Our secure online ID verification software allows most company directors and beneficial owners to complete identity checks quickly and effortlessly. However, if you are unable to pass or complete the digital verification process, regulatory anti-money laundering compliance requires an alternative verification path. In these circumstances, you must supply a copy of your government photo identification and recent proof of residential address that has been officially certified by an authorised professional.
A certified document serves as legal verification that a copied record is an authentic, exact duplicate of the original document, validated, dated, and signed by an approved individual.
What Documents Are Accepted for Verification?
To comply with UK company formation regulations and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, you must provide two separate documents:
- One Valid Government-Issued Photo Identification
- International Passport
- Valid Driving Licence
- Official National Identity Card
- One Proof of Residential Address (Dated Within the Last 3 Months)
- Bank or Building Society Statement issued by a recognised mainstream bank (statements from digital-only challenger banks or e-money institutions cannot be accepted)
- Utility Bill (such as gas, electricity, or water)
- Mortgage Statement
- UK Council Tax Bill (issued for the current billing year)
Who Is Authorised to Certify Your Identification Documents?
For UK and EU Residents
If you reside within the United Kingdom or the European Union, the following recognised professionals or official authorities may certify your compliance documentation:
- Form My Company (You may bring your original identity documents directly to our office in person*)
- UK Post Office certification service
- Official Bank or Building Society Representative
- Chartered Accountant
- Qualified Solicitor, Lawyer, or Notary Public
- Local Town Hall official
Please note: You cannot submit documentation on behalf of another individual. The specific person named on the identity document must be present in person for Form My Company to perform the certification.
For Non-UK and Non-EU Residents
If you reside outside the UK and EU, your verification documents must be certified by an approved authority, including:
- Notary Public
- Justice of the Peace
- Embassy Official
- Consulate or High Commission Officer
- Commissioner for Oaths (or national equivalent authority)
Unauthorised Individuals
To prevent conflicts of interest, the following individuals are strictly prohibited from certifying your documents:
- Yourself
- Relatives or family members
- Anyone living at your residential address
- Individuals in a personal relationship with you
- Work colleagues, business partners, or employees of your firm
- Retired professionals
- Professionals resident in or operating from a different jurisdiction than yours
Requirements for a Validly Certified Document
You must present the physical original documents to an authorised certifying officer so they can certify paper copies in person (electronic or digital certifications are not permitted for manual validation). The certifying professional must complete the following steps directly on the document:
- Write the statement: “Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me.” For photo identification, they must also write: “The photograph bears a true likeness to the individual.”
- Sign and date the document.
- Print their full name clearly beneath the signature.
- Include their official occupation, professional business address, and contact telephone number.
- Impress their official company stamp or professional seal directly onto the paper (mandatory).
Please note: All certification statements, signatures, contact details, and official stamps must appear directly on the scanned document page to be successfully accepted and approved by our compliance team.