Every UK company director and PSC must now verify their identity with Companies House. You can do it free through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Here is an honest comparison to help you choose the right route.
If you are a director or Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK limited company, identity verification with Companies House is now mandatory. There are two official ways to do it: the free GOV.UK One Login route, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Both are legitimate and both end with the same Companies House personal code. Here is an honest comparison so you can pick the right one for your situation.
The two ways to verify your identity
Both routes satisfy the legal requirement and issue the same single Companies House personal code, which covers all of your directorships and PSC roles. The differences are in how you verify, which documents are accepted, how quickly it happens, and the level of support you get if something goes wrong.
Option 1: GOV.UK One Login (the free route)
GOV.UK One Login is the government's own identity service. It is free, and you complete it yourself using the GOV.UK ID Check app on a smartphone. For a UK resident with a current biometric passport and a modern phone, it can be quick and straightforward.
The limitations directors most often run into:
- It generally requires a biometric passport or a UK photocard driving licence; older non-biometric passports and many international documents are not accepted.
- The ID Check app can be temperamental with older phones, poor lighting, or a passport chip that will not scan over NFC.
- Support is automated. If a check fails, there is no person to explain why or tell you what to try next.
- Non-UK resident directors frequently find that their documents are simply not supported.
Option 2: An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
An ACSP is a firm registered with Companies House, and supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes, that can verify identities on your behalf. Fundsure is a registered ACSP (AP003554), supervised by HMRC under the Money Laundering Regulations. You pay a fee, but you gain broader document acceptance and real human support.
With Fundsure's ACSP verification:
- It costs £49 plus VAT per person, with a 100% success guarantee: a full refund if we cannot verify you.
- It is 100% remote and usually completed in under an hour, often in minutes.
- We accept a wide range of international documents, including non-biometric passports, international photocard driving licences and EU or EEA national identity cards.
- Your address is verified electronically, so a proof-of-address document is rarely needed.
- You deal with real compliance experts, not just an automated portal.
- No biometric data is submitted to central government systems.
The key differences at a glance
- Cost: GOV.UK One Login is free; Fundsure's ACSP service is £49 plus VAT per person.
- Documents: One Login is focused on biometric passports; an ACSP accepts a far wider range, including non-biometric and international ID.
- Speed: both can be quick, but an ACSP has a person on hand when something does not scan first time.
- Support: One Login is automated; an ACSP gives you expert human support.
- Non-UK residents: often blocked on One Login; well catered for by an ACSP.
- Outcome: identical. Both issue the same single Companies House personal code that covers every one of your directorships and PSC roles.
When the free GOV.UK route is the right choice
If you are a UK resident with a current biometric passport and a modern smartphone, and you are comfortable troubleshooting an app yourself, GOV.UK One Login is free and does the job. There is no need to pay for an ACSP if the free route works smoothly for you.
When an ACSP is worth it
An ACSP is the better choice if any of the following apply:
- You are a non-UK resident, or you hold a non-biometric or international document.
- You have tried GOV.UK One Login and it failed or would not recognise your ID.
- You want it done quickly, with a real person to help if anything goes wrong.
- You are verifying several directors and want a single point of contact.
- You would rather not submit biometric data to central government systems.
Do you have to verify at all?
Yes. Identity verification is mandatory under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. It has been required for new appointments since 18 November 2025, and existing directors and PSCs must verify by their next confirmation statement. Not verifying is a criminal offence and can lead to fines, filing rejections, director disqualification or company strike-off.
The bottom line
Both routes are legitimate and end with the same Companies House personal code. Choose GOV.UK One Login if you are a UK resident with a biometric passport and a compatible phone and are happy to verify yourself for free. Choose an ACSP such as Fundsure if you want broader document acceptance, a faster route with human support, or you are a non-UK resident: £49 plus VAT, 100% remote, usually under an hour, with a full refund if we cannot verify you.
Need to verify a director or PSC?
Fundsure is an authorised Companies House ACSP (AP003554). Remote director ID verification with wide international document support, usually completed in under an hour. From £49.