A non-resident director can be appointed to a UK company without living in the UK, provided the company and proposed director meet the applicable legal requirements. The Non-Resident Director Appointment service is designed for overseas individuals who need to be added formally to an existing UK company and for company owners who want the appointment handled as a structured digital process.
The service covers the practical steps involved in appointing an individual director, including collecting the new director’s details, completing the required identity check, obtaining the Companies House personal code and preparing and filing the AP01 appointment form. Companies House requires directors to verify their identity, and the personal code is now part of the appointment process.
What Is a Non-Resident Director Appointment?
A director appointment is the formal process of adding an individual to a company’s register of directors and notifying Companies House. For an individual director, Companies House uses form AP01, which records the appointment and the director’s relevant details.
A director does not have to be resident in the UK simply because the company is incorporated here. An overseas individual can therefore be appointed, subject to meeting the applicable requirements. The proposed director must still complete the identity verification requirements that apply to directors.
The appointment should be distinguished from becoming a shareholder or PSC. A person can be a director without owning shares or being a Person with Significant Control. If the new director is also given sufficient ownership or control, separate shareholder or PSC requirements may apply.
What’s Included in the Director Appointment Service?
The service is structured around the information and filings needed to add one individual director to a UK company.
Simple Online Webform
The process begins with an online form for the new director’s details. This provides the information needed to prepare the appointment and helps keep the process digital rather than relying on paper instructions.
The information supplied needs to be accurate because the appointment is ultimately reflected in the company’s official records. The AP01 process includes details such as the director’s name, nationality, month and year of birth, occupation and service address.
Secure Digital ID Check
The incoming director completes an online identity check. The source service states that the director uploads government-issued photo identification and proof of address through its digital verification provider.
This is particularly relevant for a non-resident appointment because the new director can complete the verification remotely. There is no general requirement for an overseas director to travel to the UK simply to complete the identity-check stage.
Companies House confirms that identity verification is now a legal requirement for directors. The current Companies House guidance states that individuals need to prove who they are when they set up, run, own or control a UK company.
Companies House Personal Code
Following successful identity verification, the incoming director receives a unique Companies House personal code. The service states that this code is delivered directly to the director by email.
The personal code is important because it connects the verified identity with the director appointment. Companies House’s current AP01 guidance requires the director’s personal code and confirmation that identity verification has been completed before an individual director appointment is filed.
The director should therefore keep the personal code secure and provide it as required for the appointment filing.
AP01 Preparation and Filing
The service includes preparation and submission of the official AP01 form to Companies House. AP01 is the form used to notify Companies House that an individual has been appointed as a director.
The service handles the filing stage after the identity check has been approved and the personal code has been supplied. This reduces the need for the company or its owners to prepare the appointment form themselves.
Companies House states that AP01 is used to appoint an individual as a company director. The official form also makes clear that the relevant identity verification information is now part of the appointment process.
Updating Company Records
A director appointment should not be treated simply as an internal decision. The company’s statutory information and Companies House record need to reflect the change.
Once the AP01 filing has been submitted and accepted, the appointment is recorded with Companies House. The company’s internal records should also be updated so that they accurately reflect the current directors.
For an overseas company owner, keeping these records aligned is particularly important where the company is managed from outside the UK and several administrative tasks are being handled remotely.
Director Eligibility Requirements
The source service states that an individual appointed as a director must be at least 16 years old, must not be an undischarged bankrupt and must not be a disqualified director.
These requirements apply to the individual being appointed, regardless of whether they live in the UK or overseas. A proposed director should therefore confirm that they are eligible before an appointment is submitted.
Companies House also distinguishes between individual and corporate directors. The AP01 form is for appointing an individual director; a corporate director requires the relevant separate process.
Does a Non-Resident Director Need to Be a PSC or Shareholder?
No, becoming a director does not automatically make an individual a shareholder or PSC. These are separate company roles, although one person can hold all three positions.
If the incoming director is given shares, the company may also need to update its share records. If the individual has significant control, PSC requirements may also apply. The director appointment service itself concerns the appointment as a director rather than automatically transferring or issuing shares.
This distinction is useful for overseas founders who may want to change management without changing ownership. The appointment can therefore be dealt with separately from any shareholder or PSC changes.
