Directors and people with significant control, known as PSCs, must now comply with Companies House identity verification requirements.

One way to complete the process is directly through GOV.UK One Login.

The government service is free. Depending on your identity documents, device and UK records, GOV.UK One Login may ask you to prove your identity:

• with the GOV.UK One Login app;
• by answering security questions online; or
• at a participating Post Office.

However, GOV.UK One Login will not work for every applicant.

Overseas directors may have a passport without a biometric chip. Others may not have enough UK financial history to answer security questions. Some applicants may also have documents that the direct service does not support.

In those cases, a director or PSC can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, known as an ACSP or Companies House authorised agent, instead.

Quick Answer

There are two main ways to verify your identity for Companies House:

1. Directly through GOV.UK One Login — free.
2. Through an ACSP — a regulated authorised agent such as a solicitor, accountant or company service provider.

Within GOV.UK One Login itself, there are three possible verification methods:

• GOV.UK One Login app;
• online security questions; or
• Post Office verification.

You do not choose freely between all three methods. The system determines which methods are available based on your documents and circumstances.

When Did Companies House Identity Verification Become Mandatory?

Mandatory identity verification started on 18 November 2025.

However, 18 November 2025 was not one universal deadline requiring every existing director and PSC to complete verification on that day.

It marked the start of a transition period.

Existing directors normally connect their verified identities to their appointments through their companies’ confirmation statements. PSCs follow separate 14-day compliance periods. New directors must provide their personal codes when they are appointed or when a new company is incorporated.

This distinction matters.

An existing director should check the deadline that applies to the relevant company rather than assume that the original 18 November 2025 date was their personal deadline.

What Is GOV.UK One Login?

GOV.UK One Login provides one set of sign-in details for a growing number of government services.

For Companies House, it can also verify your identity.

When GOV.UK One Login completes an identity check, it aims to establish that:

• your identity document is genuine;
• you are a real person; and
• you are the person shown in the identity document.

Once the identity check succeeds, Companies House gives you a personal code. You then use that code to connect the verified identity to your Companies House roles.

Do I Need a Separate GOV.UK One Login for Companies House?

You use your own individual GOV.UK One Login.

Do not share one GOV.UK One Login identity between several directors, family members or business partners.

Companies House states that an email address can only be used once to verify an identity. Each person should therefore use their own individual email address.

The Three GOV.UK One Login Verification Methods

Method 1: GOV.UK One Login App

The app is often the quickest route where the applicant holds a supported document.

You need access to a phone with a working camera.

Current technical requirements include:

• iPhone 8 or newer running iOS 16.7 or later; or
• an Android phone running Android 10 or later.

Which Documents Work in the GOV.UK One Login App?

The current published list includes:

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

For an overseas director or PSC, the most important document is usually a biometric passport.

A passport from another country can work if it contains a readable biometric chip.

How Do I Know If My Passport Has a Biometric Chip?

Look at the front cover.

A biometric passport normally displays the international biometric-passport symbol.

During the app process, GOV.UK One Login asks you to:

1. take a photograph of the passport details page;
2. scan the electronic chip with your phone;
3. scan your face; and
4. return to the GOV.UK service to complete the process.

Can I Use a Non-Biometric Foreign Passport?

Not through the GOV.UK One Login app.

The app specifically requires a biometric chip for a non-UK passport.

However, a passport without a chip may still be usable through another route.

Depending on the case, you may be able to:

• use the Post Office route if GOV.UK One Login offers it; or
• verify through an ACSP.

An ACSP may also be able to use a machine-readable passport under the Companies House identity verification standard even where the GOV.UK One Login app cannot scan it.

Can I Use an Expired Passport in the GOV.UK One Login App?

No.

The app does not accept an expired passport.

This is different from some ACSP verification routes.

Under the Companies House ACSP standard, certain expired passports can potentially remain usable for a limited period, subject to the exact verification method and the condition and status of the document.

Therefore, someone who cannot use GOV.UK One Login because their passport has recently expired may still have another route through an ACSP.

Can I Use an Expired UK Driving Licence?

The app can currently accept a DVLA-issued UK driving licence that expired within the previous 90 days.

This exception does not apply automatically to foreign driving licences.

