Certifying business incorporation documents
Why do I need certification for my proof?
If we're unable to verify your information through publicly available sources, we'll need your proof docs to be certified as a true copy. Custom-made documents created by you, such as cap tables, must be certified to be true.
The ‘true copy’ requirement is met if an authorised person (see below) has provided a valid certification (stamp, authorised person’s signature, and registration number). It doesn't require a statement of validity or direct statement ‘true copy of the original’ to be considered a true copy.
The ‘true content’ requirement is met if an authorised person (see below) has provided a valid certification (stamp, authorised person’s signature, and registration number), and a statement that the document is authentic and/or identifying the contents as true or correct.
Can certification requirements be waived?
The certification requirement can be waived if you can provide an accessible and unrestricted public link to where we can verify the information provided. In your application, select your proof method, then add a source link to the description where we can find the provided information.
Who can provide certification?
We can accept documents certified by the following professionals as reliable and independent sources:
- A Notary
- An external qualified lawyer, solicitor, advocate with a registration number or information on the legal professional body which authorised the individual to practise the law or stamp from a law firm in the EEA
- A certified accountant registered with a professional body within the EEA
- An external auditor
- Other certifying officers that are authorised as equivalent to a notary in a jurisdiction
E-signatures
Electronic or digitally signed documents must include:
- The name of the signee
- The date on which the electronic signature was added
- A digital signature, certificate, or certificate number