By
August 11, 2026
How Do I Add a Director to a UK Limited Company?
A UK limited company can appoint an additional director at any time, provided the appointment follows the company’s articles of association and UK company law.
The process normally involves:
Approving the appointment
↓
Making sure the new director is eligible
↓
Completing Companies House identity verification
↓
Submitting the director appointment to Companies House
↓
Updating the company’s internal records
For an individual director, the Companies House appointment filing is commonly known as AP01. Companies House also allows officer changes to be filed online.
This guide explains how to add a director to a UK limited company and what information you need before making the appointment.
Yes.
A private limited company must have at least one director, but it can generally appoint additional directors if its articles allow it.
For example:
ABC Ltd currently has 1 director
↓
Company appoints second director
↓
Companies House is notified
↓
ABC Ltd now has 2 directors
There is no general rule saying a private company can have only one director.
For an ordinary UK limited company, an individual director must generally be at least 16 years old. Directors do not need to live in the UK.
However, a person may be unable to act as a director in certain circumstances, for example if they are legally disqualified.
The company should therefore confirm that the proposed director is eligible before making the appointment.
No.
A director can live:
The company itself must still maintain the appropriate UK registered office address.
This makes it possible for UK companies to have international directors.
Yes. Under the current Companies House regime, directors must complete identity verification.
The current AP01 appointment form requires confirmation that the proposed director has verified their identity and asks for the director’s Companies House personal code.
Identity verification can generally be completed through the Companies House identity-verification process using GOV.UK One Login or through an authorised corporate service provider.
Once the individual has successfully verified their identity, they receive a personal code.
A Companies House personal code connects a verified individual with their company roles.
The code belongs to the person rather than to one particular company.
For example:
Director verifies identity once
↓
Receives personal code
↓
Uses verified identity for company roles
If the same person is involved with several UK companies, they do not normally need a completely separate identity verification for each company role.
The code should be kept secure.
Before submitting the appointment, gather the new director’s required details.
These can include:
Companies House does not publish all of this information publicly.
Companies House makes certain director information publicly available.
This can include information such as:
The director’s full residential address is generally protected from routine public disclosure.
Directors should therefore consider carefully which address they use as their public service address.
A director’s service address is the address used for official correspondence relating to their role as a director.
It appears on the public Companies House register.
A director might use:
Company registered office
or
Professional service address
or another appropriate correspondence address.
The service address does not necessarily need to be the director’s home.
Generally, no.
Companies House requires the director’s residential address, but it is normally protected from routine public disclosure.
The public register generally displays the service address instead.
This distinction is important for directors who want to protect their home address.
The appointment must be valid under the company’s constitutional documents.
For many private companies, the existing board may have authority to appoint an additional director.
However, the company’s articles of association should be checked.
Depending on the company, the appointment might require:
Do not simply submit an AP01 filing without ensuring the appointment itself is legally valid.
Depending on the company’s articles, the board may approve the appointment.
A typical process could be:
Board considers proposed director
↓
Appointment approved
↓
Decision recorded
↓
Director consents
↓
Companies House notified
The company should retain appropriate records of the decision.
For a small owner-managed company, this may be recorded through board minutes or a written board resolution.
Yes.
A person should not be appointed as a director without agreeing to the role.
Directorship creates significant legal responsibilities.
The proposed director should understand that they will become responsible for matters including company governance and compliance.
Companies House filings also require confirmation relating to the appointment and identity of the director.
AP01 is the Companies House form used to appoint an individual director to a UK company.
It should not be confused with:
CH01 → Change details of an existing individual director
or
TM01 → Terminate a director’s appointment
AP01 is specifically for appointing a new individual director.
Yes.
Companies House allows company officer changes, including director appointments, to be made online.
Online filing is generally faster and easier than paper filing.
The company may need access to:
You may need your company’s Companies House authentication code when making online filings.
The authentication code confirms that you are authorised to file information for the company. Companies House says companies may need to enter the authentication code when using its online filing services.
Keep this code secure.
It is different from the new director’s personal identity-verification code.
