govuk
Identity verification for Companies House
Verified at publication, 2026-11-12 11:35 UTC
66 provisions in 32 parts · official text ↗
No overall summary yet: some parts of this source have not passed verification. The part summaries that did pass and the full text of every provision are below.
Part summaries
0 of 0 parts have a verified summary.
L1 unavailable for current verification: the overall summary needs every part verified. Provisions and the verified summaries remain readable.
Verification findings (99)
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 main
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#identity-verification-for-companies-house-chunk-1
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-chunk-1
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-chunk-1
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#provide-psc-verification-chunk-1
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-chunk-1
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-approach-to-non-compliance-with-mandatory-identity-verification-chunk-1
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-you-need
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-what-a-biometric-passport-is
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-if-your-photo-id-has-expired
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-how-to-verify-if-you-do-not-have-these-types-of-photo-id
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-how-your-information-is-stored-and-used
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-other-ways-to-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-how-to-find-an-acsp
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 why-you-need-to-verify-your-identity
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-why-you-need-to-verify-your-identity
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 who-needs-to-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-who-needs-to-verify
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 when-you-need-to-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-when-you-need-to-verify
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 ways-to-verify-your-identity
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-ways-to-verify-your-identity
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-ways-to-verify-your-identity-using-the-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-service
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-ways-to-verify-your-identity-using-an-authorised-corporate-service-provider-acsp
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-happens-when-you-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-happens-when-you-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-happens-when-you-verify-only-share-the-personal-code-with-people-you-trust
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-happens-when-you-verify-how-your-information-is-stored-and-used
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-you-need-to-do-with-your-companies-house-personal-code
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-to-do-with-your-companies-house-personal-code
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-to-do-with-your-companies-house-personal-code-directors
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-to-do-with-your-companies-house-personal-code-people-with-significant-control-pscs
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-you-need-to-do-with-your-companies-house-personal-code-authorised-corporate-service-providers-acsps
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-happens-if-you-do-not-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-happens-if-you-do-not-verify
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-happens-if-you-do-not-verify-directors-or-equivalent
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house-what-happens-if-you-do-not-verify-people-with-significant-control-pscs
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 directors-or-equivalent
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-directors-or-equivalent
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 people-with-significant-control-pscs
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-people-with-significant-control-pscs
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-people-with-significant-control-pscs-if-you-re-both-a-director-and-a-psc-of-the-same-company
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-people-with-significant-control-pscs-if-you-re-a-psc-but-not-a-director-of-the-same-company
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-people-with-significant-control-pscs-if-you-became-a-psc-after-18-november-2025
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 authorised-corporate-service-providers-acsps
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-authorised-corporate-service-providers-acsps
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 other-roles
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#when-you-need-to-verify-your-identity-for-companies-house-other-roles
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-a-personal-code-is
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-what-a-personal-code-is
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 where-to-find-your-personal-code
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-where-to-find-your-personal-code
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-where-to-find-your-personal-code-if-you-verified-using-gov-uk-one-login
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-where-to-find-your-personal-code-if-you-verified-using-an-acsp
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 how-to-save-your-personal-code-to-a-companies-house-account
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-how-to-save-your-personal-code-to-a-companies-house-account
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 how-to-use-your-personal-code
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-how-to-use-your-personal-code
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-how-to-use-your-personal-code-if-you-re-a-director-or-equivalent
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-how-to-use-your-personal-code-if-you-re-a-psc
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-how-to-use-your-personal-code-if-you-file-on-behalf-of-a-company
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 if-the-personal-details-linked-to-your-code-do-not-match-our-records
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-if-the-personal-details-linked-to-your-code-do-not-match-our-records
