Do I have to visit the UK to register my new UK company?
No. Mint Formations makes it easy for you to register a company. You can officially register your UK limited company from wherever you live in the world, and you don't have to be a UK citizen or resident to incorporate your new UK business.
You can complete the entire registration process online by following our simple four-step process.
What are the basic requirements for an overseas resident to register a UK company?
Your company should have one director and one shareholder aged over 16. The same person can be both a director and a shareholder. The company should also have a
UK registered office address
(included with our international packages). These are the only basic requirements for an overseas resident to register a UK company.
What documents do you require to register my UK company?
We require proof of ID and address for the shareholders and directors of the new company. Please note that you need to send these documents only after the company is incorporated and not before. This means you can start the registration process immediately without having your
identification documents
to hand. We require proof within 30 days of payment.
Can I register my existing overseas company in the UK?
Yes. This is called registering a place of business for your overseas company in the UK. The process is slightly complicated, as it requires a UK resident to act as a permanent representative for the company in the UK, and this person must be authorised to accept documents on behalf of your company. We do not currently offer this service — please refer to
Companies House
for more information.
The easier alternative is to register a new UK limited company with the overseas company owning all shares in the new company.
How do I place an order?
We make the process of placing an order incredibly easy and intuitive. All you need to do is:
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Choose a company name
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Select a package
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Choose any add-ons and complete payment
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Enter your company registration details and submit the form
Then, our team will take the reins and handle the registration process for you. We will be in touch to request any additional information we need, and our team is always on hand to answer your questions and keep you updated.
What are the points to remember when registering a UK limited company?
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Your company name should end with “Limited” or “LTD”
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A minimum of one director and one shareholder should be appointed (one person can be both)
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The directors and shareholders can be any nationality and reside anywhere in the world
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The new company’s registered office address should be in the UK (our international packages include a registered office address in central London)
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All names and address of all appointments (directors or shareholders) should be submitted
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The minimum share capital for a UK limited company is £0.01 — there is no upper limit
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The minimum number of shares issued is one (one shareholder operating as director and owning the single share will own 100% of the company)
Do I need to sign any paperwork for company registration?
No. You can form your company completely online — there is no need to send documentation by post or sign and return any paperwork. Simply follow our step-by-step process to register your company.
What documents will I get via email after my company registration?
Once your new company is registered with Companies House, you will receive an email containing:
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Your certificate of incorporation
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Your memorandum and articles of association
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Share certificates for each shareholder
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Your company register with first entries
What are your annual renewal charges?
The registration fee is a one-time cost, so you only need to pay once. However, our address services are priced annually — if you opt for these, you can choose to renew them. Our package price covers your entire first year. Our other services are renewable for the following costs:
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Registered office service: £35 + VAT (for 12 months)
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Director's address service: £24 + VAT (for 12 months per officer)
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Business address service: £99 + VAT (for 12 months)
How is mint different from other UK formation agencies?
There are many company formation agencies in the UK, and many of them offer similar services, prices, packages and timescales when it comes to registering and maintaining your new UK company. So how are we different from other formation agencies?
Most company formation agencies operate like faceless corporate entities. At Mint, we're like the familiar family-owned business across the road. We offer a friendly service with a personal touch. Whenever we register a new company for any of our clients, we approach it as if we are starting up our own company for the very first time.
We have started businesses from scratch and understand the anxiety that every business owner experiences when launching a new company. That's why we're always on hand to take your phone calls or speak to you via live chat and offer caring support no matter which service you opt for or where you are in the process. No question is too small, trivial or stupid — and we'll answer every one with a smile.
We will either guide you through the process so you can do it yourself or we can do it on your behalf. While most other agencies require you to struggle through with the complex terminology, rules, legislation and associated jargon, we keep it simple so you can complete your application in a breeze.
Our friendly and personal touch and dedication to making your entrepreneurial journey as easy as possible are how we stand out from other agencies. Give us a try and you’ll instantly notice the difference.
