Advice Centre
Practical guides on Companies House certificates, filings and legalisation. Every guide links to a buy-now CH product and a free tool.
Free tools (use these with any guide)
Live checkers — not paid ads. Match the guide topic, then confirm on GOV.UK.
Which document do I need?
COGS vs incorporation vs pack vs filings vs apostille quote path.
Document freshness helper
30 / 60 / 90-day recipient windows for a UK Certificate of Good Standing.
Companies House filings checker
Status, overdue accounts and overdue confirmation statement before you order.
Pack builder
Estimate COGS ± incorporation ± articles and match the £249–£299 named packs.
Money pages: Certificate of Good Standing · Documents pack · Incorporation · Company documents. Apostille stays quote-only.
Winter / Christmas batch
23 scheduled guides (Nov–Dec 2026). Listed on this hub so none sit as orphans.
Year-end banking: how fresh must a UK COGS be?
Year-end banks set their own COGS freshness rules. Ask whether age is measured at upload, review or approval and allow time for legalisation.
White-label Certificates of Good Standing for accountants
White-label coordination can help accountants manage repeat COGS orders, but roles, fees, data handling and limits should be explicit.
Do Spanish banks accept a UK e-Apostille?
Spanish bank acceptance is recipient-specific. Confirm file format, translation, document age and whether paper originals will follow.
Qatar and Kuwait legalisation for UK company certificates
Qatar and Kuwait have recipient-specific routes. Confirm COGS, format, apostille, translation, embassy stage and issue-age rule.
Embassy legalisation for India: UK company documents
For India, confirm recipient, document, certification, apostille, translation and any embassy stage.
UK Certificate of Good Standing for use in Switzerland
Swiss recipients may have different rules. Confirm the COGS, apostille, language and issue-date requirements with the named reviewer.
Do apostilled UK articles need a sworn translation?
An apostille authenticates a document; it does not translate it. Ask whether the recipient needs a sworn, certified or informal translation.
One apostille or several for a UK company pack?
One apostille is not a blanket approval for every document. Match the number and format to the checklist.
Ordering a UK COGS for foreign counsel or a bank abroad
Translate an overseas request into an exact specification: entity, issue age, format, apostille, translation and delivery.
Companies House express certificates and the 11am cut-off
An 11am express cut-off is a processing condition, not instant delivery. Complete instructions and separate legalisation stages still matter.
FCDO apostille fees explained (paper, e-Apostille, next-day)
The current working FCDO figures are £45 paper, £35 e-Apostille, £40 Next-Day and £100 Restricted Urgent where eligible. Extra costs may apply.
Scottish companies and Certificates of Good Standing
A Scottish registered office does not automatically create a separate COGS route. Check Companies House and the foreign recipient’s requirements.
Private limited vs PLC: company certificate differences
Private companies and PLCs can use similar certificate routes, but company type and supporting documents may differ. Use the company number.
Why check Companies House filings before you order a COGS
Review the company number, status, filing history and recent changes before ordering a COGS. A pre-order check helps match the document to the recipient’s request.
Certificate of Incorporation vs Certificate of Good Standing
An incorporation certificate records formation; a COGS gives a later registered-status snapshot. They are different documents for different checks.
How UKCOGS order references work (UKC-YEAR-0000)
A UKCOGS order reference links an internal request to its instructions and updates. It is not a Companies House number, certificate number or proof of acceptance.
Why foreign clerks reject UK Certificates of Good Standing
A rejection does not always mean the UK COGS is invalid. Check identity, date, document scope, format, translation, apostille and the foreign clerk’s checklist.
Spain registro mercantil and apostilled articles
Spanish registry or bank requests for UK articles should be mapped carefully: current constitution, certified copy, apostille and translation may each be separate requirements.
Formation agents: do not advertise a COGS you cannot issue
Formation agents should distinguish Companies House certificates from their own service, verify the company record and avoid promising a COGS or overseas acceptance they cannot control.
Australia bank onboarding: paper or e-apostille for a UK COGS?
Australian bank acceptance of a UK paper or e-Apostille is recipient-specific. Confirm the bank’s upload and original-document rules before legalisation.
France greffe document list for a UK company branch
A French greffe may request several UK documents for a branch. Confirm the exact tribunal or filing-office list and map each item to its UK source.
Singapore ACRA vs UK Companies House documents
ACRA and Companies House are different registries. A Singapore recipient may need a UK COGS plus separate evidence about officers, ownership or authority.
Tracked post vs courier for an apostilled Certificate of Good Standing
The best delivery method depends on destination, deadlines, document format and the recipient’s ability to receive signed items. Confirm the address before dispatch.
All Advice Centre guides
60 guides · newest first · each page has money + tool + sibling links.
