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Ontario Business Registry: all services

Here is where you will find additional information for Ontario Business Registry to help you complete your transaction online.

Below is a list of all services, forms, notices of filing requirements, service providers and terms & conditions.

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How you complete a transaction in the Ontario Business Registry depends on whether your corporation or other entity is new or already exists. If your corporation or other entity already exists and has a profile in the Ontario Business Registry, simply go to your registry profile and find the transaction you want to perform, directly in the profile.

Notice: We’ve changed the way you access your ServiceOntario account.

We have switched from using ONe-key ID to My Ontario Account.

For more information about setting up your account, please refer to the My Ontario Account help guide .

Existing corporation and other entities

If you wish to complete business transactions direct with the government and are accessing your profile for the first time, you will need its company key . A company key is similar to the Personal Identification Number (PIN) you use at the bank or to access other online accounts or services.

To request a company key, complete and submit the Company Key Request Form .

Once you have a company key, select the button below and follow the prompts. For security reasons, you will be asked to create a My Ontario and a ServiceOntario account.

Go to your registry profile

New corporations and other entities

If your corporation or other entity is new and does not have a profile in the Ontario Business Registry, select the link below that matches the transaction you want to perform.

For security purposes, if you don’t already have a My Ontario account or a ServiceOntario account, you will be prompted to create these.

New and existing corporations - beneficial ownership information

As of January 1, 2023, corporations are required to keep their beneficial ownership information on file and provide such information upon request by law enforcement, and regulatory and tax authorities. This document must be updated at least once a year.

Co-operative corporations

• Incorporate an Ontario Co-operative corporation with Share Capital
• Incorporate an Ontario Co-operative corporation without Share Capital

Corporations

• Incorporate an Ontario Business Corporation
• Continue as an Ontario Business Corporation (transfer to Ontario from another jurisdiction)
• Apply for a Licence for a Foreign Corporation
• File an Initial Return for an Extra-Provincial Corporation
• Beneficial Ownership Information Requirements

Not-for-profit corporations

• Incorporate an Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporation
• Continue as a Not-For-Profit Corporation (under the Not-For-Profit Corporations Act)

Sole proprietorships

• Register a Business Name for a Sole Proprietorship

Partnerships

• Register a Firm Name for a General Partnership
• Register a Firm Name for an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership
• Register a Firm Name for an Extra-Provincial Limited Liability Partnership
• File a Declaration of an Ontario Limited Partnership
• File a Declaration of an Extra-Provincial Limited Partnership
• Register an Extra-Provincial Limited Liability Company Name

Top 10 forms

Here are the top 10 most used forms:

• Initial Return/Notice of Change/Annual Return by an Ontario Corporation
• Initial Return/Notice of Change by an Extra-Provincial Federal/Domestic/Foreign Non-Share Corporation
• Articles of Amendment
• Articles of Dissolution
• Articles of Incorporation
• Amend a Sole Proprietorship
• Register a Sole Proprietorship
• Register a Business Name for a Corporation
• Renew a Registration

Find a complete list here .

Notices of filing requirements

These notices will tell you what information you need and how you can file under all eight business law statutes.

Is your company information up-to-date?

It is the responsibility of the business or not-for-profit corporation to keep their information on the public record accurate and up-to-date.  Find out more and update your information now .

Business Corporations Act (BCA)

1. Incorporating a Business Corporation

2. Filing Articles of Amendment

3. Filing Articles of Dissolution

4. Filing Articles of Amalgamation

5. Filing Articles of Continuance

6. Filing Restated Articles of Incorporation

7. Filing Notice Concerning Winding Up

8. Applying for Authorization to Continue Out of the BCA

9. Filing Articles of Reorganization

10. Filing Articles of Revival

11. Filing Articles (Plan) of Arrangement and Notice to the Director

Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 (NFPCA or ONCA)

