What UK law requires of an overseas owner
A private limited company registered in England and Wales must have at least one director who is a natural person, a registered office address in England or Wales, and up-to-date filings at Companies House. None of those require the director or shareholder to be resident in the UK. Directors and people with significant control must complete Companies House identity verification, which is done online and accepts most national passports.
What the law does not provide is a bank account, a trading address or a VAT number. Those are the practical hurdles, and they are the ones a shelf company and our add-on services are built to remove.
Why overseas buyers choose a shelf company
- The VAT registration already exists. Applying for UK VAT from abroad invites extra HMRC questions about UK establishment and can take months. The company you buy is already registered, and in most cases also holds a GB EORI for imports.
- The company has history. An incorporation date in 2021, 2022 or 2023 reads differently to suppliers, marketplaces and banks than a company formed last week.
- Everything transfers at once. Shares, directorship, registrations and the document pack move to you in one same-day transaction.
What we provide for buyers outside the UK
- Registered office in England and Wales. Our London or Manchester address, £39 a year, with official mail forwarded to you
- A UK-resident officer, where a bank or counterparty insists on one. Nominee director services from £199, with a declaration of trust so you keep control
- Identity checks from abroad. Electronic verification of passport and address; Companies House identity verification completed online
- Documents valid in your home country. Apostille and legalisation of the company documents, from £210
- Business banking. Introductions to UK and EU providers that open accounts for overseas-owned UK companies
- Ongoing compliance. Confirmation statements and registered office renewals, with an accountant referral for VAT returns if you need one
Banking, honestly
This is the step most overseas owners underestimate. UK high street banks generally require a UK-resident director to attend an interview and will often decline an overseas-owned company outright. Electronic money institutions and some EU-licensed banks are more willing, and a nominee director can make the difference where a bank insists on a UK signatory. We will tell you before you buy which routes are realistic for your country of residence and the business you plan to run; we do not sell a company on the promise of an account we cannot deliver.
The transfer, step by step
- Choose a company from the list, or tell us the incorporation year, VAT history and EORI status you need
- Complete electronic identity and address verification for every incoming director and shareholder, and tell us the source of funds
- Pay by bank transfer or cryptocurrency once the checks are passed
- Receive the transfer pack the same working day for orders before 4 pm: registers, share certificates, stock transfer form, board resolutions, VAT and EORI details
- Companies House shows the new director and person with significant control within 24 to 48 hours
Prices
Companies start at £2,499 plus VAT. Add a registered office (£39 a year) and, if needed, a nominee director (from £199) and apostilled documents (from £210). We quote the full amount before you commit.
Where our enquiries come from
Most enquiries reach us from the Gulf, South and South-East Asia, Turkey, Egypt and North America, from owners who trade with UK and EU customers through wholesale, e-commerce and services businesses. Tell us where you are and what the company will do, and we will set out exactly what applies to you.
Questions about this service
Can a foreign national be the sole director and shareholder?
Yes. UK company law places no nationality or residency requirement on directors or shareholders of a private limited company. One person based anywhere in the world can hold both roles. Every director and person with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House, which can be done from abroad.
Does HMRC allow a non-UK resident to run a VAT registered company?
Yes. HMRC registers businesses with no UK establishment for VAT and treats them as non-established taxable persons. The company's existing registration continues after the transfer; HMRC may later ask about the business's UK establishment and we explain in advance what to expect and what records to keep.
Do I need a UK-resident director?
Not by law. Some banks and payment providers prefer or require one, and a UK-resident nominee director with a declaration of trust is the usual way to meet that. Our nominee services start at £199 and you keep ownership and control.
Can the whole purchase be done remotely?
Yes. Identity and address checks are completed electronically, documents are signed digitally and the transfer pack is emailed. Apostilled or legalised copies can be supplied for use in your home country.