If you’ve recently received an email as shown below, you will need to verify your identity with Companies House. There are 2 methods for this, you can either:

• Do it yourself for free - This article will guide you through the process of verifying your identity online.
• Use an authorised agent - We are an approved agent for Companies House ID verification, please click here if you want us to handle this for you. We charge £35+VAT for this service.

About Companies House ID Verification

Why You Need to Verify

The new Companies House ID checks have been released to combat individuals using companies for illegal purposes, such as fraud. 

Upon successfully verifying your ID you will be provided with a Companies House personal code - personal to you, not to any company. This code will be needed in the future, for example, when:

• Filing your confirmation statement
• Becoming a Person with Significant Control (PSC)
• Being appointed a director

Who Must Verify

All directors, members, general partners and managing officers will need to verify their identities. In addition, any PSC, Authorised Corporate Service Provider (e.g. your accountant) and anyone who files for a company (e.g. secretary) will also need to verify.
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When to Verify

For many, this isn’t a legal requirement yet (as of June 2025). The timelines depend on your role, if you are a:

• Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) - From March 18 2025, if you want to register as a Companies House authorised agent, you’ll need to verify your identity. If you do, you may register to verify your clients’ identities from April 8 2025.
• Director or Person with Significant Control (PSCs) - From April 8 2025, you may choose to verify your identity. This will be a legal requirement in the future.
• Person who files at Companies House (e.g. company secretaries) - While you aren’t required to verify yet this will also end up a legal requirement.

Ways to Verify

We will cover the Online method in detail below but there are 3 ways to complete verification:

• Online - Uses the GOV.UK One Login app and is free of charge
• Post Office - You may be able to verify in person at your local post office, you can learn more about verifying at the Post Office here.
• Use an ACSP - We are one such Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), please click here if you’d like us to handle this for you.

How to Complete Companies House Identity Verification

Using the online method, we found it easiest to complete the full process using a smartphone rather than jumping between a computer and a phone.

You may wish to watch our short video on this process but here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Go to the page shown below by clicking here. If you're currently reading this on a computer, you can use your phone to scan the QR code below to navigate to the same page via Bitly.

Step 2: Scrolling down, this page lists what you’ll need, at the bottom click Verify your identity.
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Step 3: Click Go to GOV.UK One Login
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Step 4: Click Create your GOV.UK One Login
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Step 5: You MUST enter the email address associated with your Companies House account. Then Continue.
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Step 6: Input the 6 digit security code sent to your email and Continue.
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Step 7: Create your password and Continue. After this, you’ll need to set up 2 factor authentication via your mobile number or authenticator app.
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Step 8: Once you’ve created your GOV.UK One Login, you’re ready to start ID verification. Click Open GOV.UK ID Check.
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Step 9: Select whether your identity has been verified yet, if not, select No and then Continue.
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Step 10: Again, click Continue.
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Step 11: Answer whether you live in the “UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man” or “Another country”, then click Continue.
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Step 12: Select whether or not you have the types of photo ID and Continue.
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Step 13: Select whether you are on a Computer or Tablet or Smartphone. We recommend doing this on a Smartphone which we’ve selected here. Click Continue.
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Step 14: Select which smartphone you’re using and Continue.
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Step 15: Select whether or not you have a valid passport, we’ve selected “Yes”, then Continue.
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Step 16: Select whether or not your passport has this symbol on the cover, we’ve selected “Yes”, then Continue.
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Step 17: To use your passport and the ID Check app to verify your identity, click Continue.
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Step 18: IMPORTANT: Keep this specific page open or bookmarked as you need to come back to it, then click Download GOV.UK ID Check app.
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Step 19: Once downloaded, return to this page and click Link GOV.UK ID Check.
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Step 20: Once linked, on the app, you’ll see this page, click Continue to scan your passport’s photo page.
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Step 21: Once scanned, click Continue.
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Step 22: Next, follow the prompts and click Continue to scan the biometric chip on your passport’s cover page.
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Step 23: Lastly, click Start to scan your face with your selfie camera.
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Step 24: Click Go to GOV.UK to exit the app.
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Step 25: A confirmation message should appear, click Continue
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Step 26: Enter your postcode and click Find address
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Step 27: On this page, click Continue to the service
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Step 28: Allow Gov.UK to check your details by clicking Continue
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Step 29: The final page should state “Identity verification complete.” Ensure you safely store your Companies House personal code as you will need this in the future. You're done!
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Last Word

For those wanting a DIY route, we hope his guide helps you succesfully verify. A reminder that we are an authorised agent, please click here if you'd like us to handle this for you.

Although not a legal requirement yet, we recommend verifying early to avoid issues in the future. If you're already a client, feel free to pass on your Companies House personal code to your accountant. If you aren't a client yet, click here to work with us.