Last reviewed: May 2026
Key facts:- The IVA Register is a public list of all current Individual Voluntary Arrangements in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, maintained by the Insolvency Service.
- An IVA stays on the register from the date it is approved until 3 months after the IVA is completed or terminated.
- Free public search of the register is available through the gov.uk individual insolvency register service.
UK Debt Help Hub › Iva Register Search
The Individual Insolvency Register is the official public list of UK personal insolvencies, including Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), bankruptcy orders and Debt Relief Orders. The register is maintained by the Insolvency Service and is free to search through gov.uk. This guide explains what an IVA is, what the register shows, how long entries stay on, and how being on the register affects credit, employment and other aspects of daily life.
What an IVA Is
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is a formal agreement between a debtor and their creditors to repay a portion of unsecured debt over a defined period, usually five or six years. Once approved by creditors at a meeting, the IVA is legally binding on all creditors who were notified, including those who voted against.
IVAs are set up and managed by a licensed Insolvency Practitioner. The IP acts as nominee at the proposal stage and as supervisor during the IVA period. The IP receives fees from the IVA payments, paid in priority to ordinary creditors.
IVAs are governed by Part VIII of the Insolvency Act 1986. The main alternative routes for an insolvent individual are bankruptcy, a Debt Relief Order (for smaller debts), or an informal debt management plan.
Searching the IVA Register
The gov.uk individual insolvency register search lets anyone search by name, postcode, or insolvency case number. The search is free and returns the IVA approval date, the IP supervisor name and contact, and the case status (in force, completed, terminated).
The register is intended to be public so that creditors can identify whether a debtor is in an IVA and act accordingly. Lenders and landlords commonly check the register before extending credit or renting a property.
Entries are added to the register within a short time of the IVA being approved. Searches return live data; recently approved IVAs may take a day or two to appear. Search results can be printed or saved as evidence.
How Long an IVA Stays on the Register
An IVA remains on the public insolvency register from the date of approval until three months after the date the IVA is completed or terminated. So a five-year IVA approved on 1 January 2026 would normally come off the register around April 2031.
Completion happens when the agreed payments have been made in full and the supervisor has issued a certificate of completion. Termination happens when the IVA fails, usually because the debtor stops paying or breaches the terms.
After the three-month post-completion window, the entry is removed from the public register. It still appears on the debtor credit file for six years from the IVA approval date, regardless of when the IVA itself ended.
Credit File Impact
An IVA appears on the credit file from the date it is approved. The credit file entry shows the IVA in force and is visible to lenders running a credit check. After completion or termination, the entry remains for six years from the original approval date.
During the IVA, the debtor cannot normally take on new credit above 500 pounds without the supervisor consent. Most lenders refuse credit applications from anyone currently in an IVA in any case. After the IVA ends, credit may slowly rebuild as the entry ages.
Some specific credit products are unavailable for the duration of the IVA and for a period afterwards: standard high-street mortgages, mainstream personal loans, and credit cards from major issuers. Subprime products may be available but at significantly higher interest rates.
Other Practical Impacts
An IVA does not normally affect employment, but certain regulated roles (financial services, solicitor practising certificates, some company directorships) may have specific consequences. The relevant professional body or regulator should be consulted before entering an IVA in these cases.
Renting can be affected. Many landlords run credit checks on prospective tenants. An IVA on the credit file may prompt a landlord to refuse a tenancy or to require a guarantor. The IVA itself does not legally prevent renting; it is the landlord credit check decision.
Bank accounts may be affected. Some banks close current accounts when an IVA is approved; others move the customer to a basic bank account. Most major banks now offer basic accounts that meet the needs of IVA customers.
Practical Scenarios Where the Register Matters
Mortgage applications. Most mainstream mortgage lenders run a search of the public insolvency register. An entry shows that the applicant is currently in an IVA, and lenders typically decline mortgage applications during the IVA. Specialist lenders may consider applications after the IVA completes.
Renting a home. Many landlords run credit checks on prospective tenants. An IVA on the credit file may lead to refusal or to a guarantor requirement. The actual register entry is less commonly checked, but the credit file remains accessible to the landlord.
Employment background checks. Certain regulated roles (financial services, law, some company directorships) include insolvency register checks. Other roles do not. Voluntary disclosure to a prospective employer may be required where the role has specific insolvency consequences.
