July 8, 2025 A Guide to Companies House Identity Verification for Overseas Individuals
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduces new identity verification requirements for company directors, Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), and individuals who file on behalf of entities.
UK-resident individuals have several options for completing this process including online verification, visiting a participating Post Office, or using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). In this guide we look at identity verification from the perspective of foreign nationals, especially those living overseas.
What documents will you need?
To verify your identity from overseas you will need documents from a specific set of permitted documents that can be verified using Identity Verification technology. As specific by Companies House, the accepted documents are:
- a biometric or machine readable passport, or an Irish passport card – these can be up to 6 months expired if identity checking technology can still validate the cryptographic features
- a UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
- an identity card with biometric information from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- a UK biometric residence permit (BRP) – these can be up to 18 months expired
- a UK biometric residence card (BRC)
- a UK Frontier Worker permit
It is expected that most overseas individuals will rely on a passport. Even still there are further restrictions on the options available, if the individual has a non-biometric (machine-readable) passport, they will only be able to verify through an authorised corporate services provider, such as Elemental. The most notable countries with large numbers of non-biometric passports in use include India and South Africa, though many countries are still transitioning.
Additional Document Requirements for Overseas Individuals
Because international address data is not always available through UK databases, individuals living overseas will also typically need to provide proof of address, such as a:
- Recent utility bill
- Bank statement
- Official government-issued letter
These documents:
- Do not need to be original copies (PDFs are fine)
- Do not need to be fully in English, as long as key details (such as name or address) are clear and legible
Where someone has changed their name, a supporting document (e.g. marriage certificate or deed poll) may also be required. Again, a scanned copy is usually acceptable. Further information can be found here.
What if I Don’t Have a Valid Form of ID?
According to the rules, if you do not currently hold an acceptable form of ID, you will need to obtain one before taking up your role or making filings.
How Elemental Can Help
Elemental is a market leader in Economic Crime Compliance, especially when it comes to supporting overseas nationals with UK identity verification. Elemental offers a secure, remote identity verification service that supports overseas individuals. This service can be accessed 24/7, allowing users to scan their ID (e.g. passport) and complete the process from anywhere in the world.
To find out more about our service, please visit our identity verification services page.
