Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing is an official document issued by Companies House that confirms a UK limited company exists legally, is up to date with its statutory filings, and has no known action being taken to strike it off the register. For founders, directors, and company secretaries, it is often required when opening bank accounts, entering contracts, applying for licences, or proving corporate status to overseas authorities. Form My Company can arrange your Certificate of Good Standing on a standard, express, or apostilled basis, depending on how quickly you need it and where it will be used.

What is a Certificate of Good Standing?

A Certificate of Good Standing is a certified statement from Companies House that your company is in “good standing” at the point of issue. In practice, this means the company has been in continuous, unbroken existence since incorporation and that no strike‑off or dissolution action is currently recorded against it. The certificate also confirms that, as far as Companies House records show, the company is up to date with its filing obligations such as confirmation statements and accounts.

It does not guarantee future compliance, nor does it act as a financial health check; it simply records the company’s status and certain key details at a specific moment in time. Because it is issued by the registrar, it carries far more weight than a self‑declared letter and is commonly requested by banks, landlords, regulators, and foreign authorities.

What is included in your Certificate of Good Standing?

The exact content of a Certificate of Good Standing depends on the options you select when ordering. For the services offered through Form My Company, the following elements are included according to the package features.

Standard processing within 14–16 days

The standard Certificate of Good Standing service is processed within approximately 14–16 days from the point your request is submitted and accepted. This timeline reflects the typical processing period for postal or non‑express routes via Companies House and any associated handling. It is suitable when you need an official certificate but are not under immediate time pressure.

Company incorporation date

Your certificate will show the company’s date of incorporation as recorded at Companies House. This confirms how long the company has been in continuous existence and is often used to demonstrate trading history or corporate longevity to counterparties.

Current list of directors

The standard certificate includes the current list of directors registered at Companies House at the time of issue. This provides a clear snapshot of who is formally appointed to manage the company, which can be important for due diligence, banking, and contractual purposes.

Registered office address

Your registered office address as filed with Companies House will appear on the certificate. This is the official address of the company for service of documents and public record, and its inclusion helps third parties verify the company’s registered details.

Confirmation that the company is up to date with its filing requirements

A core part of the Certificate of Good Standing is the confirmation that the company is up to date with its statutory filing requirements. This typically covers confirmation statements and accounts, and signals that there are no obvious compliance gaps visible on the public register at the time the certificate is issued.

Certificate of Good Standing (Express Service)

When time is critical, the Express Service for a Certificate of Good Standing provides a faster route to obtaining your document.

Express Certificate of Good Standing service

The express option is designed for situations where you need the certificate urgently, such as for time‑sensitive transactions, visa applications, or regulatory deadlines. It uses Companies House’s expedited processing channel where available.

Original certificate from Companies House within 24 working hours

Under the express service, the original Certificate of Good Standing is issued by Companies House within 24 working hours of processing. This is significantly quicker than the standard route and is appropriate when you cannot wait several days or weeks for documentation.

Weekends and UK bank holidays excluded

The 24‑working‑hour timeframe for the express service excludes weekends and UK bank holidays. This means that if your request falls just before a weekend or public holiday, the clock effectively pauses until the next working day, which is consistent with how Companies House and the FCDO operate their express services.

Date of Incorporation

As with the standard certificate, the express Certificate of Good Standing includes the company’s date of incorporation. This remains a key piece of information for anyone verifying the company’s history and legal continuity.

List of Directors

The express certificate also shows the current list of directors on the register at the time of issue. This ensures that the fast‑track document still provides the same core governance information as the standard version.

Registered Office Address

Your registered office address will be displayed on the express Certificate of Good Standing, just as it is on the standard certificate. This allows banks, regulators, and other parties to confirm the company’s official address quickly.

Confirmation of up-to-date filing requirements

The express service includes the same confirmation that the company is up to date with its filing requirements as the standard certificate. The difference lies in speed of issue, not in the fundamental content relating to compliance status.

Certificate of Good Standing Apostilled (Normal)

For companies that need to use their Certificate of Good Standing outside the UK, an apostille may be required to legalise the document for international use.

Certificate of Good Standing apostille service

The apostille service takes your Certificate of Good Standing and arranges for it to be legalised by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). An apostille is a form of authentication recognised under the Hague Apostille Convention, which simplifies the acceptance of UK public documents in many other countries.

Legalisation for use in 80+ countries

Once apostilled, your Certificate of Good Standing can be used in over 80 countries that are party to the Hague Convention, without needing further embassy legalisation in many cases. This is commonly required for opening overseas bank accounts, registering branches, or participating in international tenders.

