Companies House red flags every applicant should know

Companies House is the UK's public register of incorporated businesses. Registering a company costs £12 and can be done online in 24 hours. Fraudsters exploit this ease of registration to create an appearance of legitimacy. Here is what to check.

Recent incorporation.

A company incorporated within the last few months that claims to be an established employer is a risk factor. Genuine sponsoring employers typically have years of trading history and filed accounts.

No filed accounts.

Active trading companies are required to file annual accounts with Companies House. If a company has no filed accounts, has overdue filings, or shows zero financial activity, this is inconsistent with being a genuine employer sponsoring overseas workers.

Dissolved or inactive status.

Check the company status on Companies House. If it shows as "Dissolved," "Liquidation," or "Administration," the company cannot legally employ you. Some fraudsters use names of recently dissolved companies, hoping applicants will not check.

Registered address mismatches.

Compare the registered address on Companies House with the address you have been given for the workplace. A residential address, a virtual office, or an address that does not match the employer's claimed location is a warning sign.

Companies House registration proves a company exists. It does not prove it can sponsor workers. Always cross-reference with the UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors.