Identity verification for Companies House · 3. Go to a Post Office with your letter and photo ID

3. Go to a Post Office with your letter and photo ID

how to prove your identity for companies house at the post office 3 go to a post office with your letter and photo id · in force: unknown

Captured source text (L5)

3. Go to a Post Office with your letter and photo ID

Take your customer letter (on your device or printed) and your original photo ID to a Post Office that offers this service. You can go to any Post Office that offers in-branch verification, even if it’s not the one you chose online.

You must:

- take your original photo ID – you cannot use a photocopy or a digital image - visit the Post Office by the date shown in your customer letter – this is usually around 15 days from when you received your confirmation email

If you asked for a posted copy of your letter, you’ll have less time to visit before the date shown. If you miss the date on your letter, you’ll need to start proving your identity again.

Full captured verbatim text

Take your customer letter (on your device or printed) and your original photo ID to a Post Office that offers this service. You can go to any Post Office that offers in-branch verification, even if it’s not the one you chose online.

You must:

- take your original photo ID – you cannot use a photocopy or a digital image
- visit the Post Office by the date shown in your customer letter – this is usually around 15 days from when you received your confirmation email

If you asked for a posted copy of your letter, you’ll have less time to visit before the date shown. If you miss the date on your letter, you’ll need to start proving your identity again.

What this provision means

Model summary, checked against the text on the left.

Relevance to Signicat: 3/3 · detailed summary (L4) Status: not needed for a short provision · Stored artifact; current recipe verification unavailable

Individuals must present their customer letter and original photo ID at an authorized Post Office branch before the letter's specified date.

Only the one-line summary above is stored for this provision; the text itself is the evidence.

Refers to

No captured references.

Referred to by

No captured references.

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/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/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/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/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.

Provenance

Every claim the system makes about this text is traceable to these identifiers.

Instrument: uk:govuk/companies-house-idv-collection
Part: 3. Go to a Post Office with your letter and photo ID
Version: 5441edc51e6f56fc9de9b597…
Content hash: sha256 63b30ff7a8f1042268298566…
Source: gov.uk/government/collections/identity-verification-for-companies-house