Form AP01 is used to notify Companies House when a UK limited company appoints a new individual director. If you are learning how to appoint a company director, the process starts with the company formally approving the appointment and obtaining the new director’s consent. You must also collect the required personal information and complete any applicable identity verification requirements before filing.
Once the appointment takes effect, the company must normally notify Companies House within 14 days by submitting Form AP01. The form can be filed through the Companies House online filing service or submitted through an authorised agent, such as an accountant. Companies House does not appoint directors itself; it records director appointments that have already been validly approved by the company.
Following the correct company director appointment process and filing an accurate AP01 helps keep company records compliant, reduces the risk of filing delays, and ensures the company’s public information remains accurate for organisations such as banks and HMRC.
- Form AP01 is used to notify Companies House when a UK limited company appoints a new individual director; it records an appointment already approved by the company.
- Before filing, the company must complete the correct internal approval process, obtain the director’s consent, and collect accurate personal information.
- Director appointments should normally be reported to Companies House within 14 days, with identity verification and personal code requirements completed where applicable.
- Companies House does not approve director appointments; the company remains responsible for ensuring the appointment is legally valid and properly documented.
- Accurate AP01 filings help businesses maintain compliance, avoid record inconsistencies, and prevent issues with banks, HMRC, investors, and other third parties.
Appointing a new director is an important step in the growth and management of a UK limited company. If you are wondering how to appoint a company director, it is important to understand both the company’s internal requirements and its legal obligations. Directors help oversee company operations, make business decisions and fulfil the company’s legal responsibilities.
When a company appoints a new director, the change must be reported to Companies House, which maintains the public register of UK companies. The company is responsible for making the appointment correctly and providing accurate information. This includes submitting the required Form AP01 to Companies House with the new director’s details. Following the correct process helps ensure the company’s records remain accurate and up to date.
For an individual director appointment, companies normally notify Companies House through its online filing service or by submitting Form AP01 where a paper filing is required. The filing does not create the appointment itself; instead, it notifies Companies House of a decision that has already been validly made by the company.
From 18 November 2025, new directors must also complete Companies House identity verification and provide their personal code within the applicable period. Companies should check the latest Companies House guidance before filing because the identity-verification system is being introduced through a transition period.
How to Appoint a Company Director?
Appointing a company director involves more than simply notifying Companies House. The company must first approve the appointment, obtain the director’s consent, collect the required information and complete identity verification where applicable.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to appoint a company director in 2026, including the Form AP01 filing process, required information, filing deadlines, Companies House requirements, and what to do after the appointment. We’ll also cover common mistakes to avoid and how to keep your company records accurate and compliant.
What Is Form AP01?
Form AP01 is the official Companies House filing used to notify the appointment of an individual director of a UK limited company.
The filing updates the public register so that information about the company’s directors is available to third parties, including lenders, suppliers, investors, HMRC and members of the public.
However, AP01 does not create a director appointment by itself. The company must first make the appointment internally, following its articles of association and any applicable shareholder agreement. Once the appointment has been approved, the company uses the Companies House online service or Form AP01 to notify Companies House.
Companies usually file AP01 when:
- A new director joins the company.
- A shareholder becomes a director.
- An investor takes a director position.
- The company expands its management team.
- An existing director is replaced.
When Must You File Form AP01?
A company must notify Companies House after it has validly appointed an individual director internally.
The appointment should normally be reported within 14 days of the appointment taking effect.
For example, if a company appoints a director on 1 June, the company should notify Companies House by 15 June. The company should submit the filing as soon as reasonably possible so that the public register remains accurate.
Failing to file on time can create compliance issues and may cause the company’s public record to become outdated.
Who Can Submit Form AP01?
The responsibility for filing the director appointment belongs to the company, but the submission can usually be completed by:
- A company director.
- A company secretary, if the company has one.
- An authorised agent, such as an accountant or professional filing service.
Companies can usually submit the appointment through the Companies House online filing service. A paper Form AP01 may be required in certain circumstances.
Many businesses use accountants or filing agents to handle director appointments because they can help check the information and complete the filing process.
However, the company remains responsible for the accuracy of the information, even when an accountant or authorised agent submits the filing on its behalf.
Information Required Before Filing AP01
Before submitting Form AP01 or using the online filing service, the company must collect accurate details about the proposed director.
The required information normally includes:
- Full name.
- Any former names.
- Date of birth.
- Nationality.
- Country of usual residence.
- Residential address.
- Service address.
- Appointment date.
- Companies House personal code and identity-verification confirmation, where required.
The director must also agree to act in the role. A company should not appoint someone as a director without that person’s consent.
The appointment date should match the date on which the director was validly appointed under the company’s articles of association or other applicable internal procedure.
A director’s residential address is generally protected and is not shown publicly. However, the service address normally appears on the Companies House register.
Since 18 November 2025, new directors must complete Companies House identity verification and provide their personal code within the applicable period. Existing directors are being brought into the identity-verification system during a transition period.
The company should check the current AP01 guidance before filing because Companies House information requirements and procedures may change.
How to File Form AP01 With Companies House
The AP01 filing process involves several steps.