Year-end banking: how fresh must a UK COGS be?
Year-end banks set their own COGS freshness rules. Ask whether age is measured at upload, review or approval and allow time for legalisation.
White-label Certificates of Good Standing for accountants
White-label coordination can help accountants manage repeat COGS orders, but roles, fees, data handling and limits should be explicit.
Do Spanish banks accept a UK e-Apostille?
Spanish bank acceptance is recipient-specific. Confirm file format, translation, document age and whether paper originals will follow.
Qatar and Kuwait legalisation for UK company certificates
Qatar and Kuwait have recipient-specific routes. Confirm COGS, format, apostille, translation, embassy stage and issue-age rule.
Embassy legalisation for India: UK company documents
For India, confirm recipient, document, certification, apostille, translation and any embassy stage.
UK Certificate of Good Standing for use in Switzerland
Swiss recipients may have different rules. Confirm the COGS, apostille, language and issue-date requirements with the named reviewer.
Do apostilled UK articles need a sworn translation?
An apostille authenticates a document; it does not translate it. Ask whether the recipient needs a sworn, certified or informal translation.
One apostille or several for a UK company pack?
One apostille is not a blanket approval for every document. Match the number and format to the checklist.
Ordering a UK COGS for foreign counsel or a bank abroad
Translate an overseas request into an exact specification: entity, issue age, format, apostille, translation and delivery.
Companies House express certificates and the 11am cut-off
An 11am express cut-off is a processing condition, not instant delivery. Complete instructions and separate legalisation stages still matter.
FCDO apostille fees explained (paper, e-Apostille, next-day)
The current working FCDO figures are £45 paper, £35 e-Apostille, £40 Next-Day and £100 Restricted Urgent where eligible. Extra costs may apply.
Scottish companies and Certificates of Good Standing
A Scottish registered office does not automatically create a separate COGS route. Check Companies House and the foreign recipient’s requirements.
Private limited vs PLC: company certificate differences
Private companies and PLCs can use similar certificate routes, but company type and supporting documents may differ. Use the company number.
Why check Companies House filings before you order a COGS
Review the company number, status, filing history and recent changes before ordering a COGS. A pre-order check helps match the document to the recipient’s request.
Certificate of Incorporation vs Certificate of Good Standing
An incorporation certificate records formation; a COGS gives a later registered-status snapshot. They are different documents for different checks.
How UKCOGS order references work (UKC-YEAR-0000)
A UKCOGS order reference links an internal request to its instructions and updates. It is not a Companies House number, certificate number or proof of acceptance.
Why foreign clerks reject UK Certificates of Good Standing
A rejection does not always mean the UK COGS is invalid. Check identity, date, document scope, format, translation, apostille and the foreign clerk’s checklist.
Spain registro mercantil and apostilled articles
Spanish registry or bank requests for UK articles should be mapped carefully: current constitution, certified copy, apostille and translation may each be separate requirements.
Formation agents: do not advertise a COGS you cannot issue
Formation agents should distinguish Companies House certificates from their own service, verify the company record and avoid promising a COGS or overseas acceptance they cannot control.
Australia bank onboarding: paper or e-apostille for a UK COGS?
Australian bank acceptance of a UK paper or e-Apostille is recipient-specific. Confirm the bank’s upload and original-document rules before legalisation.
France greffe document list for a UK company branch
A French greffe may request several UK documents for a branch. Confirm the exact tribunal or filing-office list and map each item to its UK source.
Singapore ACRA vs UK Companies House documents
ACRA and Companies House are different registries. A Singapore recipient may need a UK COGS plus separate evidence about officers, ownership or authority.
Tracked post vs courier for an apostilled Certificate of Good Standing
The best delivery method depends on destination, deadlines, document format and the recipient’s ability to receive signed items. Confirm the address before dispatch.
Germany Handelsregister vs a UK Certificate of Good Standing
A German Handelsregister extract and a UK COGS are not equivalent documents. Map each to the question the German bank, notary or authority is asking.
Current articles vs original 2006 articles when apostilling
Current articles and the original 2006 articles answer different questions. Ask the recipient which version, certification and legalisation route it needs.
Apostille then embassy legalisation for China: how UK company packs work
China-facing use is recipient-specific. Confirm whether an apostille, consular process, translation or another route is required before assembling a UK company document pack.
What if Companies House spells the company name wrong on the certificate?
First compare the certificate with the live Companies House record and order details. A genuine register error and a misunderstood legal name need different fixes.
Paper apostille vs e-Apostille for Portuguese banks
Portuguese bank acceptance is recipient-specific. Confirm whether the bank accepts a UK e-Apostille or needs paper, translation, courier delivery or further legalisation.
