Overview

A Certificate of Incumbency is a corporate document that verifies the key personnel of a company—such as directors and shareholders—and confirms who is authorised to act on the business’s behalf. Although widely used for international business and banking, particularly to prevent fraud, it is not an official government document in the UK.

Does the UK Issue an Official Certificate of Incumbency?

No.
The UK government does not issue a Certificate of Incumbency. If you are asked to provide one, especially by an overseas entity or bank, they often want the same details you would find on a UK Certificate of Good Standing or in company registers.

What Does a Certificate of Incumbency Typically Include?

• Company name and registration number
• Registered office address
• Names, dates of birth, and addresses of directors and secretary
• Details of shareholders and share allocations
• Statement that the company is active and not in liquidation or being struck off

This document can be tailored to the specific requirements of the requesting party.

How Can a UK Company Obtain One?

Because it is not an official company document, there are several ways to create a Certificate of Incumbency:

1. Prepare Internally:
   A director can draft, print, and sign a document outlining the company’s current officers, shareholders, and authority structure. - You could use the Inform Direct Registers or CS01 summary here.
2. Through a Solicitor or Notary Public:
   A legal professional can prepare, sign, and stamp the document after verifying the details via Companies House records. This is useful if you need external verification.

Legalisation for Overseas Use

If you plan to use a Certificate of Incumbency with foreign banks, courts, or government authorities, you will usually need it legalised with an Apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This step confirms the authenticity of the document for use abroad.

Related Documents

• Certificate of Good Standing:
  Issued by Companies House, this provides official confirmation that a UK company is active and compliant but does not detail company officers or shareholders. 

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