12. Incorporating a Not-for-Profit Corporation

13. Filing Articles of Amendment

14. Filing Articles of Dissolution

15. Filing Articles of Amalgamation

16. Filing Articles of Continuance

17. Filing Restated Articles of Incorporation

18. Filing Notice Concerning Winding Up

19. Applying for Authorization to Continue Out of the ONCA

20. Filing Articles of Reorganization

21. Filing Articles of Revival

22. Filing Articles (Plan) of Arrangement and Notice to the Director

Corporations Information Act (CIA)

23. Filing an Initial Return and Notice of Change (Ontario Corporations)

24. Filing an Initial Return and Notice of Change (Extra-Provincial Corporations)

25. Filing an Annual Return

Extra-Provincial Corporations Act (EPCA)

26. Extra-Provincial Corporations Licences and Filings

Co-operative Corporations Act (CCA)

27. Filings by Co-operative Corporations

Corporations Act (CA)

28. Filings by Insurers and Social Companies

Business Names Act (BNA)

29. Registering a Business Name

Limited Partnerships Act (LPA)

30. Filings by Limited Partnerships

Other notices

31. Corrected Certificates and Other Documents

32. Filing Methods and Requirements

33. Searching the Public Record

34. Approved Forms

35. Company Key

Start, dissolve and change a co-operative corporation

Learn more about the necessary forms for your co-operative corporation and how to file them.

Service providers

Government-authorized Service Providers are available to help you with your transactions on the new Ontario Business Registry:

• ecore by Dye & Durham Corporation
• ESC Corporate Services Ltd.

Follow each provider’s link to learn more about the services they offer.

If you prefer or need to transact by mail or email, use the forms below. 

Please read these terms and conditions before completing any of the forms on this page.

• Articles of Amalgamation
• Articles of Arrangement
• Consent to Act as a First Director
• Articles of Continuance
• Authorization to Continue Out of BCA
• Articles of Reorganization
• Restated Articles of Incorporation
• Articles of Revival
• Notice Concerning Winding Up
• Amend a Business Name for a Corporation
• Amend a Registration of a Business Name for a General Partnership or for a Limited Partnership
• Amend a Firm Name for an Extra-Provincial Limited Liability Partnership
• Amend a Firm Name for a General Partnership
• Amend an Extra-Provincial Limited Liability Company Name
• Amend a Firm Name for an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership
• Cancel a Registration
• Register a Business Name for a General Partnership or for a Limited Partnership
• Register a Firm Name for General Partnership
• Articles of Incorporation of a Co-operative with Share Capital
• Articles of Incorporation of a Co-operative without Share Capital
• Affidavit of Solvency (Amendment)
• Affidavit of Solvency (Amalgamation)
• Articles of Continuance as a Co-operative with Share Capital
• Articles of Continuance as a Co-operative without Share Capital
• Articles of Dissolution (Form 11)
• Articles of Dissolution (Form 12)
• Restated Articles of Incorporation with Share Capital
• Restated Articles of Incorporation without Share Capital
• Initial Return/Notice of Change/Annual Return by an Extra-Provincial Foreign Corporation with Share
• Appointment of Agent for Service/Revised Appointment of Agent for Service
• Application for Amended Extra-Provincial Licence
• Application for a Licence for an Extra-Provincial Corporation
• Termination of an Extra Provincial Licence
• Cancel a Limited Partnership Declaration
• File a Declaration of Change of a Limited Partnership
• File a Declaration of a Limited Partnership
• Renew a Limited Partnership Declaration
• Authorization to Continue Out of the NFPCA

Search products

• Request for Corporation/Entity Information

Help us improve our service

Take a 2-minute survey  about your use of the Ontario Business Registry.

