- ur business (obtain your articles of incorporation) through federal incorporation or provincial/territorial incorporation
- get a federal business number and Corporation income tax account from the Canada Revenue Agency
- register as an extra-provincial or extra-territorial corporation in all other Canadian jurisdictions where you plan to do business
- apply for any permits and licenses your business may need
If you have decided to incorporate in a specific province or territory instead of incorporating federally, you will need to follow the steps outlined here:
Step 1. Choose a name
A corporation n name consists of 3 elements:
- distinctive
- descriptive
- legal
‘ABC Building Supplies Ltd.’ is an example of a corporation name that contains all 3 elements.
Distinctive element
A distinctive element is a unique word or location that makes your corporation name different from others.
In the example above, ‘ABC’ is the distinctive element.
Descriptive element
A descriptive element describes what the corporation does or what the corporation is.
In the example above, ‘Building Supplies’ is the descriptive element.
Legal element
All Alberta corporations are required to have a legal element at the end of their name.
In the example above, ‘Ltd.’ is the legal element.
Accepted legal elements
The following legal elements are permitted by the Business Corporations Act:
- Limited
- Limitee
- Ltee
- Ltd.
- Corp.
- Corporation
- Inc.
- Incorporated
- Incorporee
- ULC
- Unlimited Liability Corporation
The ‘Professional Corporation’ element can only be used for one of the following types of professions:
- Chartered Professional Accountants
- Chiropractor
- Dentistry
- Law
- Medicine
- Optometry
Your corporation can also use a ‘number’ name, such as ‘785843 Canada Inc.’
- the number portion of the name is assigned by Corporate Registry
- ‘Canada’ always forms the second part of the name
- You may choose one of the standard legal elements above
Step 2. Get a NUANS report or provincial name search
You need to get a NUANS report or provincial name search report and review it to make sure there is no other corporation with an identical name or a name that is too similar to your proposed corporation name. Unlike business names, identically named corporations are not allowed.
The NUANS report or provincial name search report reserves the proposed name for 90 days. The complete report, whether an original or fax copy, must be submitted with the incorporation details and must be less than 91 days old.
You do not need a NUANS report or provincial name search report when the proposed name will be a ‘number name’ assigned by Corporate Registry (for example, 9999999 Canada Ltd.).
Step 3. Collect information needed for incorporation
To prepare the articles of incorporation you will need to have the following information:
- Proposed Company name
- Proposed business activities of the corporation
- Jurisdiction of Incorporation
- The business address of the corporation
- Mailing address of the corporation
- Name(s) of the Director(s)
- The mailing(s) of the director(s)
Step 4. Record your corporation’s address
The registered office needs to be a physical location in the jurisdiction of incorporation so that the corporation can get legal documents delivered.
The records address, if not the same as the registered office, also needs to be physically located in the jurisdiction of incorporation.
Mailing address in the jurisdiction of incorporation for the corporation if you do not have mail delivered to the registered office of the corporation.
Step 5. Elect a director
Elect or appoint at least one director for your corporation and record that information on the Notice of Directors.
Directors must be adults. In Canada, there are nine provinces that allow non-Canadian residents to register companies in their province.
- British-Columbia
- Prince Edward Island
- New Brunswick:
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories
- Yukon
Step 6. Select a Registered Agent
Non-Canadian residents that are interested in register a new company in Canada needs to appoint a registered agent in the desired province of registration. A registered agent is designated to receive service of process and other official documents on behalf of a registered business entity, such as a corporation or a limited liability company. These documents are sent to the registered agent at the corporation’s registered office. The registered agent is responsible for notifying a member of the business entity (usually the corporate secretary or governance officer) on receipt of the documents.
Often, the service company engaged by a corporation to file its certificate of incorporation will act as its registered agent for an additional fee.
Step 7. Submit your application
You need to submit your application to the corporate registry office of your desired jurisdiction of registration. The application will include:
- Articles of Incorporation
- Notice of English/French Name Equivalency (optional)
- Notice of Address
- Notice of Directors
- NUANS report or provincial name search reservation
- valid ID
- fee payment
Canada Company Registration Service for Non-Canadian Residents
Company Formations Canada offers Canada company registration and business registration services to non-Canadian residents and foreign companies interested in doing business in Canada.
Canada Incorporation for Non-Canadians for only $2200 (All Inclusive.) Company Formations provides fast and easy Company Registration in Canada for non-Canadians residents and provides all the documents your new Canada corporation will need to stay up-to-date and in compliance with your province of registration corporations law.
Incorporation Fees:
$2200 (All Inclusive)
Our Canada Incorporation Service includes:
- Name Search Report
- Preparation of Articles of Incorporation and Incorporation Documents
- Incorporation Agreement
- By-Laws, Company Minute Book, Share Certificates
- Canada Registered Agent Service for 1 year
- Government Fees
- Our Service Fees
- Original Certificates
- Copy of Documents in PDF
- Taxes
Register today your new company in Canada as a non-Canadian resident