Director declarations. Anyone applying to be a company director may need to declare current or recent insolvency. Companies House Form IN01 asks about insolvency history. False declarations are criminal offences under the Companies Act 2006.
Where to Get Free Independent Help
StepChange is the UK leading debt charity, providing free debt advice on iva register and other debt issues. StepChange offers Debt Management Plans, Debt Relief Order applications, IVA referrals and budgeting help. Contact is through stepchange.org or by phone.
National Debtline is operated by the Money Advice Trust and provides free, independent debt advice. The service is by phone, webchat and online self-help. National Debtline produces detailed guides on debt remedies including bankruptcy, IVAs, DROs and Debt Management Plans.
Citizens Advice provides free debt advice through local offices and online. Citizens Advice has good integration with other services (benefits, housing, employment) that often interact with debt problems. The Citizens Advice debt service is widely accessible across the UK.
The Insolvency Service is the government agency that administers personal insolvency. It runs the Individual Insolvency Register and the Debt Relief Order scheme. The Official Receiver is the part of the Insolvency Service that supervises bankruptcies and DROs.
PayPlan and Christians Against Poverty (CAP) provide free debt advice through their own channels. Both offer Debt Management Plans and casework support. Eligibility for some services depends on the household financial situation.
For mortgage and rent arrears specifically, Shelter and the Money and Pensions Service provide targeted housing debt help. The Mortgage Adviser network (FCA-regulated) gives free initial mortgage advice that can sometimes restructure arrears more affordably than the lender direct.
Putting It All Together
The rules above set out the legal framework, the practical steps and the support routes available. Where the situation is straightforward, the gov.uk pages and the official tools should be enough to act on. Where the situation is more complex, the free advice services listed in the previous section can usually clarify the position and identify the right next step. Many issues that look intractable at first turn out to be resolvable once the right service is engaged.
Keeping written records of communications and decisions throughout is good practice. Where a decision needs to be challenged later - through an internal complaint, an ombudsman, a tribunal or a court - the quality of the contemporaneous record often decides the outcome. Dates, names, reference numbers and copies of correspondence are the building blocks of any later dispute. The gov.uk advice pages and the relevant ombudsman or tribunal websites all set out the evidence they consider when reviewing decisions, and gathering that evidence from the start is one of the most effective protections available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IVA Register free to search?
Yes. The gov.uk individual insolvency register is free to use. Searches can be made by name, postcode or case number.
How long does an IVA stay on the register?
From the approval date until three months after completion or termination. A five-year IVA stays on the register for approximately five years and three months.
Can I check someone else IVA status?
Yes. The register is public. Anyone can search for entries by name, postcode or case number. The register exists partly so that creditors and other parties can verify insolvency status.
Does an IVA show on my credit file?
Yes. The IVA appears on the credit file from the approval date and stays for six years from that date, regardless of when the IVA itself ends.
What is the difference between an IVA and a Debt Relief Order?
An IVA is for higher debt levels (typically above 6,000 pounds) and involves payments over five or six years. A Debt Relief Order is for smaller debts (under 50,000 pounds, with very low assets and income), with no payments required during a one-year moratorium.
Can my employer see I am in an IVA?
Only if they search the public register or run a credit check that shows the IVA. Some regulated roles require disclosure to the employer; ordinary employment does not.
Can I have an IVA without it being on the register?
No. All IVAs are recorded on the public Individual Insolvency Register. This is a statutory requirement under the Insolvency Rules 2016. Privacy concerns are addressed through the limited information shown on the register.
Does the register show the amount of debt in the IVA?
No. The register shows the date of the IVA, the IP supervisor name, the status, and basic identification. The specific debt amount is not disclosed.
Can my IVA come off the register early?
Only if it is successfully completed and the post-completion 3-month period passes, or if it is annulled by the court. Standard completion brings the entry off the register within 3 months.
Can my bankruptcy show on the IVA register?
Bankruptcy and IVA are different procedures with separate entries on the Individual Insolvency Register. Bankruptcy is recorded under Class B and IVA under Class A in the register classification.
How We Verified This
Information is taken from Part VIII of the Insolvency Act 1986 on legislation.gov.uk, the Insolvency Rules 2016 on the Individual Insolvency Register, the gov.uk individual insolvency register service, the Insolvency Service guidance on IVAs, and the Financial Conduct Authority Consumer Credit rules on credit file reporting.