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Coddan CPM Ltd. – Company Registration Agent in the UK

Prepare for your director appointment by confirming your verification position, completing any outstanding identity requirements and progressing to the role itself.

Step 1
Plan Your Appointment
Step 2
Check Verification Status
Step 3
Prepare Identity Information
Step 4
Choose Verification Route
Step 5
Complete Director Verification
Step 6
Progress Your Appointment

Becoming a Director: Director ID Verification

Verification, Personal Code and appointment are separate steps

1. Identity verification Complete the applicable Companies House identity-verification route if verification remains outstanding.
2. Personal Code Following successful verification, Companies House provides the Personal Code used for the relevant corporate role.
3. Director appointment The company or authorised filer must still complete the applicable appointment filing and provide the required verification information.

Your next step depends on your position

Special circumstances remain separate

A separate PSC role, an overseas situation, a record correction, or becoming a director through formation of a new company can require a different professional route.

Routine overseas director guidance  ·  Complex international guidance

Nothing Further Required for identity verification?

If your identity verification is complete and the applicable Personal Code step is already in place, there may be nothing further required for the identity-verification part of becoming a director. Your appointment remains a separate corporate process.


Start Your Business Today: Fast Formation Services to Meet All Compliance Standards

Ensure compliance with Companies House through rapid, secure ID verification for Directors and PSCs. Complete the process online with an authorized ACSP

treamline your compliance with Companies House using our fast, secure ID verification for Directors and PSCs, all completed online by an authorized ACSP
£40.00
+VAT

IdentityGuard Pro™

Recommended for

1
package

Buy Now Identity Verification Bundle™ – Standard Companies House Verification for a Proposed Director for £40 + VAT.
The Identity Verification Bundle™ provides a fast, secure and professionally supported standard verification route for an individual preparing to become a director who has not yet completed the required Companies House identity verification. It is suitable for a first-time director or someone preparing to join the board of an existing UK company where identity verification genuinely remains outstanding. Delivered through Coddan CPM's registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) framework, the service uses secure Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) where appropriate. The applicable technology performs its checks, while Coddan reviews the information, identity evidence and results before deciding whether it is satisfied that the Companies House identity-verification standard has been met.

The service is available to prospective UK and overseas directors using identity evidence suitable for the applicable route. If further information or documents are required, Coddan explains what is needed and helps the Participant continue. The fixed £40 + VAT price is Coddan's professional ACSP fee; the free GOV.UK One Login route may instead be suitable. Following successful verification and Coddan's notification, Companies House separately provides the Personal Code needed for the relevant appointment. The appointment filing itself is not included in identity verification. If priority handling is required, compare the £65 fast-track package. Learn how to use the Personal Code for a director role. Ideal for a straightforward proposed-director application.



£65.00
+VAT

RapidVerify Pro™

Recommended for

2
package

Buy Now Fast-Track Expert Director ID Verification™ – Priority Verification for a Proposed Director for £65 + VAT.
The Fast-Track Expert Director ID Verification™ service provides fast-track handling where a proposed director's appointment timetable requires the identity-verification stage to receive priority attention. Delivered through Coddan CPM's registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) framework, it combines secure Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT), where suitable, with priority professional review of the Participant's information, identity evidence and resulting checks. Priority handling begins when the required information and suitable documents have been received. Where the standard route applies and no further evidence or enquiry is required, Coddan targets processing within one business day. This package concerns identity verification only; the Personal Code and appointment filing remain separate stages.

If further evidence or clarification is required, Coddan contacts the proposed director promptly and explains the next step. The service is available to UK and overseas Participants using suitable UK or non-UK identity documents. The fixed £65 + VAT price covers Coddan's priority professional ACSP work. Fast-track handling applies to Coddan's verification work and does not control Companies House's Personal Code or appointment-processing timetable. Where priority is unnecessary, compare the standard £40 package. Further details are available on Coddan's fast-track director-verification page. Fast professional support where the proposed appointment is time-sensitive.



