UK Professional & Nominee Director Services

GOV.UK states that directors do not have to live in the UK, while the company must have a UK registered office. Providing an office address is not the same as appointing a director or moving actual management to the UK. Directors must also meet age and eligibility conditions, and a private company needs at least one natural-person director.

A bank or other service provider can impose its own eligibility criteria. Ask for those criteria rather than assuming that UK incorporation plus a UK professional director will obtain an account. Actual business activity, controllers, residence and payment flows remain relevant to the institution’s independent review.

The Companies Act 2006 duties are owed to the company. They include acting within powers, promoting the company’s success, exercising independent judgment and managing conflicts. Contractual arrangements must be assessed against those duties; calling someone a nominee does not make them a director in name only.

Set out the intended board role, access to records, decision authority, reporting and conflicts before proceeding. The director must be able to understand the company and perform the role. An agreement cannot make unlawful instructions acceptable or promise that the individual will approve every transaction.

Mandatory identity verification began on 18 November 2025 with a 12-month transition for existing directors and people with significant control. At this page’s review date, 30 October 2026, that transition is nearing its end. The relevant verification and personal-code filing point depends on the role, appointment circumstances and confirmation-statement cycle; it is not one universal deadline for every person.

New appointments and existing directors have different filing triggers, and PSCs have separate steps. Check the current Companies House guidance before an appointment or filing. Verification can be undertaken through the available official process or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. ACSP authorisation concerns specified Companies House functions, not a blanket approval of all director services. We do not claim ACSP status for Xavion.

The company must identify and report people who meet the applicable significant-control tests. A professional director is not automatically the PSC, and appointing one does not erase a controller who meets those tests. Neither a nominee director nor a separate nominee shareholding should be presented as a way to conceal the actual owners from required checks.

UK trust or company service activities can fall within money-laundering supervision requirements. Confirm the provider’s relevant supervision, any ACSP role, scope and due-diligence process. Fees, insurance, indemnity, authority and departure arrangements need a written proposal and local professional review. No provider credentials or appointment availability are assumed from this page.