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 if-you-think-your-personal-code-has-been-shared-or-compromised
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#companies-house-personal-codes-for-identity-verification-if-you-think-your-personal-code-has-been-shared-or-compromised
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 who-can-use-this-service
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#provide-psc-verification-who-can-use-this-service
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 when-you-need-to-provide-identity-verification-details
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#provide-psc-verification-when-you-need-to-provide-identity-verification-details
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 requesting-an-extension
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#provide-psc-verification-requesting-an-extension
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 before-you-start
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#provide-psc-verification-before-you-start
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 accessibility-support
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#provide-psc-verification-accessibility-support
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 1-enter-your-photo-id-details-and-choose-a-post-office
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#how-to-prove-your-identity-for-companies-house-at-the-post-office-1-enter-your-photo-id-details-and-choose-a-post-office
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 2-download-your-post-office-customer-letter
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#how-to-prove-your-identity-for-companies-house-at-the-post-office-2-download-your-post-office-customer-letter
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 3-go-to-a-post-office-with-your-letter-and-photo-id
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#how-to-prove-your-identity-for-companies-house-at-the-post-office-3-go-to-a-post-office-with-your-letter-and-photo-id
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 4-get-your-qr-code-scanned
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#how-to-prove-your-identity-for-companies-house-at-the-post-office-4-get-your-qr-code-scanned
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 5-have-your-photo-taken-and-your-id-scanned
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#how-to-prove-your-identity-for-companies-house-at-the-post-office-5-have-your-photo-taken-and-your-id-scanned
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 6-wait-for-your-result
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#how-to-prove-your-identity-for-companies-house-at-the-post-office-6-wait-for-your-result
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-you-can-help-with
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-can-help-with
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-can-help-with-let-someone-borrow-your-phone-or-computer
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-can-help-with-help-someone-use-the-gov-uk-one-login-app
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-can-help-with-let-someone-use-the-gov-uk-one-login-app-on-your-phone
synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 what-you-cannot-help-with
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-cannot-help-with
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-cannot-help-with-creating-their-gov-uk-one-login
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-cannot-help-with-signing-into-their-gov-uk-one-login
synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection#help-someone-use-govuk-one-login-what-you-cannot-help-with-proving-their-identity
Instrument tier unavailable
Change history as published
Section about ACSPs removed and replaced with link to separate ACSP collection. · 2026-01-16T14:20:57Z
Added guidance - How to prove your identity for Companies House at the Post Office. · 2025-11-28T09:52:26Z
Added to collection: Companies House approach to non-compliance with mandatory identity verification · 2025-11-25T13:19:06Z
Added guidance about how to use and manage the personal code you receive when you verify your identity for Companies House. · 2025-09-02T09:39:06Z
First published. · 2025-04-08T23:00:00Z
Section added with guidance about 'If your photo ID has expired'. · 2026-04-30T13:36:01Z
Added section "How your information is stored and used" with a link to the GOV.UK One Login privacy notice. · 2026-02-10T17:08:12Z
You cannot verify your identity at a Post Office without entering details from your photo ID on GOV.UK first. Content added to bullet to clarify - you must enter your photo ID details on this service first. · 2025-11-27T13:11:15Z
From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes a legal requirement. This date is not a deadline. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving your company time to make sure all directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have verified their identity by their due dates. · 2025-11-17T10:31:38Z
Section added – how to find an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). · 2025-11-05T12:47:01Z
Section updated - How to verify if you do not have these types of photo ID. · 2025-11-04T09:00:01Z
Content added for clarity: Your verified identity will be connected to your GOV.UK One Login. If other people use the same email address as you to access GOV.UK One Login, they’ll need to create their own using a different email address. An email address can only be used once to verify an identity. · 2025-04-15T14:07:46Z
Added translation · 2025-04-07T23:00:00Z
In the 'Who needs to verify' section, removed 'someone who files for a company - for example, a company secretary' . · 2026-06-01T08:34:23Z
Identity verification is now a legal requirement. Added link to the 'Provide identity verification details for a PSC' service. Added guidance to 'What happens if you do not verify'. · 2025-11-18T10:14:03Z
Content added to Using the 'Verify your identity for Companies House' service. You must provide answers about yourself, not your company. · 2025-09-12T12:54:47Z
Identity verification will be a mandatory requirement from 18 November 2025. Updated section for people with significant control (PSCs). · 2025-08-04T23:01:00Z
From 8 April 2025, individuals can voluntarily verify their identity with Companies House. Link added to service start page. · 2025-04-08T08:00:06Z
Added translation · 2025-03-18T00:00:00Z · repeated 2×