£125.00
+VAT

VerifyFlex Solutions™

Recommended for

3
package

Buy Now Expert Director ID Verification™ – Flexible Two-Route Verification for a Proposed Director for £125 + VAT.
The Expert Director ID Verification™ service provides a professionally managed two-route assessment where a proposed director's documents or circumstances may not fit the standard digital journey. Coddan considers the identity evidence and appointment position before determining which applicable verification route is suitable. Depending on the evidence and included service scope, this may involve an IDVT-supported route using eligible photographic identification or a person-checked evidence route using the document combination required by the Companies House standard. Coddan determines the appropriate route from the available evidence; the proposed director is not invited to select a lower verification standard. Coddan reviews the information, evidence and resulting checks before making its own satisfaction decision as the registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

This package is suitable for prospective UK or overseas directors where document compatibility is uncertain, a non-UK identity document needs closer consideration or a straightforward digital route may not fit. The £125 + VAT price includes route assessment, document guidance and supported verification within the stated evidence scope. It does not bypass the required checks, overturn an earlier result or guarantee verification or appointment. If more extensive individual handling is required, compare the £220 FlexiVerify Option™. A proposed director whose earlier attempt did not complete can also review Coddan's identity-verification support route. Flexible support where the standard route may not be the complete answer.



£220.00
+VAT

FlexiVerify Option™

Recommended for

4
package

Buy Now FlexiVerify Option™ – Individually Supported Verification for a Proposed Director for £220 + VAT.
The FlexiVerify Option™ is Coddan's highest-support complex-evidence route for a proposed director whose identity verification cannot be progressed appropriately through a straightforward digital journey. It is intended for circumstances involving non-standard identity evidence, document compatibility difficulties, relevant name or address-history evidence, or an earlier attempt that did not complete successfully. Coddan first considers whether an acceptable verification route is available. Where appropriate, the package includes enhanced individual review, guidance on the evidence required and coordination of additional documents through the applicable process. Checks may be completed remotely or in person where the selected route and circumstances permit. Additional professional support does not reduce or replace the full Companies House identity-verification standard.

The £220 + VAT price reflects the additional work required by a more complex proposed-director case. Technology or the applicable platform performs its assigned checks; Coddan reviews the information, evidence and results and decides whether the required standard has been met. Coddan cannot direct a platform to return a particular result or require Companies House to issue a Personal Code. Where Coddan becomes satisfied, it submits the verification notification; the Personal Code and appointment filing remain separate. Where the case only needs flexible route assessment, compare the £125 two-route package. Overseas Participants with more complex circumstances can review the international director-verification route. Individual attention for a proposed director with more complex evidence.





Proposed Director: Establish Your Verification and Appointment Readiness

If you are about to become a director of an existing UK company, identity verification is one part of getting ready for the appointment. The practical question is not simply whether you have started verification, but whether your identity-verification position and Personal Code are ready for the proposed director role and whether the separate appointment filing can then be completed.

Your starting position

Begin by establishing where you are now:

  • Have you already completed Companies House identity verification?
  • If so, have you received your Personal Code?
  • If verification remains outstanding, which available route is appropriate?
  • Is the proposed appointment to an existing company, rather than part of incorporation?

Keep the jobs separate

Identity verification does not itself appoint you as a director. Verification, the successful verification outcome, receipt of the Personal Code, providing the required information for the director role and the company's appointment filing are related but distinct steps.

Before Appointment: Establish Your Identity-Verification Position

First establish whether you have already verified your identity. If you have successfully verified, do not assume that becoming a director of another company means you must verify again. Companies House guidance treats the Personal Code as personal to you and uses it for relevant director appointments and other filings.

If you have not yet completed the applicable verification, identify the route available to you before moving on to the appointment filing. The timing requirements depend on the role and circumstances, so this page should not be read as creating a universal deadline.

Already verified

Move to the Personal Code stage and establish whether the code you hold is ready to be used for the proposed director appointment.

Understand and locate your Personal Code

Verification outstanding

Use an appropriate identity-verification route, then continue once the successful outcome and Personal Code are available.

Prepare for guided director identity verification

Identity Verification and the Modern Director Appointment Process

The current Companies House framework separates identity verification from the corporate event that follows it. A proposed director should therefore treat the process as a sequence of readiness checks rather than as one combined transaction.

1. Verify identity

Complete the applicable Companies House identity-verification process using an available route.

2. Receive the outcome

After successful verification, Companies House issues the Personal Code to the individual.

3. Prepare the appointment

The company or authorised filer uses the required information when completing the separate appointment filing.

The verification standard does not change merely because an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) route is used. An ACSP route is optional where available and suitable; it is not a substitute for the Companies House standard.

