How to Appoint a Director Companies House: The Filing Process Explained

Appoint a Director Companies House

Appointing a new director to your UK limited company involves a specific filing with Companies House, and while the process is straightforward when you know what to do, the details matter. Get one thing wrong and your filing can be rejected or delayed, leaving your new director technically not in place. Under recent Companies House reforms, the appointment process now also involves mandatory identity verification for the new director. At Form My Company, we handle director appointments as part of our ongoing company support. This guide walks through the Companies House side of the process in detail, so you know exactly what happens from filing to confirmation.

Understanding the Companies House Appointment Process

Companies House is the UK’s official registrar of companies, and any changes to your company’s directors must be filed with it. The appointment process is essentially:

• Prepare the required information and identity verification. Everything Companies House needs about the new director.
• Submit the appointment filing. Currently done through Form AP01 (for an individual director).
• Wait for Companies House to process it. Usually quick, particularly for online filings.
• Check the appointment appears on the public register. Confirming the director is now officially in place.

The filing itself is currently free of charge, but the process must be completed within specific deadlines to stay compliant.

Step 1: Prepare the New Director’s Information

Before you can submit anything, gather:

• The new director’s full legal name. Exactly as it appears on their official ID.
• Any former names. Used in the last 20 years, if applicable.
• Date of birth. For statutory records.
• Nationality. For the public record.
• Business occupation. A clear description of what they do.
• Country of residence. Held for statutory records.
• Service address. The correspondence address that will appear on the public register.
• Residential address. Held privately by Companies House unless it’s the same as the service address.
• Date of appointment. When the director will officially take up the role.
• Their consent. The new director must confirm they consent to act.

Accuracy here matters enormously. Even small mismatches (a middle name, an old address, an unusual character in a name) between what you file and the new director’s identity verification can slow down or reject your submission.

Step 2: Complete Identity Verification First

This is a critical step that many people overlook. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), identity verification became mandatory for all UK company directors and PSCs at Companies House from 18 November 2025.

For a new director appointment, this means their identity must be verified with Companies House before the appointment can be filed. This is a legal requirement, not a suggestion. Companies House won’t accept the AP01 for an unverified director.

There are two ways to complete verification:

Direct verification. Using the GOV.UK One Login service, either through an app or in-person at a UK post office. Suitable for UK-based directors with a standard biometric passport.

Via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Providers like Form My Company handle the verification and confirm it to Companies House. Often smoother for non-resident directors or unusual ID documents.

Once verified, the director receives a unique personal code that stays with them across all their UK company roles.

Step 3: Confirm Board or Shareholder Approval

Before the appointment can happen, it needs internal authorisation. Check your Articles of Association to confirm the correct process:

• Board resolution. In most standard cases, existing directors can appoint a new director by passing a board resolution.
• Shareholder resolution. Shareholders can also appoint a director by ordinary resolution.
• Articles-specified process. Some Articles set specific rules that override the default position.

Whichever route applies, document the decision in board minutes or a written resolution and keep it in your company records. This isn’t filed with Companies House, but it’s essential internal governance.

If you have a shareholders’ agreement, check whether it adds any specific requirements around director appointments.

Step 4: Submit Form AP01 to Companies House

With verification and approval in place, the actual filing is Form AP01 for appointing an individual director. There are three main routes:

• Companies House WebFiling. The government’s online filing service. Free, straightforward for standard appointments, and processed quickly.
• Filing via a Company Services Provider or ACSP. Providers like Form My Company can prepare and file AP01 on your behalf, particularly useful if you want the appointment coordinated with other filings.
• Paper filing. Still available but slower and less recommended.

The online WebFiling route is generally the fastest and cleanest option. Most straightforward appointments are processed within one working day.

For a corporate director appointment (rare and now heavily restricted under the ECCTA), Form AP02 is used instead.

Step 5: Meet the 14-Day Deadline

Companies House expects your director appointment to be filed within 14 days of the appointment taking effect. Late filings can attract penalties, and consistent late filing can affect your company’s compliance standing.

The 14 days runs from the date of appointment, not the date you decided to make the appointment. So if the director was appointed on the 1st of the month, the filing must be submitted by the 15th at the latest.

Filing promptly is always better than leaving it. If you know an appointment is happening, prepare the filing in advance.

Step 6: Confirm the Appointment Is Live on the Public Register

Once Companies House processes your AP01, the new director appears on your company’s public record on the Companies House register. It’s worth checking this happens for a few reasons:

• Confirmation the filing was accepted. If there were any issues with the submission, you may need to re-file.
• Correct details displayed. Occasionally, small transcription issues can happen. Checking early lets you correct them quickly.
• Ready for external checks. Banks, clients, and other parties who verify director details need the register to be current.

You can check by searching your company on the Companies House public register (gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company), where all your current directors are listed alongside their appointment dates and service addresses.

What If the Filing Is Rejected?