How long will it take to complete the whole process?
The entire process can take as little as three hours and up to 48 hours. The speed processing depends entirely on the Companies House queue on any given day. If you need to urgently form your company, we recommend opting for our same-day service. This express service guarantees same-day formation provided the application is correctly submitted before 14:00 GMT on a working day.
What Address should I use to register my new company?
All companies are legally required to have a registered address in the UK. This must be a physical address in the UK and not a PO box. This is the address where all official communication by HMRC and Companies House will be sent. Our
international packages
include a premium London registered office address.
How do our prices compare to other formation agencies?
Our prices are fair, competitive and, like for like, the best in the industry. We have carefully crafted our company registration packages to give you everything you need and provide fantastic value for money.
We not only offer the best prices, but we have also negotiated great deals with leading companies to offer additional products and services at greatly reduced prices. These are available exclusively for Mint customers.
We continually aim to improve the offers we provide our customers, but one thing we never do is to deliberately entice you with a low price and shock you with extras at a later stage.
Do you also refer UK residents for merchant accounts?
We partner with Worldpay to provide you with a free
Worldpay merchant account
. However, please note that you need a UK business bank account to open a merchant account.
Can you help me step by step while I complete my registration online?
Yes, we can hold your hand and guide you step by step during the registration process. If you get stuck or have any questions, contact our live chat support and we will be happy to help.
Why is it difficult to open a business bank account in the UK?
It is becoming increasingly difficult to set up a business bank account with a major UK bank unless you live and work in the UK. That’s because all UK banks follow strict anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and Know Your Customer (KYC) rules. which make it mandatory for the customer to visit the UK for a meeting with the bank. However, we do have arrangements with a few banks that may be able to offer business bank accounts for overseas directors.
I am a UK citizen and I currently live abroad. Can you help me open a business bank account (with Barclays or Lloyds) without visiting the UK?
No. Barclays or Lloyds bank do not offer business bank accounts for anyone who currently does not reside in the UK, even if you are a UK citizen. To be accepted, you must currently reside in the UK (with a legal residency status) and visit a local branch.
Do I have to live in the UK to open a business bank account?
You do not have to live in the UK to open a business bank account. There are no legal restrictions that prevent non-UK residents and non-UK citizens from opening a UK business bank account. However, most banks follow stringent procedures to open a business bank account for overseas residents due to money laundering, funding for illegal activities and fraud concerns and associated administrative costs.
Do you also help with opening savings or personal bank accounts?
No, we can only help you open a business bank account if you are a UK or non-UK resident director already running or planning to register a business with us.
How long will it take to open a high street bank account?
It usually takes between four and six weeks to open a high street bank account, but it may be quicker. Once your company is registered, our team will contact you and get all the information we need to open your high street bank account. We’ll then arrange a meeting with the bank to sign all the required paperwork and create your business bank account. If required, we can also accompany you to this meeting.
Can you arrange for a business visa?
Unfortunately, we cannot assist with the visa process, but there are plenty of providers online that can. If needed, we can refer you to a suitable visa agency to assist you with the process.
Do I need a virtual office (mail forwarding address) to apply for a business bank account?
If you are a non-resident director, you will need a
UK virtual office
address to apply for a business bank account. This is included in every one of our international packages except the classic package, in which case, you can purchase it separately.
What documents are required to open a high street bank account?
Generally, you will have to provide two different documents to satisfy our proof of identity and address requirements, although valid documents differ from bank to bank. In most cases, the following are acceptable forms of identification:
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Driving licence
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Passport
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National identity card
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Tenancy agreement or mortgage statement
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An electricity or gas bill (less than three months old)
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A recent (less than three-months-old) bank or credit card statement. These must be bank-issued statements and not printed from the internet
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A recent tax bill
In many cases, a valid identity proof document issued by your respective government should be satisfactory. The bank will contact you directly regarding document requirements.
