ID Verification Service

You have two options:

Option A – Verify your ID through GOV.UK One Login

You can complete verification directly using the government portal.

Use the Companies House verification service to complete the ID check. Full guidance is available through the Gov.UK service.

Option B – Verify your ID through us (your ACSP & Company Formation agent)

We are authorised to complete identity verification on behalf of clients for Companies House.

This is often quicker, more convenient, and especially useful if you are forming a new company or filing documents through us. We can complete the verification for each company officer and issue the personal verification code within 2 business hours.

Please contact our support team on support@theformationcompany.co.uk.

The PSCs also need to verify their identity for Companies House, but we will not ask for their Companies House personal code as part of the confirmation statement.

There is a separate service that PSCs must use to provide their personal code, so that we can connect their verified identity to the PSC name on our records.

We'll provide instructions for this after you submit your confirmation statement.

You need to verify your identity if you are a director, an equivalent of a director (like members, general partners, and managing officers), a person with significant control (PSC), or someone who files for a company (e.g., a company secretary).

Identity verification is a new legal requirement. It will help to deter people intending to use companies for illegal purposes.

By law, you will need to verify your identity to confirm you are who you claim to be.

When you have successfully verified, you’ll get a unique identifier known as a Companies House personal code. The code is personal to you, not your company or a company you work for.

From 18 November 2025, you’ll need it for various reasons.

For example:

• when you file your confirmation statement

• if you are appointed as a director

• if you become a person with significant control (PSC)

• If you are currently a director or a PSC, you’ll need to use your Companies House personal code to connect your verified identity to our records. This is a legal requirement, and will ensure that we know the correct identity is linked to any roles you hold.

As a PSC, you must provide your personal code using a separate service within 14 days of your company’s confirmation statement date. This service will be available when the requirement comes into force on 18 November 2025.

If you’re a PSC but not a director of the same company

You must provide your personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month. For example, if your date of birth is 22 January, your 14 day period will begin on 1 January.

Biometric passports have a small rectangular symbol on the front cover. You can use them to go through electronic gates at airports and international train stations.

All UK passports issued after 2006 are biometric.

You will not be able to:

• make any filings with Companies House

• start a new company or entity

• be appointed a Director of another company

If you do not comply with identity verification requirements on time, you may be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine.

If you continue to act as a director without verifying after it becomes a legal requirement, you will be committing an offence and could be disqualified. The company (or entity) and all directors may also be committing an offence.

This will depend on whether you verified your identity using GOV.UK One Login, or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) like The Formation Company.

If you verified using GOV.UK One Login

Sign in to Companies House and go to ‘Manage account’ to view your code. You’ll need to sign in using the same email address you used when you verified.

If you verified through The Formation Company

We sent your personal code to the email address you provided. You will have also created a Formation Company account during the process and had the option to save your code to your account.

A personal code is an 11-character identifier you receive after verifying your identity. It's unique to you and not linked to any company you work for. You'll need this code for various filings and legal requirements starting from 18 November 2025.

As a director, you need to provide your Companies House personal code in your company’s next confirmation statement starting from 18 November 2025. If you direct multiple companies, you must do this for each one.

SmartSearch is an award-winning digital compliance platform that provides electronic identity verification and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) screening for individuals and businesses.

As a regulated Company Formation Agent, TCSP, and ACSP, we use SmartSearch to ensure all client identities are verified quickly, securely, and in full compliance with AML and KYC regulations.

SmartSearch automatically checks clients against global databases for sanctions, PEP (Politically Exposed Persons), and adverse media, helping us meet our legal obligations and reduce the risk of financial crime.

SmartSearch uses encrypted, GDPR-compliant technology to protect all client data and ensure that identity checks are accurate and secure.

Clients benefit from a faster onboarding process, minimal paperwork, and confidence that their information is verified and protected under strict compliance standards.