Existing director of a UK company

Check whether your identity has already been verified, whether you have your Personal Code, and whether the applicable director-role confirmation or another company filing remains.

Proposed or new director

Establish whether identity verification and the Personal Code need to be addressed before the applicable appointment or incorporation process.

Former or resigning director

Separate the end of the directorship from identity verification. A resignation, termination or correction of the Companies House record is a separate corporate matter.

Director living overseas

Overseas residence does not by itself create a separate Companies House identity-verification standard. Establish the role, company circumstances and applicable verification route.

Free direct route

GOV.UK One Login

The official service is free. GOV.UK One Login uses your answers to identify the available method: an app, online security questions, or photo-ID details entered online before a participating Post Office visit. Each method has its own evidence and access requirements; overseas residence does not automatically exclude the direct route.

Optional professional route

Coddan’s Credas-supported ACSP service

Your selected per-person service provides case setup, instructions, supported checks, professional review and normal personal-manager assistance by email or telephone. Coddan reviews your order, creates the Credas case and sends the invitation. The individual supplies the requested evidence and completes their own checks, including the required liveness check.

Coddan reviews the results, seeks clarification where needed and submits its ACSP confirmation when satisfied that the Companies House standard has been met. Companies House issues the Personal Code. View supported services, charges and ordering, or ask about suitability first. Check the selected service’s scope and total payable before ordering; company work is separately instructed and charged.

Personal Code: the individual

Companies House issues this 11-character code following successful verification. The same person uses it for relevant roles and appointments. After ACSP verification, it is emailed to the address supplied for that individual. If it has not arrived, contact the verifying ACSP to check that address.

Company authentication code: the company

This 6-character alphanumeric code authorises relevant electronic company filings. It does not verify a director or PSC. Use the official company authentication code guidance for the applicable request or management procedure; overseas companies have a separate route.

Director and PSC roles?

Director appointments and the applicable confirmation statement use the individual’s Personal Code for director verification. PSC verification details are submitted separately. A company filing may also need the company authentication code, depending on the route. Neither code is the company number, a One Login password or Coddan’s presenter credentials.

Overseas-resident director of a UK company

Establish whether you still need to verify, already have a Personal Code, or have another role-related or corporate task outstanding. Residence alone does not determine the route.

Remote options

Eligible applicants may be able to use an online verification route. The available GOV.UK method is determined by the official service and the applicant’s circumstances; do not assume that every case is entirely remote.

Specialist overseas guidance

Where residence, overseas identity evidence or access to an appropriate route is the remaining question, continue to the dedicated overseas director guidance.

Directors: new or existing appointments

New directors provide their Personal Code with incorporation or appointment filings. Existing directors with an outstanding transitional requirement provide it through the relevant confirmation statement for each company under the transition beginning 18 November 2025. Check what was already due or submitted; a later statement does not reset a missed requirement. The authorised filer undertakes the company filing. For appointment preparation, use Becoming a Director: Director Identity Verification.

Former or resigning director

Do not treat resignation as identity verification. A person should not be told to verify merely because they formerly held office; first establish whether a live role, an applicable outstanding requirement or a record correction remains. For leaving-office questions, use the director resignation guidance.

Already verified

In most cases, identity verification is completed only once and must not be repeated unless Companies House tells the individual to verify again. The remaining task may instead be use of the Personal Code, director-role linkage or a separate company filing.

PSCs: new, existing or also a director

A director’s submission does not complete the separate PSC requirement. An individual first registered as a PSC from 18 November 2025 can provide the code when added or within 14 days. Existing PSCs must check their applicable 14-day transitional period: for a director of the same company, it starts the day after the confirmation statement date; otherwise it is the first 14 days of their birth month. Early statement filing does not move the period. Check the official dates and PSC submission service.

Different company category

An overseas company with a UK establishment has its own Companies House filing context. Current official guidance requires the overseas company to confirm that all directors have verified their identity by the anniversary of the UK establishment’s registration.

Confirm which company is involved

An overseas-resident director of a UK company and a director of an overseas company registered in the UK are not interchangeable categories. Establish the company status before selecting the next guidance route.

Use the applicable Companies House process

Where the issue concerns an overseas company and its UK establishment, follow the specific Companies House requirements for that company category rather than applying a UK private-company appointment workflow by analogy. Check the current official timing guidance for the applicable position.

What you provide

Provide the requested personal details, address information, accessible personal email and case-setup contact details, together with supported evidence. Tell Coddan about known name or record differences and relevant dates. The instructed secure process is used for personal evidence.

Will your evidence suit the route?

Describe the document type and issuing country before ordering if suitability is unclear. Evidence depends on the route, checking method and the service Coddan supports. Coddan reviews the results and seeks clarification; possession of a document or a completed scan alone does not establish acceptance.

Your own supported checks

Follow the invitation and preparation instructions for the supported Credas checks. If an invitation is missing, a capture is unclear or access is difficult, describe the last step reached and any message. Coddan explains the supported next step; an interruption does not automatically require another paid check.

Personal help during and after checks

Your personal manager gives instructions, clarifies outstanding information and updates order or verification progress by email or telephone. Ask which stage is complete and what remains. Normal assistance is included in the selected verification service and is distinct from paid priority, extended consultation or continuing company support.

Different entity or equivalent role

If the remaining question concerns an LLP member, general partner, managing officer or another entity-specific position, use the entity-type identity-verification guide. Requirements depend on the entity and commencement date; not every partner, corporate officer or filer is already subject to the same rules.

Confirmation Statement remains

An existing director with an outstanding transitional requirement supplies the Personal Code through the relevant company confirmation statement. Use the director Confirmation Statement guidance when that filing is the remaining job.

Identity-verification problem

If an attempted verification has not completed successfully, identify the failed or unresolved stage through the dedicated identity-verification issues guidance before deciding whether to retry, change route or provide different evidence.

Personal Code or role linkage

If verification is complete, use the Personal Code receipt guidance if the code is missing or unclear. For an issued code, follow the guidance on using your code as a director. PSC submissions remain separate.

Identity verification remains incomplete

Choose the free GOV.UK One Login service where suitable, or view Coddan’s verification services and ordering. Suitable published services can be ordered directly; an enquiry is optional.

Identity verified; Personal Code remains

Move to the Personal Code stage rather than repeating identity verification without a Companies House reason to do so.

Verification complete; corporate event remains

Proceed to the applicable appointment, resignation, correction, Confirmation Statement or other corporate process.

Nothing Further Required

If your applicable identity verification, Personal Code and role-related work are complete and no separate Companies House or corporate event remains, no further identity-verification action is indicated by this page.