How to Obtain Replacement Companies House Documents in 2026

You can obtain replacement Companies House documents by ordering certified copies directly from Companies House online or by phone, or by using a specialist provider like My Company Registration to replace lost or damaged incorporation documents quickly.

Replacement documents verify your company’s legal status for banks, lenders, and compliance checks. The process depends on the document type, required certification level, and delivery speed.

What Documents Can Be Replaced Through Companies House?

Companies House allows replacement of incorporation certificates, certified document copies, and specific filed forms such as director appointments and confirmation statements.

Companies House maintains a public register of all limited companies in the UK. The register includes core incorporation documents and ongoing filing records. Business owners can request certified or uncertified copies of most documents held on the register.

The Certificate of Incorporation serves as primary proof of a company’s legal existence. Banks, investors, and government bodies often request this document during onboarding or compliance reviews. Other commonly requested documents include the Memorandum and Articles of Association, director appointment forms (AP01), and confirmation statements (CS01).

Certain documents filed after 1 October 2009 can be replaced using form RP01 if they contained errors or unnecessary material. This process corrects the public record rather than issuing a certified copy. Replacement filings require the original document type, filing date, and a corrected version attached to the RP01 form.

How Do You Order Certified Copies From Companies House?

You order certified copies from Companies House via the online “Find and update company information” service or by calling the contact centre on 0303 1234 500.

The online service allows you to search for your company by name or registration number. Once on the company overview page, select the “More” tab to access the certified documents ordering option. This pathway supports orders for company certificates with certified facts and certified copies of specific documents held on the register.

Phone orders remain necessary for some document types, including certified Certificates of Incorporation. The Companies House contact centre processes these requests and confirms dispatch options. Standard delivery targets 10 working days, while same-day dispatch requires ordering before 11am on a working day.

Certification confirms that the copy matches the original held on the public register. Lenders, overseas authorities, and certain banks specify certified copies to satisfy due diligence requirements. Uncertified PDF copies downloaded from the filing history often suffice for internal records or less formal verification.

What Are the Current Fees and Delivery Times for Replacement Documents?

Standard certified documents cost £22, incorporation document orders cost £44, and same-day certified services cost £65 with dispatch the same working day if ordered before 11am.

Companies House updated its fee structure in February 2026. The standard certified documents and certificates service now costs £22 per item. Orders specifically for incorporation documents, such as a full set of incorporation papers, cost £44 under the standard service. These orders target delivery within 10 working days via Royal Mail Second Class post.

The same-day service costs £65 for certified documents and certificates. Incorporation document orders under the same-day service cost £130. Customers must place these orders before 11am to qualify for same-day dispatch. Orders placed after 11am roll over to the next working day for dispatch.

Additional certificates for the same company cost £16 per item under the standard service. Express UK dispatch uses Royal Mail First Class post, while international orders use Royal Mail International services. Companies House does not cover subsequent courier or legalisation costs incurred by the recipient.

When Should You Use a Specialist Provider Instead of Companies House?

You should use a specialist provider when you need faster turnaround, guided support, or consolidated replacement of multiple incorporation documents in a single request.

Specialist providers such as My Company Registration focus on replacing lost or damaged incorporation documents for UK limited companies. These services verify your company details, liaise with Companies House, and deliver certified copies digitally or by post. Turnaround times often reach 24 hours for eligible requests, outperforming standard postal timelines.

Business owners who formed their company through an agent can often download replacement documents from their account portal. However, companies that did not use an agent, or those that need certified hard copies, benefit from dedicated support. Specialist providers also assist with name-change documentation and historical filing retrieval when multiple certificates are required.

Organisations that require replacement documents for time-sensitive transactions, such as property purchases or funding rounds, gain efficiency through specialist handling. The Replace Lost or Damaged Incorporation Documents service from My Company Registration aligns document type, verification, and submission with UK compliance standards. This reduces administrative friction and ensures correct certification for the intended use case.

What Information Do You Need Before Requesting Replacement Documents?

You need your company name, company registration number, document type, and the original filing date or incorporation date before requesting replacement documents.

Accurate identification prevents delays and rejections. The company name and registration number appear on all correspondence from Companies House and on your original incorporation email. If you do not have these details, you can search the public register using the “Find and update company information” service.

