What is a Certificate of Good Standing?

A Certificate of Good Standing is a certified document issued by Companies House that confirms a company’s registration and continued existence in the United Kingdom.

It also confirms there are no proceedings underway to close the company, and it has submitted its required annual filings with Companies House – the annual accounts and confirmation statement.

Why would I need a Certificate of Good Standing?
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Certificates of Good Standing are most commonly required by companies who are conducting business abroad (outside of the United Kingdom) or are looking to do so.
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The Certificate will often be requested by various third parties as part of the due diligence process to prove the company’s existence and standing.

How does this service work?
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  • Email us to purchase either the Standard or Express Service, complete the short application form, checkout and pay.
  • We will order your Certificate of Good Standing from Companies House
  • When we receive your Certificate from Companies House, we will email you a copy and will dispatch the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does being in 'good standing' mean?
A company is considered to be in good standing if it is up to date with all statutory filings and payments. It is in a state of compliance with regards Companies House, and there is no action underway to close the company.

What details do I need to provide to order a Certificate?
We need the following details to complete the order of your Certificate:
  • Company name and number
  • Any additional details you need including on your Certificate
  • Your delivery address
  • Your chosen method of delivery (Royal Mail Special Delivery or courier)

What information is included on the Certificate of Good Standing?
We will order your Certificate of Good Standing to include the following information:
  • Company name and number
  • Date of incorporation and incorporation act (e.g. Companies Act 2006)
  • Jurisdiction (England and Wales, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
  • Confirmation of unbroken existence
  • Confirmation of no action being undertaken to strike off (close) the company
  • Director(s) name(s)
  • Company secretary name(s) (if applicable)
  • Company objects (if applicable)
You can also request Companies House include additional information on your Certificate, if required. Special text boxes are available on our order form to allow you to enter the additional information needed.
Please note, Companies House is unable to enter any information with regards to the company’s share capital and shareholders.
​When will I need to use my Certificate of Good Standing?
You will normally need to use your Certificate of Good Standing when you are operating abroad. The most common cases include opening bank accounts, applying to lenders, liaising with potential investors, and even dealing with suppliers.
The Certificate often forms a crucial part of the due diligence process.

How long will it take to receive my Certificate?
It usually takes Companies House five days to issue a Certificate of Good Standing. Once we receive the original Certificate, we will dispatch it to you via Royal Mail Special Delivery (courier option is available).
We also offer an Express Service. Certificates purchased through our Express Service are issued by Companies House within 24 hours and also dispatched via Royal Mail Special Delivery (courier option also available).

How will the Certificate of Good Standing be delivered?
An electronic copy of your Certificate will be delivered by email as soon as we receive it from Companies House.
Your original hardcopy Certificate of Good Standing will be delivered via Royal Mail Special Delivery. You can also request courier delivery (additional fees apply).

Do I need to apostille the Certificate?
An Apostille Certificate enables documents to be recognised in other countries under the Hague Convention - this is called ‘legalisation.’ It is not compulsory, however, some banks, lenders, investors, and other third parties may require your Certificate to be apostilled before they can accept it.
If you are unsure, you may want to check with the party that requested your Certificate if it needs legalising as well. If you do require your Certificate to be apostilled, please also purchase our Apostilled Documents Service.
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IBA is a five-star service. The website is filled with detailed information, a wide range of packages and is easy to navigate for a beginner like me.”
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David Shaw

IBA CUSTOMER

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