Owning an official UK LTD — with complete documents, a registered address and a clear path to bank accounts — is closer than you think: the whole process runs online, without travelling a single step. But here is a simple truth we see every day with our clients: most formation delays are not caused by government procedure. They are caused by a missing document, an unclear photo, or a company name that turns out to be taken. Prepare these four things now, and your formation will run from start to finish without stopping once.
1. A valid proof of identity
The first and most important document: valid proof of identity. Any one of three is accepted — a passport, a legal residence permit, or a valid driving licence.
Why does this matter so much? Because Exporya is a Companies House authorised agent (ACSP), and part of our official role is to review your documents and verify your identity before filing. Identity verification is a mandatory legal step in the UK system — we cannot skip it for any client.
Practical tip: photograph the document in colour, in good light, without cropping any edge. Faded or cropped images are the number-one reason documents get requested again — a full day lost for nothing.
2. A recent proof of address
Second: a recent proof of address in your name. A recent utility bill — electricity, water or internet — or a bank statement clearly showing your name and address is accepted.
One clarification we give often: this is your address in your country of residence — no UK address is required from you. Your company receives an official UK registered address as part of the service itself, so leave that part entirely to us. All that matters is that the document is recent, in your name, and shows the address clearly.
3. A distinctive English name — verified as available
Your company name must be in English and must be distinctive — meaning no other company is registered under the same name, or one confusingly close to it, on the UK register.
The good news: checking takes no expert and no money. The UK register is open to everyone, and you can search for your company name on Companies House yourself in seconds. If the name is taken, or something nearly identical exists, change it now — far better than a stalled application.
A tip from our team: prepare two or three alternative names, ranked by preference. If your first choice is unavailable, we move to the next immediately — no waiting for a reply.
4. Define your business activities — up to 4
At formation you define your company's business activities, with up to 4 allowed. Many founders treat this as a formality; in reality it is one of the most consequential decisions of the whole formation.
The reason: banks and payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal review your company's registered activities when you apply for an account or a gateway. If the registered activity differs from what you actually do — or is too vague to understand — approval can be delayed or refused outright. Choose the activities that accurately describe your real work: what you sell, what service you provide, and to whom. If you are torn between several, our team helps you choose correctly in the free consultation — before you pay anything.
All four ready? Here is what happens next
From the moment your file is complete in the client dashboard, the journey runs in clear stages, and you follow every step of it:
- We review the file and verify your identity — within one working day of the file being complete.
- We file the application with Companies House — within one working day of the verification being complete.
- You receive your company and its documents — usually within one to three working days of filing.
Companies House can take longer at peak times, and we tell you about any delay. See the full packages and prices — with the renewal details in each package — on the UK company formation page.
Ready to start?
If these four things are ready — or even if you are still preparing them — contact us on WhatsApp for your free consultation: we review your documents with you, in your language, before you pay anything, and walk with you step by step until the certificate of incorporation is in your hands. Your UK company is closer than you think — and the first step is yours.
