How to Verify Your Identity with UK Companies House Using ‘Sovereign Verify’

As of 18 November 2025, Companies House introduced new identity verification (IDV) requirements for Individual Company Directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) of E&W Companies under the UK’s Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).

IDV is designed to strengthen the role of Companies House as a ‘gatekeeper’ and improve the reliability of information on the Companies Register. It is important to note that standard Know Your Customer (KYC) checks for anti-money laundering (AML) due diligence do not satisfy the strict requirements of this legislation. IDV is an additional and separate Companies House procedure.

For Individual Company Directors, Companies House is phasing in IDV over a 12-month transition period, as follows:

• From 18 November, new Directors are required to verify their identity before incorporating a company or being appointed to an existing company.
• From 18 November, existing Directors are required to confirm they have verified their identity before filing their next annual confirmation statement during the 12-month transition period.
• If you are a Director of more than one company, you are required to do this for each company.

A PSC has a 14-day period during which they are required to submit a statement confirming that their identity has been verified. The date for this 14-day confirmation period varies, depending on whether the individual is a new or existing PSC, and whether he or she is also a Director of the company, as follows:

• If registering as a new PSC after 18 November 2025, the 14-day period commences from the date of incorporation of the company with Companies House.
• For an existing PSC on 18 November 2025 who is also a Director of the company, the 14-day period commences from the date of the company’s next annual confirmation statement during the 12-month transition period.
• For an existing PSC on 18 November 2025 who is NOT a Director of the company, the 14-day period commences from the first day of their month of birth as it is shown on the Companies House register. For example, if the date of birth shown on the register is in March 1990, the 14-day period will commence on 1 March 2026.

Individual Directors or PSCs who are resident outside the UK can only verify via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Sovereign Corporate & Trustee Services Limited (Sovereign) officially registered as an ACSP in March 2025.

For any individual or business with UK-linked structures, Sovereign’s ACSP status offers a straightforward route to staying compliant with the evolving demands of UK corporate legislation. When Sovereign is used, the list of acceptable verification documents is more extensive and other benefits include:

• We save you time and reduce your admin – all you have to do is upload your ID documents and we will carry out the identity checks for you.
• We will verify your identity to the same standard as the Companies House service.
• We meet the strict UK legal requirements, including anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
• We help you stay compliant – we will make sure your identity checks are completed in time for when you need to provide your personal code to Companies House (see Recommended Timeline below).

Individual Directors and PSCs who have requested to use our IDV service will receive an email from Verify inviting them to download the app. When they have downloaded the app, Verify will ask them to sign in to the Verify app and follow the instructions as follows:

• Live scan the two ID documents using the smartphone camera and submit.
• Facial Recognition – scan your face using the front-facing (selfie) camera, making sure that your face is completely aligned with the guide on your screen, that you are looking straight ahead and that you keep as still as possible.
• Additional documentation will be required if the ID documents provided do not confirm address history for the last 12 months or if the applicant has changed their name.

If Sovereign is satisfied that the IDV meets the required standard, it will declare to Companies House that the identification has been verified and submit the individual’s details online.

Sovereign is also required to keep records of all the evidence and information used to verify an individual’s identity for seven (7) years from the date on which verification is completed. This includes:

• Copies of the documents verified.
• Evidence of the identity checks completed.
• Records of any failed verification attempts.

It is important to note that, unless Companies House requests re-verification, IDV only has to be performed once per individual, regardless of the number of directorships and/or PSC roles that an individual holds.

We recommend that Individual Directors should contact Sovereign to initiate the IDV process at least two months before they are required to provide their Personal Code to Companies House for the first time.

Individual PSCs have a 14-day period from the first day of the month of their birth during which they are required to provide their Personal Code to Companies House with a statement confirming that their identity has been verified. We therefore recommend that PSCs (who are NOT also a Director) should initiate the IDV process at least two months before the first day of the month of their birth as it is shown on the Companies House register.

Individuals who are both existing Directors and PSCs should identify the earliest deadline that applies.

For further information or to request Sovereign to carry out your IDV, please contact  idverification@SovereignGroup.com, or speak to your nearest Sovereign office.