Can I Use an Expired BRP, BRC or Frontier Worker Permit?

The GOV.UK One Login app can currently accept an eligible BRP, BRC or Frontier Worker permit where it expired within the previous 24 months.

Can I Upload a Scan or Photograph of My Passport?

No.

You need the original identity document.

GOV.UK One Login states that you cannot use a photocopy or digital copy in place of the original document.

What Happens During the GOV.UK One Login App Check?

The app performs several checks.

1. Document Check

You photograph the identity document.

For a biometric passport or relevant biometric document, you then scan the electronic chip.

2. Facial Check

You use the phone’s front-facing camera to scan your face.

The system compares your live face with the photograph in the identity document.

3. Liveness Check

The system also needs to establish that you are a real person completing the process rather than simply presenting an image.

4. Return to GOV.UK

After the app submits the information, you return to the GOV.UK page in your browser and finish the identity process.

What If the GOV.UK One Login App Does Not Work?

A failed app attempt does not necessarily mean that you cannot complete Companies House identity verification.

Problems can arise because:

• the passport does not contain a biometric chip;
• the chip is damaged;
• the phone cannot read the chip;
• the phone is not compatible;
• the photograph cannot be captured clearly;
• the facial comparison fails;
• the passport has expired;
• the details do not match;
• the applicant selected the wrong document; or
• another technical check fails.

GOV.UK One Login may allow you to try again with another supported document or another verification method.

If GOV.UK One Login still cannot verify you, an ACSP provides an alternative Companies House route.

Method 2: Answer Security Questions Online

Some applicants can prove their identity without using the mobile app.

GOV.UK One Login may offer security questions based on UK records.

These questions can relate to financial information such as:

• bank accounts;
• credit cards;
• loans;
• mortgages;
• mobile telephone contracts; or
• relevant benefit information.

You also need supporting UK information.

The current GOV.UK guidance says you need details from one of the following:

• UK passport;
• UK photocard driving licence; or
• current account with a UK bank or building society.

Is the Security-Question Route Suitable for Overseas Directors?

Often, no.

A director living overseas may have:

• no UK current account;
• little or no UK credit history;
• no UK mobile contract;
• no UK mortgage;
• no UK benefits history; and
• no UK driving licence.

In that situation, GOV.UK One Login may not be able to establish enough information to use the security-question route.

An overseas director may therefore need:

• a biometric passport for the app;
• an available Post Office route while physically in the UK; or
• an ACSP.

Does GOV.UK One Login See My Financial Answers?

GOV.UK One Login can use external data to conduct security checks.

Its current privacy guidance states that the Government Digital Service does not have access to or retain the security questions and answers used by Experian or DWP for those checks.

For an Experian check, a soft footprint may appear on the individual’s credit record, but it is visible only to that individual rather than to other lenders carrying out credit checks.

Method 3: Verify Your Identity at a Post Office

GOV.UK One Login may offer an in-person Post Office identity check.

This can be useful where the applicant cannot complete the app or online route.

However, you cannot simply walk into any Post Office with a passport and ask staff to verify you for Companies House.

You must start online first.

How the Companies House Post Office Route Works

Step 1: Start Online

Start the Companies House identity verification service and enter the details from your photographic identity document.

Step 2: Choose a Post Office

If GOV.UK One Login offers the Post Office route, you select a branch offering in-branch verification.

Step 3: Download Your Customer Letter

GOV.UK One Login sends you an email containing a link to your Post Office customer letter.

The letter contains a QR code.

Step 4: Attend the Post Office

Take:

• the original photographic identity document; and
• the Post Office customer letter.

Step 5: Staff Scan Your ID

Post Office staff scan your identity document and take your photograph.

Step 6: Receive the Result

GOV.UK One Login usually sends an email about the result within 24 hours of the Post Office appointment.

Which Documents Can You Use at a Post Office?

The current GOV.UK One Login list includes:

• UK passport;
• non-UK passport;
• UK photocard driving licence;
• EU photocard driving licence; and
• national identity photocard issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

This list is broader than the mobile-app list in some respects.

Most importantly, the Post Office route can accept a non-UK passport without stating that it must contain a biometric chip.