Document type determines the correct request pathway. For example, a Certificate of Incorporation requires a different order than a certified copy of director appointment forms. Incorporation date or original filing date helps locate the correct record within the filing history. This is especially important for companies that have changed name or restructured.

You must also decide whether you require a certified or uncertified copy. Certified copies carry a seal and statement confirming they match the register. Uncertified copies, such as PDF downloads from the filing history, lack this formal certification but still show the registered information. Some banks and overseas authorities explicitly require certified copies.

How Do You Replace Documents After a Company Name Change?

You replace documents after a company name change by ordering certified copies that reflect the current name and, if needed, the name-change resolution from the filing history.

A company name change creates two relevant records: the original incorporation document and the name-change resolution. Banks and regulators may request both to confirm the link between the original name and the current name. Companies House records both events in the filing history, and both can be ordered as certified copies.

When ordering, specify that you require documentation showing the name change. The certified certificate can include the current company name, number, and incorporation date. Additional certified copies of the name-change resolution provide the formal link between the old and new names. This satisfies due diligence checks that trace the company’s legal identity over time.

Specialist providers can bundle these documents into a single replacement pack. This approach reduces the risk of ordering incomplete sets. The Replace Lost or Damaged Incorporation Documents service handles name-change scenarios by verifying the full filing history and supplying the correct certified documentation for your current legal name.

What Steps Ensure Replacement Documents Meet Compliance Requirements?

You ensure replacement documents meet compliance requirements by matching the certification level to the requesting authority’s rules and verifying all details against the public register.

Compliance requirements vary by use case. A business bank account may accept an uncertified PDF, whereas a property solicitor or overseas regulator may insist on a certified hard copy. Always confirm the required certification level before ordering to avoid rework and delays.

Verify that the company name, registration number, and incorporation date on the replacement document match the Companies House register exactly. Discrepancies, such as outdated names or incorrect numbers, trigger additional queries from compliance teams. If you identify errors on the register, you must correct them using the appropriate Companies House forms before relying on the document.

Retain replacement documents in both digital and physical formats. Store PDFs in a secure, backed-up folder and keep certified hard copies in a labelled file. This dual approach supports quick retrieval for audits, funding applications, and regulatory reviews. Using a structured document management system reduces the risk of future loss and supports ongoing compliance.

Replacement Companies House documents verify your company’s legal identity for banking, funding, and compliance purposes. You can order certified copies directly from Companies House or use a specialist service to replace lost or damaged incorporation documents more quickly. My Company Registration provides a focused Replace Lost or Damaged Incorporation Documents service that aligns document type, verification, and submission with UK compliance standards. This approach reduces administrative delays and ensures you receive the correct certification for your specific use case.

For broader planning on which records to keep, see Essential Documents Every UK Business May Need in the Future. When you need official replacement company documents without delay, explore Get Official Replacement Company Documents Today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a replacement Certificate of Incorporation in the UK?

You can order a replacement Certificate of Incorporation directly from Companies House as a certified or uncertified copy, or use My Company Registration to replace lost or damaged incorporation documents more quickly. Certified copies cost £22–£65 depending on service speed, while specialist providers can deliver in as little as 24 hours.

Can I replace lost incorporation documents if my company changed its name?

Yes, you can replace lost incorporation documents after a name change by ordering certified copies that show both the original incorporation details and the name-change resolution. My Company Registration handles these scenarios by verifying your full filing history and supplying the correct certified documentation for your current legal name.

What is the fastest way to obtain replacement Companies House documents?

The fastest route is to use a specialist provider like My Company Registration for the Replace Lost or Damaged Incorporation Documents service, which can deliver certified copies within 24 hours. Companies House same-day service costs £65–£130 but requires ordering before 11am and still involves postal dispatch.

Do banks accept uncertified PDF copies of incorporation documents?

Many UK banks accept uncertified PDF copies downloaded from the Companies House filing history for basic verification, but some lenders and overseas authorities require certified hard copies. Always confirm the required certification level before ordering replacement documents to avoid delays in account opening or compliance checks.

What information do I need before requesting replacement incorporation documents?

You need your company name, company registration number, the specific document type, and the original filing or incorporation date before requesting replacement incorporation documents. My Company Registration verifies these details against the public register to ensure the correct certified documents are issued for your use case.