Do PSCs Need to Complete Companies House Identity Verification?

Yes — persons with significant control (PSCs) must complete Companies House identity verification. This requirement was introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) and applies to every individual recorded as a PSC on the Companies House register. If you own or control a UK company, identity verification is now a legal obligation.

Why PSCs must verify their identity

The PSC identity verification requirement exists to confirm that the people listed as controlling UK companies are who they claim to be. Before ECCTA, anyone could be registered as a PSC without proving their identity. This made it easier to use UK companies for fraud and money laundering. Verification closes that gap by linking every PSC to a verified identity.

What the law requires

Under ECCTA, every PSC must:

1. Complete Companies House identity verification through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
2. Receive their unique 11-character Companies House personal code
3. Provide that personal code for each company where they are registered as a PSC

The personal code belongs to you as an individual. You verify your identity once, but you must link your code to every PSC role you hold. If you are also a director, you need to link your code separately for each directorship and each PSC position.

Which PSCs are affected

The requirement applies to all individual PSCs, including:

• Majority shareholders (more than 25% of shares)
• Holders of more than 25% of voting rights
• Anyone with the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors
• Anyone exercising significant influence or control
• PSCs of overseas entities registered at Companies House

Corporate PSCs (companies that are PSCs of other companies) are not directly subject to individual identity verification, but their own individual PSCs are.

PSC verification deadlines

Existing PSCs have until November 2026 to complete verification. Each PSC has an individual 14-day window during which they must provide their personal code. New PSCs appointed after 18 November 2025 must verify before or shortly after registration. Check the official Companies House deadline guidance for your specific dates.

What if a PSC doesn’t verify

PSCs who do not verify on time face consequences including a public annotation on the Companies House register, financial penalties and potential criminal liability. The company itself may also face restrictions on its ability to file documents if its PSCs remain unverified.

How to complete PSC identity verification

You have two routes. GOV.UK One Login is the direct self-service option, but it currently requires a UK passport or driving licence. An ACSP offers a guided alternative that accepts a wider range of documents, including foreign passports, making it suitable for international PSCs.

Companies House ID Verification provides a guided ACSP verification service at a fixed £19 fee per person. The process can be completed online from anywhere in the world. See our document requirements page to check what you need before starting.