Why statement of capital is not on a modern UK company certificate
A Certificate of Good Standing is not a complete share-capital report. Use the relevant Companies House filing or certified document when a recipient asks for capital details.
Do LLPs get a Certificate of Good Standing?
An eligible UK LLP can request a certificate route appropriate to its Companies House record. Confirm the document wording and whether the recipient understands an LLP structure.
Certificate of Good Standing vs Companies House filing history
A COGS is a current certificate; filing history is a chronological record of submissions. They answer different due-diligence questions and are not interchangeable.
Does a UK company need to be VAT registered to get a Certificate of Good Standing?
A UK company does not normally need to be VAT registered to request a Certificate of Good Standing. VAT status and Companies House status are separate checks.
Using a UK Certificate of Good Standing for a Gulf free-zone licence
A COGS can support the overseas shareholder status question, but free zones may also require ownership, authority, translation and attestation evidence.
Paper apostille vs e-apostille for UAE banks and free zones
Paper versus e-Apostille is a recipient-acceptance decision. Confirm the UAE bank or free zone accepts the format before ordering.
Opening a US bank account for a UK Ltd: typical documents
A US bank may ask for incorporation, current standing, director and beneficial-owner evidence, addresses, tax forms and signatory authority.
Does a strike-off proposal block a Certificate of Good Standing?
Check the live company status and strike-off notices before ordering. Do not use an old certificate to hide a later public-record event.
Can I reuse last year’s apostilled Certificate of Good Standing?
An old apostilled certificate remains an old certificate. The recipient may require a current COGS and a fresh apostille for the new document.
What “good standing” does not mean for a UK company
Good standing describes registered position, not a full financial or commercial assessment. Read a COGS alongside the recipient’s due-diligence documents.
How to read a foreign bank’s UK company document list
Map each requested item to one document, note certification and apostille needs, and confirm issue-date rules before ordering.
Certified copy vs solicitor-certified copy for an apostille
These are different certification routes. Match the document, certifier and apostille process to the foreign recipient’s written requirement.
Same-day Certificate of Good Standing: what is actually possible
Same-day issue may be possible for an eligible order, but it does not guarantee instant delivery, apostille or overseas acceptance.
Who can order a Companies House company certificate?
A company, director, authorised employee, adviser or other requester may be able to order a certificate, subject to product and recipient requirements.
Does a UK Certificate of Good Standing update after a registered office change?
A COGS is a snapshot at issue. After a registered office change, an older certificate will not show the new address. Reorder for current standing; use certified copies of the AD01 when the recipient needs filing evidence.
Why the PSC register is not on a Certificate of Good Standing
A Certificate of Good Standing supports registered standing, while PSC information is a separate Companies House record that may be requested alongside it.
Does a UK Certificate of Good Standing show company charges or mortgages?
A COGS is a registered-status snapshot, not a charge or mortgage schedule. Order certified copies of the relevant filings, or a documents pack, when a recipient needs evidence of security on the register.
What directors appear on a UK company certificate?
A company certificate is not necessarily a complete director report. Check the certificate type, officer record and the recipient’s document list.
Can I apostille a PDF I downloaded from Companies House?
A self-downloaded PDF may be useful evidence, but the recipient may require an official certificate or properly certified copy for legalisation.
Ordering a Certificate of Good Standing after a company name change
After a name change, order a COGS against the company number and current registered name. Keep the old incorporation and name-change evidence for banks that still ask for history.
Can a dormant UK company get a Certificate of Good Standing?
A dormant UK company may qualify if its Companies House filings are current and the register supports the certificate conditions. Dormant does not mean exempt from filing.
Can I get a Certificate of Good Standing if accounts are late?
Can I get a Certificate of Good Standing if accounts are late?
Apostille vs e-apostille vs embassy legalisation
Apostille vs e-apostille vs embassy legalisation
How fresh does a UK COGS need to be for a foreign bank?
How fresh does a UK COGS need to be for a foreign bank?
Can I get a Certificate of Good Standing if the confirmation statement is overdue?
Usually, not while the confirmation statement is overdue. File it first, allow the register to update, then check the company status and recipient requirements.
Apostille vs embassy legalisation
Apostille vs embassy legalisation
Companies House fees for a company certificate
Companies House fees for a company certificate
What is a UK Certificate of Good Standing?
What is a UK Certificate of Good Standing?
What is the Hague Apostille Convention?
What is the Hague Apostille Convention?
Companies House vs. FCDO Explained
Companies House vs. FCDO Explained
Why Was My Certificate Rejected Overseas?
Why Was My Certificate Rejected Overseas?
How Long Does a Certificate of Good Standing Take?
How Long Does a Certificate of Good Standing Take?