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The short answer
You can register a UK company from Nigeria online for £100, but three things need sorting first: a physical UK registered office address where someone will deal with post, identity verification for each director through GOV.UK One Login or an authorised agent, and a plan for banking, since several UK business accounts ask that directors are based in the UK.
A UK company can help a Nigerian business sell to British customers, sign contracts with UK firms or present a UK face to investors. The registration itself is quick and online. What slows Nigeria-based founders down is everything around it: an address in Britain, proving identity from abroad, and opening a bank account afterwards.
Step 1: a UK registered office
GOV.UK says the registered office must be a physical address in the UK, in the same UK nation the company is registered in, where you or someone acting for the company will be made aware of post. It must be in place before you register, it appears on the public register, and a Royal Mail PO Box is no longer acceptable. A company that does not meet the rules can be struck off.
Living in Lagos, you have three realistic options: a relative's or friend's UK address with their permission, an accountant's or solicitor's address with their permission, or a commercial registered office service. Our guide to registered office services compares them.
Step 2: identity verification from abroad
Since 18 November 2025, Companies House requires new directors to verify their identity before the company can be incorporated. There are three routes: GOV.UK One Login online (free), the Post Office (only useful in the UK), or an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP), which sets its own fee. From Nigeria, that leaves One Login or an ACSP that takes overseas clients. Each verified director receives a personal code, and GOV.UK's registration guide says the code for each director is needed when registering. Details are in Companies House ID checks for Nigerian directors.
Step 3: the registration
- Choose a company name and check it is available.
- Choose a SIC code for the activity.
- Decide the shareholders; at least one is needed, and it can be the director.
- Adopt articles of association (most small companies use the standard model).
- Give a registered email address; Companies House says it is not published.
- Pay £100 by card online, as at October 2026; GOV.UK says registration is usually done within 24 hours.
You can also register through a formation agent; GOV.UK links to a list of them. GOV.UK reminds directors that even if they hire people to help, they remain legally responsible for the company's records, accounts and filings.
Step 4: banking, the real hurdle
Many founders find that forming the company is easy and opening its account is hard. Two eligibility pages show why:
| Provider | What its eligibility page says (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Monzo Business | Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply; the company must be tax resident in the UK and no other country; no VPN when applying. |
| NatWest Mettle | You need to be a UK resident and UK tax resident only; the business must be registered and trading in the UK. |
These are two examples, not a survey. Check each provider's own eligibility page before applying, and see business accounts with a director in Nigeria for the wider picture.
Step 5: tax and filings
The company pays Corporation Tax on profits: 19% on profits of £50,000 or less and 25% above £250,000, with marginal relief in between, per GOV.UK as at October 2026. It files annual accounts and a confirmation statement. A company whose directors all live and decide things in Nigeria raises a question of where it is tax resident, which Monzo's own condition above also touches; read UK companies managed from Nigeria and take advice from a tax adviser in both countries.
An example timeline
Example only: a founder in Lagos planning a UK company to invoice British clients might work in this order.
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Agree a registered office (a relative, an accountant or a service) and set up a company email address. |
| Week 1 | Each director and PSC verifies with One Login or an ACSP and collects a personal code. |
| Week 2 | Register online for £100, as at October 2026, and receive the certificate of incorporation. |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Apply to business account providers whose eligibility pages accept your situation. |
| Ongoing | Record income and costs from the first invoice, and diary the first confirmation statement and accounts. |
The slowest step is almost always the bank account, so start those applications as soon as the company exists.
If the business is really Nigerian
Some founders need a Nigerian company more than a UK one, or both. The Nigeria library covers registering a private limited company with CAC.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account can be opened from any country and holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local account details for each, which suits a business with customers on both sides. Check in the app which company types and countries of registration are supported before you rely on it. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners; Pryme is not a bank.
Questions people ask
Can I register a UK company from Nigeria?
Yes. Registration is online, costs £100 as at October 2026, and has no nationality condition on the GOV.UK pages. You need a UK registered office and identity verification for each director.
Can I use my Nigerian address as a UK registered office?
No. GOV.UK says the registered office must be a physical address in the UK.
How do I verify my identity for Companies House from Lagos?
Use GOV.UK One Login online or an authorised corporate service provider that accepts overseas clients. The Post Office route only works in the UK.
Can I open a UK business bank account while living in Nigeria?
It is harder. Monzo Business asks for directors in the UK and NatWest Mettle asks for UK residents. Check each provider's eligibility page.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Set up a limited company, company address rules · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Set up a limited company, register your company · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Set up a limited company, choose directors and a company secretary · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Companies House confirms identity verification rollout from 18 November 2025 (5 Aug 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Monzo: Business banking eligibility · accessed Oct 2026
- NatWest: Mettle eligibility · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Corporation Tax rates and reliefs (updated 23 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.