That can make the Post Office route useful for someone whose foreign passport is valid but cannot be scanned by the mobile app.

Can I Use a Foreign Driving Licence at the Post Office?

Only certain foreign licences.

The published list includes EU photocard driving licences.

It does not say that all driving licences from every country qualify.

For example, a Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Ghanaian or other non-EU foreign driving licence should not automatically be treated as an accepted Post Office document.

Can I Use a Foreign National Identity Card at the Post Office?

Only certain cards.

The current list covers national identity photocards from:

• EU countries;
• Norway;
• Iceland; and
• Liechtenstein.

It does not extend to every national identity card worldwide.

What If the Post Office Cannot Complete My Check?

If the Post Office cannot complete the identity check, GOV.UK guidance says you may be able to attend another branch that offers in-branch verification.

You do not need to use only the branch shown on the original customer letter.

If the overall identity check remains unsuccessful, you can try another available GOV.UK One Login method or use an ACSP.

What Happens After Successful Post Office Verification?

GOV.UK One Login sends the result by email, usually within one day.

After successful Companies House verification, you can:

• continue back to the Companies House service;
• see your personal code;
• receive the personal code by email; and
• view it later under Manage account in your Companies House account.

What Is the Companies House Personal Code?

Successful identity verification results in an 11-character Companies House personal code.

The code belongs to the individual, not to one company.

You use the same personal code when you need to confirm your verified identity for different Companies House roles.

For example, a person who acts as:

• director of Company A;
• director of Company B; and
• PSC of Company A

does not need three identity verifications.

They use the same personal code for each relevant role, but they must connect it separately to those roles.

How Directors Use the Personal Code

Existing directors normally provide the personal code as part of their companies’ confirmation statements.

If you are a director of several companies, you need to connect your verified identity separately to each company.

When registering a new company, the incorporation filing asks for the personal code of every proposed director.

How PSCs Use the Personal Code

A PSC must provide the personal code separately from any director role.

The timing depends on the circumstances.

Director and PSC of the Same Company

If you are both director and PSC:

• the director code goes through the confirmation statement; and
• the PSC code must be provided separately using the PSC identity verification service.

The PSC’s 14-day period starts on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

Filing the confirmation statement early does not move that period forward.

PSC but Not a Director

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

New PSC

Someone who became a PSC after 18 November 2025 can provide the code when first added to the Companies House register or within 14 days afterwards.

What If GOV.UK One Login Cannot Verify My Identity?

This is where the ACSP route becomes important.

GOV.UK One Login itself acknowledges that not every applicant can successfully prove their identity through the direct digital service.

Companies House therefore provides an alternative route through Authorised Corporate Service Providers.

An ACSP can be particularly useful where:

• you live outside the UK;
• your passport does not have a biometric chip;
• your passport chip cannot be scanned;
• you do not have a compatible phone;
• you do not have enough UK financial history;
• you cannot use the online security questions;
• you cannot attend a UK Post Office;
• the GOV.UK One Login check repeatedly fails;
• your identity documents require individual review;
• your name appears differently across documents;
• you have changed your name;
• your date of birth does not match Companies House records; or
• you need help understanding the evidence required.

Companies House states that an ACSP can verify a person from any country, provided that the agent is registered with Companies House and supervised by a UK anti-money laundering supervisory body.

GOV.UK One Login vs ACSP Verification

GOV.UK One Login

GOV.UK One Login is:

• free;
• government-operated;
• suitable for supported documents;
• convenient where the app works;
• useful for applicants with UK financial records; and
• able to offer Post Office verification in some cases.

However, it follows fixed digital rules.

The service may not be able to verify someone where their document, phone, chip, facial check or UK record does not fit the available route.

ACSP Verification

An ACSP provides a regulated alternative.

The ACSP follows the Companies House identity verification standard and may offer:

• remote verification;
• document review before the appointment;
• person-led identity checks;
• review of international documents;
• support with document combinations;
• assistance with different name formats;
• help identifying Companies House record mismatches; and
• practical case management.

An ACSP charges for its professional service, unlike the free GOV.UK One Login route.

Can I Choose an ACSP Even If GOV.UK One Login Would Work?

Yes.

GOV.UK One Login is not the only permitted route.

