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Company Registration in the UK

Reviewed by CA and CS Team, Patron Accounting LLP ICAI & ICSI Registered| 15+ Years Experience| Last Updated: Verify Credentials →

Structure: private company limited by shares (Ltd) via Companies House.

Fees: UK incorporation starting from GBP 499 (Exl GST and Govt. Charges).

Requirements: 1 director (any nationality), 1 shareholder, UK registered office.

Timeline: incorporation in 1 to 2 working days once ID verification is done.

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From the Companies House filing and ECCTA verification to FEMA ODI reporting, founders trust Patron Accounting for their UK company.

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UK Company Registration: Overview

📌 TL;DR - UK Incorporation Services at a Glance

A UK private limited company is incorporated with Companies House on Form IN01, with no residency rule, 100% foreign ownership, and one director and shareholder, usually in 1 to 2 days. Directors must pass ECCTA identity verification, and Indian founders complete FEMA ODI reporting. Patron Accounting does it all from GBP 499.

Parameter	Detail
Entity Type	Private company limited by shares (Ltd)
Authority	Companies House (Form IN01); issues Certificate of Incorporation and CRN
Ownership	100% foreign ownership; no resident director required
Key Requirement	UK registered office and email; ECCTA identity verification
India Compliance	FEMA Overseas Investment Rules and Regulations, 2022; Form ODI, APR
Cost	UK incorporation from GBP 499 (Exl GST and Govt. Charges)
Timeline	1 to 2 working days

The UK is a leading base for tech, SaaS and consulting founders who want a credible, English-language entity with EU and global market reach, and it is cheaper and faster than US incorporation. The Companies House government fee and service costs vary by provider and are billed at actuals.

Content is reviewed quarterly for accuracy.

What Is a UK Private Limited Company (Ltd)?

A UK private company limited by shares (Ltd) is a separate legal entity incorporated with Companies House, with limited liability and up to 100% foreign ownership. It is the default structure for international founders building tech, consulting and e-commerce businesses.

A UK Ltd needs at least one director and one shareholder, who can be the same person, with no UK residency requirement. A private company does not need a company secretary, but it must have a UK registered office address, a registered email, and a person with significant control (PSC) recorded on the public register.

Key Terms for UK Incorporation:

Companies House: the UK's registrar of companies, where incorporation is filed.
Form IN01: the incorporation application capturing directors, shareholders and capital.
PSC: a Person with Significant Control, holding more than 25% of shares or votes.
ECCTA: the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which mandates ID verification.

UK Entity Ltd | IN01

Who Should Register a Company in the UK?

The UK suits Indian founders in tech, SaaS and consulting who want a globally recognised entity, English-language contracts, and access to EU and international clients. It is also popular as a holding or trading company because it is cheaper and faster to form than a US entity.

There is no requirement for a UK resident director, so a founder in India can own and run the company entirely from abroad. Directors and PSCs must complete ECCTA identity verification, and Indian founders must route their investment through the FEMA ODI framework, which we manage alongside incorporation.

Our UK Incorporation Services

Service	What We Do
Name check and incorporation	Name availability check and Companies House Form IN01 filing.
ECCTA identity verification	Director and PSC verification via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.
Registered office and email	A UK registered office address and compliant email.
Corporation Tax registration	Registration with HMRC within the required timeline.
Banking support	Guidance on fintech and bank account opening for non-residents.
FEMA ODI compliance	Form ODI filing, AD bank coordination, APR and FLA returns.

Our Process

UK Incorporation Process: 6 Steps

From the name check and ECCTA identity verification to Form IN01, tax registration and FEMA ODI reporting, here is how Patron Accounting incorporates a UK company end to end.

Step 1

Check the company name

Confirm name availability on Companies House and choose SIC codes for the business activities.

Name checked SIC codes set

Name Confirmed 01

Step 2

Verify identity (ECCTA)

Complete identity verification for directors and PSCs through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

Directors verified PSCs verified

Identity Verified 02

Step 3

Set the structure

Decide directors, shareholders, share capital and the PSC, and prepare the memorandum and articles.

Structure set M and A ready

Structure Ready 03

Step 4

File Form IN01

File the incorporation application with Companies House and receive the Certificate of Incorporation and CRN.

