UK Director Identity Checks Start 18 November

According to the UK Business House, on November 18, directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) of businesses will be required by law to complete identity authentication.

The UK’s Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), which brought about the most significant changes to Companies House since the inception of corporation registrations in 1844, included this additional obligation.

Transition Period and Implementation

During a 12-month transition period, identity verification will be implemented gradually as follows:

• In order to be nominated to an existing business or to establish a new one, new directors will have to prove their identity.
• During the 12-month transition period, current directors must attest that they have confirmed their identification when they submit their subsequent annual confirmation statement.
• Within 12 months of the mandatory identification verification process starting on November 18, current PSCs will have to confirm their identities on a designated day.

Timeline for Identity Verification

Companies House is urging people to confirm their identities as soon as possible since it estimates that more than six million people will need to do so by mid-November 2026. Directors and PSCs will be able to view the Companies House registry starting on November 18 to see the dates for identification verification for each position.

People can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) or Companies House directly to confirm their identification. An organisation protected by the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations is an ACSP, commonly referred to as a Companies House “authorised agent.” This includes Trust and Company Service Providers (TCSPs) like GERAI LTD as well as professional service providers like accountants and solicitors.

Example: SCATS as an ACSP

In March of this year, Chester-based SCATS formally registered with Companies House as an ACSP, allowing it to do identification verification (IDV) checks on PSCs and company directors. Applicants must be overseen by an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory authority in the UK to register as an ACSP. ACSPs are given a unique identification number and a digital account upon completion of registration.

Additionally, starting on November 18, all businesses must give Companies House a registered email address so that it can notify them of any significant changes to company law or requirements for compliance. A third-party agent, like SCATS, must forward any emails from your business to you if you use their email address as your registered email address.

Third-party providers will also need to be registered as ACSPs starting in the spring of 2026 to file anything with Companies House on behalf of their clients.

GERAI LTD provides a simple path to maintaining compliance with the changing requirements of UK corporate compliance for clients or international directors who are not familiar with the UK system. Understanding and navigating these developments is crucial for any company with UK-linked structures, particularly those with non-resident directors or shareholders.

Additionally, SCATS is an Assured Agent of Companies House. Since the Register of Foreign Entities (ROE) was established to find the beneficial owners of foreign entities (OEs) that own real estate or land in the UK, we are in a position to help. As a result, we can help with everything from IDV and first ROE registration to filing update statements and confirming structural modifications.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.