Directors and people with significant control (PSCs) of UK companies will soon be required to verify their identities as part of changes announced by Companies House.
The new legal requirements will come into effect from Tuesday, 18 November, with a phased rollout over 12 months.
From that date, new directors will need to verify their identity before they can form a new company or be appointed to an existing one, existing directors must confirm that their identity has been verified when they next file a confirmation statement and existing PSCs must verify their identity by an appointed date within the 12-month transition period.
Companies House said the new rules would ‘boost business, and support growth, by giving more assurance about who is setting up, running and controlling companies in the UK’.
The identity verification process will be free and can be completed online using GOV.UK One Login, or via an authorised corporate service provider.
In most cases, individuals will only need to verify once and will then receive a personal code from Companies House, which they will use for any company roles they hold.
Companies House Chief Executive Louise Smyth CBE said: “Identity verification will play a key role in improving the quality and reliability of our data and tackling misuse of the companies register.
“To support business and help people verify their identities, Companies House is contacting all companies with advice and guidance.
“This is part of a coordinated effort to help companies to comply. We encourage people to verify as early as possible.”
Competition and Markets Minister Justin Madders MP added: “Identity verification will play a key role in giving confidence to investors and consumers alike, ensuring greater transparency about the organisations they do business with.
“Increasing confidence attracts investment and is an essential part of our mission for growth and Plan for Change. We will continue to make the process for registering as a company director as trusted and efficient as possible.”
Companies House estimates that between 6m and 7m individuals will need to complete identity verification by mid-November 2026. More than 300,000 people have already done so during the current voluntary period, which started in April.
It will be an offence to act as a director without verification once the rules apply, but Companies House has said it will take a ‘proportionate approach’ to enforcement, with support and guidance offered to help businesses comply.
