How fresh does a UK COGS need to be for a foreign bank?
There is no statutory expiry date. Each foreign bank sets its own limit, commonly 30, 60 or 90 days from the issue date printed on the certificate, so ask for the rule in writing and order close to submission.
Published · Last updated · Official fees checked on GOV.UK (Companies House, FCDO)
A UK Certificate of Good Standing has no legal expiry date. Companies House prints the date it was issued, and the foreign bank decides how old a certificate it will accept. Many banks ask for a certificate issued within 90 days; some want 30 or 60 days, and a few accept six months. Ask the bank for its rule in writing, then order so the certificate is still inside the window on the day the bank reviews it.
This guide explains how banks count age, how apostilles and couriers affect the timing, and how to plan an order so you only pay once. UKCOGS is a private agent; the bank’s decision is always its own.
Why banks set an age limit
A Certificate of Good Standing is a snapshot. It confirms that, on the issue date, the company had existed continuously since incorporation and no strike-off action was under way. Things can change afterwards: filings can fall overdue, directors can change, the company can be struck off. Banks therefore treat older certificates as less reliable and set a cut-off as part of their know-your-customer process.
The cut-off is a bank policy, not UK law. That is why two banks in the same country can give different answers.
Which date counts
Most banks count from the issue date printed on the Companies House certificate. A few count from the apostille date, and some count to the date their compliance team reviews the file rather than the date you post it. Ask three questions:
- Which date do you count from: the certificate issue date or the apostille date?
- Which date do you count to: when you receive it, or when the account is approved?
- What is the maximum age: 30, 60, 90 or 180 days?
Put the answers in your file. Our free document freshness helper lets you enter the issue date and the bank’s window to see how many days you have left.
An apostille does not reset the clock
An FCDO apostille authenticates the signature on the certificate. It does not update the company information, so a certificate issued five months ago with an apostille added yesterday is still five months old to most banks. If your old certificate is outside the window, order a new one; see reusing an old apostilled COGS.
How to plan the order
- Confirm the window and which dates count.
- Check the register with our filings checker. If accounts or the confirmation statement are overdue, the summary statement will not be issued.
- Work backwards from the bank’s deadline. Allow for Companies House dispatch (aims to send standard orders within 10 working days; express orders placed before 11am go the same day), our scan and send (usually 1 to 3 working days after receipt), any apostille (up to 2 working days for an e-Apostille, usually up to 25 working days plus courier for standard paper, per GOV.UK), translation and international courier.
- Choose standard or express. If the timeline is tight, express reduces the Companies House stage to the same day.
- Submit promptly. Send the pack as soon as it is complete so the certificate does not age on your desk.
Worked example
A UK holding company is opening an account with a bank in Singapore. The bank wants a COGS “not older than 60 days at the time of account approval”, with apostille.
Working backwards from a target approval date of 15 December, the certificate must be issued no earlier than 16 October. A standard COGS ordered on 1 October could carry an issue date before 16 October, which would be too early. The company instead orders an express COGS before 11am on 20 October, so the certificate is issued and dispatched that day. The paper apostille is requested as soon as the certificate arrives; GOV.UK says the standard service usually takes up to 25 working days plus courier, so the pack reaches Singapore in early December. At approval the certificate is 56 days old, inside the 60-day limit.
Common mistakes
- Ordering too early. Ordering weeks ahead “to be safe” can push the certificate outside a short window.
- Assuming 90 days is the law. It is a common bank habit, not a rule. See year-end document freshness.
- Forgetting review time. Some banks count to approval, not receipt. Build in a margin.
- Re-apostilling an old certificate. It costs another £45 or £35 per document and still leaves the certificate old.
- Missing a filing change. If accounts are filed or a director changes after ordering, ask the bank whether it wants a certificate showing the new position.
Examples of windows recipients set
No UK law gives a Certificate of Good Standing an expiry date, so every window below comes from the recipient’s own policy. The table shows the kind of wording that appears on checklists, to help you ask the right question. It is not a legal limit and your recipient may differ.
| Recipient type | Common window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EU retail and business banks | 90 days | Some ask for 60 days with apostille |
| Gulf banks and free zones | 30 to 90 days | Often with embassy legalisation as well |
| US banks | 30 to 90 days | Apostille needed only if the bank asks |
| Law firms for transactions | Often dated close to closing | Ask the firm for its closing checklist |
Always work from the recipient’s written requirement, and ask again if the checklist is more than a few months old.
Costs
UKCOGS Certificate of Good Standing: £79 ex VAT standard (including the £22 Companies House fee) or £129 ex VAT express (including the £65 fee), ordered through our Certificate of Good Standing page. FCDO apostille, if required: £45 paper or £35 e-Apostille per document, quote-only through UKCOGS. Official fees checked on GOV.UK on 4 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a legal validity period for a UK Certificate of Good Standing?
No. Companies House does not print an expiry date. The recipient decides how recent it must be.
Why does my bank want a certificate under 90 days old?
Because a certificate only confirms the position on its issue date. The bank’s policy limits how far that snapshot can be from its own review.
Does a new apostille make an old certificate acceptable?
Usually not. Most banks count from the certificate issue date, and the apostille does not update the company information.
Should I order express to keep the certificate fresh?
Express helps when the deadline is close, because Companies House dispatches orders placed before 11am the same working day. For longer timelines, ordering standard at the right time works just as well.
What if the bank changes its rule after I order?
Ask whether it will accept the certificate you have. If not, you will need a new one; we cannot change the issue date.
Can I send a scan first?
Many banks accept a scan for preliminary review, then want the original. Ask, because it can save time while the paper travels.
Does the freshness rule apply to the Certificate of Incorporation too?
Often not, because incorporation details do not change, but some banks still want a recently certified copy. Ask about each document separately.
Ready to order Companies House documents?
Buy-now COGS and certified copies. Apostille and embassy work are quote-only — we confirm official fees on GOV.UK.