What Information Is Public?
Some information about a company’s directors appears on the Companies House public register. The service source identifies the director’s name, nationality, occupation, month and year of birth and correspondence address among the information that can be publicly available.
A director’s usual residential address is treated differently from the public correspondence or service address. The AP01 form requires the relevant address information, while Companies House rules determine which details are shown publicly.
For a non-resident director, this distinction can be important when deciding what address should be used for official correspondence. The service should not be confused with a registered office or residential-address service; those are separate company administration matters.
Why Identity Verification Matters
Identity verification is now a central part of appointing directors. Companies House states that directors must verify their identity, and its AP01 guidance requires the personal code and confirmation of verification when an individual director is appointed.
This means that an overseas director cannot simply be added to the company record without completing the applicable verification requirements. The identity stage should be completed before the appointment filing is finalised.
Companies House introduced mandatory identity verification as part of reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The current government guidance states that the requirement is intended to improve the accuracy and reliability of company information and reduce the risk of companies being used for unlawful purposes.
For the latest official requirements, see GOV.UK guidance on verifying your identity for Companies House.
What Happens After You Buy?
The service follows a digital sequence from instruction to Companies House filing.
- Order the service and provide the new director’s details through the online form.
- The incoming director receives an invitation to complete the online identity check.
- The director completes the verification process using the required government-issued photo ID and proof of address.
- Companies House issues the personal code following successful identity verification.
- The director provides the personal code required for the appointment filing.
- The AP01 form is prepared and submitted to Companies House.
- The appointment is recorded once Companies House processes and accepts the filing.
The source service states that Companies House usually confirms the new director appointment within 24 working hours. Actual processing depends on Companies House and whether the submitted information is complete and acceptable.
Staying Compliant After the Appointment
Appointing a director is only one part of ongoing company administration. After the appointment has been completed, the company should ensure that its statutory records and other Companies House information remain accurate.
The director should also retain their personal code securely because Companies House requires directors to use the code in relevant future identity-verification processes. Companies House currently states that directors provide their personal code as part of the company’s next confirmation statement.
If the company has more than one director, each individual director must meet the applicable identity verification requirements. The same person can also be a director of multiple companies, but the relevant personal code must be provided for each company appointment.
The official Companies House AP01 guidance provides the current filing requirements and identity-verification information for appointing an individual director.
Who Is the Service For?
The Non-Resident Director Appointment service is intended for UK companies that need to appoint an individual who lives outside the UK. It can be relevant to overseas founders, international business owners, existing shareholders who want to join the board and companies bringing an overseas professional into their management structure.
It can also be useful where the company is already incorporated and the new director needs to be added without the owners managing the AP01 paperwork themselves.
The service is focused specifically on the appointment of a new individual director. If the company also needs to remove an existing director, change share ownership or update PSC information, those matters require their own company administration steps.
Why Choose Non-Residents UK Company Formation?
Non-Residents UK Company Formation focuses on practical UK company administration for founders and owners managing companies from outside the country. A director appointment involves several connected steps, particularly now that identity verification and the Companies House personal code form part of the appointment process.
The service brings those steps together: online collection of director information, digital identity verification, delivery of the personal code and AP01 filing. This provides a clear route for an overseas individual who needs to become a formal director of a UK company.
The process also keeps the appointment separate from other changes that may or may not be required. A director does not automatically become a shareholder or PSC, so the company’s ownership and control structure can be considered independently.
Finalising a Non-Resident Director Appointment
A non-resident director appointment involves more than simply deciding to add someone to the board. The proposed director must meet the relevant eligibility requirements, complete identity verification, obtain their Companies House personal code and have the appointment properly notified to Companies House.
The Non-Resident Director Appointment service brings these requirements into one digital process. It covers the initial online instruction, secure identity check, personal code stage, AP01 preparation and filing.
Once the appointment has been accepted, the company should keep its statutory records and future filings consistent with the new board structure. Where additional changes are needed, such as resignation of an existing director, share transfers or PSC updates, those can be dealt with separately.
For overseas company owners, handling the appointment remotely can make the administrative process more straightforward while ensuring the formal Companies House filing is completed as part of the director change.
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