UK Companies House Identity Verification for Irish Nationals: PRADO-Listed Irish ID Documents for UK Directors and PSCs (2026 Guide)

If you are an Irish national acting as a director or person with significant control (PSC) of a UK company, you will usually need to complete Companies House identity verification. This forms part of the UK’s company law reforms and is designed to make company information more reliable and harder to misuse. Companies House says that people who set up, run, own, or control a UK company will need to verify their identity. Once your identity verification is completed successfully, Companies House will issue your personal code. You then use that personal code to link your verified identity to your role within the Companies House system.

Important Point for Irish Nationals

For Irish nationals, it is sensible to start with a document set that clearly fits the Companies House identity verification standard, especially if the check will be completed remotely through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Under the Companies House standard, where documents are checked by a person remotely or in person, the individual being verified must provide 2 documents in total. These must be either:

• 2 photographic identity documents from Group A, or
• 1 photographic identity document from Group A and 1 document from Group B.

If the person being verified does not live in the UK, they must provide at least one government-issued document.

Who Needs Companies House Identity Verification?

This requirement is especially relevant for Irish nationals who are:

• appointed as a director of a UK company
• registered as a person with significant control (PSC)
• involved in setting up, owning, running, or controlling a UK company

From 18 November 2025, Companies House began phasing in mandatory identity verification for directors and PSCs. New directors and new PSCs must verify as part of appointment or incorporation, while existing directors and PSCs are being brought into the system during the transition period.

Remote Identity Verification: Two Documents Required

Where identity is checked remotely by video call or in person by an ACSP, the Companies House standard requires the checker to be satisfied that the process used is sufficient to validate the documents provided. Under this route, the person being verified must provide 2 documents in total. They must provide either:

• 2 photographic identity documents from Group A, or
• 1 photographic identity document from Group A and 1 document from Group B.

Preparing the correct combination from the start can make the process smoother and help reduce delay.

PRADO-Listed Irish Identity Documents

For Irish document checking, PRADO — the Council of the European Union’s Public Register of Authentic Identity and Travel Documents Online — is a useful reference point when reviewing whether a document is listed and how that document is classified. On the current Ireland pages, PRADO lists, among others, the following relevant Irish documents:

Irish Passport

• Passport — first issued on 03/10/2013

• Passport — first issued on 03/05/2013

Residence Permit

• Residence Permit — first issued on 01/03/2022

Driving Licence

• Driving licence — first issued on 28/02/2017

In practice, an Irish passport is usually the clearest primary document for an Irish national. An Irish driving licence can also be useful as an additional photographic document. PRADO states that the Irish driving licence establishes the holder’s identity within Ireland, but it is not evidence of nationality, so it should not be treated as a substitute for a passport where nationality-sensitive checking matters.

Group A Photographic ID for Irish Nationals

For Irish nationality cases, the strongest Group A document is usually an Irish passport. Depending on the overall document set and the verification route used, an Irish driving licence may also be a useful photographic document. The key point is not simply whether a document exists, but whether the overall combination satisfies the Companies House standard and can be validated properly in a remote or in-person ACSP check.

Where available, using two strong photographic documents can make the remote verification process more straightforward.

Group B Supporting Documents

If only one Group A photographic document is used, the second document can come from Group B, subject to the Companies House standard and the reviewer’s assessment. Depending on the case, this may include supporting documents such as:

• birth certificate
• marriage certificate
• bank statement
• mortgage statement
• utility bill
• certain non-photographic immigration or permission documents

The correct combination depends on the client’s circumstances and whether the document set is strong enough for remote checking. The practical issue is not only document availability, but whether the documents work well together for identity verification under the proper standard.

Same Day Remote Verification by Video Call

Our Legal Consultant is registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Our partner solicitor can arrange verification remotely by video call, including same day verification where the case is suitable and the document set is ready.

This can be a practical solution for overseas Irish directors and PSCs who want a clear route, efficient handling, and minimal delay.

How Our Legal Consultant Can Help

Our Legal Consultant can help Irish nationals with a practical and efficient route for Companies House identity verification by:

• reviewing whether your documents are suitable for remote verification
• confirming the correct document combination for the Companies House standard
• arranging remote verification by video call
• handling the submission through the proper ACSP route
• helping you move efficiently towards issuance of your Companies House personal code

For many overseas clients, this is the most practical route because it combines document review, remote verification, and submission through the correct channel.

Ginkgo Advisory’s Role

The identity verification service is provided to you by our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor. Ginkgo Advisory supports the process through coordination, client communications, and practical case handling.

Why This Route Matters for Irish Directors and PSCs

For Irish nationals involved in UK companies, the key issue is not simply having documents available. The key issue is using a document set that fits the Companies House identity verification standard, works properly for remote checking, and is handled through the proper ACSP route.

A clear structure from the start can help reduce delay, avoid document mismatch, and allow directors and PSCs to complete the process more smoothly.

Need Help with Companies House Identity Verification?

If you are an Irish national acting as a UK company director or PSC, it is sensible to check your document set before starting the process. Using the correct documents at the outset can save time and reduce the risk of rejection or delay.

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can help arrange a clear and efficient route for Companies House identity verification, including same day remote verification by video call where suitable.