What is Companies House identity verification?

Identity verification is a new legal requirement under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. All company directors and PSCs must verify their identity to receive a Companies House personal code.

How much does identity verification cost?

Digital verification starts from £39, with video call verification available from £49. We also offer in-person verification from £59 and priority same-day service at £99.

How long does verification take?

Most digital verifications are completed within 24 hours. The actual identity check takes just 5-10 minutes.

What documents do I need?

For digital verification, you need a biometric passport or UK driving licence. For video call and in-person verification, a wider range of documents is accepted including national ID cards.

"Unable to verify your ID — under the required age": verifying a PSC who is under 18

If identity verification returns "under the required age", the document submitted belongs to someone too young for an identity check — verification has to be completed by an adult. This most often happens when the person being verified is a child who is a person with significant control (PSC), which is allowed, but who cannot personally complete a biometric ID check.

Key facts

Why it fails:: Biometric identity verification must be completed by an adult
Can a minor be a PSC?:: Yes — there is no minimum age to be a PSC (e.g. shares held in trust for a child)
Can a minor be a director?:: No — a director must be at least 16 (Companies Act 2006, s.157)
What to do:: Confirm the position with Companies House; an agent cannot override the check

What the message means

Identity verification relies on a biometric check — matching a live image to a photo ID. That process is designed for adults; it cannot be completed by a young child. The "under the required age" result is the check correctly refusing to verify a minor, not a fault with your device or photo.

A minor can be a PSC — but not a director

It's worth separating two roles. There is no minimum age to be a PSC, so a child can legitimately appear on the PSC register — commonly where shares are held for them in trust. A director, however, must be at least 16 (Companies Act 2006, section 157), so a young child cannot be a director.

So a filing that lists a child as a PSC may be perfectly valid. The snag is purely the identity check: a young child can't complete a biometric verification.

What to do

If it was a mistake — the PSC who needs verifying is an adult and a child's document was uploaded by accident — just verify again with the correct person's ID.
If the child genuinely is the registered PSC — the verification can't be forced through, and an agent cannot override it. How identity verification applies to an under-18 PSC is a Companies House matter, so confirm the position with Companies House directly before filing.

Stuck on a different error instead? See identity verification not working — common problems and fixes, or ask us for help.

Frequently asked questions

Can a child be a person with significant control (PSC)?

Yes. There is no minimum age to be a PSC. A child can be a PSC where, for example, shares are held on their behalf (such as in trust), making them the beneficial owner.

Can a child be a company director?

No. Under the Companies Act 2006 (section 157) a person must be at least 16 years old to be appointed a director. So a young child cannot be a director, even though they can be a PSC.

How does a PSC who is a minor satisfy identity verification?

Biometric identity verification can't be completed for a young child, and an agent cannot override the check. How verification applies to an under-18 PSC is a matter for Companies House, so confirm the position with them directly before filing.

I uploaded the wrong person's ID by mistake — what now?

If the PSC who needs verifying is actually an adult and a child's document was submitted in error, simply verify again with the correct person's ID. If you verified with us, we can issue a fresh link.

Written and reviewed by TaxStats ID

TaxStats Ltd is a Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP AP006589) — an independent agent authorised by Companies House, not Companies House or a government body. We verify identities and submit them on your behalf; the Companies House personal code is issued by Companies House. Last updated June 2026; checked against GOV.UK guidance. Our Companies House record