Companies House has confirmed that, from 18th November 2025, it has rolled out mandatory identity verification for directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) of UK companies. This phased rollout, running over 12 months, is a major step forward in improving transparency, protecting businesses and reducing fraud.
Identity verification requirements for limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and officers of corporate PSCs will commence later.
Background
The requirement for mandatory identity verification arises from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which seeks to combat economic crime and improve the reliability of the companies register.
Since April 2025, more than 300,000 individuals have voluntarily verified their identities, reflecting growing awareness and support for the measure. A recent YouGov survey of 1,007 senior decision-makers across Great Britain revealed that:
- 81% support the new verification process;
- 73% believe directors and PSCs will find it easy to complete; and
- 60% were already aware of the upcoming obligations.
Companies House estimates that between six and seven million individuals will need to verify their identity by mid-November 2026. For most, this will be a one-off process taking only a few minutes online.
Who Will the New Requirements Apply To?
- New directors: Must verify their identity when incorporating a company or being appointed to an existing company.
- Existing directors: Must confirm identity verification before the next annual confirmation statement filing, during a 12-month transition period.
- Existing PSCs: Must verify their identity within a 12-month period following the introduction of mandatory verification.
How Verification Works
Individuals can verify their identity through:
- GOV.UK One Login (a free, online, and straightforward process); or
- By using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
Upon successful verification, individuals receive a unique personal code, which must be submitted with a verification statement for each company role they hold.
For PSCs, specific 14-day submission deadlines will apply, depending on their registration status and company role.
Why It Matters to Businesses
Mandatory identity verification is far more than a regulatory formality, it is a critical step in strengthening trust, transparency and security across the UK business landscape. By ensuring that those behind companies are properly identified, the new rules:
- Enhance confidence in the Companies House register, ensuring accurate and reliable information about directors and PSCs;
- Reduces the risk of fraud, safeguarding both businesses and investors; and
- Supports growth and investment, reinforcing the credibility of corporate leadership.
Justin Madders MP, Competition and Markets Minister, notes that identity verification “plays a key role in giving confidence to investors and consumers alike, ensuring greater transparency about the organisations they do business with.”
Feryal Clark, AI and Digital Government Minister, adds that the reforms “modernise government services, creating a faster, more secure and user-friendly way for companies to prove their legitimacy.”
For many firms, the verification process will be relatively straightforward. However, early action is recommended to avoid delays and ensure compliance with confirmation statement timelines.
How Complyport Can Help?
Adapting to new regulatory requirements can be time-consuming and disruptive, especially when they introduce obligations that span multiple individuals across your organisation. Complyport is here to ensure the identity verification rollout is smooth, efficient and fully compliant for your firm. We can support you by:
- Assessing Your Obligations: Identifying which directors, PSCs and other relevant individuals within your structure must complete identity verification, including more complex group and cross-border arrangements.
- End-to-End Verification Support: Guiding you through the GOV.UK One Login and Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) routes, ensuring your teams understand the process and meet the required standards.
- Deadline and Compliance Management: Tracking verification windows, particularly the varied 14-day periods for PSCs to ensure your firm avoids breaches, delays or late-filing risks.
- Governance, Policies and Documentation: Updating internal procedures, compliance manuals, onboarding frameworks and governance records to reflect the new Companies House obligations.
- Training and Briefings: Delivering tailored training for Compliance, Company Secretarial, Operations, and Senior Management so your organisation is fully prepared for the transition and clear on its responsibilities.
Contact Us
To understand how these changes may impact your business, or to discuss how Complyport can streamline your compliance with the new Companies House requirements, get in touch to arrange a meeting with one of our Subject Matter Experts.
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