Can I Use a Foreign Passport for Companies House Verification?

Yes, foreign passports are accepted for Companies House identity verification — but only through the ACSP route. GOV.UK One Login requires a UK passport or UK driving licence. This guide explains how international applicants can use their foreign passport to complete verification.

Which foreign passports are accepted?

Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), passports from any country are generally accepted, provided the passport meets the standard requirements:

• The passport must be currently valid (not expired)
• It must be machine-readable (ICAO-compliant with MRZ lines)
• The data page must be undamaged and legible
• The photograph must be clear and identifiable

Why foreign passports are not accepted on GOV.UK One Login

GOV.UK One Login is the government’s own self-service identity system and currently supports only UK-issued documents. This means millions of international directors and PSCs cannot use it. The ACSP route exists specifically to provide an alternative for those who do not hold UK documents.

How verification works with a foreign passport

1. Choose an ACSP that supports applicants from your country
2. Register and provide your personal details, including your overseas address
3. Upload a clear image of your foreign passport data page
4. Complete the liveness check to confirm you are the person in the passport photo
5. The ACSP verifies your identity and submits the verification to Companies House
6. You receive your 11-character Companies House personal code

Common issues with foreign passports

• Name transliteration — if your name is originally in a non-Latin script (Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, etc.), the English transliteration on your passport may differ from how it was recorded at Companies House. Check both carefully.
• Name order — some countries list family name first, others list given name first. Ensure the order on the Companies House register matches your passport.
• Old passport format — some older passports may not be machine-readable. If your passport does not have the two lines of machine-readable text at the bottom of the data page, it may not be accepted.
• Damaged or heavily stamped passports — if visa stamps or endorsements obscure the data page, this can cause issues.

Countries with the most foreign passport verifications

Based on the number of international directors of UK companies, the most common foreign passports used for verification include those from:

• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria (South Asian and African directors)
• United States, Canada, Australia (English-speaking countries)
• UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar (Middle Eastern business hubs)
• EU member states (European directors)
• China, Hong Kong, Singapore (East Asian directors)

Regardless of your country, if your passport is current and machine-readable, it should be accepted through an ACSP.

Verify with your foreign passport

Companies House ID Verification accepts foreign passports from all countries through a guided process at a fixed £19 fee. Check the requirements and start your verification.