK financial or administrative 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 contain a chip for this route.

You must first:

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 document and take your photograph.

This route may suit a Sri Lankan national who lives in the UK. It offers less convenience to someone living in Sri Lanka 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 conduct its checks remotely or in person. The ACSP must complete every step in the Companies House identity-verification standard.

The ACSP route may suit a Sri Lankan director or PSC who:

• lives in Sri Lanka or another country outside the UK;
• cannot use GOV.UK One Login;
• has a passport without a chip;
• cannot scan the passport chip;
• wants to use a PRADO-listed Sri Lankan driving licence;
• only has an NIC as their second photographic document;
• needs help selecting a Group B document;
• has a Sinhalese patronymic name;
• has a Tamil name without a conventional family surname;
• has changed their name;
• has a passport observation or alteration;
• has an incorrect date of birth at Companies House; or
• wants remote verification by video call.

How Many Documents Do You Need?

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

Option 1: Technology-Led Verification

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

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

Companies House Option 1 accepts:

• 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 under this route where the technology can still validate the required features.

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

• a Sri Lankan biometric passport, where one is held;
• a machine-readable Sri Lankan passport; or
• an eligible UK-issued immigration document or eVisa.

A Sri Lankan driving licence does not qualify through the Option 1 driving-licence category because that category only covers specified UK and EU licences.

A Sri Lankan NIC does not qualify through the Option 1 identity-card category because that category only covers specified European identity cards.

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

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

Under this route, the applicant must provide either:

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

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

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

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

Group A Photographic ID for Sri Lankan Nationals

1. Sri Lankan Passport

A Sri Lankan passport provides Group A photographic identity evidence.

For a person-led check, the verifier should inspect:

• the complete personal-details page;
• passport number;
• name;
• date of birth;
• nationality;
• date of issue;
• expiry date;
• photograph;
• machine-readable zone;
• physical security features;
• observations;
• alterations; and
• any sign that the passport has been cancelled or replaced.

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

• remains current;
• shows your present legal identity;
• has not been reported lost or stolen;
• remains in good condition;
• has not been replaced; and
• matches the Companies House record.

2. PRADO-Listed Sri Lankan Driving Licence

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

PRADO lists the Sri Lankan driving licence under reference LKA-FO-01001.

The document:

• uses card format;
• was first issued as a model in 2009;
• contains a laser-engraved black-and-white photograph;
• includes a hologram and ultraviolet security feature;
• contains a contact microchip;
• establishes the holder’s identity within Sri Lanka; and
• does not, by itself, prove Sri Lankan nationality.

PRADO records a maximum validity of eight years for most categories and four years for categories C1, C and CE.

Companies House includes another type of photographic identity document listed on PRADO within Group A. A Sri Lankan licence may therefore qualify where the physical card matches the listed model.

The ACSP must still check:

• the exact card design;
• document number;
• issue date;
• expiry date;
• photograph;
• physical security features;
• condition of the card;
• whether a newer card replaced it; and
• whether its details match the passport and applicant.

Send clear images of both sides before the video appointment. You must also have the original physical card during the call.

Does Every Sri Lankan Driving Licence Qualify?

No.

PRADO lists one specific Sri Lankan driving-licence model. You should not assume that every document connected with driving automatically qualifies.

Do not rely without review on:

• a learner permit;
• temporary driving permit;
• application receipt;
• renewal receipt;
• licence information letter;
• online licence record;
• digital driving-licence screen;
• photocopy;
• screenshot; or
• damaged or expired card.

Where the card does not match the PRADO model clearly, use a passport with a Group B supporting document.

3. Eligible UK-Issued Photographic Documents

A Sri Lankan national who lives 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 appropriate technology-led route.

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

A Sri Lankan passport combined with a valid UK photocard driving licence may provide two strong Group A documents.