Companies House allows a person to choose an ACSP instead. ACSPs include regulated businesses such as solicitors, accountants and company formation agents.

Some applicants prefer an ACSP because they:

• live overseas;
• want their documents reviewed first;
• need help with a deadline;
• have an unusual document combination;
• prefer a person-led process;
• need support with name discrepancies; or
• manage several Companies House compliance requirements at the same time.

Can an ACSP Verify Me Remotely?

Yes, where the ACSP’s process satisfies the Companies House standard.

Companies House’s public ACSP information specifically encourages users to check whether an authorised agent requires checks in person or can provide services remotely.

A suitable remote process may involve:

1. preliminary review of your documents;
2. collection of required personal information;
3. a live video appointment;
4. inspection of original documents;
5. facial comparison;
6. additional document validation;
7. completion of the ACSP checks; and
8. submission of the successful verification to Companies House.

Do I Need to Send My Original Passport to an ACSP?

Not necessarily.

A person-led remote ACSP service can often review copies in advance and then inspect the original document during a live video appointment.

The applicant may be asked to:

• show the original passport;
• move or tilt it;
• display security features;
• show other original documents;
• confirm personal details; and
• complete a live facial comparison.

The precise procedure depends on the documents and verification method used.

What Information Will I Need?

Whether you use GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP, prepare accurate personal information.

This may include:

• full legal name;
• former names;
• date of birth;
• current residential address;
• previous addresses where required;
• individual email address; and
• suitable identity documents.

Check your information carefully before completing the Companies House process.

A wrong date of birth or incorrect personal information can later prevent your personal code from connecting to the Companies House record.

What If My Personal Details Do Not Match Companies House?

Identity verification does not automatically correct the company register.

Problems may arise where:

• Companies House has the wrong date of birth;
• your name has changed;
• a foreign document uses a different transliteration;
• your middle names are missing;
• an incorporation filing contained a typo; or
• an ACSP submitted incorrect verification information.

You may need to correct the Companies House record or ask the verifying ACSP to review its submission before the personal code can connect successfully.

Is GOV.UK One Login Secure?

Government Digital Service says GOV.UK One Login uses multiple security, fraud-prevention and monitoring measures.

The Companies House blog states that the service works with the National Cyber Security Centre and uses security monitoring, counter-fraud measures, risk assessments and independent assurance.

The GOV.UK One Login privacy notice also explains how identity information and external checks are processed, including the use of third parties for some identity, financial and Post Office checks.

Applicants should use only official GOV.UK services and should never disclose passwords or security codes to someone claiming to complete the GOV.UK One Login process for them.

Can Someone Help Me Use GOV.UK One Login?

Yes.

GOV.UK provides guidance for trusted helpers who assist another person with GOV.UK One Login.

However, the identity being verified must still be the applicant’s own identity.

A helper cannot:

• impersonate the applicant;
• complete the facial check as the applicant;
• substitute their own document; or
• use one verified identity for several people.

What Happens If I Do Not Verify My Identity?

Companies House warns that failure to comply with mandatory identity-verification requirements on time may amount to an offence.

Possible consequences can include:

• prosecution;
• a court fine;
• a financial penalty; and
• future information on the public Companies House register showing non-compliance.

Directors and PSCs should therefore check the deadline for each role rather than wait until a filing is rejected.

How Our Legal Consultant Can Help

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

Through our partner solicitor, remote Companies House identity verification by video call can be arranged for suitable directors and PSCs.

We can help by:

• checking whether GOV.UK One Login is likely to work;
• reviewing whether your passport is biometric or machine-readable;
• identifying whether the GOV.UK One Login app supports your document;
• explaining whether the Post Office route may be available;
• reviewing overseas identity documents;
• confirming the correct document combination for an ACSP check;
• checking names, former names and dates of birth;
• identifying differences between documents and Companies House records;
• arranging a remote video appointment;
• completing the required identity checks;
• submitting successful verification to Companies House; and
• explaining how to use the resulting Companies House personal code.

Same-day identity checks and ACSP submission may be available where the document set is suitable, all required checks can be completed and no unresolved issue arises.

Companies House controls the later processing and delivery of 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

Is GOV.UK One Login Free?

Yes.

