New Legal Requirement: Directors and PSCs must Verify Their Identity from November 2025
New Legal Requirement: Directors and PSCs must Verify Their Identity from November 2025
From 18 November 2025, identity verification will become a legal requirement for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs). This forms part of a wider reform under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and is expected to affect millions of individuals connected with United Kingdom companies.
If you are a company director or a PSC, this change will apply to you, so it is important to understand precisely what is required – and when.
What is Changing?
From 18 November 2025:
- New directors will be required to verify their identity when incorporating a company or when being appointed to an existing company.
- Existing directors will be required to confirm that they have verified their identity when filing their company’s next confirmation statement. This will form part of a 12-month transition period.
- Existing PSCs will also be required to verify their identity within a specific 12-month period, depending on their role and date of birth.
Why is This Happening?
The intention is to make the Companies Register more transparent and reliable, and to assist in tackling fraud and economic crime. With identity verification in place, it will be more difficult for individuals to hide behind false names or fraudulent company appointments.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
For most people, this will be a one-off process. Companies House has indicated that it will be quick and straightforward, taking only a few minutes in the majority of cases.
Verification can be completed via your GOV.UK One Login. Alternatively, verification can be carried out through us, as we are an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
Once the new rules come into force, it will be a criminal offence to act as a director without having been verified.
When Must You Act?
If you are appointed as a new director or PSC from 18 November 2025, you must complete verification within 14 days of your registration.
If you are an existing PSC, your deadline will depend on your circumstances:
- If you are also a director, you must confirm that you have verified your identity within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date.
- If you are not a director, your 14-day deadline will commence on the first day of your birth month in 2026 (as recorded on the Companies House register).
What If You Are Unsure?
Companies House will be contacting all companies via their registered email addresses with full details and guidance. From 18 November 2025, you will also be able to log into Companies House to check the identity verification deadlines for all the roles you hold.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact us. We will be pleased to guide you or your company through these new requirements.
