Canada FEDERAL INCORPORATION
Obtain your Certificate and Articles of Incorporation for Federal registrations in just 2 business hours. Our online form helps you to select and customize the services that matter most to you.
Get it Done in 3 Simple Steps
1
Choose Your Federal Service
Select the service that fits your business or organization and complete the online form with the information required for your filing.
2
We Review and Prepare Your Filing
Your information is reviewed for completeness before the required documents are prepared for submission.
3
Receive Your Documents
Once the registration is complete, your corporate documents are sent electronically so you can move forward with your organization.
Canada Federal Incorporation
- Incorporate under the Canada Business Corporations Act
- Choose a word name or numbered corporation
- Select the appropriate share structure
- Customized articles available where required
- Filing documents prepared for submission
- Completed corporate documents delivered electronically
Federal Non-Profit
- Incorporate under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act
- Suitable for eligible non-profit organizations
- Articles tailored to the organization's purposes
- Members replace shareholders in the corporate structure
- Incorporation documents prepared for filing
- Completed documents delivered electronically
Federal Holding Company
- Establish a federal corporation to hold business or investment assets
- Can hold shares in other corporations
- Word name or numbered corporation options
- Flexible share structure options
- Articles prepared for the selected structure
- Completed corporate documents delivered electronically
Federal Registered Charity
- For organizations pursuing eligible charitable purposes
- Federal incorporation and charity registration are separate processes
- Charity status requires a separate CRA application
- Purposes must meet applicable charitable requirements
- Application documents prepared based on the selected service
- Review included before submission
Federal Co-op with share capital
- Incorporate under the Canada Cooperatives Act
- Designed for member-based cooperative organizations
- Requires at least three directors
- Share capital forms part of the cooperative structure
- Federal director residency requirements apply
- Incorporation documents prepared for filing
Extra Provincial Registration
- Register an existing corporation in another province or territory
- Requirements vary by jurisdiction
- Available for eligible federal, provincial, and foreign corporations
- Filing requirements reviewed for the selected jurisdiction
- Registration documents prepared for submission
- Completed documents delivered electronically
Why Choose BC Business Register for Federal Incorporation?
Multiple Federal Service Options: Choose from standard corporations, holding companies, not-for-profits, charities, cooperatives, and related registration services.
Online Ordering: Provide the information needed for your selected filing through a straightforward online process.
Filing Preparation: Required documents are prepared based on the service and corporate structure you choose.
Customized Corporate Structures: Select appropriate share provisions or specialized articles when your corporation requires them.
Support Beyond Incorporation: Extra-provincial registration and other corporate filing services are available when your business needs additional registrations.
Thinking of Incorporating Federally?
Federal incorporation may be worth considering if your business plans to operate across Canada or if protecting an approved corporate name at the federal level is important to your plans.
Before filing, consider where the business will operate, whether you want a word name or numbered corporation, how the shares will be structured, and who will serve as directors. Most CBCA corporations must also maintain information about individuals with significant control.
Federal incorporation does not replace provincial or territorial registration. If the corporation carries on business in another jurisdiction, additional registration may still be required there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about incorporating federally in Canada, including corporate names, directors, provincial registration, annual filings, and federal requirements.
Federal incorporation creates a corporation under federal legislation. Business corporations are generally incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and receive federal corporate status.
Federal incorporation may be a good fit for businesses that expect to operate in multiple provinces or territories or want the broader name protection available to an approved federal corporate name. Provincial or territorial registration may still be required.
The total cost depends on the government filing fee, any name-related services, the corporate structure selected, service-provider fees, and any provincial or territorial registrations required. Review the selected package for current pricing.
Processing time depends on the filing method, whether additional review is required, and the service option selected. Check the selected package for current turnaround times.
Yes. A federal business corporation can use an approved word name or a numbered corporate name. A proposed word name must meet Corporations Canada’s naming requirements.
Federal incorporation creates a corporation under federal law, while provincial incorporation creates one under the corporate legislation of a specific province or territory. A federal corporation may still need to register in provinces or territories where it carries on business.
Yes. Generally, at least 25% of the directors of a CBCA corporation must be resident Canadians. If the corporation has fewer than four directors, at least one director must be a resident Canadian. Certain regulated sectors may have additional requirements.
You generally need the corporation’s proposed name or numbered-name selection, registered office information, director information, share structure, and other information required for the articles and incorporation filing.
Generally, a federal corporation must register in a province or territory where it carries on business. Incorporation and extra-provincial registration are separate processes, and requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Individuals with significant control, or ISCs, are people who meet specific ownership or control criteria in relation to a federal corporation. Most CBCA corporations must maintain and file required information about their ISCs.
Yes. Federal business corporations must file an annual return with Corporations Canada each year. This corporate filing is separate from the corporation’s income tax return.
No. Incorporating under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act does not automatically make an organization a registered charity or provide registered charity status. Organizations seeking registered charity status must apply separately to the Canada Revenue Agency.