Virginia Certificate of Authority

Related: Get a Virginia Registered Agent

If your company was not incorporated in Virginia, but you wish to do business there, you need to register as a foreign entity with the state.

Virgina Foreign Qualification allows a company formed in Delaware or any other state to legally transact business in Virginia.

Please note: information on this page is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, requirements and costs can be changed by states at any time and Harvard Business Services cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

How to Get a Virginia Certificate of Authority:

The Virginia State Corporation Commission requires different forms and fees depending on what type of entity you are operating.

Requirements for LLCs:

• File an application for Virginia Certificate of Authority
• Fee: $100
• Certified Copies of Formation as amended, dated within 1 year of the application. 

Requirements for Corporations:

• File an Application for Virginia Certificate of Authority
• Fee: Depends on authorized shares. Minimum fee of $75; maximum fee of $2,525. 
• Certified Copies of Formation as amended, dated within 1 year of the application. 

You must also appoint and list a Virginia Registered Agent. The Registered Agent must be maintained at all times. Harvard Business Services can provide this service at a cost of just $99/year.

Harvard Business Services can assist with your application so you don’t have to deal with the Virginia State Corporations Commission directly. We do charge our own fee for this service, in addition to state fees. The exact fee can vary based upon whether your company is already filed and whether you need us to obtain additional documents to meet the state’s requirements. Please contact us for an exact quote.

How Do I Know If I Need a Virginia Certificate of Authority?

The most common reasons for applying for a Virginia certificate of authority include:

• Opening a physical office or location
• Hiring employees
• Licensing authority
• Beginning a contract or job in the state 

Keep in mind that even if a Virginia Certificate of Authority is not required for a specific activity, a bank, vendor or another party can still require one in order to establish a relationship.

Virginia Annual Requirements

Once you have Foreign Qualification in Virginia, state law requires an annual report to be filed by all corporations. LLCs, Nonprofits and LPs are required to pay annual registration fees.

Corporations annual reports are due by the last business day of the month you incorporated in Virginia. So if you filed your business with the VSCC on May 13th, your annual report will be due by the last business day of the month on or before May 31st. Fees for the annual report vary. A fee schedule is available online.

The annual registration fee for an LLC and LP is $50. The nonstock corporation annual fee is $25. 

Please note that this annual requirement is independent from requirements you may have in Delaware or other states.