How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in the UK?
Online registration usually takes 24 hours, post 8–10 days. In 2026 directors must verify first, so here is the real timeline and what delays it.
How long does it take to register a company in the UK? Companies House usually registers an online application within 24 hours, and a postal application on form IN01 in 8 to 10 working days. In 2026 that is only the last step: every director must verify their identity with Companies House before the company can be formed, so the real timeline is verification plus registration. This guide shows each stage, what delays it and what happens in the weeks after.
How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in the UK?
| Route | Companies House fee | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Online (GOV.UK service or a formation agent) | £100 | Usually within 24 hours |
| Same-day service (approved software, before the daily cut-off) | Higher fee | Same working day |
| Post (form IN01) | £124 | 8 to 10 working days after it arrives |
These times start once Companies House has a complete application. Since identity verification became a legal requirement, the application cannot be complete until every director has a Companies House personal code.
The Real Timeline in 2026: Verification, Then Registration
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| 1. Identity verification for each director (PSCs can also verify within 14 days after incorporation) | GOV.UK app: minutes if your document and phone are supported. Through CorpAssist: Standard 2–3 business days, Fast Track 1 business day |
| 2. Choosing the name, address, SIC codes and shares | Under an hour once decided |
| 3. Companies House registration (online) | Usually within 24 hours |
| Total, online with verification arranged | Typically 2 to 5 business days |
The free GOV.UK route is quickest when it works, but it needs a supported photo ID and a phone that can read it, and many directors abroad or with older documents cannot complete it. Applications submitted through our Companies House-registered ACSP partner are checked by a person first, accept passports from 190+ countries and have a fixed turnaround, so you can plan the registration date. Read more in identity verification when forming a company.
What Delays a Company Registration
- A director not yet verified. The most common delay in 2026. One co-founder waiting on the GOV.UK app holds up the whole company.
- The name. A name that is the same as, or too like, an existing company is rejected. Sensitive words such as “Bank” or “Royal” need extra permission.
- Wrong or missing details. Share numbers that do not add up, missing SIC codes or a registered office that is not allowed, such as a PO Box or an address in the wrong part of the UK. See the registered office address rules.
- Name differences. A name on the application that does not match the verified identity, for example a missing middle name, can lead to questions.
- Weekends and bank holidays. Applications wait until the next working day.
After Registration: What Happens and When
| Task | When |
|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation | Issued when the company is registered |
| Business bank account | Often 1 to 2 weeks, longer for directors abroad; see business bank accounts for non-residents |
| Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC | Within 3 months of starting to trade |
| VAT registration | If taxable turnover goes over the VAT threshold, or voluntarily |
| First confirmation statement | Within 14 days after the first anniversary of incorporation |
| First annual accounts | 21 months after incorporation |
For the full step-by-step process and year-one costs, see how to set up a limited company.
How to Register Faster
- Get every director verified first, with Fast Track if you have a date to meet.
- Check the name is available before you apply.
- Have each person’s full legal name, date of birth, nationality and home address ready, exactly as on their ID.
- Decide the shares and who holds them before you start.
- Use a registered office that meets the rules. A registered office address service avoids putting your home on the register.
- Submit online, early on a working day.
Formation and Verification in One Order
CorpAssist plans the whole timeline, not just the filing:
- Formation packages from £159.99, including the £100 Companies House fee
- Director identity verification arranged in the same order: Standard £35.99 (2–3 business days) or Fast Track £59.99 (1 business day)
- Every application checked by a person before it is filed, so details that cause rejections are fixed first
- Company usually registered within 24 hours of a complete application
- International package for £249.99 for founders abroad: UK addresses and verification included, no UK visit needed
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a company to be registered?
Online applications to Companies House are usually registered within 24 hours, often within a few hours if sent early on a working day. Paper applications on form IN01 take 8 to 10 working days. In 2026 add the time it takes each director to verify their identity, which must be done before the application.
Is it easy to register a company in the UK?
The form itself is simple: name, registered office, directors, shareholders, SIC codes and the £100 fee. What slows people down is identity verification, a name that is too similar to another company, and mistakes in share or address details that lead to a rejection.
Can I register a company in the UK if I live abroad?
Yes. There is no residency requirement for directors or shareholders. You need a UK registered office address and identity verification for each director. CorpAssist’s International package (£249.99) includes both, and accepts passports from 190+ countries.
How much will it cost to register a company in the UK?
Companies House charges £100 to register online and £124 by post. Formation packages that include the fee start at £159.99 with CorpAssist. Our guide to setting up a limited company covers the costs in year one and year two.
Can I register a company on a weekend?
You can submit at any time, but applications sent on a weekend or bank holiday usually wait until the next working day to be processed.
Forming from abroad? See UK company formation for non-residents.
Registration times and fees checked against GOV.UK on 27 October 2026. CorpAssist is an independent commercial service and is not Companies House or GOV.UK.
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