Normal processing within 21–26 working days

The normal apostille service is processed within approximately 21–26 working days from receipt and submission to the FCDO. This reflects the standard postal processing times for FCDO legalisation, which can extend during peak periods. It is important to plan ahead if your foreign authority has a strict deadline.

Document checked and certified by the FCDO

As part of the apostille process, the document is checked and certified by the FCDO’s Legalisation Office before the apostille certificate is attached. This step confirms that the underlying Certificate of Good Standing is a genuine public document issued by Companies House, giving it international legal effect.

Pricing breakdown

The price of your Certificate of Good Standing depends on the route you choose and whether you require apostille legalisation.

• Standard Certificate of Good Standing: priced to reflect standard processing within 14–16 days, including the Companies House statutory fee and Form My Company’s service fee.

• Express Certificate of Good Standing: priced higher than the standard option to cover the 24‑working‑hour issue time and expedited handling, excluding weekends and UK bank holidays.

• Certificate of Good Standing Apostilled (Normal): priced to include both the Certificate of Good Standing and the FCDO apostille service, with normal processing within 21–26 working days.

Companies House charges a statutory fee for certificates, which is currently £15 for a standard certificate and £50 for the express service, subject to change on the official fees page. The FCDO also charges a separate fee for apostille legalisation, which is published on GOV.UK and varies by service type and volume. Form My Company’s package prices incorporate these statutory charges along with the administrative work involved in ordering, checking, and delivering your documents.

For the most up‑to‑date figures, you can review the latest Companies House fees on GOV.UK and the FCDO legalisation fees before placing your order.

Staying compliant and next steps

A Certificate of Good Standing reflects your company’s status at a single point in time; it does not replace ongoing compliance obligations. To remain in good standing, your company must continue to file confirmation statements, annual accounts, and any other required documents by their deadlines. If filings become overdue, future certificates may show that the company is not up to date, which can affect banking, licensing, and commercial relationships.

If you are unsure about your filing schedule, you may find it helpful to review guidance on Company Services such as File a Confirmation Statement and File Accounts for Dormant Companies. For broader compliance planning, articles on UK company annual filing requirements can provide a clear calendar of deadlines and penalties.

When you know you will need a Certificate of Good Standing, it is sensible to order it shortly before you need to submit it, so the information remains as current as possible for the receiving authority.

Who is this service for?

The Certificate of Good Standing services are aimed at:

• Directors and company secretaries who need to prove their company’s legal status to banks, landlords, or regulators.

• Businesses expanding overseas that must legalise company documents for use in foreign jurisdictions.

• Companies entering significant contracts or tenders where counterparties require formal evidence of corporate existence and compliance.

• Founders restructuring or refinancing where lenders or investors request up‑to‑date certification of the company’s standing.

If you operate a private limited company, public limited company, LLP, or another corporate form registered at Companies House, these certificates can be tailored to your structure and timeline.

What happens after you buy

Once you place your order for a Certificate of Good Standing with Form My Company, the process typically follows these steps:

1. We confirm your company details. Your company name, registration number, and the type of certificate (standard, express, or apostilled) are verified against the information you provide.

2. We submit the request to Companies House. Depending on the service level, your certificate is requested via the standard or express channel..

3. Companies House issues the certificate. The original Certificate of Good Standing is generated with your company’s incorporation date, directors, registered office, and compliance confirmation.

4. Apostille (if applicable). For apostilled packages, the certificate is then sent to the FCDO for checking and legalisation, after which the apostille is attached.

5. Delivery to you. Your completed certificate is returned to you in the agreed format and timeframe, ready for submission to your bank, regulator, or foreign authority.

Throughout this process, you are not required to contact Companies House or the FCDO directly; Form My Company handles the administrative steps on your behalf.

Why choose Form My Company

Form My Company specialises in UK company formation and ongoing company services, including certified documents and legalisation. By using a dedicated agent, you avoid navigating multiple government portals and can rely on a single point of contact for your Certificate of Good Standing, apostille, and related documents.

Our approach is straightforward: we explain what each option includes, set clear expectations on timelines, and ensure your documents meet the requirements of the authorities you are dealing with. Whether you need a quick express certificate for a domestic transaction or an apostilled document for use in one of the 80+ Hague Convention countries, we can arrange the appropriate service based on your needs.

For related needs, you may also consider Supplementary Company Documents, a Company Pack, or Apostilled Documents for other corporate records. If you are managing changes to your board, our Director Appointment and Director Resignation services can help keep your register accurate before you request your certificate.