In short: You do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen to form a UK limited company. You need at least one director aged 16 or over, a UK registered office address in the right part of the UK, a registered email address, and identity verification with Companies House for every director and PSC. The safest route is to use a UK formation agent that can also provide your address and help with verification.
Can a non-resident form a UK company?
Yes. Directors and shareholders of a UK company can live anywhere in the world. There is no requirement to have a UK resident director or a UK passport. Many overseas founders choose a UK company because the registration process is fast, online and widely recognised.
What you cannot do is register a company without a proper UK address for it, or skip identity checks.
What you need
- At least one director, who must be a real person aged 16 or over.
- At least one shareholder, who can be a person or a company, based anywhere.
- A UK registered office address. This must be an "appropriate address" in the same UK nation as the company – England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. PO boxes are not allowed. Official letters from Companies House and HMRC go here.
- A registered email address for Companies House. This is not shown publicly.
- Identity verification. Since 18 November 2025, every new director and person with significant control (PSC) must verify their identity with Companies House. You can do this through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as a formation agent. Form My Company is a Companies House ACSP and can verify you remotely as part of your order. Each verified person gets a personal code.
- A service address for each director, which appears on the public register. It can be different from your home address.
Step by step
- Choose a company name and check it is available.
- Decide where to register: England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. This decides which part of the UK your registered office must be in.
- Arrange a UK registered office. If you have no UK address, use a registered office service.
- Verify the identity of each director and PSC and collect their personal codes.
- Prepare the details: directors, shareholders, share capital, SIC code and articles of association.
- Submit the application to Companies House. The fee is £100 online. Electronic applications are often approved within a day or so, but timing is not guaranteed.
- Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC within 3 months of starting to trade.
- Open a business bank account.
The safest options
Use a UK formation agent that is an ACSP. An agent can verify your identity, check your documents, form the company and provide a UK address. This reduces the risk of errors and helps you meet anti-money laundering rules.
Avoid "nominee" arrangements you do not understand. The real owners and controllers of a UK company must be recorded as PSCs. Hiding ownership can be a criminal offence.
Keep the company's details accurate. Companies House has stronger powers to query and remove false information, so make sure addresses and personal details are correct.
Opening a bank account from abroad
Banking is often the hardest step for non-residents. Traditional UK banks may ask directors to visit a branch or show a UK address and UK trading links. Some online banks and payment providers accept non-resident directors, but each has its own rules and some services are e-money accounts rather than bank accounts. Check the provider's eligibility before forming the company, and have your passport, proof of address and company documents ready.
Tax for a UK company with overseas owners
A UK company generally pays UK Corporation Tax on its profits. Where the company is actually managed and controlled can also affect its tax residence, and your home country may tax you or the company too. Tax treaties may help prevent double taxation. This depends heavily on your situation, so speak to an accountant who knows both countries before you start trading.
Common mistakes
- Using a registered office in the wrong UK nation.
- Not verifying identity before appointment.
- Assuming a bank account will be easy to open.
- Not getting tax advice in your home country.
How Form My Company can help
Our Non-Resident Package (£1,500) is built for founders outside the UK. As a Companies House ACSP, we verify your identity remotely, with no trip to the UK, then form your company and provide a UK Registered Office Address and service address, so official post is handled. Need your documents recognised abroad? We can also arrange apostilled documents.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a UK limited company?
Yes. Directors and shareholders can be of any nationality and live anywhere. The company needs a UK registered office and every director and PSC must verify their identity.
Do I need a UK address to form a company?
The company needs a UK registered office address. You personally do not need to live in the UK. A registered office service can provide the address.
How do non-residents verify their identity with Companies House?
Through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Form My Company is a Companies House ACSP: we verify you remotely as part of your order and give you your personal code.
Can a non-resident open a UK business bank account?
Often yes, but it can be harder. Some providers require a UK address or a branch visit. Check eligibility with the provider before you form the company.