Companies House personal code
Companies House Identity Verification Guide
Companies House Personal Code: How to Get, Find & Use Yours
A Companies House personal code is a unique 11-character identifier issued after you successfully verify your identity. Directors and people with significant control (PSCs) use it to connect their verified identity to their Companies House roles.
Updated October 2026 · UK Companies House guidance
Quick Answer
What is a Companies House personal code?
A Companies House personal code is an 11-character code issued to an individual after successful identity verification. It proves that the individual has completed the verification process and allows Companies House to link their verified identity to their appointments as a director or person with significant control (PSC).
You only need one personal code, even if you are a director or PSC of several companies. However, you must provide that code separately wherever Companies House requires verification of a particular role.
Important: The code belongs to you personally, not to your company. It is different from your company's authentication code.
Getting Started
How to get a Companies House personal code
You cannot simply request a personal code without first verifying your identity. Companies House issues it after your identity has been successfully verified.
There are two main ways to complete this process.
Verify using GOV.UK One Login
Complete the official identity verification process using GOV.UK One Login. Depending on your circumstances and identity documents, you may be able to verify online or through an assisted route.
Verify through an authorised agent
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as a registered accountant or solicitor, can verify your identity on your behalf using the required checks and submit the verification information to Companies House.
Step-by-step: verifying your identity online
Open the official verification service
Visit GOV.UK and select the Companies House identity verification service. Make sure you are using an official government website.
Sign in or create a GOV.UK One Login
Use your own email address and login details. Your identity verification must relate to you personally, not to a shared company email account.
Complete the identity checks
Follow the instructions for the verification route offered to you. You may need photo identification and additional checks, depending on your circumstances.
Receive your personal code
After successful verification, Companies House issues your 11-character code. Keep it securely so you can use it for your company roles.
Is verification free? Verifying through the official GOV.UK One Login service is free. An authorised agent may charge a fee for completing identity checks on your behalf.
Finding Your Code
Where can I find my Companies House personal code?
The location of your personal code depends on how you originally verified your identity.
If you verified using GOV.UK One Login
Sign in to Companies House
Use the same email address that you used during identity verification.
Open Manage account
Find the Manage account section within your Companies House account.
View your personal code
Your 11-character code should be available once verification has been completed and linked to your account.
If you verified after 8 July 2026, Companies House should also have sent your code to your email address.
If you verified through an ACSP
Companies House sends the code to the email address provided by your authorised agent. Check that inbox, including your junk folder.
If you have not received it, ask your agent to confirm which email address they supplied. You can also save an ACSP-issued personal code to a Companies House account for future access.
Practical tip: Store your personal code in a secure password manager or similarly protected record. Avoid saving it in an unprotected spreadsheet shared across your business.
Using Your Code
What is a Companies House personal code used for?
The personal code connects your verified identity to the specific positions you hold on the Companies House register.
Company directors
Existing directors provide their code with the relevant confirmation statement. New directors provide it as part of the appointment or incorporation process.
People with significant control
PSCs must provide their personal code and verification statement using the dedicated Companies House PSC service within their applicable filing window.
Multiple company appointments
The same code can be used for several companies. There is no need to complete identity verification again for each directorship.
Example: a director with three limited companies
Imagine Sarah is a director of three UK limited companies and a PSC of two of them. Sarah verifies her identity once and receives one personal code.
She uses that same code for each of her three directorships when required. She must also separately connect her verified identity to each of her two PSC roles. Completing a director filing does not automatically satisfy her PSC obligations.
This distinction matters because one identity verification can support multiple appointments, but each relevant role still has its own reporting requirement.
2026 Requirements
Companies House personal code deadlines for directors and PSCs
Mandatory identity verification began on 18 November 2025. That date marked the start of the phased requirements, rather than a single deadline for everyone.
Your deadline depends on your role and when you became a director or PSC.
| Your role | When to provide the code | How it is provided |
|---|---|---|
| Existing company director | With the company's next confirmation statement from 18 November 2025. | As part of the confirmation statement filing. |
| New company director | When appointed or when the new company is incorporated. | Through the relevant appointment or incorporation filing. |
| Existing PSC who is also a director | Within the 14-day period beginning the day after the company's confirmation statement date. | Separately through the PSC verification service. |
| Existing PSC who is not a director | Within the first 14 days of their birth month, under the transitional arrangements. | Through the PSC verification service. |
| New PSC after 18 November 2025 | When first added to the register or within 14 days of being added. | Through the PSC verification process. |
Important for directors who are also PSCs: You must provide your personal code separately for your director and PSC roles. Providing it in your company's confirmation statement does not automatically complete the PSC requirement.
For an individual deadline, use the official Companies House identity verification timetable. You can also check your PSC filing window on the Companies House register.
Where eligible, PSCs can request a 14-day extension before their existing deadline expires using the official PSC verification service.
Avoid Confusion
Companies House personal code vs authentication code
These two codes serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.
| Feature | Personal code | Authentication code |
|---|---|---|
| Belongs to | An individual | A company |
| Purpose | Connects a verified identity to Companies House roles | Authorises certain online company filings |
| Format | 11 characters | 6 alphanumeric characters |
| How obtained | After successful identity verification | Issued by Companies House for the company |
| Multiple companies | The same personal code is reused | Each company has its own authentication code |
You may need both when managing company filings: the authentication code to authorise an online filing and your personal code to satisfy an identity verification requirement.
