Foreign registration · no form number

West Virginia Corporation Foreign Registration in North Dakota

North Dakota registers a corporation from West Virginia as a foreign corporation on an online registration (no form number), with $145 in state fees. North Dakota may ask for West Virginia's Certificate of Existence ($10). We file it with the Secretary of State using your West Virginia records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

West Virginia and North Dakota side by side

	West Virginia formed here	North Dakota registering here
Document	West Virginia Certificate of Existence	Foreign Business Corporation Certificate of Authority Application (no form number)
State fee	$10	$145 at order
How it is handled	West Virginia: in about 5 to 10 business days, with 24-hour, 2-hour and 1-hour expedite options	Filed online with North Dakota
Office	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division	North Dakota Secretary of State
Official page	sos.wv.gov	sos.nd.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $25, every two years	Annual Report, $25, every year
Due	July 1 each year	May 15
Late yearly filing	$50 late fee	$20 late fee
Agent	Your West Virginia agent for service of process	Our North Dakota registered agent

From West Virginia to North Dakota, step by step

We prepare and file the registration
It lists us as your North Dakota registered agent, next to your West Virginia name and formation date. If North Dakota wants the West Virginia certificate, it is ordered first. After approval, your West Virginia corporation is registered with North Dakota.

Your West Virginia name and North Dakota's rules

North Dakota accepts your West Virginia name if it includes company, corporation, incorporated, limited, or an abbreviation of one of them. We check your exact West Virginia name against North Dakota's records before filing.

Your North Dakota agent and the West Virginia one

North Dakota calls it a registered agent; West Virginia says agent for service of process. North Dakota papers come to us; West Virginia's agent is unchanged.

Yearly filings: North Dakota and West Virginia

West Virginia wants the Annual Report every two years ($25); North Dakota wants the Annual Report every year ($25). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, West Virginia to North Dakota

An LLC formed in West Virginia files its own registration with North Dakota ($135 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($10)). After that come West Virginia's Annual Report ($26) and North Dakota's Annual Report ($50). See the LLC filing.

Registering a North Dakota company in West Virginia

A corporation formed in North Dakota that registers with West Virginia files Form CF-1 with $101 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: West Virginia to North Dakota

Does my West Virginia company need to register in North Dakota?

Yes, once a West Virginia business operates there; North Dakota registers it as a foreign corporation.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: North Dakota issues one to West Virginia corporations once the filing is approved.

How much does the North Dakota registration cost?

$344 at checkout; North Dakota may also want West Virginia's Certificate of Existence, at extra cost.

What are the yearly costs for West Virginia and North Dakota?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), West Virginia's report ($25, every two years) and North Dakota's report ($25).

What if I don't register with North Dakota?

A West Virginia company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does North Dakota require a registered agent?

Yes: the West Virginia agent for service of process stays, and ours covers North Dakota for year one.

Will North Dakota accept my West Virginia name?

Yes, if no company there already uses it and it includes company, corporation, incorporated, limited, or an abbreviation of one of them.

Can I form a new North Dakota corporation instead?

Yes, but West Virginia keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files North Dakota's Annual Report ($25), and the original keeps West Virginia's Annual Report.

Official sources

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