Company Number Prefixes Defined
What do the Company Number Prefixes mean?
Company Number Prefixes are used for non-standard companies registered in the UK on the Companies House register. These prefixes help differentiate various types of companies, including overseas companies and those registered outside of England and Wales, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland. Historically, Scotland and Northern Ireland maintained their own company registers, which is reflected in the unique prefixes assigned to businesses from these regions.
The prefix typically consists of two characters placed at the beginning of the company number. For instance, NI is used for companies registered in Northern Ireland, and FC is assigned to overseas companies.
Below you’ll find a list of the active prefixes. Please note these do change from time to time so the list should not be viewed as exhaustive.
| Company Prefix | Description of Company |
|---|---|
| No prefix | England & Wales Company |
| AC | Assurance Company for England & Wales |
| ZC | Unregistered Companies (S 1043 – Not Cos Act) for England & Wales |
| FC | Overseas Company |
| CE | Charitable incorporated organisation |
| GE | European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) for England & Wales |
| CS | Scottish charitable incorporated organisation |
| LP | Limited Partnership for England & Wales |
| OC | Limited Liability Partnership for England & Wales |
| SE | European Company (Societas Europaea) for England & Wales |
| SA | Assurance Company for Scotland |
| SZ | Unregistered Companies (S 1043 Not Cos Act) for Scotland |
| SF | Overseas Company registered in Scotland (pre 1st October 2009) |
| GS | European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) for Scotland |
| SL | Limited Partnership for Scotland |
| SO | Limited Liability Partnership for Scotland |
| SC | Scottish Company |
| ES | European Company (Societas Europaea) for Scotland |
| NA | Assurance Company for Northern Ireland |
| SG | Scottish qualifying partnership |
| NZ | Unregistered Companies (S 1043 Not Cos Act) for Northern Ireland |
| NF | Overseas Company registered in Northern Ireland (pre 1st October 2009) |
| GN | European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) for Northern Ireland |
| NL | Limited Partnership for Northern Ireland |
| NC | Limited Liability Partnership for Northern Ireland |
| R0 | Northern Ireland Company (pre-partition) |
| NI | Northern Ireland Company (post-partition) |
| EN | European Company (Societas Europaea) for Northern Ireland |
| IP | Industrial & Provident Company |
| SP | Scottish Industrial/Provident Company |
| IC | ICVC (Investment Company with Variable Capital) |
| SI | Scottish ICVC (Investment Company with Variable Capital) |
| NP | Northern Ireland Industrial/Provident Company or Credit Union |
| NV | Northern Ireland ICVC (Investment Company with Variable Capital) |
| RC | Royal Charter Companies (English/Wales) |
| SR | Scottish Royal Charter Companies |
| NR | Northern Ireland Royal Charter Companies |
| NO | Northern Ireland Credit Union Industrial/Provident Society |
For more detailed insights into companies and their filings, explore our Business data product which provides extensive Company Data on all UK-registered companies.
- Glossary: Overseas CompanyRegistration of an overseas company is only required when it has some degree of physical presence in the UK (such as a place of business or branch) through which it carries on business. You can identify Overseas Companies in the register based on the Company Number prefix.
- Glossary: Royal ChartersThe Companies House Prefix RC refers to Royal Charters as granted by the sovereign based on the advice of the Privy Council.
- Glossary: Company Types and AbbreviationsNot all companies in the UK operate in the same way, some limit liability, others don't, some have shareholders, and some don't. What do the abbreviations PLC and LTD mean?