Every director, PSC and LLP member now faces the same fork in the road: verify identity for free through GOV.UK One Login, or pay an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to manage it for you. We get asked the same set of practical questions about this choice, over and over, so here they all are in one place — with real GOV.UK sources behind every answer.
The basics
What is GOV.UK One Login, in plain terms?
GOV.UK One Login is the government's own free, self-service identity verification route. According to GOV.UK's guidance, it asks you questions about yourself, then directs you to verify using an app and photo ID, by answering security questions online using bank or building society details if you live in the UK, or in person at a participating Post Office if you live in the UK.
What is an ACSP, in plain terms?
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — also called a Companies House authorised agent — is a firm, typically an accountant or solicitor, that Companies House has authorised to verify your identity on your behalf and submit the result as your agent (GOV.UK).
Cost and speed
How much does GOV.UK One Login cost?
It is free of charge (GOV.UK).
How much does using an ACSP cost?
ACSPs set and charge their own fees; GOV.UK confirms "ACSPs may charge a fee for their services" without setting a standard rate. Director Personal Code charges a flat £125, all-inclusive, for a UK-resident director, or £175, all-inclusive, for an overseas/non-UK-resident director — no VAT, no tiered add-ons.
Which is faster?
For a straightforward UK-resident case with a biometric passport or acceptable driving licence, One Login can be very quick. With an ACSP, the digital check itself takes about the same 10 minutes, with our compliance review and submission typically adding a working day or two. Where an ACSP tends to be faster in practice is when your documents are non-standard: instead of discovering a rejection partway through a government process, we flag document issues before you submit anything.
What happens after verification
Once I'm verified, does my address or my documents appear anywhere public?
No. Verification confirms who you are to Companies House; it does not change what appears on the public register. Your home address and the documents you used are kept on file by whichever route you verified through, but only your name, your verification date, and (if applicable) your ACSP's details are ever visible publicly.
How long are my documents and records kept?
Under the identity verification standard, records — including copies of documents checked and any failed verification attempts — must be kept for seven years from the date the check is completed, whether you verified through GOV.UK One Login or through an ACSP.
Documents and who can use which route
Which documents does GOV.UK One Login accept for self-verification?
Per GOV.UK's guidance, exactly five document types: a biometric passport from any country, a UK photo driving licence (full or provisional), a UK biometric residence permit, a UK biometric residence card, or a UK Frontier Worker permit.
What if I don't have any of those documents?
GOV.UK's service will check "if you live in the UK" whether you can instead verify using bank or building society details (plus your National Insurance number and security questions) or in person at a participating Post Office. Both fallback options are specifically framed around UK residency.
Why does GOV.UK One Login often fail for overseas directors?
Because its self-verification document list outside of a biometric passport is essentially UK-only, and its two stated fallback routes are explicitly for people who live in the UK. A non-UK resident without a biometric passport can run out of options within One Login itself — not because the rules are unfair, but because the self-service tool wasn't built around foreign document types.
Can an ACSP verify someone who lives outside the UK?
Yes. GOV.UK confirms this "can be done from any country." An ACSP works from a wider document list than pure self-verification — including foreign driving licences, foreign national ID cards, firearms licences, work permits and visas — with the added rule that at least one document must be government-issued if you're not UK-resident, per GOV.UK's verification standard.
Legal standing and switching routes
Do both routes meet the same legal standard?
Yes. Both must meet Companies House's identity verification standard and the GPG45 medium level of confidence. Neither route is "more official" — the difference is entirely about who does the work and which documents you can use.
What happens if GOV.UK One Login cannot verify me?
You simply use an ACSP instead. There's no penalty for trying One Login first and it not working out — you haven't "failed" verification in a way that counts against you; you've just found the free self-service route isn't the right fit for your documents or circumstances.
Can I switch from One Login to an ACSP, or vice versa?
Yes, provided you haven't already been issued a valid personal code through one route. There's no rule locking you into whichever you attempt first.
The personal code
What is the Companies House personal code?
An 11-character code issued once your identity has been successfully verified, personal to you and not to any company (GOV.UK).
Do I need a separate personal code for each company I'm a director of?
No — you verify once and are issued one code, which is then reused and provided separately for each role and each company as your filings require it. The identity check itself is not repeated per appointment.
Deadlines and consequences
What is the current transition deadline?
Mandatory verification began on 18 November 2025. Existing directors and PSCs have a 12-month transition period tied to their own company's confirmation statement date, with an outer backstop of 18 November 2026 for anyone who hasn't yet had a triggering confirmation statement fall due.
What happens if I miss my deadline?
Companies House states plainly that it is unlawful to act as a director without completing identity verification. Enforcement can include a default letter, financial penalties, annotation of the public register, referral to The Insolvency Service, or prosecution — and in practice, Companies House will not accept a confirmation statement while a director remains unverified, which can cascade into a filing default for the whole company.
Practical concerns
Is my home address published if I use an ACSP?
No. Your address is used only for the verification check and is never published on the public register, whichever route you use.
Which route should a busy or overseas director pick?
If you hold a biometric passport, are UK-resident, and are comfortable with a government digital service, One Login is free and usually straightforward. If you're overseas, lack a biometric passport, or would simply rather a named firm managed your documents and submission, an ACSP such as Director Personal Code is typically the more reliable route — see our dedicated guide for overseas directors verifying from anywhere in the world.
Decided an ACSP is the right route for you?
Start your applicationKey takeaways
- Both routes meet the identical legal standard — neither is more official than the other.
- One Login is free but its self-verification document list is narrow, and its fallback routes are UK-resident only.
- An ACSP can verify people from any country using a wider document list.
- You can switch between routes if one doesn't work for you.
- Missing the transition deadline is a criminal matter, not just an administrative delay.