Added text to explain you do not need to complete identity verification for a PSC who has died. The PSC should remain on the Companies House register until a grant of probate or letters of administration have been received. · 2026-07-30T15:40:00Z
Identity verification is now a legal requirement. Added link to the 'Provide identity verification details for a PSC' service. · 2025-11-18T08:00:00Z
Identity verification will be a mandatory requirement from 18 November 2025. · 2025-08-04T23:01:00Z
Edited section 'If you verified using GOV.UK One Login'. If you verified your identity after 8 July 2026, we sent your personal code to your email address. · 2026-07-13T10:24:32Z
How to use your personal code – added links to video examples of providing your personal code. · 2026-06-03T13:11:35Z
If the personal details linked to your code do not match our records – Added a link to the guidance on correcting your date of birth with Companies House. · 2026-04-27T13:47:45Z
Added link to our video about personal codes. · 2026-02-12T10:22:33Z
Guidance added to 'Where to find your personal code'. If you complete your verification with GOV.UK One Login at a Post Office, you’ll receive an email from GOV.UK with the result of your identity check, usually within one day. You'll then be able to view your personal code in your Companies House account in the ‘Manage account’ tab. · 2025-11-18T00:01:05Z
First published. · 2025-08-31T23:00:00Z
Added translation · 2025-11-18T00:00:00Z
Added 'Deadline' guidance. You have 21 days from the date you booked the Post Office appointment to complete the verification process and view your result. · 2026-09-22T13:09:58Z
Edited section 'Wait for your result'. If your identity check was successful, you'll receive an email that contains your personal code. · 2026-07-13T10:25:19Z
Welsh language version added. · 2026-03-19T15:54:22Z
First published. · 2025-11-28T09:51:00Z
Added what you can and cannot help with if the person you’re helping is using a passkey to sign in to GOV.UK One Login. · 2026-07-28T12:12:18Z
Added instructions about how to sign out of the GOV.UK One Login app on your phone before you let someone else use it · 2026-06-12T08:41:19Z
Added information about what happens to any digital documents you've saved in the app when you sign out to let someone else borrow your phone. · 2025-10-06T13:42:32Z
Added guidance about the help you can give someone using the GOV.UK One Login app to prove their identity. · 2025-06-09T09:06:21Z
Added Welsh translation. · 2024-04-19T15:06:55Z
First published. · 2024-04-11T23:00:00Z
Added Welsh translation. · 2025-12-05T15:32:05Z
Representations and PSC due date extension sections - added link to more information. · 2025-11-25T13:17:00Z
First published. · 2025-11-17T00:00:00Z
Pending effects amendments not yet applied to this text
No captured pending effects.
Full TOC · table of contents Expand all parts
32 parts · 66 provisions. Open a provision for its text and, where available, its one-line summary.
· 6 provisions
What you need · 7 provisions
Why you need to verify your identity · 1 provisions
| Why you need to verify your identity |
Who needs to verify · 1 provisions
| Who needs to verify |
When you need to verify · 1 provisions
| When you need to verify |
Ways to verify your identity · 3 provisions
| Ways to verify your identity |
| Using the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service |
| Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) |
What happens when you verify · 3 provisions
| What happens when you verify |
| Only share the personal code with people you trust |
| How your information is stored and used |
What you need to do with your Companies House personal code · 4 provisions
| What you need to do with your Companies House personal code |
| Directors |
| People with significant control (PSCs) |
| Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) |
What happens if you do not verify · 3 provisions
| What happens if you do not verify |
| Directors (or equivalent) |
| People with significant control (PSCs) |
Directors (or equivalent) · 1 provisions
| Directors (or equivalent) |
People with significant control (PSCs) · 4 provisions
| People with significant control (PSCs) |
| If you’re both a director and a PSC of the same company |
| If you’re a PSC but not a director of the same company |
| If you became a PSC after 18 November 2025 |
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) · 1 provisions
| Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) |
Other roles · 1 provisions
| Other roles |
What a personal code is · 1 provisions
| What a personal code is |
Where to find your personal code · 3 provisions
| Where to find your personal code |
| If you verified using GOV.UK One Login |
| If you verified using an ACSP |
How to save your personal code to a Companies House account · 1 provisions
| How to save your personal code to a Companies House account |
How to use your personal code · 4 provisions
| How to use your personal code |
| If you’re a director (or equivalent) |
| If you’re a PSC |
| If you file on behalf of a company |
If the personal details linked to your code do not match our records · 1 provisions
| If the personal details linked to your code do not match our records |
If you think your personal code has been shared or compromised · 1 provisions
| If you think your personal code has been shared or compromised |
Who can use this service · 1 provisions
| Who can use this service |
When you need to provide identity verification details · 1 provisions
| When you need to provide identity verification details |
Requesting an extension · 1 provisions
| Requesting an extension |
Before you start · 1 provisions
| Before you start |
Accessibility support · 1 provisions
| Accessibility support |
1. Enter your photo ID details and choose a Post Office · 1 provisions
| 1. Enter your photo ID details and choose a Post Office |
2. Download your Post Office customer letter · 1 provisions
| 2. Download your Post Office customer letter |
3. Go to a Post Office with your letter and photo ID · 1 provisions
| 3. Go to a Post Office with your letter and photo ID |
4. Get your QR code scanned · 1 provisions
| 4. Get your QR code scanned |
5. Have your photo taken and your ID scanned · 1 provisions
| 5. Have your photo taken and your ID scanned |
6. Wait for your result · 1 provisions
| 6. Wait for your result |
What you can help with · 4 provisions
| What you can help with |
| Let someone borrow your phone or computer |
| Help someone use the GOV.UK One Login app |
| Let someone use the GOV.UK One Login app on your phone |
What you cannot help with · 4 provisions
| What you cannot help with |
| Creating their GOV.UK One Login |
| Signing into their GOV.UK One Login |
| Proving their identity |