How Long Does It Take to Register a CIC?
Last updated: August 2026
Written by Ben Ahern, Founder of CIC Tools & Co-founder of Homeless Aid UK CIC
Quick Answer
Online: usually a few working days. Companies House normally processes online applications within 24 hours, but there is no same-day service for CICs - the CIC Regulator must approve every application first. Paper: up to 15 working days. Preparing your documents and verifying director identities happens before either clock starts.
Quick question before you read on
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Why a CIC Takes Longer Than an Ordinary Company
An ordinary limited company only needs Companies House. A CIC has a second gatekeeper: by law, the registrar must forward your application to the CIC Regulator, who decides whether your company is eligible - including whether it satisfies the community interest test ("a reasonable person might consider that its activities are being carried on for the benefit of the community"). Companies House only registers the company once the Regulator approves.
That approval step is why Companies House states plainly: "There is no same day service to register a CIC online." It is also why a well-prepared application matters so much - a clean application flows through both desks; a flawed one bounces.
The Realistic Timeline, Stage by Stage
1. Preparation - as fast as you make it
Choose and check your name, decide your structure, and prepare your two key documents: the CIC36 community interest statement (signed by every director) and your articles of association. With CIC Tools this takes about 15 minutes; done by hand, it's typically days of reading. Every director also needs identity verification (next step) before you can file.
2. Identity verification - do it before you file
Since 18 November 2025, every director must verify their identity with Companies House and gets a personal code, which the incorporation application asks for. Verification is free via GOV.UK One Login (app, online questions, or at a Post Office) and is usually quick - but if a director leaves it until filing day, it becomes the bottleneck.
3. Submission and payment - minutes
The online service takes your company details, your two uploaded PDFs, and the £115 fee by card or PayPal. See our step-by-step walkthrough of the online service.
4. Companies House + Regulator review - the real wait
Companies House normally processes online applications within 24 hours; the Regulator's approval means CICs take longer than that headline figure. In practice most clean online applications come back within a few working days. Paper applications can take up to 15 working days.
5. Certificate of incorporation - instant, by email
Once approved, your certificate of incorporation arrives by email, showing your company number and date of formation. Your CIC legally exists from the moment the certificate is issued - not before.
| Route | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Online | £115 (card or PayPal) | Usually a few working days; no same-day service |
| Paper (post) | £139 (cheque or postal order) | Up to 15 working days |
Fees at these levels since 1 February 2026 (Companies House fees guidance, updated July 2026). Full cost breakdown in our CIC cost guide.
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What Actually Causes Delays (and Rejections)
- • Articles missing the statutory CIC clauses - official guidance warns that applications (including AI-drafted ones) missing required clauses "will be rejected and incorporation fees refunded"
- • A CIC36 missing sections A to D - same rejection-and-refund rule
- • Unsigned CIC36 - every proposed director must sign it
- • Name inconsistencies - the exact company name, including the ending, must match on every document (see the name rules)
- • Missing director personal codes - unverified directors block the filing entirely
Beyond paperwork errors, the substantive risk is the community interest test itself: if the Regulator isn't satisfied your activities benefit the community (rather than, say, only your members or a private group), the company cannot be registered as a CIC. Getting the statement right the first time is the single best thing you can do for speed - see our guide to what the Regulator accepts in a community interest statement.
A rejection for missing statutory content comes with your fee refunded - you correct the documents and apply again. If the Regulator decides your company fails the community interest test, there is a formal appeal route to the Appeal Officer for material errors of law or fact.
After the Certificate Arrives
- Bank account - only possible once you have your company number, and banks take days to weeks (some up to 8-12 weeks). See which banks accept CICs.
- First filings calendar - your confirmation statement, accounts and CIC34 annual report dates all start from incorporation. See CIC annual requirements.
- Grant applications - most funders want your company number, bank account and governing policies in place before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does online CIC registration take?
Usually a few working days. Companies House says it normally processes online applications within 24 hours, but also states there is no same-day service to register a CIC online - the CIC Regulator must approve every application first.
Can I register a CIC the same day?
No. Companies House states explicitly that there is no same-day service for CICs, because every application is referred to the CIC Regulator for a decision on the community interest test.
How long does a paper CIC application take?
Up to 15 working days, per Companies House guidance updated July 2026 - and it costs more (£139 vs £115 online). File online unless you have a specific reason not to.
Do directors need identity verification before registering?
Yes - since 18 November 2025 every director needs a Companies House personal code, obtained free via GOV.UK One Login, to be named on an incorporation. Verify everyone before you file.
What happens if a CIC application is rejected?
For missing statutory content, official guidance says applications are rejected and incorporation fees refunded - you fix the documents and reapply. Substantive community-interest-test failures are the Regulator's decision, with an appeal route to the Appeal Officer.
The slow part is the paperwork - so we did it for you
The Regulator's review you can't skip. The weeks people lose drafting articles and the CIC36 - you can. CIC Tools generates both documents, Companies House-ready, in about 15 minutes, with every known rejection trigger handled.
Related Guides
How to Register a CIC Online: Step-by-Step
The £115 online service: what you upload, ID verification, and what happens after.
Read guideHow Much Does It Cost to Set Up a CIC?
Full breakdown of CIC registration costs and annual fees.
Read guideCIC Name Rules: What Your CIC Can Be Called
Required endings, sensitive words, availability, and changing your name later.
Read guide