Register a U.K. Company as a Non-Resident Made Simple

Yes — UK law allows non-residents to register a limited company. You don’t need a UK address or to be in the UK. Online Filings is built specifically to support international entrepreneurs from over 170 countries.

Packages for international users include a legally required UK registered office address and enhanced due diligence. As we're supervised by HMRC for Anti-Money Laundering (AML), we must conduct stricter checks, making our service more comprehensive than basic formations.

We use secure biometric checks via smartphone. You’ll complete a video selfie and upload proof of ID and address. For non-UK residents, a notarised proof of address (certified by a notary or solicitor) is required to meet UK compliance standards.

Regulation Note: No — Online Filings provides a London registered office address and virtual mailbox with all packages. However, non-resident directors must submit a notarised personal address document to satisfy AML and company formation rules.

Once your documents are approved and verified, we typically register your UK company in 6 business hours. Your Companies House certificate and company number will be emailed to you the same day.

Your official letters from Companies House and HMRC or other government entities will be scanned into your secure virtual mailbox. We’ll also remind you of key deadlines and offer services like VAT registration, PAYE setup, and your annual confirmation statement.

Regulation Note: Yes. We are an authorised Companies House formation agent and supervised by HMRC under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations (MLR). Your data, filings, and identity are handled securely and in full legal compliance.

Identity verification is a requirement introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Companies House is moving to a system where all company directors must verify their identity, and this requirement applies to filings submitted through Online Filings.

Online Filings is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) registered with Companies House and is supervised by HMRC for Anti-Money Laundering. Because of these obligations, we must verify the identity of all directors and all users before any filing can be submitted through our platform. This protects the integrity of the service and ensures that every filing we process is valid and compliant with UK law.

Directors using Online Filings must therefore complete identity verification before we can submit their filing. The process is fast, secure and takes less than two minutes on your smartphone. You can verify your identity using a UK driving licence, a UK passport or an international passport.

The Companies House Personal Code is an 11-character identifier you receive after completing identity verification with Companies House. From 18 November 2025, all directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and other key company officers must use this code when submitting filings such as confirmation statements and appointment forms.

You only need to verify your identity once. Your personal code will then apply to all your current and future roles and appointments. Keep your code secure, but you may share it with trusted professionals such as accountants, authorised agents or the Online Filings platform when they submit filings on your behalf.

When do I need to use my Personal Code?

• Directors: Use the code when filing the company's confirmation statement or when being appointed.
• PSCs who are not directors: Provide your code within 14 days of the start of your birth month.

Online Filings is officially approved by Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. This status means we are trusted to submit your company filings directly to Companies House on your behalf, following rigorous compliance and security standards required by UK law.

As an ACSP, we must:

• Verify the identity of directors and people with significant control (PSCs) using government-approved processes.
• Follow strict anti-money laundering checks overseen by Companies House and a UK supervisory body such as HMRC.
• Protect your company from fraud and ensure your filings are always accurate, secure, and fully compliant with UK regulations.

Using Online Filings means your documents are managed by a government-recognised and highly regulated provider, giving you a smoother, safer, and more reliable experience.