IN01 filed CRN issued

Incorporated 04

Step 5

Register for tax and bank

Corp Tax registered Account opened

Tax and Bank Set 05

Step 6

Complete FEMA ODI reporting

For Indian founders, route the investment through an AD bank and file Form ODI, then the Annual Performance Report.

Form ODI filed APR scheduled

ODI Reported 06

Documents Required for UK Incorporation

Passport and proof of address: of all directors and shareholders, for ECCTA verification.
Proposed company name: and SIC codes for the activities.
Share structure: and details of any person with significant control.
UK registered office address: provided by us if needed.
For Indian founders: PAN, net worth or CA certificate, and AD bank details for ODI.

Common Challenges and How We Solve Them

Challenge	Impact	How Patron Accounting Solves It
ECCTA identity verification	New mandatory ID checks under the 2023 Act	We verify directors and PSCs through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider
No UK address for the company	A UK registered office is mandatory	We provide a compliant UK registered office and email
FEMA ODI non-compliance risk	Indian-side reporting is easy to miss	We handle Form ODI, AD bank coordination and APR
Bank account opening from abroad	Non-resident onboarding can be slow	We guide fintech and bank onboarding for non-residents

UK Incorporation Fees

Fee Component	Amount
Patron Accounting Professional Fees	Starting from GBP 499 (Exl GST and Govt. Charges)
Companies House government fee	Billed at actuals
Corporation Tax registration	At actuals, with HMRC
Bank charges and add-ons	At actuals, depending on the provider

All fees and charges listed are indicative only and do not constitute a binding offer. Final amounts may vary depending on the volume of work and the complexity involved.

Professional service charges for drafting, filing, and representation are separate from the statutory fees. The exact fee depends on the complexity of the case, disputed amount, and number of hearings required. Contact us for a detailed quote.

Get a free UK Incorporation consultation - Call +91 945 945 6700 or WhatsApp us. No-obligation assessment.

How Long Does Incorporation Take?

Stage	Estimated Timeline
UK incorporation (overall)	1 to 2 working days
ECCTA identity verification	The step that drives the timeline; done first
FEMA ODI (Indian founders)	Runs in parallel; does not delay incorporation

Identity verification is now the step that most affects the timeline, so we complete it first. Once the directors and PSCs are verified and the name is confirmed, incorporation usually completes in 1 to 2 working days.

Key Benefits

Why Incorporate in the UK with a Professional

Globally credible Ltd

Recognised by clients, banks and investors worldwide.

No residency barrier

Full ownership and control from India, no resident director.

End-to-end India compliance

FEMA ODI reporting handled alongside the UK setup.

Trusted by Founders Expanding Globally

10,000+ Businesses | 4.9 Google Rating | 50,000+ Documents Handled | 15+ Years Experience

Trusted by clients including Hyundai, Asian Paints and Bridgestone. With offices in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram, Patron Accounting serves founders across India both in-person and remotely.

UK vs USA vs Singapore for Incorporation

Factor	UK	USA	Singapore
Entity	Ltd via Companies House	LLC / C-Corp	Pte Ltd via ACRA
Resident director	Not required	Not required	Required
Foreign ownership	100%	100%	100%
Cost and speed	Low cost, 1 to 2 days	Higher, days	Moderate, 1 to 3 days
Best for	Tech, consulting, EU access	US market, VC	Fintech, SaaS, ASEAN

Related Services

Comparing corridors? We also advise on company registration in Singapore for the ASEAN market, and our company registration in USA and company registration in UAE services cover the US and Gulf corridors. Keeping an Indian entity too? See private limited company registration and ongoing private limited company compliance.

Legal and Compliance Framework

Companies Act 2006: governs the UK private limited company; a director must be at least 16 and not disqualified, and a private Ltd is not required to have a company secretary (registered with Companies House).

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: mandates identity verification for directors and PSCs; new directors must verify before appointment from 18 November 2025 and existing directors by 18 November 2026, with penalties for non-compliance.

HMRC Corporation Tax: a UK company must register for Corporation Tax within 3 months of starting to trade and file annual accounts and a confirmation statement with Companies House.

