The key test is the company: it must be a UK-registered limited company or LLP with a UK business bank account and UK trading. A director who lives abroad does not, by itself, prevent a qualifying UK company from applying — though identity verification for an overseas director can take a little longer.
UK company, wherever the director lives
We lend to the UK company, assess its UK bank activity and check it at Companies House. Where its directors reside is secondary to whether the company itself qualifies. The overseas dimension is covered directly in can a non uk company or overseas director apply.
- The company — registered at Companies House.
- Its business bank account — a UK account in the company name.
- Its trading — a genuine UK business.
Verification may take longer
Identity and anti-fraud checks on a director based overseas can add a step, so allow for that in timing — why might a decision take longer than expected. A non-UK company is a different matter and generally cannot apply as structured; that distinction is in can a non uk company or overseas director apply. Which business types qualify overall is in which business types can apply.
Apply if the company is UK-based.
We lend only to UK limited companies and LLPs, the loan is to the company with no director personal guarantee, and this is business finance outside the consumer-credit regime — as an exempt lender under Article 60B of the Regulated Activities Order we sit outside FCA consumer-credit regulation, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.
See also: Can a non uk company or overseas director apply, Which business types can apply?, Why might a decision take longer than expected?.