Is identity verification mandatory for all UK company directors?

Yes. Identity verification is mandatory for all new UK company directors appointed on or after 18 November 2025. Existing directors appointed before that date must complete verification during the 12-month transitional window ending 18 November 2026, delivering their personal verification code alongside the company's next confirmation statement.

Can Arab and overseas directors verify their identity without visiting the UK?

Yes. You do not need to travel to the UK or hold a UK residential address. Verification can be completed entirely online from anywhere in the world either via the GOV.UK One Login system or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as Fileminder using a secure biometric digital check.

Which identity documents are accepted for Companies House verification?

A valid biometric passport from any country is accepted directly across both GOV.UK One Login and ACSP channels. National identity cards, including Saudi national IDs (هوية وطنية) and Emirates IDs, must be checked against the current Companies House standard first to confirm whether they meet statutory verification specifications.

What are the penalties if a director fails to verify their identity?

Failing to verify prevents the company from filing its mandatory confirmation statement, which blocks all other statutory filings and can lead to compulsory strike-off. Acting as a director while unverified after your statutory deadline is also a criminal offence subject to civil fines up to £5,000, prosecution, and potential director disqualification.

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GOV.UKMay 2026 · 5 min read

The GOV.UK identity verification guide, an Arab director's reading

By Ibrahem Almahawe

Key takeaways for Arab directors

1Existing directors provide their personal code with the next confirmation statement during the transition
2You don't need to be in the UK or hold any UK documents
3A current passport from any country works; a Saudi national ID or Emirates ID can be used once checked against the current Companies House standard
4The ACSP route (through Fileminder) is completed remotely
5Failing to verify freezes all your Companies House filings and risks a public annotation

Frequently asked questions

Is identity verification mandatory for all UK company directors?: Yes. Identity verification is mandatory for all new UK company directors appointed on or after 18 November 2025. Existing directors appointed before that date must complete verification during the 12-month transitional window ending 18 November 2026, delivering their personal verification code alongside the company's next confirmation statement.
Can Arab and overseas directors verify their identity without visiting the UK?: Yes. You do not need to travel to the UK or hold a UK residential address. Verification can be completed entirely online from anywhere in the world either via the GOV.UK One Login system or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as Fileminder using a secure biometric digital check.
Which identity documents are accepted for Companies House verification?: A valid biometric passport from any country is accepted directly across both GOV.UK One Login and ACSP channels. National identity cards, including Saudi national IDs (هوية وطنية) and Emirates IDs, must be checked against the current Companies House standard first to confirm whether they meet statutory verification specifications.
What are the penalties if a director fails to verify their identity?: Failing to verify prevents the company from filing its mandatory confirmation statement, which blocks all other statutory filings and can lead to compulsory strike-off. Acting as a director while unverified after your statutory deadline is also a criminal offence subject to civil fines up to £5,000, prosecution, and potential director disqualification.

Fileminder’s take, written for Arab UK company directors

The official GOV.UK guide tells you what to do. It doesn't tell you what it feels like to be sitting in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, or Kuwait City trying to figure out how to comply with a UK government process you've never heard of before. Here's what it actually means for you.

From 8 April 2025, identity verification opened voluntarily. From 18 November 2025, it became mandatory. If you were already a director before that date, you provide your personal code with the company's next confirmation statement during the transition. The relevant date is role-specific, not one universal calendar deadline.

The most common question we hear from Arab clients: do I have to fly to the UK? No. The entire process can be done remotely through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) like Fileminder. A current passport from any country works. A national ID, such as a Saudi national ID (هوية وطنية) or an Emirates ID, is first checked against the current Companies House standard. You also complete a short biometric video check. It is done remotely, end to end.

The GOV.UK guide provides two routes. One Login accepts a current biometric passport from any country, as well as certain UK documents. An authorised ACSP offers a separate agent-assisted route for people who prefer support or need to use other approved evidence.

What happens if you don't verify? The company cannot file its confirmation statement until every director has verified and supplied their personal code, so the filing that keeps your company in good standing is blocked. Continuing to act as a director after your due date without verifying may also be an offence, which Companies House can pursue through financial penalties, prosecution, or referral for disqualification. Companies House will also annotate your company's public register entry, visible to anyone looking up your company, including banks and potential business partners, marking your identity as unverified.

Written by

Ibrahem Almahawe

Founder of Fileminder, an AAT Licensed Accountant, and author of the eight-book International Taxation Series. Browse the books →

Reference

GOV.UK

Visit the source ↗

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house

Related resources

→Director ID verification service (ACSP remote route)→Free UK company compliance health check →Speak to an ACSP-registered team member

Source check

The figures and rules in this article were checked against the official sources below on 16 September 2026.

GOV.UK: Verifying your identity for Companies House ↗

Re-check when Companies House fees change, or when identity verification guidance is updated.

Disclaimer

General educational guidance only, not legal, tax, accounting, immigration, investment or financial advice. We don't guarantee the information is complete, current or suitable for your situation. Always check official sources (GOV.UK, Companies House, HMRC, the relevant professional body) and speak to a qualified professional before acting. Last reviewed: May 2026.

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