Sri Lankan Documents and Numbers You Should Not Rely On Alone

Sri Lankan National Identity Card

Do not rely on the NIC as one of the two required documents.

This applies even where the card:

• contains a photograph;
• is called a Smart National Identity Card;
• contains a 12-digit number;
• has an official English translation;
• can be verified through a Sri Lankan government service; or
• has recently been issued.

The card may provide additional evidence, but the current PRADO list does not include it.

Old and New NIC Numbers

Older Sri Lankan NIC numbers may contain nine digits followed by the letter V or X.

Newer smart-card numbers contain 12 digits. The Department for Registration of Persons states that the old number can also appear on the reverse of the newer card.

A difference between old and new NIC numbers does not automatically indicate a different identity. However, the applicant may need to provide the card, confirmation letter or official number-verification evidence as additional information.

Neither number is a Companies House personal code.

NIC Verification Letter

Sri Lanka’s Department for Registration of Persons can verify NIC information and issue confirmation letters in certain circumstances.

A confirmation letter may support an investigation into a name or number mismatch. It does not replace one of the required Companies House identity documents.

Citizenship or Dual-Citizenship Certificate

A Sri Lankan citizenship or dual-citizenship certificate may provide useful nationality evidence.

However, Companies House does not include a foreign citizenship certificate in its standard Group A or Group B lists.

The certificate may support a complex identity history. It should not replace the required passport, PRADO-listed driving licence or Group B document.

Digital Government Screens and Application Receipts

Do not rely on:

• an online passport application;
• NIC portal screen;
• digital identity account;
• QR code;
• application number;
• appointment confirmation;
• payment receipt;
• screenshot; or
• photograph of a government database result

as one of the required documents.

The applicant must show the original physical evidence during a person-led video call.

Group B Supporting Documents

Where you have only one suitable Group A photographic identity 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 Sri Lankan bank statement, 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.

Sri Lankan Bank Statements

A Sri Lankan bank statement may provide Group B evidence.

The statement should:

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

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 check for genuine activity, such as recent bank or credit-card transactions.

Sri Lankan Utility Bills

A Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan 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.

Sri Lankan Birth Certificates

A Sri Lankan birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Sri Lanka issues a birth certificate after the birth has been registered. The Registrar General maintains a central register. Hospital or midwife extracts help parents register the birth, but they are not the final registered birth certificate.

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

• a hospital birth extract;
• midwife record;
• baptism certificate;
• school record;
• cropped image;
• application receipt;
• handwritten summary; or
• translation without the original.

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

If the Registrar identifies a mistake, Sri Lankan practice may add a marginal note to the existing record instead of issuing a replacement certificate. The verifier should therefore inspect every annotation on the certificate.

Sri Lankan Marriage Certificates

An official Sri Lankan marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

Sri Lanka recognises several marriage traditions, including:

• civil marriage;
• Islamic marriage;
• Kandyan marriage;
• Buddhist marriage;
• Hindu marriage; and
• Christian marriage.

For legal recognition, the marriage must be registered with the appropriate Marriage Registrar’s Office or Divisional Secretariat. A registered marriage certificate is then issued.

Provide the complete registered certificate rather than only:

• a religious ceremony document;
• wedding photograph;
• invitation;
• affidavit;
• partial copy;
• informal extract; or
• translation without the original.

The certificate may help connect:

• a birth surname;
• husband’s surname;
• former married name;
• different name used in the UK; or
• name shown in the passport observations.

English Translations

Sri Lankan passports and driving licences usually contain English-language information.

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, bills and other supporting records may contain information in Sinhala or Tamil.

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

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

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

Recommended Document Combinations

Sri Lankan Passport and PRADO-Listed Driving Licence

This combination may provide two Group A photographic documents under person-led Option 2.

The passport confirms identity and Sri Lankan nationality. The driving licence provides a second photographic identity document where it matches LKA-FO-01001.