The direct GOV.UK One Login identity-verification route is free. An ACSP may charge a professional fee for providing an alternative verification service.

What Are the Three Ways to Verify Through GOV.UK One Login?

They are:

• GOV.UK One Login app;
• online security questions; and
• Post Office verification.

The method available depends on your device, documents and circumstances.

Can I Choose the Post Office Instead of the App?

Not always.

Start the process online. GOV.UK One Login will tell you whether the Post Office route is available.

You cannot simply arrive at a Post Office and request Companies House identity verification.

Can I Use a Foreign Passport?

Yes.

A non-UK passport with a biometric chip may work through the GOV.UK One Login app.

The Post Office route can also accept a non-UK passport where the system offers that route.

Can I Use a Foreign Passport Without a Chip?

Not through the mobile app.

However, it may work through the Post Office route where offered or through an ACSP.

Can I Use an Expired Foreign Passport in the GOV.UK One Login App?

No.

The app does not accept expired passports.

Can an ACSP Accept a Recently Expired Passport?

Potentially.

Companies House’s ACSP standard contains specific rules that may allow recently expired passports under certain verification methods.

This differs from GOV.UK One Login.

Can I Use a Foreign Driving Licence in the App?

No, unless it is the supported UK photocard driving licence.

The mobile app does not accept ordinary overseas driving licences.

Can I Use an EU Driving Licence at a Post Office?

Yes, where GOV.UK One Login offers the Post Office route.

The published Post Office document list includes EU photocard driving licences.

Can I Use an EU National Identity Card at a Post Office?

Yes, where the system offers that route.

The Post Office list includes national identity photocards from the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Can I Use a Brazilian, Chinese, Indian or Other Non-EU National ID Card at a Post Office?

Do not assume that you can.

The published Post Office identity-card category only covers cards from the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

An ACSP may provide another route depending on the applicant’s documents.

Can I Answer Security Questions Without UK Financial History?

The security-question route depends heavily on UK information.

Applicants without suitable UK records may not be offered or may not be able to complete this route successfully.

Does One Login Require a UK Bank Account?

Not for every verification method.

A biometric foreign passport can support the app route without a UK bank account.

A UK current account can be relevant to the online security-question method.

How Long Does the Post Office Result Take?

GOV.UK says the result is usually available within 24 hours of the Post Office appointment.

What Happens After Successful Verification?

Companies House gives you an 11-character personal code.

You then use the code to connect your verified identity to your director and PSC roles.

Do I Need to Verify Again for Every Company?

No.

You verify your identity once and use the same personal code for each relevant appointment.

You must still connect it separately to every director or PSC role.

Can I Use the Same Code as a Director and PSC?

Yes.

However, you must provide it separately for each role.

Can GOV.UK One Login Fail?

Yes.

Government Digital Service itself recognises that no identity-verification system can successfully prove every user’s identity. Companies House therefore provides the ACSP alternative.

Can I Use an ACSP Instead of GOV.UK One Login?

Yes.

You may choose an ACSP instead of the direct GOV.UK One Login route.

Can an Overseas Director Use an ACSP?

Yes.

Companies House states that an ACSP can verify someone from any country, subject to the required documents and checks.

Can an ACSP Verify Me by Video Call?

Potentially, yes.

Authorised agents may offer remote services. Check whether the particular ACSP provides remote identity verification and whether your documents meet the Companies House standard.

Can You Complete Companies House Verification on the Same Day?

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

• the documents are reviewed in advance;
• the evidence meets the Companies House standard;
• the applicant provides all required information;
• the video verification succeeds;
• the Companies House details match; and
• no unresolved identity or compliance issue remains.

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

Need Help With GOV.UK One Login or Companies House Identity Verification?

GOV.UK One Login provides a straightforward route for many directors and PSCs.

The process is particularly convenient if you have:

• a biometric passport;
• a supported UK identity document;
• a compatible smartphone; or
• enough UK information to complete the security-question route.

The Post Office provides another option for some applicants.

However, GOV.UK One Login cannot verify everyone.

Overseas applicants may hold passports without biometric chips. Others may have unsupported national identity cards, foreign driving licences, limited UK financial records, unusual names or document mismatches.

In those situations, an ACSP can provide an alternative route.

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