Form AP01 UK: Appoint a Director at Companies House

What this document is

Form AP01 is the paper form used to notify Companies House that an individual has been appointed as a director of a UK company. There is a separate form (AP02) for appointing a corporate director, and different forms again for secretaries.

The filing is required under the Companies Act 2006, which places a duty on companies to keep the public register up to date when their officers change. The form asks for the director's full name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, country of residence, and a service address.

It also records the date the appointment took effect. Most companies now file this information electronically through the Companies House WebFiling service or software, which is faster and cheaper than posting a paper form. Once processed, the new director appears on the public company record at Companies House.

There is a strict time limit: companies have 14 days from the date of appointment to notify Companies House. Missing that window can lead to enforcement action against the company and its officers.

How to use this document

1. Check the person is eligible. Before anything else, confirm the proposed director is not disqualified, is at least 16 years old, and is not an undischarged bankrupt (unless the court has given permission). It is also worth checking your company's articles of association for any internal rules about how directors must be appointed. 2. Pass the appointment internally. Directors are usually appointed either by a resolution of the existing board or by the shareholders, depending on what your articles say. Record the decision properly in board minutes or a written resolution, and note the exact date the appointment takes effect, because that date goes on the form. 3. Gather the required information. You will need the new director's full legal name, date of birth, nationality, business occupation, country of usual residence, residential address, and a chosen service address. The residential address is kept on a protected register and not shown publicly, but the service address is published. 4. File AP01 with Companies House. Submit the appointment within 14 days of the effective date. Online filing through WebFiling or approved software is the usual route, and the new director will need to provide three personal identifiers (for example, eye colour, town of birth) as an online security check. Paper filings are accepted but slower. 5. Update your internal records. Once Companies House confirms the appointment, update the company's own register of directors and register of directors' residential addresses. Let your accountant, bank, and any relevant third parties know, and make sure the new director is briefed on their statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006.