Companies House Verification With a Pakistani Passport
Verify for Companies House with a Pakistani passport: passports without a chip, surname and given-name differences, CNIC and addresses.
If you hold a Pakistani passport and are a director or PSC of a UK company, you must verify your identity with Companies House. You can do it online from Pakistan or wherever you live. The usual sticking points are passports without a chip, how the name is split between surname and given name, and UK-based checks.
Passports Without a Chip
The GOV.UK One Login app reads the chip in a biometric passport. Many Pakistani passports in circulation have no chip, so the app has nothing to read. On the ACSP route a person reviews your passport instead, so a chip is not needed.
Surname and Given Name
Pakistani passports do not always split a name the way the Companies House register does. A family name may be printed as a given name, a father’s name may appear in the name, or the surname field may hold a name that is not used on the register.
Automated checks treat those differences as a mismatch. A compliance officer compares your passport with the register, asks you to confirm how your name is written and records alternative names.
Why Pakistani 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:
- Pakistani passports with or without a chip accepted
- Surname and given-name differences reviewed by a compliance officer
- No UK bank account, UK credit history or UK phone number needed
- Pakistani addresses and 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
Photo ID and Addresses
Your passport is usually the best choice, but CorpAssist accepts any valid government-issued photo ID, such as your CNIC. Pakistani addresses are accepted; a recent bank statement or utility bill showing your name and address, dated within the last 3 months, works as proof of address.
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 a Pakistani passport?
Yes. Through an ACSP such as CorpAssist, a valid Pakistani passport is accepted whether or not it has a chip.
Can I use my CNIC instead of my passport?
CorpAssist accepts any valid government-issued photo ID. A passport is usually the simplest choice because its name tends to match the Companies House register.
My name is split differently on the register. What should I do?
Enter your name exactly as on your passport and add the register version as an alternative name. A compliance officer will check it and contact you if needed.
Do I need to come to the UK?
No. Everything is done online, with no need for a UK address or credit history.
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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