Appointing a new director to your UK limited company is a legal obligation with a strict 14-day deadline Companies House must be notified under the Companies Act 2006. This service handles the entire process: identity verification, form preparation, and official AP01 filing, so your company records are compliant from day one. Form My Company is a Companies House Authorised Agent, which means accurate filings from people who do this every day, not a form you have to navigate yourself.
What does the Director Appointment Service include?
Everything needed to notify Companies House of a new director — properly, quickly, and without gaps in your statutory records.
Simple Online Webform
When you appoint a new director, Companies House requires specific details: full legal name, date of birth, nationality, service address, residential address (held on the protected register), occupation, and the date the appointment takes effect. Getting these details wrong — even a misspelled name or an incorrect date — can result in a rejected filing or a mismatch on the public register that causes problems further down the line with banks, investors, or counterparties carrying out due diligence.
Rather than hand you a blank AP01 and wish you luck, Form My Company sends you a secure web form that collects exactly the right information in the right format. There is no guesswork about which fields are mandatory, no risk of submitting incomplete data, and the whole process takes minutes online. You receive confirmation once submitted so you always know where the process stands.
Secure Digital ID Check
Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House introduced mandatory identity verification for directors and persons with significant control (PSC). This is not optional. The verification must be conducted through a certified provider under the UK’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF), which sets the legal standard for how identity documents are checked and stored. Skipping this step or using an uncertified process leaves your director’s record incomplete on the register.
This service uses Credas, a DIATF-certified identity verification provider. Your new director simply uploads a government-issued photo ID and proof of address through a secure link — no in-person visit, no printing, no posting documents. The check is completed quickly, the result satisfies the Companies House requirement, and the entire process meets the current legal standard. Your new director is properly verified from the moment they join the board.
Official Companies House Code Delivered by Email
Following identity verification, Companies House issues a personal code to each verified individual — a unique reference that links their verified identity to their record on the register. This code is distinct from the company number or authentication code; it belongs to the individual director personally and is required for future statutory filings and any interactions with Companies House made in that director’s name. It is proof that the individual has satisfied the verification requirements under current UK company law.
Once verification is complete, the personal code is delivered to you securely by email. Keep it on record: your new director will need it for any future Companies House transactions in their name, including annual confirmation statement filings and any updates to their own registered details. Having this code properly issued and documented protects the director from complications if Companies House ever queries their verified status.
Fast & Accurate AP01 Filing
The AP01 is the statutory form used to notify Companies House of a new director appointment for a UK limited company. It must be filed within 14 days of the appointment date under section 167 of the Companies Act 2006. A late or incorrectly completed AP01 does not just create an administrative headache — it means the director does not appear on the public register, which can cause real problems with banks, suppliers, and any counterparty who needs to verify your company’s officers. If you are also making board changes at the same time, our Director Appointment & Resignation Bundle covers both filings together at a reduced combined price.
Form My Company prepares and submits the AP01 directly to Companies House using the verified details collected through the web form. Because we are an Authorised Agent, our filings go through a verified submission channel and are checked for accuracy before they are sent. You do not need a Companies House account, and you do not need to log in to WebFiling. Once filed, you receive confirmation, and the new director’s details appear on the public register — typically within hours on a working day.
Is this Director Appointment Service right for you?
You have agreed to bring someone new onto the board — a co-founder taking a formal role, a silent partner stepping into an active capacity, or a trusted manager being given directorial authority. You know the appointment needs to go on record with Companies House, and you are aware that the identity verification rules have changed recently. You want it done correctly and quickly, without spending an afternoon working through government guidance. If your company also needs a registered presence at a professional address, our virtual office service pairs well with this filing. If that sounds like you, Form My Company makes it straightforward.
What happens after you buy?
- Secure web form sent to you. You receive a link to complete the new director’s details in a structured, guided online form.
- Director completes ID check. Your new director receives a secure link from Credas to upload their photo ID and proof of address — it takes under five minutes.
- Personal code issued. Once identity verification is confirmed, the Companies House personal code is delivered to you by email for your records.
- AP01 prepared and submitted. The completed AP01 form is filed directly with Companies House by our team, using your verified details.
- Confirmation sent to you. You receive filing confirmation, and your company’s register is updated with the new director’s details on the public record.
Most filings submitted through Form My Company are processed by Companies House within three working hours.
Why choose Form My Company for director appointments?
That volume means we have handled every variation of a director appointment — unusual name formats, overseas directors, replacement appointments, and time-sensitive filings. Experience at this scale translates directly into fewer rejections and faster approvals on your submission.
Companies House Authorised Agent
Authorised Agent status means Companies House has verified our identity, our processes, and our compliance with their filing standards. Unregistered agents have no such accountability — if they file incorrectly, you carry the consequences. With us, you do not.
Transparent pricing, no surprises
£24.99 plus £4 VAT. That is the total. The webform, the Credas ID check, the personal code, and the AP01 filing are all included. No upsell at checkout, no premium processing fee, and no charge if we need to resubmit following a Companies House query.
Your information is safe
All personal data is handled in full compliance with UK GDPR. Identity documents submitted through Credas are processed by the certified provider and not stored by us beyond the point of verification. If Companies House rejects a filing, we resubmit at no additional cost to you.
Keeping your company fully in order?
A director appointment is one filing, but keeping a limited company compliant involves several annual and event-driven obligations. If you want a single service to manage your statutory records throughout the year, our Company Secretarial service covers ongoing compliance, so nothing slips through the gaps. Equally, if the person you are appointing will also be resigning from another company, our Director Resignation service handles that filing separately and correctly.
Appointing a director correctly — with verified identity and accurate filing — satisfies your legal obligation under the Companies Act 2006 and protects your company’s public record.
£24.99 + £4 VAT — Everything Included. Appoint your director today →Director Appointment Service FAQs
AP01 is the official Companies House form used to notify the registrar of a new director appointment in a UK company. It must be filed within 14 days of the appointment date.
Yes. There is no requirement for a company director to be a UK resident or UK national. Non-residents can be appointed as directors of UK private limited companies.
No physical presence is required. The director completes the identity verification process digitally through the Credas platform using their mobile device or computer.
In a private limited company, directors can often be appointed by written resolution without holding a formal board meeting. Check your company’s Articles of Association for the specific procedure.
A director is appointed to manage the company and is listed on the Companies House register of directors. A Person with Significant Control (PSC) holds more than 25% of shares, voting rights, or the right to appoint or remove the majority of directors. One person can be both a director and a PSC. Both must be registered at Companies House.
The director has no official standing on the Companies House register. The company is in breach of its statutory obligations under the Companies Act 2006 and may face enforcement action.
Director Appointment Service
Appoint a new director and keep your company records compliant. This service includes:
- Simple Online Webform
We send you a secure webform to complete with the new director’s details, making the process quick and easy. - Secure Digital ID Check
Your new director simply uploads a government-issued photo ID and proof of address for verification through Credas, a certified provider under the UK’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework. - Official Companies House Code Delivered by Email
The Companies House personal code for your new director will be sent securely via email. - Fast & Accurate AP01 Filing
We complete and submit the official AP01 form directly to Companies House, making sure your records are up to date and properly filed.