These two codes should not be confused.
Relates to the company.
It is used to authorise online filings.
Relates to the individual director.
It shows that the person has completed Companies House identity verification.
For a new director appointment, both can therefore be relevant.
Companies House generally requires companies to report director changes within 14 days.
That means once the director is formally appointed, the company should not wait several months before updating Companies House.
Do not wait until the next confirmation statement.
Imagine:
ABC Ltd
currently has one director.
The company wants to appoint Sarah as a second director.
The process could look like:
1. Sarah verifies her identity
↓
2. Sarah receives her Companies House personal code
↓
3. Existing board approves the appointment
↓
4. Appointment date is recorded
↓
5. Company submits AP01
↓
6. Companies House registers Sarah
↓
7. Company updates internal records
Once registered, Sarah appears as a director on the public Companies House record.
Companies House registration is important, but the legal appointment generally arises through the company’s valid internal appointment process rather than simply when someone’s name appears online.
For example, the board might legally appoint the director on:
1 September
and notify Companies House shortly afterwards.
The AP01 filing records the appointment.
This is why the correct appointment date matters.
Yes.
Companies should maintain the appropriate statutory records.
After appointing a director, update the company’s internal records as required.
Depending on your company's record-keeping arrangements, this can include information about the new director and their appointment.
Do not rely solely on the Companies House public page as your company’s internal record.
Potentially, yes.
If the new director will have authority over the company’s bank account, contact the business bank.
The bank may require:
Adding someone as a Companies House director does not automatically give them access to the company bank account.
Potentially.
Platforms such as payment processors and financial service providers may require information about company directors.
A new director may need to be disclosed to:
This is particularly important where the provider performs KYC or beneficial-ownership checks.
No.
This is a major distinction.
Director
and
shareholder
are different roles.
A person can be:
Director but not shareholder
Shareholder but not director
or
Both director and shareholder
Simply appointing someone as a director does not automatically give them ownership of the company.
If you also want the new director to own shares, a separate share transfer or share issue may be required.
Not automatically.
A Person with Significant Control (PSC) is determined by ownership or control conditions.
Simply being a director does not necessarily make someone a PSC.
However, a director who also obtains significant shares or voting rights may become a PSC.
If the appointment or related ownership changes create a new PSC, Companies House PSC information may also need updating.
Then you may have two separate changes:
1. Director appointment
and
2. Share ownership change
The director appointment is reported using the relevant director process.
Share ownership changes may require separate company records and Companies House filings.
Do not assume AP01 updates share ownership.
Under the current identity-verification system, the individual only needs to verify their identity once, but their verified identity may need to be linked separately to their different roles.
For example, a person who is both:
Director
and
PSC
may need their personal code associated with both capacities under the applicable Companies House process.
Potentially, yes.
A spouse can be appointed if they are eligible and genuinely accept the responsibilities of being a director.
However, do not appoint someone purely in name while expecting them to have no responsibility.
Company directors have legal duties regardless of whether they are:
Yes, potentially, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
The same legal responsibilities apply.
Being a family member does not create a special exemption from directors’ duties.
Yes, if the company validly appoints them.
An individual can be both:
Employee
and
Director
The employment relationship and directorship are legally distinct, although they can exist together.
The company should consider whether employment contracts or remuneration arrangements also need updating.
No.
There is no general requirement that every company director must receive a salary solely because they hold office.
A director may be:
Tax and payroll rules should be considered where remuneration is paid.
Only if they are also a shareholder entitled to dividends.
Directorship alone does not create a right to dividends.
For example:
Director + no shares → generally no shareholder dividend entitlement
Director + shareholder → may receive dividends according to share rights
This is another reason to distinguish management from ownership.
Yes.
A UK private limited company can generally appoint a director who lives outside the UK.
For example:
UK Ltd company
Director living in France
or:
Director living in USA
is possible.
The individual still needs to satisfy the director eligibility and Companies House identity-verification requirements.
They do not generally need to live in the UK.
