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 for a UK limited company. The company must follow its internal approval process, obtain the director’s details, and notify Companies House. AP01 filings are normally completed online, while a paper Form AP01 is only used where online filing is not possible.
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 as part of the initial appointment filing. For new director appointments, the personal code must be submitted straight away when filing the appointment or incorporation documents.
This guide explains how to file Form AP01 in 2026, what information is required, who can submit the filing, the steps involved and the common mistakes businesses should avoid.
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, and members of the public.
However, AP01 does not create a director appointment by itself. The company must first validly appoint the director in accordance with its articles of association and any applicable shareholder agreement. This will usually involve approval by the board of directors through a board resolution, although shareholder approval may be required in certain circumstances. Once the appointment has been approved, the company should notify Companies House through the online filing service. A paper Form AP01 is only used where online filing is not possible.
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.
When Must You File Form AP01?
A company must notify Companies House after it has validly appointed an individual director internally. The appointment must be notified within 14 days of the appointment taking effect.
For example, if a company appoints a director on 1 June, it must notify Companies House within 14 days, meaning the filing deadline is 15 June. The company should submit the filing as soon as possible to ensure the public register remains accurate and up to date.
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. However, the submission can be completed by anyone authorised to use the company’s authentication code, including:
- A company director.
- A company secretary, if the company has one.
- An authorised professional agent, such as an accountant or filing service provider.
Companies can usually submit the appointment through the Companies House online filing service, which is now the default and preferred method. A paper Form AP01 is only used where online filing is not possible.
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.
- The director’s Companies House personal code, provided after completing identity verification, 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.
How to File Form AP01 With Companies House?
The AP01 filing process involves several steps.
Step 1: Approve the Director Appointment Internally
Before completing AP01, the company must first properly approve the appointment and obtain the proposed director’s consent to act.
For private companies, directors are normally appointed by a board resolution, unless the company’s articles of association state otherwise. The company should review its articles of association and any applicable shareholder agreement to confirm that the correct appointment procedure has been followed.
Companies House does not decide whether a director should be appointed. It only records the appointment made by the company after the required internal approval process has been completed.
Step 2: 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.
Step 3: 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.
- The director’s Companies House personal code, provided after completing identity verification, where required.
The appointment date entered in the filing should match the date on which the director officially became appointed.
Step 4: 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 AP01 information. The director’s identity verification must be completed separately, and the director’s personal code should be provided as part of the appointment filing where required. 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.
Step 5: 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 are no longer required to maintain separate statutory registers of directors or directors’ residential addresses from 18 November 2025. However, they must ensure that director information filed with Companies House remains accurate and up to date. Companies should also retain appropriate internal records, including board resolutions, meeting minutes, appointment documents 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.
- Account providers.
- Insurance companies.
- Business partners.
- Professional advisers.
Accurate director records, including maintaining the company’s internal statutory registers where required, can help prevent delays during compliance checks and verification processes. Companies should ensure that their internal records remain consistent with the information filed at Companies House.
Common Mistakes When Filing AP01
Although the AP01 filing process is straightforward, businesses can make mistakes that lead to compliance issues. Common errors include missing the 14-day filing deadline, providing incorrect director details, failing to complete identity verification or provide the director’s personal code where required, and not keeping internal company records up to date.
Companies should also check their articles of association and any shareholder agreements to ensure the correct appointment process is followed. Filing AP01 does not create the appointment itself; the company remains responsible for making the appointment correctly before notifying Companies House.
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.
- 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.
Need Help Filing Form AP01?
Filing an AP01 appointment may seem simple, but incorrect information, missed deadlines, incomplete identity verification or inadequate corporate records can create compliance issues.
At Swiftacc, we help UK companies manage director appointments correctly, including preparing and submitting AP01 filings, checking Companies House requirements and keeping company records accurate.
Whether you are appointing your first director, adding a new business partner or restructuring your management team, Swiftacc can help you complete the process correctly and stay compliant. Contact Swiftacc today for professional support with your UK limited company compliance needs.
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. A paper Form AP01 is only used where online filing is not possible.
Companies must 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.