Already Verified? Check Your Personal Code and Appointment Readiness

If identity verification is already complete, the next identity-verification job is normally to establish that the Personal Code has been received and is ready for the proposed director appointment. The code belongs to you rather than to a particular company, so becoming a director of another company does not, by itself, mean obtaining a new code.

Keep this step separate from the company's appointment filing. The person becoming a director should not treat receipt of a Personal Code as confirmation that the appointment itself has been filed or accepted.

For the director-role use of the code, see how your Personal Code is used for your director role.

Ready to Proceed With Your Director Appointment?

Once the identity-verification position and Personal Code are ready, the next step is the separate appointment process. The company or authorised filer must complete the appropriate Companies House appointment filing and provide the required Personal Code information for the proposed director.

The identity-verification service does not itself appoint you as a director. Keep the verification outcome, Personal Code and appointment filing as distinct stages so that the correct person, company and filing responsibility are clear.

Preparing for Formation: A Separate Route for New Companies

This page is for becoming a director of an existing company. If you are becoming a director because a new company is being incorporated, the identity-verification requirement interfaces with the formation process and should be handled through the formation-specific route instead of reproducing the incorporation procedure here.

Continue to company-formation director identity verification for the formation-specific sequence and responsibilities.

Preparing Your Information and Evidence for Verification

If verification is outstanding, prepare the personal information and identity evidence requested by the route you are using. Follow the current instructions presented by Companies House or the relevant verification service rather than relying on a fixed document list that may become outdated.

Before you start

  • Use your own current personal details.
  • Have the relevant identity evidence available for the selected route.
  • Allow time to complete the checks and respond to any request made by the verification process.

If you need practical guidance

Use the practical verification guide for a more focused walkthrough of the identity-verification process.

Open the guided simplified director identity-verification route

Choose an Appropriate Identity-Verification Route

Where identity verification remains outstanding, the legitimate free GOV.UK One Login route should remain the first route to consider where you are eligible and it is suitable for your circumstances. An ACSP route is an optional alternative for people who prefer or require professional support.

GOV.UK One Login

The government route is free where the service is available to you and you meet its requirements. Use the current GOV.UK instructions to determine whether it is suitable.

Optional Coddan support

Coddan can provide an optional ACSP-supported route where professional support is appropriate. Support Available does not mean Support Required.

Assess whether professional director identity-verification support fits your situation

Residence outside the UK does not by itself establish that the free route is unavailable. If your circumstances are specifically overseas or international, use the appropriate specialist route rather than assuming that one process applies to every case.

See the routine overseas director identity-verification route or review the international director identity-verification route where the circumstances require it.

Your Personal Code and the Director Role

After successful identity verification, Companies House issues an 11-character Personal Code to you. It is personal to you and can be used for relevant director roles; it is not a company-specific code generated by Coddan.

For this page, the important question is whether the code is available and ready to be supplied as part of the proposed director appointment process. Do not confuse the code with the appointment itself, and do not confuse a director's code with the separate identity-verification position of a person acting as a PSC.

Director role and PSC role are separate

A person can have both roles, but the relevant identity-verification requirements and filing contexts must be considered separately.

If the PSC position is the actual unresolved issue, follow the separate PSC-specific process. Do not treat the PSC requirement as another director appointment or repeat identity-verification exercise.

Confirm Your Personal Code and Appointment Readiness

At the end of the identity-verification job, establish which of these positions applies:

Nothing Further Required

Identity verification is complete, the successful outcome has been received, and the Personal Code is available for the proposed director appointment. The remaining appointment work belongs to the company or authorised filer.

Verification still outstanding

Complete the appropriate route before treating the identity-verification stage as ready. Continue with the practical verification route if you need step-by-step assistance.

An exception needs resolving

If there has been a failed or incomplete attempt, use the identity-verification issues resolution route. If Companies House records appear inconsistent, use the director-details and identity-verification correction route.

Support where the professional route is appropriate

Where Coddan-supported verification is used, the applicable technology performs the identity and document checks; Coddan reviews the resulting information and determines whether it is satisfied that the Companies House identity-verification standard has been met. Following a successful outcome, Coddan performs its applicable notification responsibility.

This does not appoint the director, replace the company's filing responsibility, or alter the Companies House standard.

The remaining appointment step

Once identity verification and Personal Code readiness are established, the separate appointment filing can proceed through the company's normal filing process. If your circumstances concern incorporation rather than appointment to an existing company, return to the formation-specific director identity-verification route.