- An incorporation certificate serves as your company’s primary legal identification document, certifying its registration as a separate legal entity distinct from its owners.
- It includes vital company information such as the registered name, registration number, incorporation date, type of company, and issuing registrar.
- You can obtain a certificate of incorporation by incorporating your company online, by post, or through a company formation agent. Each method has its own procedure and requirements.
Your Certificate of Incorporation Is Legal Proof Your Company Exists
The certificate of incorporation is a legal document that serves as your company’s official birth certificate. It is conclusive evidence under Section 15 of the Companies Act 2006 that the company has been legally registered in the UK. You need the certificate to prove your business is registered with Companies House.
What company details are on the certificate?
The Registrar of Companies includes the following details on every certificate:
- Full registered company name
- The unique Company Registration Number(CRN)
- Date of incorporation
- Type of company (e.g., private company limited by shares or company limited by guarantee)
- Jurisdiction of the registered office (e.g., England and Wales)
- Official seal of Companies House or the signature of the registrar
The certificate does not show the name of any company director, shareholder details, or the registered office address.
Those details sit on the public register instead – you can pull them for any UK company with our free company check tool.
When Will You Need Your Certificate of Incorporation?
Opening a business bank account is the most common reason you will need your certificate of incorporation. Banks require the document as compulsory evidence of your company’s legal status and use it to verify your business is legitimate and compliant with regulatory requirements.
If you have not chosen where to open that account yet, Revolut Business is one of the accounts you can apply for online, and pays a £100 welcome bonus to new business customers.
The certificate is also required for:
- Registering for taxes: Applying for Corporation Tax, VAT (if turnover exceeds £90,000), and PAYE with HMRC.
- Applying for finance: Securing business loans, commercial mortgages, or grants.
- Signing legal agreements: Entering into contracts, leasing property, or onboarding major suppliers.
- Due diligence: Proving legal status to investors or buyers during a company sale.
- International trade: Establishing an overseas branch or opening a foreign bank account.
Set Up a Limited Company and Get Your Certificate of Incorporation In the UK
You receive your certificate of incorporation as soon as Companies House approves your application to register a company. There are three ways to do this.
1. Register Online Through Companies House
- Cost: £100 (as of 1 February 2026)
- Timeframe: Within 24 hours
- Verify your identity first. Since 18 November 2025, directors must verify with Companies House – free through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider such as a formation agent, and you need each director’s Companies House personal code to register the company.
- Process: Use the GOV.UK online service to set up a limited company. Companies House issues your certificate of incorporation once the company is registered. This is the fastest route for standard private limited companies.
2. Register by Post Using Form IN01
- Cost: £124 (as of 1 February 2026)
- Timeframe: 8 to 10 days
- Process: This paper application is required if you are forming a Public Limited Company (PLC) or using bespoke articles of association. You will be sent a certificate of incorporation by post.
3. Use a Company Formation Agent
- Cost: Agent fee + £100 Companies House fee
- Timeframe: Same day to 24 hours
- Process: A company formation agent, such as Your Company Formations, handles the entire application electronically. We check your company details, ensure compliance, and submit directly to Companies House, often resulting in the fastest possible incorporation.
PLCs and CICs Have Stricter Certificate Requirements
While all certificates look similar, the company type stated on them has significant legal implications.
Private Limited Company (Ltd): The Standard Path
A private limited company is the most common type of company in the UK. The certificate states it is a “private company, limited by shares.” This company type requires no minimum share capital, and the new company can begin trading immediately after Companies House incorporates it.
Public Limited Company (PLC): The Two-Certificate Requirement
A PLC’s certificate states it is a “public company, limited by shares.” However, a PLC cannot legally trade or borrow money until it obtains a separate Trading Certificate. The second certificate confirms the PLC has a minimum of £50,000 of allotted share capital. Trading without a Trading Certificate is a criminal offence.
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
The Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 governs an LLP. The LLP’s incorporation document is officially titled a “Certificate of Incorporation on Formation” and confirms the LLP is registered at Companies House as a separate legal entity.
