By next autumn, UK company directors and significant
shareholders will face a new legal duty: prove who they are or risk losing
their role. In a sweeping reform aimed at enhancing corporate transparency,
Companies House will begin enforcing identity verification requirements from 18
November 2025.
The move marks a major milestone in the UK
government’s push to clean up company data and deter fraud. Over a 12-month
transition period, the identity verification rules will reportedly apply to an estimated 6
to 7 million individuals.
New directors will need to verify their identities
immediately, while existing directors must do so when filing their next
confirmation statement. Individuals with significant control (PSCs) must also
complete the process according to timelines based on their registration
details.
What Changes on 18 November 2025?
From that date, it becomes a legal requirement for all
newly appointed company directors and PSCs to verify their identity before
incorporation or appointment.
Identity verification becomes mandatory for existing directors the next time they submit a confirmation statement, with a final
deadline set for November 2026.
PSCs, depending on whether they are also directors or
based on their date of birth, will have different 14-day windows to confirm
they’ve completed identity verification after the rules come into force.
Verification can be done online or through GOV.UK One Login or via an
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
Commenting about the move, Jonathan Frost, Director of
Global Advisory for EMEA at BioCatch, said: “The announcement from Companies
House that it will verify the identities of directors and beneficial owners is
a vital step forward for corporate transparency. However, the proposed 12-month
phased rollout leaves a clear window for criminals to abuse.”
Jonathan Frost, Source: LinkedIn
“Banks invest vast sums into double-checking Companies House
data, distracting from their efforts to tackle economic crime,” he added. “Like banks,
the agency should focus on behavioural insights, monitoring device use,
behavioural patterns, and anomalies across the lifecycle of a company, to
detect suspicious activity without adding friction for genuine users.”
According to Companies House, most users will only need to verify once
and will receive a personal verification code. GOV.UK One Login, the free
online verification tool, currently averages 2.4 minutes per ID check using its
document-checking app.
Read more: Is the UK Government Heeding IG’s Call to Save the Stock Market?
Early figures reportedly show more than 300,000 people have
already voluntarily completed the process since April 2025.
Government Sees ID Checks as Growth Driver
Government ministers have backed the policy as a
necessary step to protect the integrity of UK business. The identity checks stem from provisions in the
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which introduced sweeping
reforms aimed at curbing economic crime and tightening the accuracy of the
Companies House register.
It will be a criminal offence to act as a director
without a verified identity once these rules are active. Since March 2024, all companies have been required to
provide a registered email address, a channel now being used to communicate
the new ID rules.
A YouGov survey conducted in June 2025 found that 81%
of senior business decision-makers support the introduction of ID verification,
with 73% saying the process would likely be easy for directors and PSCs.
Awareness of the changes is also growing: 60% of respondents were reportedly already
familiar with the new legal requirements.
By next autumn, UK company directors and significant
shareholders will face a new legal duty: prove who they are or risk losing
their role. In a sweeping reform aimed at enhancing corporate transparency,
Companies House will begin enforcing identity verification requirements from 18
November 2025.
The move marks a major milestone in the UK
government’s push to clean up company data and deter fraud. Over a 12-month
transition period, the identity verification rules will reportedly apply to an estimated 6
to 7 million individuals.
New directors will need to verify their identities
immediately, while existing directors must do so when filing their next
confirmation statement. Individuals with significant control (PSCs) must also
complete the process according to timelines based on their registration
details.
What Changes on 18 November 2025?
From that date, it becomes a legal requirement for all
newly appointed company directors and PSCs to verify their identity before
incorporation or appointment.
Identity verification becomes mandatory for existing directors the next time they submit a confirmation statement, with a final
deadline set for November 2026.
PSCs, depending on whether they are also directors or
based on their date of birth, will have different 14-day windows to confirm
they’ve completed identity verification after the rules come into force.
Verification can be done online or through GOV.UK One Login or via an
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
Commenting about the move, Jonathan Frost, Director of
Global Advisory for EMEA at BioCatch, said: “The announcement from Companies
House that it will verify the identities of directors and beneficial owners is
a vital step forward for corporate transparency. However, the proposed 12-month
phased rollout leaves a clear window for criminals to abuse.”
Jonathan Frost, Source: LinkedIn
“Banks invest vast sums into double-checking Companies House
data, distracting from their efforts to tackle economic crime,” he added. “Like banks,
the agency should focus on behavioural insights, monitoring device use,
behavioural patterns, and anomalies across the lifecycle of a company, to
detect suspicious activity without adding friction for genuine users.”
According to Companies House, most users will only need to verify once
and will receive a personal verification code. GOV.UK One Login, the free
online verification tool, currently averages 2.4 minutes per ID check using its
document-checking app.
Read more: Is the UK Government Heeding IG’s Call to Save the Stock Market?
Early figures reportedly show more than 300,000 people have
already voluntarily completed the process since April 2025.
Government Sees ID Checks as Growth Driver
Government ministers have backed the policy as a
necessary step to protect the integrity of UK business. The identity checks stem from provisions in the
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which introduced sweeping
reforms aimed at curbing economic crime and tightening the accuracy of the
Companies House register.
It will be a criminal offence to act as a director
without a verified identity once these rules are active. Since March 2024, all companies have been required to
provide a registered email address, a channel now being used to communicate
the new ID rules.
A YouGov survey conducted in June 2025 found that 81%
of senior business decision-makers support the introduction of ID verification,
with 73% saying the process would likely be easy for directors and PSCs.
Awareness of the changes is also growing: 60% of respondents were reportedly already
familiar with the new legal requirements.
