Every UK company director faces a non-negotiable legal requirement in 2026. Mandatory director ID verification with Companies House is no longer coming. It is here. And if you have not completed your verification yet, the November 2026 deadline should be circled in red on your calendar.
This is not another bureaucratic formality you can delay or delegate. It is a personal obligation that every director must fulfill themselves. Failure to comply carries serious consequences including financial penalties, criminal prosecution, and the inability to fulfill your duties as a company director.
This guide explains everything you need to know about mandatory director ID verification, walks you through the exact process, and shows you how to ensure you never miss this critical deadline.
What Is Mandatory Director ID Verification?
The UK government has introduced mandatory identity verification for all company directors as part of sweeping reforms to combat economic crime and improve corporate transparency. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House now requires every person acting as a company director to prove their identity through a secure digital verification process.
This applies to all directors of UK limited companies, including private limited companies, public limited companies, and certain other registered entities. There are no exceptions based on company size, industry, or how long you have been a director.
The verification creates a permanent digital record linking your identity to your role as a director. This makes it significantly harder for criminals to use stolen identities or false names to control companies for illegal purposes.
Who Must Complete Mandatory Verification?
The requirement applies to several categories of individuals:
All Existing Company Directors If you were appointed as a director before the verification system launched, you must complete verification by the November 2026 deadline. This applies regardless of when you were appointed, whether it was last year or twenty years ago.
All New Directors Anyone appointed as a director after the verification system went live must verify their identity immediately as part of the appointment process. You cannot be officially registered as a director without completing verification first.
Directors of Multiple Companies Good news if you hold multiple directorships. Verification is per person, not per company. Once you complete verification and receive your verification code, it works across all your current and future directorships.
Corporate Directors Even if your company has a corporate director, the individuals controlling that corporate entity must complete verification. This ensures transparency extends through all layers of company control.
The November 2026 Deadline: Why It Matters
November 2026 is the hard deadline for all existing directors to complete mandatory verification. This is not a suggested target date. It is a legal deadline with serious enforcement behind it.
What Happens After November 2026?
Once the deadline passes, unverified directors will face immediate restrictions. You will not be able to file any documents with Companies House on behalf of your company. This includes routine filings like annual accounts, confirmation statements, changes to registered addresses, or updates to director information.
Since many of these filings are themselves legal requirements with their own deadlines and penalties, being unverified creates a cascade of compliance failures. You cannot fulfill your legal duties as a director without verification.
Financial Penalties Companies House has the authority to impose substantial fines on directors who fail to verify their identity by the deadline. These penalties can run into thousands of pounds and continue to accumulate until you comply.
Criminal Prosecution Deliberately avoiding verification or providing false information during the verification process is a criminal offense. Even unintentional delays can result in formal warnings and potential court action.
Director Disqualification Persistent non-compliance with verification requirements can lead to director disqualification orders. This means you would be legally banned from acting as a company director for a specified period, typically between two and fifteen years.
Step-by-Step Verification Process
Completing mandatory director ID verification is straightforward when you know what to expect. Here is exactly how to do it:
Step 1: Gather Your Identity Documents You will need one form of valid photo identification. Acceptable documents include a current passport, UK or EU photocard driving license, or certain national identity cards from EU countries. Ensure your document is not expired and the photo clearly shows your face.
Step 2: Create Your Companies House Account Visit the official Companies House website and create an account if you do not already have one. You will need an email address and will set up a password following their security requirements.
Step 3: Access the Verification Service Navigate to the identity verification service within your Companies House account. The system will guide you through each step of the process.
Step 4: Photograph Your ID Document Using your smartphone or webcam, take clear photographs of your identity document. Follow the on-screen instructions carefully to ensure your images meet the required quality standards. The document must be fully visible with no glare or shadows obscuring any details.
Step 5: Complete Biometric Verification The system will ask you to take a selfie or record a short video of yourself. This biometric check confirms you are the same person shown in your identity document. Follow the instructions about lighting and positioning for best results.
Step 6: Submit and Wait for Approval Once you submit your information, Companies House systems will verify your documents against official government databases. This process is usually instant but can occasionally take a few hours if additional checks are needed.
Step 7: Receive Your Verification Code Upon successful verification, you will receive a unique verification code. This code is your proof of verified status and must be included whenever you file documents with Companies House. Store it securely but accessibly, as you will need it regularly.
Never Miss the Deadline with Automated Alert Tools
The biggest risk with the November 2026 deadline is simply forgetting about it. Between running your business, managing finances, and handling day-to-day operations, compliance deadlines can easily slip through the cracks.
Manual reminders in calendars or notebooks are unreliable. You change phones. You miss notifications. Life gets busy. What you need is a dedicated system that tracks this deadline for you and ensures you cannot miss it.
UK Companies House On The Go: Your Verification Deadline Guardian
The UK Companies House On The Go mobile app is specifically designed to keep directors on track with all their Companies House obligations, including mandatory ID verification.
Automated Deadline Alerts Set up your profile once, and the app automatically tracks the November 2026 verification deadline for you. Receive push notifications directly to your smartphone starting months in advance, with reminders becoming more frequent as the deadline approaches.
Multi-Level Reminder System The app uses intelligent reminders that escalate over time. You will get early warnings with plenty of time to complete verification, followed by increasingly urgent alerts as the deadline draws near. This ensures you have multiple opportunities to take action.
Verification Status Tracking Once you complete verification, record your verification code in the app for easy reference. The app also tracks your verification status across all your directorships.
Complete Compliance Dashboard Beyond verification, the app tracks all your Companies House deadlines including annual accounts, confirmation statements, and any other filing requirements. See everything in one intuitive interface.
Real-Time Company Searches Verify the status of co-directors, search any UK company for due diligence, and access complete filing histories instantly from your mobile device.
Download the UK Companies House On The Go App Now
Do not risk missing the November 2026 mandatory verification deadline. Download the app today and set up your automated alerts.
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/uk-companies-house-on-the-go/id6743302358
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.companiesonthe.go
Take Action Today
Mandatory director ID verification is not going away. The November 2026 deadline will arrive whether you are ready or not. The penalties for non-compliance are severe, but compliance itself is simple when you have the right tools.
Complete your verification today and download the UK Companies House On The Go app to ensure you stay compliant with this and every other Companies House requirement. Your business deserves protection, and your peace of mind is worth the few minutes it takes to set up automated alerts.
