A project in United Kingdom?
United Kingdom isn't yet part of our established network of local contacts. We assess every project case by case, though, and can bring in a trusted local partner (lawyer, accountant) if needed to create and direct your structure.
The path to creating a Ltd in United Kingdom, step by step
These timelines assume a complete file (ID documents, supporting evidence, governance decisions made): an incomplete file is the single most common cause of delay, ahead of the administrative timelines themselves. Once the file is genuinely complete, expect generally 24h to a few weeks for the legal process itself.
Minimum share capital: No legal minimum capital (a symbolic £1 is possible).
Project scoping & complete file
Gathering ID documents, mandate, governance decisions and choice of bank — the essential groundwork for the legal timelines below to actually start running.
Online registration
No notarial deed is required for incorporation itself; filing is done directly with Companies House.
Express processing
Online registration is processed within 24h; postal filing takes 8–10 business days.
Director identity verification
Since the ECCTA reform, identity verification is now mandatory for every director, resident or not.
Opening the bank account
Most traditional banks require a UK-resident director; digital providers (Wise, Revolut, Tide) are an alternative for non-residents.
Safety margin — opening the bank account
On top of the legal timelines above, allow one week of banking margin: KYC checks, extra documentation or a branch appointment can extend account opening, particularly for a non-resident director.
VAT
| Taux | ||
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 20% | |
| Reduced rates | 5% | domestic energy, smoking-cessation products |
| Reduced rates | 0% | most food, books, press, children's clothing |
Corporate tax
25% above £250,000 profit; 19% below £50,000, with a marginal relief taper in between.
Is a visa required?
Being a director of a UK company does not grant the right to live or work in the UK. A director wanting to physically relocate must obtain the visa suited to their project.
Information provided for guidance (July 2026), subject to change depending on local regulation, the bank and the relevant authority. We confirm the precise timeline with you during the initial assessment of your project.
Opening a bank account
Is presence in the UK required?
Not for registration, which can be done entirely online. Being a director grants no right of residence; opening an account with a traditional bank can, however, be simpler with a resident director.
Observed timeframe to open the account
2 to 8 weeks for a traditional bank (often reserved for resident directors); digital providers (Wise Business, Revolut Business, Tide) allow opening an account within days for a non-resident director.
Share capital deposit
Minimum share capital: No legal minimum capital (a symbolic £1 is possible).
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register
Every director or shareholder must be declared as an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) in the national register — a requirement stemming from EU anti-money-laundering directives (or equivalent standards outside the EU). Bank scrutiny is heightened in two situations common among international clients: when a shareholder or director is a US citizen or US tax resident (FATCA then imposes extra reporting obligations on the bank, which can slow down or complicate account opening); and when a shareholder is based in an African country rated higher-risk by the FATF (extra proof of the origin of funds, longer KYC validation times). We anticipate this with you from the initial assessment if your structure involves such profiles.
Information provided for guidance (July 2026), subject to change depending on local regulation. We confirm the applicable detail with you during the initial assessment of your project.
Selling on-site and clearing customs
Securing a premises or retail location
Commercial lease, registering the address with Companies House, and a local trading permit for takeaway or regulated activities.
On-site sales & till
No certified fiscal till requirement; the tax authority (HMRC) requires reliable retention of sales records.
Cash register suppliers
- Square
- SumUp
- Zettle (PayPal)
- Shopify POS
- Lightspeed
Payment providers for small businesses
- Stripe
- Adyen
- Worldpay
- PayPal Business
- Revolut Business
Indicative, non-exhaustive list of examples of solutions present on the local market — availability and terms change quickly; we help you select the best-suited offer during the assessment of your project.
Customs & ATA carnet
To exhibit or sell equipment at a trade fair, the ATA carnet allows temporary import of goods — professional equipment, samples, stand fittings — without advancing customs duties or import VAT, provided they are re-exported within the allotted period (generally 12 months, sometimes 6 months for fair equipment). The carnet is issued by the chamber of commerce in the country of departure and recognised across the international network of ATA Convention countries, a network that covers the United Kingdom.
Importing products from outside the European Union
To import goods from a non-EU country (China, the US, etc.), an EORI number is essential for any customs procedure. Customs duties depend on the tariff code (combined nomenclature) and the product's origin; import VAT is then due at the rate applicable in the destination country, generally recoverable if the business is VAT-registered. Depending on trade agreements in force, some products benefit from reduced or zero duties on presentation of a certificate of origin. The competent authority for these procedures is HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
On-site consumer rules
As The United Kingdom is not an EU/EEA member, consumer-protection rules (right of withdrawal, price display, warranties) fall under national law and can differ significantly from the harmonised European framework. We check this point with you based on your on-site sales activity.
Information provided for guidance (July 2026), subject to change depending on local regulation. We confirm the applicable detail with you during the initial assessment of your project.