Companies House ID Verification Failed: Complete Guide

This comprehensive guide covers every common reason why Companies House ID verification fails and provides detailed solutions for each type of failure. Whether the problem is with your documents, the liveness check or the data on the Companies House register, this guide will help you resolve it.

Understanding verification failure types

Companies House ID verification involves several checks. A failure can occur at any stage:

• Identity document check — verifying that your document is genuine, valid and readable
• Data matching — confirming that the details on your document match the Companies House register
• Liveness verification — confirming you are the person shown in the document photo
• Technical validation — ensuring the submission meets the technical requirements

Document-related failures

Expired document

An expired passport or driving licence will always be rejected. Check the expiry date on your document before starting. If it has expired, renew it first. This is the simplest failure to resolve but also one of the most common.

Damaged document

Physical damage to your passport (water damage, torn pages, faded ink, delaminated photo page) can prevent the verification system from reading it. If your document is damaged, you may need a replacement before attempting verification.

Poor image quality

When you photograph or scan your identity document, the image must be:

• In focus and sharp — text should be clearly readable
• Well-lit with no shadows across the document
• Free of glare, especially on laminated pages
• Complete — all four edges of the document visible
• Not cropped or rotated

Data matching failures

Name mismatch

This is the single most common reason for failure. Your name on the Companies House register must match your identity document exactly. Common discrepancies include:

• Missing middle name or extra middle name
• Maiden name vs married name
• Name transliteration differences (for non-Latin scripts)
• Abbreviated first name (e.g. “Rob” vs “Robert”)
• Hyphenated vs non-hyphenated surname

Solution: check the register at Companies House. If the name needs correcting, file the appropriate form (CH01 for directors, PSC07 for PSCs) before retrying.

Date of birth mismatch

If your date of birth was recorded incorrectly at Companies House (often a historical data entry error), verification will fail. Contact Companies House to correct the record.

Liveness check failures

The liveness check confirms you are a real person and that you match the photo in your identity document. Common causes of failure:

• Poor lighting — the camera needs clear, even lighting on your face
• Obstructions — remove glasses, hats, scarves or anything covering your face
• Camera quality — low-resolution cameras may not capture enough detail
• Significant appearance change — if you look very different from your passport photo (significant weight change, different hairstyle, ageing), the system may struggle to match
• Multiple faces in frame — ensure only your face is visible to the camera

Technical failures

• Browser issues — use an up-to-date browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge). Clear your cache if you experience errors.
• Session timeout — if you take too long, the session may expire. Prepare all your documents before starting.
• Network interruption — a stable internet connection is essential, particularly during the liveness check.

Alternative verification routes

If you cannot resolve a failure through one route, consider the alternative:

• If GOV.UK One Login failed, try an ACSP — they accept a wider range of documents and can provide human guidance
• If one ACSP failed, a different ACSP may use a different verification technology that works better with your documents

Get guided support

Companies House ID Verification provides a guided service at a fixed £19 fee with document guidance to help you avoid common failures. Visit requirements to check your documents before starting.