Community Interest Company (CIC)
A CIC is a limited company for social enterprises. Before Companies House issues a certificate of incorporation, the CIC Regulator must first approve the application, making it a company type that requires two approvals.
Lost Your Certificate? How to Get a Replacement Copy
If you lose your original certificate, you have two options for getting a replacement.
Download a Free Digital Copy
Anyone can download a free PDF certificate for any company.
- Go to the Companies House ‘Find and update company information‘ service.
- Search for your company name or number.
- Select the “Filing history” tab.
- Scroll to the first entry, labelled “Incorporation,” and click “View PDF.”
This digital copy is sufficient for most UK business needs, such as opening a bank account.
Order a Certified Copy from Companies House
For legal or international use, you may need a paper certified copy. A certified certificate of incorporation serves the same legal purpose as the original. For a certified copy of your incorporation document, Companies House offers two dispatch options:
- Standard Service (£44): Companies House aims to dispatch your document within 10 working days.
- Express Service (£130): Same-working-day dispatch if ordered before 11 am.
A separate company certificate costs £22 for standard dispatch or £65 for express dispatch.
To order a certified copy of the original incorporation certificate, you can order online through the Companies House ‘Find and update company information’ service – search for the company and order from the ‘More’ tab – or call Companies House on 0303 1234 500.
We tested the certified-copy ordering process using Your Company Formations Ltd (09094616).
On the Companies House register, open the ‘More’ tab and select ‘Order certified document’. After signing in, filter the filing history by ‘Incorporation’ and select the relevant document.
The service then asks you to choose a dispatch option. Our incorporation document showed Standard (£44), with dispatch aimed within 10 working days, or Express (£130), with same-working-day dispatch for orders received before 11 am. UK orders use Royal Mail Second Class or First Class respectively, with international postal delivery also available.
Next, enter the recipient’s name and delivery address before adding the document to your basket. The basket displays the selected document, dispatch method, delivery details, and total cost. We selected standard dispatch, confirmed the £44 total, and continued to the payment page.
Using Your Certificate Abroad: The Apostille Process
To use your certificate of incorporation in another country for legal matters, you must get it legalised with an apostille. An apostille is a certificate issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that verifies the document’s signature is genuine. Foreign authorities in countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Convention will accept an apostilled document as legally valid.
The FCDO cannot legalise a plain digital PDF straight from Companies House: the document must carry the signature of a UK public official, so order a certified copy and use the standard paper apostille (£45). An e-Apostille (£35) is only possible where a UK notary or solicitor has electronically signed the PDF.
The process is:
- Order a certified copy of your incorporation document from Companies House (£44 for standard dispatch).
- Submit the certified copy to the FCDO Legalisation Office for an apostille (£45 plus courier fees).
Certificate of Incorporation vs. Other Key Company Documents
It’s easy to confuse the certificate with other documents you receive when you form your company.
- Articles of Association: The certificate proves the company exists; the articles define how the company operates.
- Memorandum of Association: The certificate is official proof of existence; the memorandum is a historical statement showing the first shareholders’ intent to form the company.
- Certificate of Good Standing: The certificate of incorporation is a one-time “birth certificate”; a certificate of good standing is a periodic “health check” confirming the company is compliant with its filing duties.
If your certificate has just landed and the next thing you need is the business account the bank asked it for, open a Revolut Business account and claim the £100 welcome bonus.
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Get Your Certificate of Incorporation in 24 Hours
Ready to register your company and get your certificate of incorporation? With Your Company Formations, you can form your company online in minutes. We handle all the paperwork with Companies House, including digital copies of your official documents, and can register your new company in as little as 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions on Certificate of Incorporation
Do I need a new certificate of incorporation if I change my company name?
When you change your company name, Companies House issues and emails you a new document called a ‘Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name’. The new certificate shows your company number, your old name, and your new name. Your original certificate of incorporation, company registration number, and incorporation date do not change.
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