How to Find Your Companies House Personal Code

If you have completed Companies House identity verification but cannot find your personal code, you are not alone. Many people expect the code to arrive by email, but that is not usually how the process works. In most cases, if you verified directly through Companies House, your code is available in your Companies House account.

A Companies House personal code is an 11 character code issued once a person has successfully verified their identity. Companies House says the code is personal to you, not to your company or a business you work for. Since 18 Nov 2025, identity verification has been a legal requirement under the new Companies House regime.

How do you get a Companies House personal code?

To obtain your personal code, you must first complete identity verification. This can be done either directly through Companies House using GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant, solicitor or company formation agent.

For most people, identity verification is a one off process. Once verified, you use the same personal code whenever you need to confirm your verified status for Companies House purposes.

Where to find your Companies House personal code

If you verified your identity through GOV.UK One Login, sign in to Companies House using the same email address you used during verification. You should then go to Manage account, where your personal code can be viewed.

If you completed the GOV.UK One Login process at a Post Office, you may receive an email from GOV.UK confirming the result of your identity check, usually within one day. However, your personal code is still viewed in your Companies House account under Manage account.

If your identity was verified through an ACSP, Companies House sends the personal code to the email address provided by that agent. If you have not received it, the first step is to check with the agent which email address was used.

Does a Companies House personal code expire?

In normal circumstances, no. Companies House states that you will use the same personal code each time you need to confirm that you are verified. That means it is not the same as a short term login or security code.

This point causes confusion. A temporary sign in code sent by email may expire after a short time, but your Companies House personal code is permanent unless it is replaced because it has been shared or compromised. If that happens, Companies House can cancel the old code and issue a new one.

Why your personal code matters

Your personal code links your verified identity to your Companies House roles. If you are an existing director, you need to provide it with your company’s next confirmation statement. If you become a director on or after 18 Nov 2025, you need to provide it as part of your appointment filing or when incorporating a company.

If you are a director of more than one company, you do not need to verify your identity more than once. You use the same personal code for each relevant appointment.

For people with significant control, the timing is different. Companies House says PSCs may need to provide their personal code when first added to the register or within 14 days, depending on the circumstances.

What to do if you cannot find your code

If you have already verified your identity and did not keep a record of your personal code, the quickest step is to sign in to Companies House with the same email address used during verification and check Manage account. If you verified through an ACSP, contact the agent who handled the process for you.

Final thoughts

The Companies House personal code is now an important part of the identity verification system for directors, PSCs and others within scope of the new rules. If you have verified successfully, your code should be retrievable either through your Companies House account or through the authorised agent who verified you. The key point is that it is a long term personal identifier, not a temporary email security code.