Director Appointment Services

Form My Company files your director appointment directly with Companies House using the official AP01 form. Most appointments are confirmed within 1 business day.

Appointing a new director is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2006. Every UK limited company must file director changes with Companies House promptly. Delays create compliance risk and can trigger enforcement action.

Form My Company handles the entire appointment process: identity verification, AP01 filing, and Companies House confirmation  all delivered digitally.

What Is a Director Appointment in a UK Company?

A director appointment is the formal, legally recorded process of adding a named individual to a limited company’s board of directors. The appointment becomes legally effective only after it is filed with Companies House.

A director is an individual appointed to manage and run a UK private limited company (Ltd) or public limited company (PLC). Directors hold legal responsibilities under the Companies Act 2006, including maintaining accurate company records, filing confirmation statements, and acting in the company’s best interests.

A company director is distinct from a shareholder. Shareholders own equity in the company. Directors hold executive authority to operate it. One person can hold both roles.

Under UK company law, every private limited company must have at least 1 director. That director must be a natural person (an individual), not a corporate body alone. A director must be at least 16 years old. There is no upper age limit.

What Are the Legal Requirements to Appoint a Company Director?

To appoint a new director to a UK limited company, you need: full name, residential address, date of birth, nationality, occupation, and a signed consent to act. Companies House must be notified within 14 days of the appointment.

The appointment of a director in a private limited company follows a defined legal procedure:

1. Board resolution or shareholder resolution — existing directors or shareholders formally agree to the appointment. In most private companies, the board passes an ordinary resolution to appoint a new director.
2. Consent to act — the incoming director signs a declaration confirming they are eligible and willing to act as a director.
3. Identity verification — from 2025, Companies House requires all new directors to complete identity verification before their appointment is recorded on the register.
4. Form AP01 filing — the official Companies House form AP01 (Appointment of Director) is submitted electronically. This notifies Companies House of the appointment and updates the public register.
5. Statutory register update — the company’s internal register of directors is updated with the new director’s details.

All 5 steps are required for the appointment to be fully compliant under UK company law.

How to Appoint a Director — Step-by-Step Process

The appointment of a director in a UK private limited company takes 3 steps: provide details, verify identity, receive confirmation. Form My Company completes the AP01 filing the same day.

Step 1 — Complete the Online Webform Submit the new director’s details through our secure online webform. Required information: full legal name, residential address, date of birth, nationality, and occupation.

Step 2 — Identity Verification The new director uploads a government-issued photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address. Verification is processed through Credas, a certified provider under the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF).

Step 3 — AP01 Filing with Companies House Form My Company prepares and submits the AP01 form directly to Companies House via electronic filing. The filing is checked for accuracy before submission.

Step 4 — Companies House Code Delivered The new director’s personal Companies House authentication code is delivered securely by email. This code is required for future filings and compliance submissions.

Step 5 — Appointment Confirmed Companies House updates the public register. The director’s name, appointment date, and role appear on the Companies House register within 1 business day in most cases.

What Does the Director Appointment Service Include?

The service includes: secure webform, identity verification, AP01 filing, Companies House authentication code, and digital confirmation. 

The service covers any UK limited company — including companies not originally formed through Form My Company.

Who Can Be Appointed as a Director?

Any individual aged 16 or over who has not been disqualified from acting as a director can be appointed. The person must consent to act and pass Companies House identity verification.

The following individuals are eligible to be appointed as a company director in a UK private limited company:

• UK residents and non-UK residents
• Foreign nationals (no UK address required at point of appointment, though a service address is needed)
• First-time directors with no previous directorship history
• Individuals already serving as directors of other UK companies

The following individuals cannot be appointed:

• Persons disqualified from acting as a company director under a Companies Act disqualification order
• Undischarged bankrupts (unless granted court permission)
• Persons under 16 years of age
• Corporate entities as the sole director (a company must have at least 1 human director)

How Long Does a Director Appointment Take?

Companies House processes AP01 filings electronically. Most appointments are confirmed within 1 business day. The director appears on the public register the same day the filing is accepted.

Timeline breakdown:

• Webform submission to filing: Same day (if submitted before 3pm GMT on a business day)
• Companies House processing: Typically same day or next business day
• Public register update: Within 24 hours of acceptance
• Authentication code delivery: Within 1 business day

Weekend and bank holiday submissions are processed on the next available working day.

What Information Is Required to Appoint a Director?

6 pieces of information are required: full name, residential address, date of birth, nationality, occupation, and consent to act. Form My Company collects all of this through the secure webform.

Companies House requires the following for every director appointment:

1. Full legal name — as it appears on official ID
2. Residential address — the director’s home address (kept private on the register if a service address is provided)
3. Date of birth — only the month and year are shown publicly; the full date is held by Companies House
4. Nationality
5. Occupation — current professional role or title
6. Consent to act — signed confirmation that the individual agrees to serve as director

No additional legal documents, board minutes, or shareholder resolutions need to be submitted to Companies House with the AP01. These are internal company records held by the company itself.

Why You Must File Director Appointments Promptly

Under the Companies Act 2006, director changes must be filed with Companies House within 14 days. Late filing is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £5,000 per officer.

Failure to update the Companies House register with a new director appointment creates the following risks:

• The director has no legal standing to sign contracts, open business bank accounts, or act on behalf of the company until the appointment is recorded
• The company is in breach of its statutory filing obligations
• Banks, investors, and HMRC rely on Companies House records for due diligence; outdated records create delays
• Companies House can issue a formal compliance notice or prosecution

Filing within 14 days of the appointment date is a legal requirement, not a recommendation.

Can Shareholders Appoint Directors?

Yes. In most UK private limited companies, shareholders have the power to appoint directors through an ordinary resolution. This is typically done at a general meeting or by written resolution.

Under the Companies Act 2006 and standard Articles of Association (Model Articles), directors of a private limited company can be appointed by:

• The board of directors — passing a board resolution between existing directors
• The shareholders — passing an ordinary resolution at a general meeting, or by written resolution without a meeting
• Both — in some companies, the articles require both board and shareholder approval

In most small private limited companies, the directors and shareholders are the same individuals. The process is straightforward: agree the appointment, complete the consent form, and file the AP01 with Companies House.

Directo Appointment vs Director Resignation

A director appointment adds a new director to the register. A director resignation removes an existing director. Both require Companies House filings: AP01 for appointments, TM01 for terminations.

If your company is simultaneously adding a new director and removing an existing one, Form My Company offers a Director Appointment & Resignation Bundle — both filings completed together at a discounted rate.

Why Choose For My Company for Director Appointments?

Form My Company is a UK-registered company services provider. We file AP01 forms electronically with Companies House. Appointments are processed within 1 business day. 

• Direct Companies House filing — no paper forms, no postal delays
• Identity verification included — Credas-powered DIATF-certified ID check built into the process
• Any UK company accepted — not limited to companies formed through Form My Company
• Compliance expertise — team experienced in UK company law, Companies Act 2006, and Companies House filing requirements
• Digital delivery — all documents and codes delivered by email

Director Appointment — What’s included:

• Secure online webform
• Credas identity verification (DIATF-certified)
• AP01 form preparation and electronic filing with Companies House
• Companies House personal authentication code delivered by email
• Digital confirmation of appointment
• Processing within 1 business day