Companies House identity verification for overseas directors, PSCs and LLP members

A large share of UK company directors and controllers live outside the UK, and the verification regime was built with them in mind. This guide covers Companies House identity verification for overseas directors, PSCs and LLP members, and how an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) makes remote verification straightforward.

Overseas and international directors

International directors and overseas directors complete the same check as UK residents, remotely. Overseas director identity verification and international director identity verification use identity documents issued in your own country. Formally this is Companies House identity verification for overseas directors, sometimes written UK identity verification for overseas directors. Whether described as identity verification for international directors or Companies House verification for overseas directors, no UK visit and no UK address is required. Completing overseas director identity verification remotely is now the norm, not the exception.

PSCs – persons with significant control

PSCs – persons with significant control – must verify too. PSC verification follows the same standard as director checks. PSC identity verification (or PSC identity verification UK) confirms the real individual behind a controlling interest. You may see it written Companies House PSC identity verification or Companies House identity verification for PSCs; both mean identity verification for PSCs. Because a PSC is, by definition, a controller, the requirement is often spelled out in full as person with significant control identity verification.

LLP members

LLP members fall within the regime in the same way as directors. LLP member identity verification – that is, identity verification for LLP members or, in full, Companies House identity verification for LLP members – applies to every member of a limited liability partnership. LLP verification UK follows the same timeline and standard as director and PSC checks.

The role of an ACSP

An ACSP is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider – a firm Companies House has approved to run identity checks on its behalf. DirectorKYC is a Companies House authorised corporate service provider. The relationship between Companies House identity verification and authorised corporate service providers is simple: the ACSP performs the check to the official standard and passes the verified result to Companies House.

Using an authorised corporate service provider is often the practical choice for anyone abroad. ACSP identity verification accepts a wider range of documents than the UK-only direct route. Whether you call it ACSP Companies House verification, identity verification through ACSP, or Companies House verification through ACSP, the provider reviews your documents in advance, supports non-Latin names and translations, and follows up if Companies House needs anything more.