- Basic search
- Free [1]
Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- Companies House public company search is accessible worldwide without registration. [1] [4]
- Search language
- English. The search accepts company names, company numbers and officer names. [7] [6]
- Digital documents
- Open available filings in the company profile under “Filing history” and select “View PDF”. These document images can be downloaded as PDFs free of charge. [1] [7]
- Document language
- Filed documents are generally in English. Certain documents may be filed in another language together with a certified English translation. For eligible Welsh filings, Companies House arranges the English translation and makes both versions available on the register. When a Welsh company is incorporated using Welsh-language filings, Companies House issues the certificate of incorporation in Welsh and English. Both versions appear on the public register. [9] [8] [10]
- Fees at a glance
- Search and available document images: free. Certified documents: from GBP 22.
- Access
- Public search without registration; available worldwide.
Choose the right register
Companies House operates the company registers for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Its shared search service is called “Find and update company information”. Coverage includes limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs). Use the company number to connect the current record with earlier filings. [1] [4]
Names and abbreviations explained
- Companies HouseUK company registry
- The public authority that registers companies and publishes their filed information. [4]
- PSCPerson with significant control
- A person who ultimately owns or controls a company. Common conditions include holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights; other control rights can also qualify. [5]
- Filing historyChronological list of filed documents
- The company’s list of accepted filings and the associated document images. [1]
Search step by step
Find the entity and its original filings
Search by name or company number
Use “Enter company name, number or officer name” to enter the name or full registration number. The field also supports searches for company officers. [6]
Identify the correct legal entity
Compare the company number and registered office. Check status, the latest accounts filed and the next filing deadline. A previous company name may explain a differently named result. [1]
Open the filings
Open “Filing history”. Select “View PDF” beside the required filing and save the file. Keep the document date and company number together so that the record remains linked to the correct entity. [1] [7]
Separate management from control
Review current and resigned officers, then compare them with the PSC information. A director and a person who ultimately controls the company are different roles. [1] [5]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available document image [1] [7] [10] | An image of a filed document, such as accounts or an officer change. | Free; the search guidance states that document images from 2003 onwards are free. | Open “Filing history” in the company profile and select “View PDF” beside the required filing.
|
| Making a missing image available [2] | Adds an unavailable document image to the company filing history. | GBP 3 in the current fee schedule. | Use the relevant Companies House ordering option. |
| Certified copy or company certificate [2] [3] | An authenticated document for a recipient requiring official certification. | GBP 22 standard or GBP 65 express. Incorporation documents cost GBP 44 or GBP 130 respectively. | Order from the company’s “More” tab. Standard dispatch is targeted within ten working days. Order before 11am UK time for same-working-day express dispatch. International orders use Royal Mail International. |
| Certificate with a summary statement [3] | Confirms continuous existence and that no strike-off action is currently underway. Filing compliance and specified officer requirements apply. | The certificate charges above apply; later legalisation or courier costs are extra. | Select the additional certified facts when ordering. Certificates cannot include PSC, shareholder, shareholding or statement-of-capital information. |
Information available
The overview covers legal form, registered office, status and business activity. The service also provides previous names, current and resigned officers, and filed documents. Where records exist, registered charges and insolvency information are available. [1]
How to read beneficial ownership information
PSC information describes the nature of control. Shares and voting rights are reported in bands rather than necessarily as an exact percentage: over 25% up to 50%; over 50% but below 75%; and 75% or more. [5]
Home addresses and full dates of birth are generally withheld from the public view. Protected PSC information can be entirely suppressed. [4] [5]
Overseas access and monitoring
Companies House explicitly states that the public register is available worldwide. No registration is needed to view it. To receive free email notifications of new filings, register an email address and password, open the company and select “Follow this company”. [1] [4]
Reliability and historical coverage
Companies House checks filings for completeness and validity and can investigate concerns, annotate the register or remove information. For accounts, it describes its checks as basic formal checks. Publication does not amount to verification of economic accuracy. [1]
The free service includes records of companies dissolved since January 2010. Earlier dissolutions or documents that have not been digitised may require other archive products. [1]
Data for repeated searches
Public data is also available through the application programming interface (API). Companies House says its ordinary search website is not intended for bulk downloads and directs high-volume users to its data products. [1]
English and Welsh documents
Under “Filing history”, you open an image of the filed document. Its language is part of the document itself. For example, Companies House publishes Welsh articles of association and annual accounts alongside a certified English translation. [9] [8]
Avoid common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a UK digital identity to search?
No. Public viewing is available worldwide without registration. Identity checks attached to certain corporate roles are separate from reading public information. [1] [4]
Can I order a certified ownership list?
The certificate service expressly excludes PSCs, shareholders, shareholdings and statements of capital. Examine the available filings and PSC information separately. [3]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 16 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- Searching the Companies House register Companies House
- Companies House fees Companies House
- Order certified documents and certificates Companies House
- Your personal information on the Companies House register Companies House
- People with significant control (PSCs) Companies House
- Search the register Companies House
- Companies House: filing history and PDF access Companies House
- Companies House Welsh services Companies House
- Registrar of Companies: rules and powers Companies House
- Companies House Welsh Language Scheme Companies House