Is a personal code the same as GOV.UK One Login?
No. GOV.UK One Login is a government sign-in and identity verification service. Your Companies House personal code is the identifier issued after successful verification. A Government Gateway user ID is also a separate credential and does not replace your personal code.
Related guide: What is a Government Gateway user ID?
Troubleshooting
Companies House personal code not working? Common problems and solutions
I cannot find my code
Check Manage account using the email address linked to your verification. If you used an ACSP, check the email address given to your agent.
My code is rejected
Check that you entered all 11 characters correctly. Confirm that your personal details, particularly your date of birth, match the Companies House records.
I used the wrong email
If your agent submitted an incorrect email address, contact them so they can arrange the necessary correction with Companies House.
My date of birth is wrong
Check the details held by Companies House and follow its correction process before trying to connect your verified identity again.
I have multiple companies
Do not verify again simply because you have another company. Use your existing personal code for each relevant appointment.
My code may be compromised
Contact Companies House to request a replacement. Companies House can cancel the previous code and issue a new one.
Do not repeatedly submit incorrect information. If your verified identity cannot be matched to the register, identify the mismatch and resolve it through Companies House or your authorised agent.
Security & Compliance
Is your Companies House personal code confidential?
Your personal code is not a password, but it is a sensitive identifier that should be protected. Companies House allows you to share it with trusted people who need to file on your behalf, including your accountant.
- Keep the code in a secure location rather than an openly accessible document.
- Only share it with people who genuinely need it for an authorised filing.
- Check the recipient's identity before providing it by email or message.
- Never publish it on your website or social media.
- Contact Companies House if you believe it has been disclosed improperly.
What happens if you do not provide your personal code?
Failing to meet mandatory identity verification requirements can lead to compliance action, financial penalties or criminal consequences. Companies House may also display non-compliance information on the public register.
It is therefore important to verify your identity and submit your code within the applicable deadline, rather than assuming that simply receiving the code completes every requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Companies House personal code FAQs
How many characters is a Companies House personal code?
A Companies House personal code contains 11 characters. It is issued after successful identity verification and is unique to the individual.
Can I get a Companies House personal code without verifying my identity?
No. You must successfully complete identity verification through GOV.UK One Login or an authorised agent before a personal code can be issued.
Does every director need a personal code?
Directors who are subject to Companies House identity verification requirements need their own personal codes. A code belongs to an individual and cannot be shared between directors as a common company identifier.
Do I need a different code for each company?
No. Your personal code stays with you as an individual. You use the same code for each relevant company appointment, even if you are a director of several businesses.
Can my accountant use my personal code?
Yes. You can share it with a trusted accountant or authorised filing agent when they need it to complete an appropriate Companies House filing on your behalf.
Do I need to enter my code every year?
Existing directors must provide their code with the relevant confirmation statement as part of the transition to mandatory identity verification. Once a role is correctly linked to a verified identity, you do not normally need to re-enter the code for that same role with every annual confirmation statement. Separate new appointments or roles may require it.
Is the personal code shown on the public register?
The personal code itself is not intended to be publicly displayed on the Companies House register. It should be treated as a private identifier and shared only when necessary.
Can I change my personal code?
If you believe your code has been compromised, you can contact Companies House to request a replacement. Your previous code will be cancelled when the replacement is issued.
What if I am both a director and a PSC?
You only need one personal code, but you must provide it separately for both roles. The director requirement is linked to the appropriate company filing, while the PSC requirement uses the dedicated PSC verification service.
Can a non-UK resident get a Companies House personal code?
Yes. Overseas residents can complete Companies House identity verification. The appropriate verification route depends on their circumstances and the identification they can provide. A UK residential address is not a universal requirement for obtaining a personal code.
Is a Companies House personal code the same as an authentication code?
No. A personal code relates to a verified individual. An authentication code relates to a company and is used to authorise certain online filings.
What if I lose my Companies House personal code?
Sign in to Companies House and check Manage account using the email address associated with your verification. If you verified through an authorised agent, check your original email notification or contact that agent.
Professional Guidance
How an accountant can help with Companies House identity verification
For a company with several directors or PSCs, the challenge is often not obtaining the personal codes but ensuring that every individual completes verification and every relevant role is connected to the correct identity before its deadline.
An experienced company accountant can help you identify the required filings, organise confirmation statement information, explain PSC reporting obligations and coordinate with directors who live overseas.
It is also worth reviewing your wider company compliance arrangements, including annual accounts and corporation tax filing deadlines.
Explore our limited company accounts filing service or our fixed-price accountants fees.
The Online Accountants
Need help with your company's filing obligations?
We support UK limited companies with accounts, tax and statutory compliance. If you are unsure how identity verification affects your company filings, our team can help you understand the next steps.
Contact Our Accountants → View Company Accounts Services →About this guide
This guide has been prepared for The Online Accountants, a UK accountancy practice supporting limited companies, directors and business owners. It explains the practical Companies House personal code requirements in plain English.
Last reviewed: 14 October 2026. Identity verification procedures and filing requirements can change. Always confirm individual deadlines using the official Companies House services.