01
Overview
Many applications ask for company documents "certified true copy". A plain photocopy is not enough, because the recipient has no way of knowing it matches the original. A certified true copy carries the company secretary's certification, name, licence details, signature and date, confirming the copy is a true and complete reproduction of the document held in the company's records.
The constitution sets out how the company is governed — share transfers, director powers, quorum and voting. Banks review it when opening accounts, regulated-sector licensing bodies check it for required clauses, and investors read it during due diligence. It is adopted and lodged under Sections 31 and 32 of the Companies Act 2016; older companies may still hold a Memorandum and Articles of Association from the 1965 Act, which generally serves the same role.
The company secretary can certify because they hold a statutory office: every company must have a secretary under Section 235 of the Companies Act 2016, and that person must be licensed or a member of a prescribed body under Section 236. A CTC is only as good as the record behind it — if the document is outdated, certify the current version, not the old one.
Who needs this
- Companies opening corporate bank accounts
- Companies in regulated sectors applying for licences
- Companies undergoing investor due diligence
02
Documents you need to prepare
Document to certify
- Original company constitution, or confirmation that the original is held in the company records we keep
- Number of certified copies required
Purpose
- Who the copies are for (bank, embassy, licensing body, tender board)
- Any specific certification wording the recipient requires
- Some foreign authorities additionally need notarisation or embassy legalisation; tell us the destination country.
- Certification confirms the copy matches the original; it does not verify the truth of the document's contents.
03
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Request Day 1
You tell us the document, number of copies and recipient.
- 2Verify original Day 1
We compare each copy against the original in the company records.
- 3Certify Day 1–2
The company secretary certifies, signs and dates each copy.
- 4Deliver Day 1–2
Certified copies delivered in hard copy or scanned, as needed.
You do
- Tell us the document and recipient
- Provide the original if we do not hold it
We do
- Verify against the original
- Certify, sign and date each copy
- Match any wording the recipient requires
04
What you receive
Signed and dated by the licensed company secretary, with licence details.
A scan of the certified copies for online submissions.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can a director certify documents instead?
Some recipients accept a director's certification, but banks and agencies usually ask for the company secretary.
How many copies can we get?
As many as you need; tell us the number when you request.
Is this the same as notarisation?
No. Notarisation is done by a notary public and is sometimes required on top of a CTC for use overseas.