Step 1: How to Appoint a Company Director: Internal Approval
The first step in how to appoint a company director is to formally approve the proposed appointment within the company.
Before filing AP01, the company should review its articles of association and any applicable shareholder agreement to confirm the correct appointment procedure. The appointment is usually approved by the board, although shareholder approval may be required in certain circumstances.
Companies House does not appoint the director itself. The company must first validly approve the appointment internally before notifying Companies House through the appropriate filing process.
Collect and Verify Director Information
Once the appointment has been approved, the company should collect the director’s required details.
Accuracy is important. Errors in names, addresses, dates of birth or other personal information can create delays or inconsistencies in company records.
The company should also ensure that the proposed director completes the required Companies House identity-verification process and provides their personal code within the applicable period.
Complete Form AP01
The company must complete the online appointment filing or Form AP01 with the director’s information.
The filing requires information such as:
- The director’s personal details.
- Date of birth.
- Nationality and country of usual residence.
- Residential address.
- Service address.
- Appointment date.
- Companies House personal code and identity-verification confirmation, where required.
The appointment date entered in the filing should match the date on which the director officially became appointed.
Submit AP01 to Companies House
Companies can usually submit the appointment through the Companies House online filing service or through an authorised filing agent. A paper Form AP01 may be required in certain situations.
The online service guides users through the required information and identity-verification details. After submission, Companies House reviews the filing and may reject it if information is missing or incorrect.
If the filing is accepted, Companies House updates the public register to show the new director. The company should check the public record to ensure that the information has been recorded correctly.
Update Internal Company Records
After filing AP01, the company should retain the relevant board minutes or shareholder resolution, appointment documentation and the date the appointment took effect.
Companies no longer generally need to maintain separate statutory registers of directors or directors’ residential addresses. However, they should keep appropriate records of resolutions, minutes, appointments and other important company decisions.
The company should also ensure that the information submitted to Companies House remains accurate and that any internal corporate records it still maintains are consistent with the filing.
What Happens After Filing AP01?
Once Companies House processes and accepts the filing, the new director appears on the public company register.
The company should check that the information displayed is correct and ensure that relevant corporate records are updated.
Businesses may also need to update their director information with:
- Banks.
- HMRC.
- Account providers.
- Insurance companies.
- Business partners.
- Professional advisers.
Accurate director records can help prevent delays during compliance checks and verification processes.
Common Mistakes When Filing AP01
Although the AP01 filing process is straightforward, businesses often make mistakes that create unnecessary problems.
One common issue is missing the filing deadline. Companies sometimes treat director appointments as internal decisions and forget that Companies House must be notified within 14 days of the appointment taking effect.
Incorrect personal details are another frequent problem. A small mistake in a director’s name, address or date of birth can create inconsistencies between company records and the public register.
Businesses may also fail to complete the identity-verification process or provide the correct Companies House personal code.
Another mistake is failing to update retained corporate records after filing AP01. Companies House information and company documents should remain consistent.
Businesses should also check their articles of association and any shareholder agreement before making the appointment. These documents may contain special rules about who can appoint directors and how the appointment must be approved.
Another common error is assuming that submitting AP01 automatically makes the appointment legally valid. Companies House records information provided by the company, but the company remains responsible for following the correct internal appointment process.
AP01 and Companies House Rules in 2026
The purpose of AP01 remains simple: it notifies Companies House that a company has appointed an individual director.
The process generally follows these steps:
- The company approves the appointment.
- The director agrees to act.
- The required information is collected.
- Identity verification is completed where required.
- The personal code is provided where required.
- The online filing or AP01 is submitted.
- Companies House updates the public register.
Companies should always check the latest Companies House guidance before filing because identity-verification and filing requirements may continue to develop during the transition period.
The company must normally notify Companies House within 14 days of the appointment taking effect.
Why Accurate AP01 Filing Matters
Accurate director filings help maintain trust in your company information.
Companies House records are often checked by:
- Banks during account applications.
- Investors during due diligence.
- Suppliers during onboarding.
- HMRC during compliance reviews.
- Professional advisers during company checks.
Incorrect or outdated information can create delays and may affect business relationships.
A properly completed AP01 filing helps ensure that your company’s public information remains reliable and compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
The company must notify Companies House when it appoints an individual director. This is normally done through the Companies House online filing service or by submitting Form AP01 where a paper filing is required.
Companies should normally notify Companies House within 14 days of the director appointment taking effect.
Yes. An authorised accountant or filing agent can submit the appointment on behalf of a company.
However, the company remains responsible for ensuring that the information is accurate and that the appointment was made correctly under its articles of association.
No. Becoming a director does not automatically make someone a shareholder. Directorship and share ownership are separate legal positions.
A person may become a director without owning any shares, unless the company’s articles of association or another binding agreement requires directors to hold shares.
To add a director, the company must formally approve the appointment, obtain the director’s consent and notify Companies House within 14 days, usually through the online filing service or Form AP01.
To remove a director, the company must follow the correct procedure under its articles of association and notify Companies House of the change. The appropriate Companies House filing should be submitted promptly to keep the public register accurate.
