Companies House Verification Without a Smartphone

You can complete Companies House identity verification without a smartphone. The GOV.UK One Login app is designed for modern phones that can read a passport chip and scan your face. If you have an older phone, a phone without NFC, no smartphone at all, or you simply don't want to install a government app, an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) can verify you from a computer instead.

This guide explains what the app requires, why so many directors run into trouble with it, and how the CorpAssist route works from a laptop, desktop or tablet. For the full process, see our complete identity verification guide.

What the GOV.UK App Needs From Your Phone

To verify in the GOV.UK One Login app, your phone must:

be a reasonably recent iPhone or Android smartphone that runs the app,
have an NFC reader to scan the chip in your passport or licence,
have a front camera good enough for a live face scan,
and hold a chip-enabled (biometric) document up to the phone steadily while it reads.

If any of these fail, the app stops. Directors most often get stuck when the chip read times out, the face scan will not match, or the phone is simply too old to install the app. If your passport has no chip at all, read our guide to verifying without a biometric passport.

Companies House Verification Without a Smartphone: Your Options

Route	Smartphone needed?	What else it needs
ACSP via CorpAssist	No	A computer or tablet, an email address and a photo of your passport or UK photocard licence
GOV.UK app	Yes, with NFC	A chip-enabled document and a successful face scan
GOV.UK security questions	No	A UK bank or building society account and a National Insurance number
GOV.UK Post Office route	No	A trip to a participating UK Post Office branch with your photo ID

The security questions route only works if you have UK financial records that match your current details. The Post Office route means travelling to a branch in person, which is difficult for directors who live abroad, have limited mobility or cannot take time away from work.

Why Choose CorpAssist If You Don't Use a Smartphone

CorpAssist was built for directors who can't or don't want to use the app:

Complete everything on a laptop, desktop or tablet. No app to install
No NFC chip scan and no live face scan
No UK bank account, National Insurance number or UK mobile number needed
No Post Office visit, so it works from home or from anywhere in the world
A compliance officer checks your application and contacts you by email if anything needs fixing
Free resubmission if a document photo needs replacing
From £29.99 + VAT, with a Fast Track option processed within 24 hours

Start Verification Now See How It Works

How It Works on a Computer

Fill in the secure online form (about 10 minutes): your name, date of birth, nationality and three years of address history.
Upload an image of your document. A digital camera, tablet or flatbed scanner is fine. Check the quality tips in our ACSP verification checklist.
A compliance officer reviews it for image quality, validity and name consistency before submission.
Our registered ACSP partner completes the check, in 2–3 business days on Standard, or within 24 hours on Fast Track.
You receive your Personal Code by email. Our Personal Code guide explains how to use it.

Helping an Older or Less Digital Director

Accountants, company secretaries and family members often help a director who is not confident online. That is fine, as long as the director agrees to the application and the details and document are their own. A practical approach:

Sit with the director and complete the form together on a laptop.
Photograph the passport photo page on a table near a window.
Use an email address the director (or their helper) checks regularly, so any follow-up question is answered quickly.

If you manage verification for several clients, our accountants' guide covers how to coordinate it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I verify my identity for Companies House without a smartphone?

Yes. The GOV.UK One Login app needs a smartphone, but an Authorised Corporate Service Provider can verify you without one. With CorpAssist you complete a secure online form on any computer or tablet and upload a photo or scan of your passport or UK photocard driving licence.

My phone does not have NFC. Can I still use the GOV.UK app?

The app reads the chip in your document using NFC. If your phone has no NFC reader, or the reading fails, the app cannot complete the check. The ACSP route does not use NFC at all.

I do not have a UK mobile number. Is that a problem?

Not with CorpAssist. We contact you by email and do not need a UK phone number to verify your identity.

Can a family member help me verify?

Someone can help you fill in the form and photograph your document, but the details and document must be yours and you must agree to the application. Verification cannot be done in someone else’s name.

How do I photograph my passport without a smartphone?

Any digital camera, tablet or flatbed scanner works. Lay the photo page flat in good light, make sure all four corners are visible and avoid glare on the laminate.

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: September 2026