Companies House filings can occasionally be rejected. The most common reasons are:

• Identity verification not complete. The new director hasn’t finished IDV before the appointment was filed. Complete verification first, then resubmit.
• Details mismatched. Information on the AP01 doesn’t match the director’s identity verification record. Correct the discrepancy and resubmit.
• Missing consent. The AP01 requires the new director to confirm they consent to act. Missing this can cause rejection.
• Filing outside the acceptable window. Trying to file an appointment far in advance of its actual effective date.
• Company in a status that blocks filings. For example, if the company is in strike-off proceedings.
• Existing compliance issues. Late confirmation statements or accounts can sometimes affect what Companies House will accept.

If your filing is rejected, Companies House usually explains the reason. Correcting the issue and resubmitting is usually straightforward.

Related Filings That Might Also Be Needed

Adding a director sometimes involves other filings alongside AP01:

• PSC register update. If the new director is also (or becomes) a Person with Significant Control, a separate PSC filing is required.
• Confirmation statement. Any changes to director information may need to be reflected in your next confirmation statement.
• Share issuance or transfer filings. If the new director is being given shares as part of coming on board.
• Related updates. For example, if you’re also changing your registered office at the same time.

Coordinating multiple filings can save time. Company services providers often handle these together.

Non-Resident Directors and Companies House

The Companies House appointment process for non-resident directors is exactly the same as for UK-based ones. There’s no residency or nationality requirement to be a director. The only practical differences are:

• Identity verification often works better through an ACSP. For non-UK ID documents or unusual document types, ACSPs handle the verification more smoothly than the standard self-service app.
• Service address is often UK-based. Most non-resident directors choose a UK service address to keep their overseas home off the public register. This is optional, but common practice.
• Time zones can affect the review process. Companies House operates on UK time, so responding to any queries may take longer if the director is in a very different time zone.

Otherwise, the filing itself, the deadlines, and the confirmation process work identically.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few issues come up regularly when appointing directors at Companies House:

• Filing before identity verification is complete. The filing will be rejected. Complete verification first.
• Missing the 14-day deadline. File promptly rather than waiting.
• Skipping the board or shareholder resolution. Without proper internal authorisation, the appointment may be legally invalid even if the filing goes through.
• Mismatched details. Every element must match exactly across identity verification, board resolutions, and the AP01.
• Using a home address as service address. Puts the new director’s personal home on the public register. Use a professional service address if privacy matters.
• Not updating related records. Bank signatories, PSC register, employment records, and other business relationships often need updating separately.
• Assuming the appointment is live before confirming. Always check the Companies House public register after filing.

Working through the process methodically avoids these.

How Form My Company Helps

We handle director appointments at Companies House as part of our ongoing company support. As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), we can:

1. Complete Form AP01 filings for new director appointments
2. Handle identity verification (IDV) for new directors, including non-residents, remotely
3. Coordinate related filings including PSC register updates and confirmation statements
4. Provide a UK director’s service address to keep the new director’s home address off the public register
5. Handle director resignations, removals, and changes of details when needed

Whether you’re appointing a single co-founder or making broader changes to your board, we handle the paperwork correctly and coordinate with Companies House on your behalf.

Appoint Your Director at Companies House Today

Knowing how to appoint a director Companies House correctly the first time saves time, avoids penalties, and keeps your company’s public record accurate and compliant. With Form My Company, the whole process is quick and fully supported, from identity verification through filing to confirmation on the public register. Get in touch today and let us handle the appointment properly so you don’t have to.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I appoint a director at Companies House?
You need internal approval (via board or shareholder resolution per your Articles), the new director needs to complete identity verification with Companies House, and then Form AP01 is filed within 14 days of the appointment. The filing is free and usually processed quickly.

Is there a fee to appoint a director at Companies House?
No. There is currently no filing fee for AP01 (individual director appointment) or AP02 (corporate director appointment) at Companies House.

How long does Companies House take to process a director appointment?
Online filings through WebFiling are usually processed within one working day for straightforward appointments. Paper filings take considerably longer. Once processed, the new director appears on the public register.

What is Form AP01?
Form AP01 is the Companies House form used to appoint an individual as a director of a UK company. It captures the new director’s details, service address, and consent to act, and is submitted after identity verification is complete.

Does the new director need to verify their identity first?
Yes. Under the ECCTA, identity verification became mandatory from November 2025, and a new director must have their identity verified with Companies House before their AP01 can be filed. Verification can be done directly or via an ACSP.

How can I check if the appointment has been accepted?
Search your company on the Companies House public register (gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company). Once the AP01 is processed, the new director appears in your current officers list with their appointment date and service address.

Can I appoint a non-resident director at Companies House?
Yes. UK law places no residency or nationality restriction on directors. The Companies House appointment process is the same, though identity verification is often smoother for non-residents through an ACSP with experience of international ID documents.