Companies House Verification Rejected: What to Do Next

If your Companies House verification has been rejected, it means the verification process could not confirm your identity with the information provided. This is different from a technical error — a rejection indicates a substantive issue that needs to be addressed before you can verify successfully.

Common reasons for rejection

• Identity document does not match the register — the name, date of birth or other details on your document differ from what is recorded at Companies House
• Document not accepted — the type of document you submitted is not on the list of accepted documents for your verification route
• Suspected fraudulent document — the verification system flagged potential issues with the authenticity of your document
• Incomplete submission — required information was missing from your application
• Liveness check concern — the system could not sufficiently match your live image to your document photo

What to do after a rejection

Review the rejection reason

If the verification service provided a reason for the rejection, start there. The reason usually points directly to what needs to be fixed.

Correct register discrepancies

If the rejection was due to a data mismatch, correct the Companies House register before trying again. File a CH01 form (directors) or PSC07 form (PSCs) to update your details. Allow time for the update to be processed.

Use the correct document

Ensure you are using a document accepted by your chosen verification route. For GOV.UK One Login, only a UK passport or UK driving licence is accepted. For the ACSP route, a wider range of passports is accepted, but other documents (utility bills, bank statements, national ID cards) are generally not accepted as primary identity evidence.

Resubmit with better quality

If the rejection was related to image quality or readability, retake your document photos following the requirements guidance and resubmit.

Can you appeal a rejection?

There is no formal appeal process for verification rejections. However, you can attempt verification again after resolving the issue, and you can switch between verification routes (GOV.UK One Login or ACSP). If you believe the rejection was made in error, contact the verification provider for clarification.

Avoid future rejections

Companies House ID Verification provides a guided service designed to help you avoid common rejection reasons. At a fixed £19 fee, the service includes document guidance before submission. Start your verification.