However, they need to provide the required Companies House address information, including an appropriate service address.
The company itself must have its UK registered office.
Corporate directors have separate rules and restrictions.
AP01 is for appointing an individual director. Companies House has a separate AP02 process for corporate director appointments.
The law governing corporate directors has also been subject to reform, so businesses considering a corporate director should check the current eligibility rules carefully.
For most small UK companies, individual directors are far more common.
A director is not simply a name added to Companies House.
Directors have legal duties relating to the management of the company.
These include responsibilities such as:
Directors are also legally responsible for running the company and ensuring accounts and reports are properly prepared.
Potentially.
A new director joins an existing legal entity.
They should therefore understand the company’s current position before accepting appointment.
Useful areas to review include:
Companies House filings
Accounts
Corporation Tax
VAT
PAYE
Company debts
Contracts
Bank balances
Loans
Legal disputes
A person should not accept a directorship without understanding what company they are joining.
Yes.
Before appointment, it is sensible to review the company’s public Companies House record.
Check:
This can identify obvious compliance issues.
A prospective director should understand this before joining.
Adding a director does not reset:
The company remains the same legal entity.
The company's director information will be updated separately through the director appointment filing.
The next confirmation statement should then confirm the company's information is correct.
You should not wait until the confirmation statement to report the new director.
Director changes are generally reportable within 14 days.
The availability and cost of filing services can change.
Check the current Companies House filing service before submitting the appointment rather than relying on an old article.
If an accountant or company agent completes the appointment for you, they may separately charge a professional fee.
Yes, an accountant, formation agent or authorised company administrator may be able to submit the filing.
However, the company should still ensure:
Directors remain responsible for company compliance.
After filing:
Search the company on Companies House
↓
Open the company record
↓
Check “People” or officer information
↓
Confirm new director appears
↓
Check filing history
The appointment should appear in the filing history once registered.
Do not rely only on an email saying a form was submitted.
Check the reason for rejection.
Possible issues might include:
Correct the issue and submit the appropriate filing again.
Act promptly.
Depending on the error, you may be able to submit a replacement filing or use another Companies House correction procedure.
Companies House provides an online replacement process for certain errors in previously filed AP01 appointments.
Do not leave incorrect personal information on the register unnecessarily.
Before appointing a director:
Is the person at least 16?
Are they legally eligible?
Have they agreed to become director?
Have they verified their identity?
Do they have their Companies House personal code?
Does the company's articles allow the appointment?
Has the board/shareholder approval been obtained where required?
Then:
Record appointment
↓
Submit AP01
↓
Notify Companies House within required period
↓
Check registration
↓
Update company records
↓
Update bank/payment providers where necessary
↓
Check whether shareholding or PSC information also changes
Companies should avoid:
Approve the appointment according to the company's articles, ensure the individual completes identity verification, then notify Companies House using the online service or AP01.
AP01 is used to appoint an individual director.
Yes. The current AP01 process requires the director to have verified their identity and provide their Companies House personal code.
Director changes generally need to be reported within 14 days.
No. Directors can live overseas.
An individual director must generally be at least 16 years old.
No. Directorship and share ownership are separate.
No. PSC status depends on ownership and control conditions.
Potentially, yes, if they are eligible, properly appointed and understand their responsibilities.
Yes. Companies House allows officer appointments and changes to be filed online.
So, how do you add a director to a UK limited company?
The process is generally:
Choose eligible director
↓
Director agrees to appointment
↓
Director verifies identity
↓
Director receives personal code
↓
Company approves appointment
↓
Submit AP01 / online appointment
↓
Companies House registers director
↓
Update internal company records
The most significant recent change is identity verification.
A new individual director now needs to have completed the Companies House identity-verification process before their appointment can be registered, and the current AP01 requires their Companies House personal code.
Also remember:
Director ≠ shareholder
and:
Director ≠ automatically a PSC
If the individual will also receive shares or significant control over the company, additional company records and Companies House filings may be required.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Companies House processes and identity-verification requirements can change. Check current official Companies House guidance before making an appointment.