Both documents should show consistent:

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

Sri Lankan Passport and Bank Statement

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

It often offers the clearest route where the applicant:

• does not drive;
• only has an NIC as the second photographic document;
• has a driving licence that does not match PRADO;
• holds an expired licence; or
• wants to provide evidence of genuine financial activity.

Sri Lankan 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.

Sri Lankan Passport and Mortgage Statement

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

Sri Lankan Passport and Insurance Policy

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

Sri Lankan Passport and Birth Certificate

An official registered birth certificate may provide Group B evidence.

This combination can help where:

• the applicant has a long Sinhalese name;
• the passport shortens or divides the name differently;
• the applicant has a Tamil patronymic name;
• Companies House records only part of the name;
• the applicant changed their name;
• the passport contains an observation or alteration; or
• the date of birth requires stronger support.

Sri Lankan Passport and Marriage Certificate

A registered marriage certificate may provide Group B evidence.

It can also help connect:

• a birth surname;
• husband’s surname;
• former surname;
• name shown on the NIC;
• name shown in the passport observation; or
• name used at Companies House.

Sri Lankan Passport and UK Photocard Driving Licence

A Sri Lankan 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.

Sri Lankan 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 available evidence.

Sri Lankan Names, Patronymics and Name Order

Sri Lankan names require careful review.

No Single Standard Name Order

HM Passport Office guidance states that a Sri Lankan citizen’s name does not have one fixed order.

Different documents may therefore divide or order names differently.

For example:

• the passport may place several words in the surname field;
• the NIC may use initials;
• a bank statement may shorten long names;
• Companies House may treat a patronymic as a middle name;
• a UK document may omit part of the name; or
• business correspondence may use a short personal name.

The ACSP must review the full document set rather than assume that the first or final word is always the family surname.

Sinhalese Names

Sinhalese names often contain a patronymic taken from the father or another ancestor. The patronymic may use the suffix -ge.

A Sinhalese name may contain:

• a patronymic name;
• a personal name; and
• a surname.

HM Passport Office guidance notes that the first element may be the patronymic rather than the person’s everyday given name.

For example, separate records may:

• spell out the complete patronymic;
• use only an initial;
• omit the -ge element;
• place the patronymic in the surname field; or
• use the personal name as the main forename.

Send every relevant identity document where Companies House records a shorter or differently ordered name.

Tamil Names

Sri Lankan Tamil names often do not contain a conventional family surname.

The name may consist of:

• the father’s personal name; and
• the individual’s personal name.

A UK system may treat the father’s name as a surname even where Sri Lankan usage does not.

For example, a record may show:

• the father’s name first;
• the personal name first;
• an initial for the father’s name;
• both names in the forename field; or
• one name entered as a surname solely because the electronic form requires one.

The passport should normally provide the main UK reference, but the verifier must consider the broader naming convention.

Initials and Long Names

Sri Lankan records frequently use initials.

One document may show:

• the full name;
• initials followed by the personal name;
• an initialised patronymic;
• a shortened surname; or
• a different order.

A difference involving initials does not automatically mean that the records belong to different people. However, the complete evidence must connect every name form.

Name Changes and Passport Observations

Sri Lanka permits formal name changes.

HM Passport Office guidance states that a Sri Lankan passport may record a change of name in an observation and on the alterations page. The authorities may not replace the name on the main personal-details page.

This means the verifier must inspect:

• the personal-details page;
• observations;
• alterations;
• endorsements;
• marriage certificate;
• birth certificate;
• NIC;
• previous passport; and
• Companies House record.

Do not send only the main passport page where the passport contains a relevant name-change observation.

Husband’s Name or Surname

Sri Lanka’s Department for Registration of Persons allows an applicant to request a husband’s name or surname on the NIC when the applicant provides a marriage certificate.

This can create differences where:

• the passport still shows the birth name;
• the NIC shows the husband’s name;
• the bank account uses the married name;
• Companies House records another version; or
• a passport observation connects the names.

