How to get a Companies House personal code: complete verification guide

The Companies House personal code is the tangible outcome of director identity verification - an 11-character code that connects your verified identity to your company roles. But the path from “I need to get verified” to “I have my personal code in hand” has decision points and timelines worth understanding before you start.

This guide walks through how to get a Companies House personal code, what happens at each stage, how long it takes, and the specific differences between the direct route and the ACSP route.

What a Companies House personal code actually is

A personal code is not a password or PIN. It is an 11-character identifier issued to you as an individual once your identity has been verified by Companies House or an ACSP-approved provider. The code looks like XKJ4-••••-2223 (the middle characters are private to you).

This personal code companies house system is the proof that Companies House holds a verified record of you. When you file a confirmation statement, appoint yourself as a director, or take any other action at Companies House that requires verification, you provide this code to prove it is really you making the filing.

Route 1: Direct verification through GOV.UK One Login

The direct route to get your Companies House personal code is to verify directly with Companies House using their GOV.UK One Login service. You do not need an intermediary. The process is entirely self-service.

To use this route, you need:

• A UK passport or a UK photocard driving licence
• Proof of your current address
• A GOV.UK One Login account

You log into GOV.UK One Login, answer questions about your identity and companies, upload your documents, and submit. The system checks your details against the Companies House register and public records. If everything matches, you get your personal code by email within hours or days.

How to get personal code using this route is the lowest-friction path if your documents are perfectly in order. But it is also where problems compound fastest if something does not match - a name spelling difference, an address on the register you no longer live at, or a document quality issue.

Route 2: Identity verification through an ACSP provider

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a firm that Companies House has approved to carry out identity verification on its behalf. DirectorKYC is an ACSP provider. Using an ACSP to get a personal code costs a fixed fee (typically £19.99) but includes guidance at every step.

To get Companies House personal code through an ACSP:

1. You tell the ACSP your name, the companies you are connected to, and upload your identity documents
2. The ACSP reviews your documents before submission and flags any issues - mismatched names, document quality, address problems
3. The ACSP submits your details to Companies House on your behalf
4. Companies House runs the identity check
5. You receive your personal code by email once the check is complete

This route accepts a wider range of identity documents (passports, national ID cards, in many cases driving licences from outside the UK). For international applicants, overseas director verification becomes possible through an ACSP when the direct route accepts only UK documents.

Key difference: international director KYC verification

The direct GOV.UK One Login route is UK-centric. It accepts UK passports and UK driving licences. International applicants - directors living abroad, PSCs from overseas, non-UK passport holders - often cannot get a personal code through the direct route.

Using an ACSP provider to get Companies House personal code is how overseas applicants complete director KYC verification. An ACSP accepts passports from any country, national ID cards, and supporting documents in the applicant’s own language (with translation if needed). This is how international director identity verification works.

Timeline: how long to get your personal code

Timeline varies by route. The direct GOV.UK One Login route typically returns a personal code within 24-48 hours if documents are clean. More complex cases take longer; some take a week or more if a follow-up is needed.

The ACSP route adds the time for the ACSP to review your documents before submission (usually 24 hours) and then the same Companies House processing time. Total turnaround is often 3-5 business days for straightforward cases, longer if clarification is needed.

The safest planning assumption: allow two weeks from the date you start the director verification process to the date you hold your personal code. This accounts for small delays, resubmissions, or document quality issues that need a second attempt.

What to prepare before you start director verification

Before you attempt to get a personal code, pull your Companies House register entry. Compare it side-by-side with your passport:

• Does the name spelling match exactly - middle names, hyphens, apostrophes?
• Is the date of birth correct?
• Is the address the one you currently live at?

If anything does not match, file a change to Companies House first. Update the register before you attempt director identity verification. A rejected application because your register entry does not match your passport wastes two weeks you may not have.

Document requirements for personal code verification

Identity document: a current passport, national identity card with a photo and machine-readable zone, or (for UK applicants on the direct route) a UK photocard driving licence. The document must not be expired.

Proof of address: any document dated within the last three months showing your name and current residential address. Bank statement, utility bill, tax notice, or (for overseas applicants) a government-issued residency certificate or translated document.

The most common rejection reason when applying to get a personal code is a mismatch between the name or address on your identity documents and your Companies House register entry. Check everything before you submit.

After you receive your personal code

Once you have your personal code, save it securely. Treat it like a National Insurance number or UTR - it is not a password, but it functions like one when combined with your Companies House login. Store it in a password manager, keep a printed copy in a secure place, and do not share it by email or chat.

You use your personal code every time you file at Companies House - every confirmation statement, every appointment or removal, every amendment. The code is permanent. You do not need to verify again unless your legal name changes (marriage, deed poll, etc.).

If you lose your personal code, Companies House can reissue it (you will have to re-authenticate, but verification does not restart). If you suspect your code is compromised - shared with someone you no longer trust - report it and request an immediate reissue.

Cost and timeline summary

Direct route: 24 hours to 1 week, UK documents only. ACSP route: typically £19.99 fixed fee, 3-5 business days, accepts international documents and supports overseas applicants. Both routes deliver the same outcome: a valid personal code that connects your verified identity to your Companies House record and company roles.