Companies House Verification With an Indian Passport
Verify for Companies House with an Indian passport from India: passports without a chip, an empty surname field and Indian addresses explained.
If you hold an Indian passport and are a director or PSC of a UK company, you must verify your identity with Companies House like every other officer. You can do it entirely from India. The two things that most often go wrong for Indian passport holders are the passport chip and the way the name is printed, and both are easy to deal with on the right route.
This overview is also available in हिन्दी.
Why the GOV.UK App Often Fails With Indian Passports
The GOV.UK One Login app verifies you by reading the chip in a biometric passport. India only began issuing chip-enabled e-passports in 2024, so most Indian passports in circulation have no chip for the app to read.
The app route can also ask security questions based on UK financial records, which directors living in India usually do not have. Either problem can stop the app route before it starts.
The Surname Field Problem
Some Indian passports print the whole name in the given name field and leave the surname field empty. Others use an initial, a father’s name or a place name in a way that does not match how the name appears on the Companies House register.
Automated checks treat those differences as a mismatch. On the ACSP route, a compliance officer compares your passport with the register, asks you to confirm how your name is written and records any previous or alternative names, so the application is not rejected for a formatting difference.
Why Indian Passport Holders Choose CorpAssist
Identity verification is a legal requirement, so getting it right the first time matters. Here is what CorpAssist handles for you:
- Indian passports with or without a chip are accepted
- A compliance officer handles names with an empty surname field, initials or a different order
- No UK bank account, UK credit history or UK phone number needed
- Indian addresses and Indian bank statements or utility bills accepted
- No app: complete the form on any computer in about 10 minutes
- From £29.99 + VAT, with Fast Track in 1 business day
Addresses in India
Indian addresses are accepted. Enter them as they appear on your documents, including the PIN code. Your proof of address can be an Indian bank statement or an electricity, water or gas bill, as long as it shows your name and current address and is dated within the last 3 months.
What You Need
- Any valid, government-issued photo ID, such as your passport, driving licence or national identity card
- One proof of address dated within the last 3 months, such as a bank statement or utility bill
- Your residential addresses for the last three years, with no gaps (overseas addresses are fine)
- Your full name, date of birth and any previous names
The full list is in our verification checklist. For everything else about verifying from abroad, read the overseas director verification guide, and check your date with the deadline calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I verify for Companies House with an Indian passport?
Yes. Through an ACSP such as CorpAssist, a valid Indian passport is accepted whether or not it has a chip. You complete an online form and upload a photo of your passport and a recent proof of address.
My passport has no surname. Will that cause a problem?
Not on the ACSP route. A compliance officer checks the name on your passport against the Companies House register and asks you to confirm it, instead of an automated system rejecting the difference.
Do I need to travel to the UK to verify?
No. The whole process is online. You do not need a UK address, bank account or credit history.
Can I use my Aadhaar card as photo ID?
We accept any valid government-issued photo ID, but a passport is the most reliable choice because it is recognised everywhere. If you use another ID, make sure the name matches your Companies House record.
CorpAssist is an independent commercial service and is not Companies House or GOV.UK. We facilitate identity verification through a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider. Source: GOV.UK identity verification guidance.
Last verified: October 2026
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