Provide the registered marriage certificate and every relevant identity document.

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 contain different details;
• a marginal note appears on the birth certificate;
• the ACSP submits incorrect information; or
• someone enters the personal code incorrectly.

Companies House may prevent the code from connecting to a director or PSC role where the details do not match. Check the public register and correct any error before the compliance deadline.

Is a Sri Lankan NIC Number the Companies House Personal Code?

No.

A Sri Lankan NIC number belongs to Sri Lanka’s 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:

• old Sri Lankan NIC number;
• new 12-digit NIC number;
• proposed SL-UDI number;
• passport number;
• driving-licence number;
• UK National Insurance number;
• company authentication code;
• tax number; or
• immigration application reference.

Same-Day Remote Verification by Video Call

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

Through our partner solicitor, we can arrange remote Companies House identity verification by video call for Sri Lankan 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 applicant’s individual email address. 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;
• relevant observation pages;
• relevant alteration pages; and
• any page showing a formal name change.

For a driving licence, send both the front and reverse.

Regarding 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 retain the required verification evidence for seven years.

Step 2: Confirm the Document Combination

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

The review may cover:

• whether the Sri Lankan passport is biometric or machine-readable;
• whether the passport contains a usable chip;
• whether the passport has been cancelled or replaced;
• whether the driving licence matches LKA-FO-01001;
• whether the applicant proposes to rely on an NIC;
• the printed expiry dates;
• the physical condition of every document;
• Sinhalese patronymics;
• Tamil naming structures;
• initials and name order;
• passport observations and alterations;
• former and married names;
• 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 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 them when requested;
• display their 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 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 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.

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

How Sri Lankan Directors Use the Personal Code

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

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

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

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

How Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan nationals by:

• reviewing Sri Lankan passports;
• checking whether a passport contains a biometric chip;
• assessing machine-readable passports that cannot use the One Login app;
• reviewing Sri Lankan driving licences;
• checking whether a licence matches LKA-FO-01001;
• explaining why an NIC does not currently replace an accepted document;
• reviewing old and new NIC numbers as additional evidence;
• confirming the correct Group A and Group B combination;
• reviewing Sri Lankan bank statements and address documents;
• checking registered birth certificates;
• reviewing civil, Islamic, Kandyan and other registered marriage certificates;
• checking Sinhalese patronymic names;
• reviewing Tamil names without conventional family surnames;
• checking initials and name order;
• reviewing passport observations and alterations;
• connecting birth, married and former names;
• 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 Sri Lankan passport?

Yes.

A Sri Lankan passport provides Group A photographic identity evidence.

For a person-led ACSP check, a passport may be up to 18 months expired, provided that it has not been cancelled or replaced.

Can I use my Sri Lankan passport through GOV.UK One Login?

Potentially.

The passport must contain a working biometric chip for the mobile-app route. Check for the biometric-passport symbol on the front cover.

Where the passport does not contain a chip, an ACSP may still use it as a machine-readable passport or Group A passport under the appropriate route.

Does fingerprint collection mean my passport has a chip?

Not necessarily.

Sri Lanka has collected fingerprints from passport applicants since 2015. That does not, by itself, confirm that the booklet contains an electronic chip. Check the passport cover for the biometric symbol.

Can I use an expired Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan National Identity Card?

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

PRADO does not currently list a Sri Lankan identity-card category. The NIC also does not appear in the Companies House Group B list.

Can I use my Sri Lankan Smart NIC?

Not as a replacement for a required Group A or Group B document under the current published rules.

The card may provide additional information, but prepare a passport and another accepted document.

Can I use an e-NIC or Sri Lanka digital identity?

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

The e-NIC project does not change the Companies House evidence categories. A digital account, SL-UDI number or application record does not replace the required physical evidence.

Can I use my NIC number?

No.

