UK Company Formation from Abroad: Requirements and Steps
A UK Ltd is an excellent choice for selling to Europe and beyond. Here is what you need to set one up without travelling to the UK.
UK company formation from abroad gives you a legal entity with a strong international reputation, usually incorporated fully online within 24 hours. A Private Limited company (Ltd) is the most common structure for founders outside the UK.
Requirements for UK company formation from abroad
- At least one director aged 16 or over — UK residency is not required.
- At least one shareholder (this can be the director).
- A registered office address in England or Wales.
- Identity verification for directors and people with significant control at Companies House.
Companies House identity verification
Identity verification is now mandatory for directors and people with significant control (PSCs) under the economic transparency reforms. We help you complete it digitally with your passport. See the UK government guidance.
The formation steps
- Choose a name and check availability.
- Set the directors, shareholders and number of shares.
- File the incorporation with Companies House and receive the certificate.
- Register with HMRC to receive the company's UTR.
Yearly obligations
Every year the company files a confirmation statement and annual accounts at Companies House, plus a CT600 Corporation Tax return with HMRC. We handle all of these in our renewal and tax services.
Ready for your UK company formation from abroad? Start a request in the client portal, add directors and shareholders, and upload documents in a few simple steps.