How to appoint a company director and file AP01

1. Check who can appoint the director

Start with the company's actual articles of association, including any amendments. They determine how an appointment can be approved. Do not assume that another company's procedure applies to yours.

Article 17 of the model articles for a private company limited by shares allows an eligible, willing person to be appointed by an ordinary resolution or a decision of the directors. Your company may have different articles. Where the approval process is disputed or unclear, get legal advice before filing.

Keep a record of the decision and the agreed appointment date. AP01 notifies Companies House of the appointment; it does not replace the company's approval procedure.

Source: Model articles for private companies limited by shares: article 17

2. Check eligibility and get consent to act

The person must be at least 16 and legally permitted to act. A disqualified person or an undischarged bankrupt needs court permission. A director does not have to live in the UK. Read who can be a company director for the eligibility rules.

Make sure the person agrees to become a director and understands the role. Keep evidence of their consent with the appointment decision. Do not add a person's name simply because they are a shareholder, employee or relative.

This walkthrough concerns an individual director. AP01 is not the form for appointing a corporate director, and it does not add or transfer shares.

Source: Appoint directors and a company secretary

3. Complete identity verification before filing

The current AP01 guidance requires the director's Companies House personal code and confirmation that they have verified their identity. Arrange verification before the appointment filing. It can be completed free through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, which may charge.

Verification and filing are separate tasks. Sending AP01 does not verify the director's identity. Our identity verification guide explains the routes and how the code connects a person to their Companies House roles.

If the person is also becoming a person with significant control, check the separate PSC notification and identity-verification requirements. An AP01 filing does not complete the PSC process.

Source: Verifying your identity for Companies House

4. The personal code and company authentication code are different

The 11-character personal code belongs to the individual and follows identity verification. Someone who is already verified uses the same personal code for another directorship; they do not need a different code for each company. They should keep it safe and share it only with someone trusted to file on their behalf.

The company authentication code has six letters or numbers and authorises online filings for the company. It is not proof that a director's identity is verified. If it is missing, use the official request process; it can take up to 10 working days to arrive by post. See lost company authentication code.

Source: Companies House personal codes for identity verification

5. Gather the information for AP01

Use the official online AP01 service linked under Official sources. Before starting, check the details directly with the new director and have the appointment record to hand. Enter the actual date they became a director, rather than substituting the date the form is sent.

• Company name and number, and the company authentication code for online filing.
• The director's full name and any former names the filing asks for.
• Full date of birth, nationality and country of residence. Use the accepted nationality and country names linked from the official AP01 guidance.
• Service address and usual residential address, checked separately.
• The appointment date, confirmation of consent to act and the identity-verification details, including the personal code.

Source: Appoint a director (AP01)

6. Choose the public service address carefully

The service address is public. The usual residential address is given separately and is not normally published, although Companies House can disclose it in specified circumstances. A home address used as the service address becomes public.

Companies House needs the full date of birth; for a new appointment, only the month and year are public. Check which field you complete: protection for the residential-address field does not make a home address entered elsewhere private.

Choose an appropriate service address before filing. If an address has already been exposed, read removing a home address from Companies House for the separate process; changing today's details does not automatically remove older filings.

Source: Your personal information on the Companies House register

7. Notify Companies House within 14 days

Companies House must be told within 14 days of a change to the directors. File the AP01 promptly after the appointment, with the correct appointment date. A confirmation statement is not a substitute, and you should not wait for the next annual filing.

Review the name, date of birth, addresses, appointment date and verification details before submission. Save the filing acknowledgement and check the result. If a filing is rejected, address the stated problem promptly; a rejection does not extend the notification deadline.

If the appointment is already overdue, report the true appointment date rather than changing it to make the filing appear timely. Seek professional advice if the underlying appointment or the information on the register is disputed.

Source: Company information you must report

8. Check the register and keep the appointment record

After acceptance, check the Companies House people record and filing history for the new director. Keep the company's decision, consent evidence and filing confirmation together so the appointment date and notification can be traced.

From 18 November 2025, companies no longer have to maintain their own statutory register of directors or directors' residential addresses. They still have to provide the information to Companies House and keep it updated. Older checklists that tell you to update a separate directors' register may be out of date.

Director, shareholder and PSC roles are distinct. Review other changes triggered by the appointment, such as shares or control, using the appropriate process. Our director filing responsibilities guide covers ongoing filings. If someone is leaving instead, follow how to resign as a company director.

Source: Changes to company registers