An old or new Sri Lankan NIC number is a personal identifier rather than a photographic identity document. It is also different from the Companies House personal code.

Can I use my Sri Lankan driving licence?

Potentially.

PRADO lists the Sri Lankan driving licence under reference LKA-FO-01001. A physical card that matches that model, remains valid and passes the required checks may provide Group A evidence under person-led Option 2.

Does every Sri Lankan driving licence qualify?

No.

The exact physical card must match the PRADO-listed model. Send clear images of both sides for review before relying on it.

Can I use an expired Sri Lankan driving licence?

Do not rely on it.

Companies House does not provide a general expiry exception for Sri Lankan driving licences. Use a current licence or a passport with a suitable Group B document.

Can I use a learner permit or temporary driving permit?

Do not assume that it qualifies.

PRADO lists the full physical driving licence. A learner permit, temporary document, renewal receipt or application record may not match that model.

Can I use a digital Sri Lankan driving licence?

Do not rely on the digital version alone.

Prepare the original physical card so the verifier can inspect the photograph and security features.

Can I use a Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan utility bill?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan insurance policy?

Potentially.

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

Can I use a Sri Lankan birth certificate?

Potentially.

A registered birth certificate falls within Group B. Provide the complete official certificate rather than a hospital or midwife extract.

Can I use a late-registered Sri Lankan birth certificate?

Potentially.

Late registration does not automatically prevent use. However, the ACSP may request more evidence where the registration history or personal details require explanation.

Can I use a Sri Lankan marriage certificate?

Potentially.

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

Can I use an Islamic or Kandyan marriage certificate?

Potentially, where the marriage has been formally registered and the applicant provides the official registered certificate.

Send the complete document for review.

Can I use a religious ceremony certificate?

Do not rely on a religious document alone unless it is also the legally registered marriage certificate.

Sri Lankan law requires the marriage to be registered with the appropriate registrar or Divisional Secretariat.

Do Sri Lankan documents need an English translation?

Some documents may need a translation.

Passports and driving licences usually contain English. A birth certificate, marriage certificate, bank statement or utility bill may contain important information in Sinhala or Tamil.

Provide both the original and an English translation where requested.

Why does my Sinhalese name appear in a different order?

Sri Lankan names do not follow one universal order.

Sinhalese names may include a patronymic, personal name and surname. UK systems may divide those elements differently.

Why does Companies House treat my father’s Tamil name as my surname?

Tamil names may use the father’s personal name followed by the individual’s personal name, without a conventional family surname.

An electronic UK form may place the father’s name in the surname field because the form requires a surname. The ACSP must compare the complete document set.

What if Companies House shows only my initials?

Send the passport, birth certificate, NIC and Companies House record for review.

The verifier must connect the initials to the complete official name.

What if my passport contains a name-change observation?

Provide the personal-details page and every relevant observation or alteration page.

Sri Lankan passports may record a name change in observations rather than replacing the name on the main personal-details page.

What if I use my husband’s surname?

Provide your passport, NIC, registered marriage certificate and documents showing the name used at Companies House.

The verifier must understand how the birth and married names connect.

Can I verify my identity while living in Sri Lanka?

Yes.

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

Do I always need two documents?

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

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

Must I post my original Sri Lankan 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 compliance concern remains.

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

Need Companies House Identity Verification for a Sri Lankan Director or PSC?

Sri Lankan nationals will usually have one of these practical document routes:

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

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

• only a Sri Lankan NIC as the second photographic document;
• only an e-NIC or digital-identity record;
• a passport without a biometric chip;
• a passport that the GOV.UK One Login app cannot read;
• an expired, damaged or replaced passport;
• a driving licence that does not match the PRADO model;
• only a learner or temporary driving permit;
• a long Sinhalese patronymic name;
• a Tamil name without a conventional family surname;
• several initials;
• a passport name-change observation;
• a birth or married surname;
• a marginal note on a birth certificate;
• 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.