Letter of Recommendation to Appoint New Directors (Identity Verification Compliant)

Whilst not required by either the Companies Act 2006 or the model articles, it may be useful for companies looking to appoint a new director to have a candidate proposed to them as a new director.

Use this letter to recommend a candidate for appointment as a director

This template form of letter may be used to recommend a candidate, particularly as any prospective director must consent to be appointed before the appointment takes effect.

The letter confirms that the proposed candidate is a fit and proper person to be a director of the company, is not subject to (nor has ever been subject to) disqualification, and includes the individual’s particulars.

Identity verification (IDV) included in the recommendation

This template has been updated to confirm that, as part of the recommendation process, the prospective director has been successfully ID verified.

Identity verification (IDV) under the ECCTA

The introduction of the identity verification (IDV) regime is one of the key changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). Directors must be ID verified to act under the provisions of the ECCTA and there will be potential civil and criminal penalties for failure to do so.

Mandatory IDV for individuals who are directors begins on 18 November 2025. IDV applies to directors irrespective of their nationality or where they are resident.

The ECCTA gives Companies House new and enhanced powers to help disrupt economic crime and the IDV regime is a key component of this.

It is no longer possible to register an appointment of a director at Companies House nor for that director to act, until they have been ID verified.

Further guidance

Our guidance note here provides further details.

Letter of Recommendation to Appoint New Directors (Identity Verification Compliant) is part of Corporate. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Corporate for 1 year.