Apply to remove an overseas entity from the register

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What removing an overseas entity means

If an overseas entity is not, or is no longer, a registered owner (proprietor) of relevant property or land in the UK, it can apply to be removed from the Register of Overseas Entities.

This means property or land in the UK that was bought on or after:

1 January 1999 in England and Wales
8 December 2014 in Scotland
5 September 2022 in Northern Ireland

As part of the removal application, you must check and confirm that all the information we hold about the overseas entity is correct as at the date of the application. You will need to update anything that has changed.

After an overseas entity has been removed

Its Overseas Entity ID will no longer be valid. This means the entity will not be able to buy, sell, transfer, lease or charge its property or land in the UK, unless it re-registers.

Information about the overseas entity and its beneficial owners will still be available to view on the public register.

When to apply

After the overseas entity has disposed of all its UK property or land, you need to wait until the change of ownership has been updated on the relevant land registry records before you apply to Companies House for removal.

You should only apply if the overseas entity is no longer listed on any land registry records as the registered owner (proprietor) of property or land in the UK. We will carry out checks with all UK land registries for every application we receive.

If our checks show that the entity is still listed as the registered owner of UK property or land, your application will be rejected and the fee will not be refunded.

Before applying, we recommend carrying out your own searches online with the UK land registries (they will charge a fee):

For property or land registered in England and Wales, you may also be able to apply to HM Land Registry to search the index of proprietors’ names.

Who can use this service

You can use this service if you work at, or work on behalf of, the overseas entity.

You currently cannot use this service if any beneficial owners or managing officers have their personal information protected at Companies House. This includes any who are waiting for the results of an application.

Contact enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk for further guidance.

What information you’ll need to provide

Up to date information about the overseas entity

All information about the overseas entity, its beneficial owners and managing officers must be correct as at the date the removal application is submitted to Companies House.

As part of this application, we’ll ask you to check the information we hold and update anything that has changed.

Any changes you make will need verification checks by a UK-regulated agent. This must have been done no more than 3 months before the date of the removal application.

We need to know about all current beneficial owners, and all individuals and entities that have been a registrable beneficial owner since the entity’s information was last updated.

If someone has become a registrable beneficial owner or managing officer

If you are adding new beneficial owners or managing officers, you’ll need to provide information about them.

Read the guidance on registering an overseas entity to find out what information you need to provide about new beneficial owners and managing officers.

If someone is no longer a registrable beneficial owner or managing officer

You’ll need to tell us the date they stopped being a beneficial owner or managing officer, and make sure their information is correct as at that date.

You also need to tell us about anyone that both became and ceased to be a registrable beneficial owner during the review period. The information you provide about them must be correct as at the date they stopped being one.

If there are no active beneficial owners on the date of the application, you must tell us about each managing officer.

How to get an authentication code

An authentication code is a unique 6 character code that every overseas entity needs in order to file online. We’ll ask for it every time someone files online for the entity – it confirms to us that they’re authorised to do so.

To request an authentication code, search for the overseas entity on the Companies House register, and then select ‘Request an authentication code’.

We’ll send the code to the email address we have on record for the overseas entity.

What verification checks need to be completed

Verification checks must be completed for information that you are changing, and on any new beneficial owners or managing officers that you are adding.

They must be carried out by a UK-regulated agent no more than 3 months before the date of the removal application.

If nothing has changed and you’re not updating any information, you do not need to complete any verification checks before applying to remove the overseas entity.

Agent assurance code

The UK-regulated agent carrying out verification checks must have an agent assurance code.

If they are also filing the removal application for the overseas entity, they will be asked to provide the code as part of this service. Otherwise, they will need to provide the code after the application has been filed by submitting an Overseas entity verification checks statement.