Two routes, not one
Individuals can verify their identity directly with Companies House, free of charge. They can also verify through an authorised corporate service provider — a business registered with Companies House to carry out verification on its behalf.
Anyone telling you that the direct route is unavailable, or that an agent is the only way, is mistaken. The direct route exists, it works, and for many people it is the obvious choice.
When the assisted route is worth it
The agent route tends to suit people whose circumstances make the direct process awkward rather than people who simply find forms tedious.
- Your identity documents were issued outside the UK, and you are unsure which are accepted
- You are an overseas director without a UK address history
- You are verifying several people connected with the same company and want the process managed
- You would rather have somebody confirm what is required before you start
- A previous attempt was unsuccessful and you do not know why
What verification does not do
Verifying your identity confirms who you are. It does not approve a filing, incorporate a company, or discharge any of your duties as a director.
It also cannot be guaranteed. Verification depends on the evidence you provide meeting the required standard, and no agent can promise an outcome that depends on your documents. Be sceptical of anyone who does.
Your personal code
Once verification is complete, Companies House issues a personal code to the individual, sent to the email address given during verification.
Two practical points follow. Use an email address you will still have access to in several years — a personal address usually outlasts a company one. And treat the code as you would any other credential: it identifies you to Companies House for future filings.
Verification is not legal advice
Identity verification is a compliance service. Where it is provided by a practice that also gives legal advice, the two remain separate: verification does not make you a legal client, and it does not carry the protections that legal instructions do.
If you also want advice — on your duties as a director, on a shareholders' agreement, on a guarantee you have been asked to give — that is a separate instruction with its own scope and terms.
Where to check the current requirements
The requirements for identity verification are set by Companies House and change from time to time. The official guidance is the authoritative source, and it is worth checking it directly rather than relying on any summary, including this one.
This article is general information. It is not advice on your matter, it cannot take account of your circumstances, and the law changes. If you have been asked to sign something, take advice on the document in front of you.