Director ID Verification in the UK: What You Need to Know in 2026

The UK’s identity verification rollout has moved from preview to practice. Since November 18, 2025, company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have been legally required to verify their identities and connect that verified identity to every relevant Companies House role. 

The latest numbers show the system is already operating at scale. Companies House reported in June 2026 that nearly four million people had verified their identities and linked their appointments since the mandatory phase began. That is real progress, but the clock is still ticking for companies and individuals whose deadlines fall before the transition period closes in mid-November 2026. 

How ECCTA Changed Identity Verification at Companies House 

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) marks a decisive change in how UK corporate information is reviewed. Companies House is no longer expected simply to accept and publish what it receives; it can scrutinise submissions, challenge inconsistencies, remove unreliable material and work more closely with enforcement bodies. Identity verification supports that expanded role by tying company appointments to real individuals and reducing the scope for fraudsters to exploit anonymous or misappropriated identities. 

UK Identity Verification Requirements Now in Effect 

• Mandatory from November 18, 2025: The voluntary window is over. Identity verification is now a legal requirement for directors, PSCs and Companies House authorised agents. 
• New directors: A person must verify their identity and provide their personal code when incorporating a company or being appointed to an existing company. 
• Existing directors: Each director must provide a personal code through the company’s next confirmation statement during the 12-month transition period. Confirmation Statement cannot be filed unless all directors have complied. 
• Existing PSCs: Each PSC has a specific 14-day window to provide their personal code. The timing depends on whether the PSC is also a director and on the relevant confirmation statement date or birth month. 
• Future filer checks: Companies House says identity verification for people who file documents will be introduced at a later date. It is not currently a blanket requirement for every company secretary or presenter. 

How to Complete Companies House Identity Verification

There are still two main routes: 

1. Directly with Companies House 

The free GOV.UK One Login service guides you to the most suitable method. Depending on your documents and circumstances, you may verify: 

• with the GOV.UK One Login app; 
• by answering security questions online; or 
• at a participating Post Office after entering your photo ID details online first. 

2. Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) 

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – such as a corporate service provider, an accountant, solicitor or company formation specialist – can verify an individual’s identity from the UK or overseas. The provider must be registered with Companies House and supervised in the UK for anti-money laundering purposes. It may charge a fee, but this route can be useful where One Login is not practical or several overseas directors need coordinated support. 

How the Companies House Personal Code Works 

After successful verification, Companies House issues a personal code. The code belongs to the individual, not to a company, and the same code can be used to link multiple directorships or PSC roles. Verification is usually a one-off check, but linking the identity is role-specific: the code must be provided for every relevant appointment. 

Treat the code like other sensitive identifiers. It can be shared with a trusted accountant, agent or colleague who files on your behalf, but it should not be posted publicly or sent to an unverified contact. 

When PSC Identity Verification is Due 

PSCs have their own compliance step. Even if a person has already supplied a personal code as a director, they must also provide it for the PSC role through the dedicated Companies House service. Each PSC gets a 14-day submission period. If the deadline cannot be met, a 14-day extension may be requested before the original deadline expires. 

This is an easy detail to miss. Check the public register for the due dates attached to every role, and make sure the name and date of birth held by Companies House match the identity documents before starting. A mismatch can stop the personal code from linking correctly. 

Risks of Missing a Companies House Identity Verification Deadline 

Ignoring the requirement is no longer a future risk. Companies House can move from reminders to enforcement. Companies House has mentioned that it’s not prosecuting for non-compliance during the transition period.

• Directors: Continuing to act after the deadline without completing the required steps may be an offence. A person who is not verified cannot be appointed as a new director.
• Companies: A company may be unable to file its confirmation statement if all directors have not supplied their personal codes. The company and its officers may also be committing offences if an unverified director continues to act.
• PSCs: A PSC who misses the applicable deadline may commit an offence and face a financial penalty or court fine.
• Enforcement: Companies House can issue default notices and pursue financial penalties, prosecution or referral to The Insolvency Service. Serious cases can lead to criminal conviction or director disqualification and fines.

2026 Checklist for Director and PSC Identity Verification 

• Check every role: Look up the verification due date for each directorship and PSC position. One identity can have several role-linking obligations. 
• Verify early: Do not wait for the confirmation statement deadline. Complete the identity check and retrieve the personal code in advance. 
• Clean up mismatches: Confirm that Companies House records – especially names and dates of birth – match the identity documents. 
• Plan the filing: Gather every director’s code before preparing the confirmation statement. One missing code can block the filing. 
• Support overseas individuals: If GOV.UK One Login is difficult to use, engage a reputable ACSP with experience verifying overseas directors and PSCs. 
• Keep codes secure: Share personal codes only with trusted people who genuinely need them for a filing. 

Why Identity Verification Matters for Companies House Reform 

The reform is designed to make corporate impersonation and fictitious appointments harder, improve the reliability of the register and protect legitimate businesses and investors. The early results are significant: by June 2026, nearly four million individuals had verified and linked appointments, while Companies House’s wider ECCTA work removed 151,000 company addresses from the register since March 2024. 

The practical message is just as important as the policy goal. Verification itself may take only minutes, but resolving a document problem, a data mismatch or an overseas identity check can take longer. With the transition period nearing its end, this is the moment to check – not assume – that every required person and every role is covered. 

How ECCTA is Reshaping the Role of Companies House

The ECCTA reforms are the biggest shake-up to Companies House in almost two centuries. Mandatory identity verification is now one of the clearest signs that the register is changing from a filing cabinet into an active gatekeeper. For legitimate companies, the task is straightforward: know the deadline, verify the individual, link every role and maintain accurate records. 

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or relied upon, as legal advice.