AP04 Form: Appoint a Corporate Secretary (PDF)

What is AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary?

Form AP04 tells Companies House that a UK company has appointed a corporate body or firm, rather than a person, as its company secretary. An individual secretary is appointed on form AP03 instead, and a corporate director on AP02.

It asks for the company's number and name, the date of appointment, the corporate secretary's name and principal office address, and then either its UK company registration number (section 4) or, for any other body, its legal form, governing law and the register it is entered in (section 5). The company ticks a box confirming the corporate secretary has consented to act, and someone with authority prints their name to authenticate it. No signature is needed on this edition.

FileIt asks whether the corporate secretary is a UK limited company and shows only the section that applies, checks the numbers and dates, and prints your answers into Companies House's own AP04 PDF (Version 8.0, 11/25). Accented and Eastern European letters print correctly. GOV.UK points you to the online service as the quicker route; if you need the paper form, FileIt prepares it and saves a copy in your vault. You file it yourself.

Who fills it: The company: usually a director, the secretary or an authorised agent
Given to: Companies House (online filing is also available)
One form per: Corporate body or firm appointed as secretary
Signature: None: a printed name authenticates it
Not for: Companies in the PROOF scheme (file online instead)
Edition: AP04 Version 8.0 (11/25)

Who needs to fill out AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary?

A UK company appointing another company, an LLP or a firm as its company secretary.
Companies that use a corporate secretarial provider as their named secretary.
Accountants and company secretarial agents filing for a client company.
Not an individual secretary (use AP03) or a corporate director (use AP02).

When to use AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary

After the company has appointed the corporate secretary, so the public register is up to date.
When you can't or would rather not use Companies House's online service.
Alongside TM02 when a corporate secretary replaces a previous secretary: TM02 ends the old appointment and AP04 records the new one.

What you need before you start

The company number and the company name exactly as on the register.
The date of appointment.
The corporate secretary's full name and principal office address (a physical address, not a PO box, DX or LP number).
For a UK limited company, its company registration number. For any other body, its legal form, governing law and, if it has one, the register it is entered in and its number there.
Its agreement to act, so the company can confirm consent, and the name of the person authenticating.

What’s on AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary

The 2025 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 7 parts:

1. Company detailsCompany
2. Date of corporate secretary's appointmentCompany
3. Corporate secretary's detailsCorporate secretary
4 / 5. Registration or legal formCorporate secretary
6. Consent to act as corporate secretaryCompany
7. AuthenticationCompany
Presenter information (optional)Presenter

How to fill out AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary, step by step

1 Company details

Enter the company number (8 characters, like 01234567 or SC123456) and the full company name. Both should match the register, or the form may be returned.

2 Date of appointment

The date the company appointed the corporate secretary.

3 Corporate secretary's details

The corporate body's or firm's name and its principal office address. That address appears on the public record and must be a physical location for the delivery of documents.

4 UK company or other body

If the corporate secretary is a limited company registered in the UK, give its registration number (section 4). Otherwise give its legal form and governing law, and the register it is in, including the state, with its number there (section 5).

5 Consent to act

Tick the box to confirm that the corporate body named in section 3 has consented to act as corporate secretary.

6 Authentication

The person authenticating prints their name: a director, the secretary, a person authorised under section 270 or 274 of the Companies Act 2006, or one of the office-holders listed on the form. No signature is needed.

7 Presenter information

Optional contact details for whoever sends the form. They're visible to anyone searching the public record.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using AP04 for a person. An individual secretary is appointed on AP03.
Completing both section 4 and section 5. A UK limited company only needs its registration number.
Naming a register in section 5 without its registration number.
Giving a PO box, DX or LP number as the principal office address.
Leaving the consent box unticked.

After you fill it out

Print it at full size on white A4 paper and go through the checklist on its last page. Companies House says you can upload certain forms instead of posting them; if you post it, send it to the address for where the company is registered (see gov.uk/companies-house/offices). FileIt doesn't send it for you.

Once Companies House accepts it, the corporate secretary appears on the company's public register entry. Keep the completed form and the board minute appointing the secretary in the company's FileIt folder.

If the corporate secretary's details change later, that's form CH04. When the appointment ends, it's form TM02.

Fill out AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 39 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Companies House form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary now — it’s free

AP04 Appoint a corporate secretary: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between AP03 and AP04?

AP03 appoints an individual as company secretary. AP04 appoints a corporate body or firm.

Do we fill in section 4 or section 5?

Section 4 if the corporate secretary is a limited company registered in the UK: just its registration number. Section 5 for any other corporate body or firm: its legal form, governing law and register details.

Does anyone have to sign AP04?

No. The company confirms consent in section 6, and the form is authenticated with a printed name. This edition says you do not need to include a signature.

Will the corporate secretary's address be public?

Yes. The form says the principal office address will appear on the public record, and that all information on the form does.

Can I file AP04 online instead?

Yes. GOV.UK offers an online service and says paper forms take longer to process. Companies in the protected online filing (PROOF) scheme should not use the paper form.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Companies House: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6911f0e0663088df8f54f486/AP04_v8.0-FINAL.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appoint-a-corporate-secretary-ap04
Edition shown on this page: AP04, Version 8.0 11/25 (checked 2026-10-25).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Companies House or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.