| need not be a natural person - a company or Scottish firm may be appointed as a director of another company. This is implicit in various provisions of the Companies Act 1985 (e.g. sections 289(1) and 305(4));
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| need not have any special formal qualifications;
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| need not be a UK citizen - however, it is possible that UK immigration laws may prohibit such a director from working in the UK. If in doubt, advice may be sought from the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate;
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| need not, under the Companies Act 1985, 'live' in the UK (nor need a director reside, be a 'permanent resident', be domiciled, or be incorporated in the UK). Nevertheless, this general proposition may be subject to any other rules which may apply from time to time;
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| must not have been disqualified by a court from acting as a company director (unless he or she has been given leave (permission) by a court to act as a director for a particular company);
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| must not be an undischarged bankrupt (except with leave of the court) - section 11(1) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986;
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| in the case of a company proposed to be registered in Scotland (as opposed to 'England and Wales') - must not be under the age of 16 - section 1(1)(a) of the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991;
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| in the case of a company proposed to be registered in 'England and Wales' (as opposed to 'Scotland') - need not be of any particular minimum age, however, careful consideration should be given as to whether the a director who is a minor, has the legal capacity to consent to act as a director and to carry out the duties of a company director; and
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| need not be younger than any particular age (i.e. there is no maximum age limit) unless the proposed company is to be a subsidiary of a public company. (If the private company is to be a subsidiary of a public company, a director of the subsidiary must not be over the age of 70 unless specifically approved by a general meeting of the company - section 293 of the Companies Act 1985. The word 'subsidiary' is defined in sections 736 and 736A of the Companies Act 1985.).
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