FEMA Overseas Investment Rules and Regulations, 2022: an Indian resident or entity investing in a UK company must route the investment through an AD Category-I bank, report it in Form ODI, and file an Annual Performance Report by 31 December (under the RBI; rules published on India Code).

Can an Indian founder register a company in the UK?

Yes. An Indian founder can incorporate a UK private limited company with Companies House and own and run it entirely from India, as there is no UK residency requirement for directors. The director and any person with significant control must complete ECCTA identity verification. The founder must also complete FEMA ODI reporting in India through an AD bank to invest abroad legally.

Do I need a UK resident director to register a company?

No. The UK has no residency requirement for company directors. A director can hold any passport, live in any country, and never set foot in the UK, provided they are at least 16 years old and not disqualified. This is a key difference from jurisdictions like Singapore, which require a locally resident director, and it makes the UK very accessible for Indian founders.

How long does UK company registration take?

UK incorporation usually completes in one to two working days once the company name is confirmed and the directors and PSCs have passed ECCTA identity verification. Identity verification is now the step that most affects the timeline, so it is completed first. For Indian founders, the FEMA ODI reporting through the AD bank runs in parallel and does not delay the UK incorporation.

What is the ECCTA identity verification requirement?

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, all company directors and persons with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House, either through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. New directors must verify before appointment from 18 November 2025, and existing directors must verify by 18 November 2026. Failure can block filings and trigger penalties.

Does a UK private limited company need a company secretary?

No. A UK private company limited by shares has not been required to appoint a company secretary since the Companies Act 2006. Many overseas founders still appoint one voluntarily to manage compliance, but it is optional. The company must, however, maintain a UK registered office address, a registered email, and accurate records on the public register.

How much does it cost to register a company in the UK?

The Companies House government fee for online incorporation is modest, and professional formation packages that bundle a registered office, identity verification and the first confirmation statement typically add to that. Our UK incorporation service starts from GBP 499, excluding GST and government charges, and includes ECCTA verification and a registered office, making the UK cheaper to enter than the US.

What ODI compliance applies when an Indian invests in the UK?

An Indian resident or entity investing in a UK company must follow the FEMA Overseas Investment Rules and Regulations, 2022, routing the investment through an AD Category-I bank and reporting it in Form ODI. An entity can invest up to 400% of its net worth under the automatic route, while a resident individual uses the LRS limit of USD 250,000 per year. An Annual Performance Report is due by 31 December.

UK me company kaise register kare?

Companies House par Form IN01 file hoti hai, koi resident director nahi chahiye, ID verification (ECCTA) zaroori hai, aur India me FEMA ODI reporting karni hoti hai. Patron Accounting dono sides sambhal leta hai.

Quick Answers

Which authority? Companies House via Form IN01.
Resident director? Not required; any nationality.
Company secretary? Not required for a private Ltd.
India compliance? FEMA ODI 2022, Form ODI and APR.

Ready to Enter the UK and EU Markets?

UK incorporation is cheap and fast, but the new ECCTA identity verification, the PSC rules and the Indian-side FEMA ODI compliance are where founders get stuck. Professional handling keeps both the UK and India sides clean.

Call +91 945 945 6700 or message us on WhatsApp for a free, no-obligation quote on your UK incorporation and ODI compliance.

Start Your UK Company Today

Company registration in the UK is one of the cheapest and fastest ways for Indian founders to build a globally credible entity for tech, consulting and EU market access. A UK Ltd offers 100% foreign ownership with no resident director requirement, but it now requires ECCTA identity verification and careful FEMA ODI compliance on the India side.

Patron Accounting, with 15+ years of experience and a CA and CS team, manages the Companies House incorporation, ECCTA verification and registered office, and the FEMA ODI reporting end to end so both sides stay compliant.

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Content Created: 3 June 2026 | Last Updated: | Next Review: 3 December 2026 | Reviewed By: CA & CS Team, Patron Accounting LLP

This page is reviewed every 6 months or whenever Companies House rules, the ECCTA identity verification regime, HMRC Corporation Tax, or the FEMA Overseas Investment Rules change, so the UK incorporation guidance stays current.