Mandatory Director’s ID Verification in the UK: What You Need to Know

What this is: Are you a UK company director? It is time to have your identity verified with the Companies House. The deadline is approaching fast and non-compliance could lead to serious penalties. If your UK company has non-resident directors, it is time to find a reliable ACSP (Authorized Corporate Service Provider) to help them with the verification.

What this means: You may be aware that the recent changes introduced by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) requires all UK company directors, responsible officers and persons with significant control (PSCs) to prove they’re real people, not just names on paper. No more hiding behind aliases or fake identities – it is time to bring transparency to the forefront of UK business.

Latest Timeline Update

As of 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes mandatory for:

• New directors and PSCs: Must verify identity before incorporation or appointment.
• Existing directors and PSCs: Must verify identity during a 12-month transition period, aligned with their company’s next confirmation statement.
• Filers: From Spring 2026, anyone filing documents with the UK Companies House must be verified unless exempt.

Companies House estimates 6–7 million individuals will need to verify their identity by mid-November 2026.

Important Considerations

1. Director’s ID verification is a one-time exercise for all UK directors, irrespective of how many directorships they hold.
2. Remind the directors to safeguard their ‘Unique Code’ received from the Companies House once their identity is verified.
3. If you are using an ACSP for verification, make sure you approach them at least a week in advance of the deadline. ACSPs are obliged to collect identity information from the directors before the verification can be completed as part of their process.
4. Make sure you know the list of acceptable documents that can be used for ID verification (for example, a US Driver’s License is NOT an acceptable document).
   • A biometric or machine-readable passport
   • UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU photocard driving license (full or provisional)
   • An identity card with biometric information from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
   • UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
   • A UK biometric residence card (BRC)
   • A UK Frontier Worker permit
5. If you are considering incorporating a new UK company, ask if the proposed directors have been ID verified. If not, you will need to allow some extra time for this to be completed.
6. If you have a large corporate structure, make sure you identify all the UK company directors in the group and ensure that they are verified before the deadline.
7. As part of the directors’ change process, include a question about whether the incumbent director has the Unique code from the Companies House before/ at the time of their appointment.

Challenges & Feedback from the Rollout

• As of July 2025, only 2.86% of the 7 million expected individuals had completed verification.
• Companies House removed 10,000 fraudulent entities in early enforcement efforts.
• Businesses face administrative strain, especially those with complex structures.
• Awareness and preparedness gaps remain a major hurdle.
• Companies are encouraged to act early to avoid technical delays and bottlenecks.

Conclusion

With mandatory director ID verification now law, UK businesses must act early to stay compliant and avoid unnecessary penalties. Whether you are appointing new directors, managing a complex group structure, or working with non-resident directors, preparing ahead will save time and reduce risk. Start the process today to ensure a smooth transition before the deadlines arrive.