Companies House Identity Verification for Overseas Directors and Pakistani Applicants

If you are an overseas director, a non-UK resident PSC, or an applicant based in Pakistan with a UK company connection, you are still legally required to complete companies house identity verification. The requirement applies regardless of where you live in the world. This guide explains exactly what non-UK director identity verification involves, how the ACSP route works for international applicants, what documents are accepted — including Pakistani passports — and how to get your personal code from abroad.

Do overseas directors need to verify their identity?

Yes. Overseas director identity verification is mandatory under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). If you are a director, PSC, LLP member or authorised filer connected to a UK company, your location does not exempt you. International director companies house obligations are identical to those for UK-based individuals. Failing to verify by November 2026 carries the same criminal liability and filing restrictions regardless of where you reside.

Companies House estimates that a significant proportion of the six to seven million people who must verify live outside the United Kingdom. You can read the official guidance on companies house identity verification for overseas individuals.

Why GOV.UK One Login does not work for most overseas applicants

The GOV.UK One Login route is the free, self-service option for companies house verification gov.uk. However, it currently only accepts a UK passport or a UK driving licence. This makes it unsuitable for the majority of non-UK director identity verification cases, where the individual holds a foreign passport or a national identity card issued outside the UK.

If you are a foreign director companies house applicant without a current UK passport or UK driving licence, you must use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify identity from abroad companies house.

How the ACSP route works for overseas applicants

An ACSP overseas verification service is a companies house authorised agent approved by Companies House to conduct identity checks on behalf of overseas and UK-based applicants alike. The entire process can be completed remotely — no UK visit, no UK address and no UK bank account is required. The steps are:

1. Submit your application online with your identity document, company role details and contact information
2. Complete a biometric liveness check using your smartphone camera (typically takes 2–3 minutes)
3. The ACSP conducts an international document verification companies house check, verifying your document against international databases
4. Once approved, your personal code is confirmed and you receive guidance on linking it to your Companies House role

Our service supports this complete process for overseas companies house director check at a fixed £19 fee.

Pakistan and Companies House: what you need to know

Companies house id verification pakistan applicants are among the most frequently asked-about international cases. Pakistan is home to a significant number of individuals who hold directorships or PSC positions in UK companies, particularly in sectors such as textiles, retail, property and professional services.

For pakistan director uk company verification:

• A valid Pakistani passport is accepted through the ACSP route for pakistan passport companies house verification
• A Pakistani National Identity Card (CNIC / NICOP) may be accepted as a supporting document but is not sufficient as the primary identity document on its own — a passport is required
• The name on your passport must match the name on your Companies House record; if there is a discrepancy, contact Companies House to correct it before beginning verification
• There is no requirement to have a UK address, UK phone number or UK bank account

The GOV.UK One Login route is not available for companies house verification from pakistan — you must use an ACSP. Our service has helped applicants from Pakistan complete their verification entirely online, with guided support in English throughout.

Other overseas countries and accepted documents

Overseas psc verification companies house and director verification accepts passports issued by most countries worldwide through the ACSP route. Commonly verified international documents include:

• Passports from any country (including Pakistan, India, UAE, USA, Nigeria, South Africa, China and EU member states)
• National identity cards from EEA countries
• Biometric Residence Permits (for individuals living in the UK on a visa)

Documents must be current (not expired) and the name must exactly match your Companies House records. For companies house verification for non-uk residents, the passport is almost always the most reliable primary document. See our full requirements page.

Getting your personal code as an overseas director

After successful overseas director identity verification, Companies House issues your companies house personal code — an 11-character alphanumeric code that belongs to you as an individual. This code is the same format for UK and overseas applicants alike. You will need it to:

• Link yourself to your directorship on the Companies House register
• Complete your company’s confirmation statement
• Register any new directorships or PSC roles in future

Your personal code does not expire. One code applies to all UK company roles you hold, regardless of how many companies you are a director of.

Company filing obligations for overseas directors

From November 2026, verify director identity UK requirements mean overseas directors who have not verified cannot be named or accepted in company filings. If you are a pakistan director uk company or an international director in any other country, failing to complete your verification will:

• Block your company from filing its annual confirmation statement until you are verified
• Add a public note to the Companies House register against your name
• Expose you to the same criminal liability as a UK-based unverified director

For multi-jurisdiction directors holding roles in multiple UK companies, a single verification produces one personal code that covers all roles — you do not need to verify separately for each company.

Common problems for overseas and Pakistani applicants

The most frequent issues we see with companies house id verification overseas directors are:

• Name mismatch: the name on your passport differs from your Companies House record (maiden name vs married name, or transliteration differences in Arabic or Urdu names — for example, “Muhammad” vs “Mohammed” vs “Mohammad”)
• Expired passport: your document must be valid at the time of verification
• Poor liveness check environment: complete the biometric check in good lighting with a plain background
• Attempting the GOV.UK route with a foreign passport: switch to an ACSP service instead

If you have previously experienced companies house verification problems, our guided service provides human review at each stage to identify and resolve these issues before they cause a rejection.

Start your overseas verification today

Companies House ID Verification is an ACSP approved service designed to support overseas companies house director check and PSC verification for applicants worldwide. The process is fully online, available in English, and costs a fixed £19. Most international applicants complete verification within one business day.

Start your verification now, or read our FAQ for answers to common overseas applicant questions.