Online Federal Incorporation

The enhanced name protection provided to a federal corporation, the right to carry on business anywhere in Canada, the increased recognition abroad of a "federal charter" and the high level of service provided by Corporations Canada staff are reasons frequently cited by corporations and their professional representatives for choosing federal incorporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act. And now, federal incorporation can be done online directly at the Corporations Canada Web site.

Eligibility Criteria

All persons wishing to incorporate their businesses at the federal level.

Summary

Anyone wishing to create a corporation under federal law must:

• Prepare a NUANS® report**
• Go to Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre and submit using the Articles of Incorporation tab;
  • **NUANS federal name search report (original) not more than 90 days old. A NUANS® search is not required when making an initial filing for a numbered corporation.
• Fee of $200 to be paid while filing at the Corporations Canada Web site

Online filing offers many benefits, such as:

• convenience - file from anywhere at any time - the Online Filing Centre is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
• reduced delivery costs - traditional delivery expenses and delays are eliminated with online submissions;
• acknowledgement of filing - no more guessing as to whether your submission has been received;
• prompt processing of articles - if you submit your articles before 1 pm (EST) any business day, your incorporation certificate should be processed by 5 pm (EST) the same day, as long as the documents are submitted in the prescribed form and that the corporate name, if applicable, is accepted (Please note that articles submitted after 1pm should be processed by 5pm the following business day.);
• reduced fees for incorporation - the fee for filing online is $200 - a reduction from the $250 fee for filing by mail, fax or in person;
• print and save option - you don't have to complete the application in one sitting. You can save your work and return to it later;
• extra-provincial registration online - after a corporation has been incorporated federally, it may be necessary to register it with the province(s) where it will be conducting its operations (extra-provincial registration). In the provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, this process can be done at the same time as federal incorporation is completed online.

To take advantage of online filing, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre;

2. Register with the Strategis Secure Server Facilities to access the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre;

3. Choose "Articles of Incorporation" from the list of forms available and select one of the four incorporation options available:

• incorporation of a numbered name corporation, e.g., 1234567 Canada Inc.;
• incorporation of a corporation with a name pre-approved by Corporations Canada (a NUANS® search in electronic format is required with the submission - you can get your name pre-approved by Corporations Canada, free of charge);
• incorporation of a corporation where name approval is to be sought (a NUANS® search in electronic format is required with the submission);
• incorporation of a numbered name corporation that has been pre-reserved.

Follow the menus provided to complete the necessary documents online and then, using your American Express®, MasterCard® or Visa® credit card, pay the prescribed $200 filing fee through the secure online payment facility.

For more information

If you require additional information on e-commerce initiatives, technological issues pertaining to the Internet, or any of the products and services offered by Corporations Canada, please visit the Web site or contact them by phone or e-mail.

Alberta Contact(s):
The Business Link Business Service Centre
Suite 100
10237 - 104 Street N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 1B1
Telephone: 780-422-7722
Fax: 780-422-0055
Toll-free (information): 1-800-272-9675
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: buslink@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/alberta
Hours of operation: Monday - Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

British Columbia Contact(s):
Small Business BC
601 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, British Columbia  V6B 2G1
Telephone: (604) 775-5525
Fax: (604) 775-5520
Toll-free (information): 1-800-667-2272 (B.C. Region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 711 (long distance charges accepted)
E-mail: comments@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/

Manitoba Contact(s):
Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
250 - 240 Graham Ave
P.O. Box 2609
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3C 4B3
Canada
Telephone: 204-984-2272
Fax: 204-983-3852
Toll-free (information): 1-800-665-2019
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: manitoba@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/manitoba
Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Canada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre
Ground Floor, Barker House
570 Queen Street
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 6Z6
Telephone: 506-444-6140
Fax: 506-444-6172
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: cbscnb@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nb
Hours of operation: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday - except Government holidays

Newfoundland & Labrador Contact(s):
Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre
90 O'Leary Avenue
P.O. Box 8687
St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1B 3T1
Telephone: (709) 772-6022
Fax: (709) 772-6090
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in the Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: info@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nl
Hours of operation: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday

Northwest Territories Contact(s):
Canada/NWT Business Service Centre
8th Floor
701, 5201 - 50th Avenue
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories  X1A 3S9
Telephone: 867-873-7960
Fax: 867-873-0573
Toll-free (information): 1-800-661-0599
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: yel@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nwt

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre
1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: 902-426-8604
Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: halifax@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/ns

Nunavut Contact(s):
Canada-Nunavut Business Service Centre
Inuksugait Plaza
P.O. Box 1000, Station 1198
Iqaluit, Nunavut  X0A 0H0
Telephone: (867) 975-7860
Fax: (867) 975-7885 Toll Free (in Nunavut only) / Sans frais 1-877-499-5299 (au Nunavut seulement)
Toll-free (information): 1-877-499-5199
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: cnbsc@gov.nu.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nunavut

Ontario Contact(s):
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC)
Toronto, Ontario  M5C 2W7
Telephone: (416) 775-3456
Fax: (416) 954-8597
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-2345 (in Ontario)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: ontario@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cobsc.org/en

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Canada / PEI Business Service Centre
75 Fitzroy Street
P.O. Box 40
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island  C1A 7K2
Telephone: (902) 368-0771
Fax: (902) 566-7377
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in the Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: pei@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/pe
Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Quebec Contact(s):
Info entrepreneurs
380 St-Antoine Street West, local 6000
Montréal, Quebec  H2Y 3X7
Telephone: 514 496-4636
Fax: 514 496-5934 Toll Free / Sans frais 1 888 417-0442
Toll-free (information): 1-800-322-4636
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: infoentrepreneurs@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.infoentrepreneurs.org
Hours of operation:
Regulars Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Summer Hours: (from June 25 to Labour Day) 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Documentation Centre (Library) Hours for On-Site Research: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
business infosource
Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre
#2 - 345 Third Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7K 1M6
Telephone: (306) 956-2323
Fax: (306) 956-2328
Toll-free (information): 1-800-667-4374 (Anywhere in Canada)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466 (Anywhere in Canada)
E-mail: saskatchewan@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/sask

Yukon Contact(s):
Canada-Yukon Business Service Centre
Suite 101
307 Jarvis Street
Whitehorse, Yukon  Y1A 2H3
Telephone: (867) 633-6257
Fax: (867) 667-2001
Toll-free (information): 1-800-661-0543
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: yukon@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/yukon