Contact us by email if you have questions about signing up for the new Ontario Business Registry. Alternatively, you can call ServiceOntario at:

• Tel : 416-314-8880
• Toll-free: 1-800-361-3223
• TTY : 416-325-3408
• Toll-free TTY : 1-800-268-7095

Terms & Conditions

The following are the Terms and Conditions for filing with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (“Ministry”) under the Business Corporations Act, Business Names Act, Corporations Act, Corporations Information Act, Extra-Provincial Corporations Act, Limited Partnerships Act and Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010.

Agreement to these Terms and Conditions by the following persons and entities is a mandatory condition of filing:

(i) the person(s) signing or otherwise authorizing the filing and any person(s) acting on their behalf (collectively, the “authorizers”); and (ii) the corporation or other entity that is the subject of the filing (the “entity”) and any person(s) acting on behalf of the entity.

These Terms and Conditions are made under the authority of the requirements established by the Director or Registrar appointed under the applicable Act. These Terms and Conditions are in addition to and subject to the applicable Acts, regulations and requirements of the Director or Registrar.

By proceeding with this filing under any of the above-named Acts, the authorizer(s), the entity and any person(s) acting on behalf of the entity accept and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

1. The sole responsibility for correctness and completeness of the filing, and for compliance with the applicable Act and all regulations and Director’s or Registrar’s requirements made under it, lies with the authorizer(s) and the entity. The authorizer(s), the entity and any person(s) acting on behalf of the entity agree that any information provided by the Ministry in or related to the making of a filing is not legal advice, and that they have obtained their own legal or other advice as appropriate.

2. All filings must meet any signature or authorization requirements established by the Director or Registrar under the applicable Act. Where signatures are required for electronic filing, the applicable articles, application, declaration, other approved form or other document must be saved or printed and signed in accordance with the instructions provided. The entity must keep a properly executed version of the applicable document in paper or electronic format, together with any records that may exist related to an electronic signature, if signed by electronic signature, as follows: If the subject of a filing is a corporation, the corporation must keep these documents and records at its registered office. If the subject of the filing is an Ontario limited partnership, the limited partnership must keep these documents and records at the limited partnership’s principal place of business in Ontario. If the subject of the filing is an extra-provincial limited partnership that does not have a principal place of business in Ontario, the extra-provincial limited partnership must keep these documents and records at the address of the limited partnership’s attorney and representative in Ontario set out in the declaration filed under the Limited Partnerships Act and stated in the power of attorney executed under the Act. If required by notice from the Director or Registrar, the corporation, limited partnership, the attorney and representative in Ontario or other person as applicable must provide a copy of the properly executed version of the applicable document to the Director or Registrar within the time period set out in the notice, together with any records that may exist related to an electronic signature, if signed by electronic signature.

3. In addition to retaining and filing supporting documents in accordance with the applicable Act and regulations, the entity must keep a copy of all filed supporting documents and provide a copy in accordance with any written notice from the Director or Registrar. In the case of a consent from a Minister or the

Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) that is required to support a filing made by a corporation, the corporation agrees that the Ministry may contact that Minister or the PGT, as applicable, to confirm that the necessary consent has been obtained and to record this in the electronic business registration system maintained by the Ministry.

4. The entity assumes full responsibility for any risk of confusion or legal action, including the risk of a lawsuit or name hearing under the applicable Act, resulting from a filing that sets out a name that is the same or similar to that of an existing corporation, business name or trademark, or that is otherwise contrary to the applicable Act or regulations.

5. Filings must be made in the required form and format, and must meet the technical requirements or other specifications and requirements established by the Director or Registrar.

6. Valid email address(es) must be provided as specified in the transaction for administrative purposes, and all mandatory fields must be completed.

7. The business information provided in this filing may be shared with other government bodies. The business information that is collected may be used and disclosed for the purpose of administering their programs.

8. Payment of the required fee must be made at the time of submission, and any certificate or other documentation issued by the Ministry is subject to compliance action and cancellation if payment is disputed or fraudulent. Payment of fees for electronic filings must be made electronically using the payment options provided.

9. If an application is for a corrected certificate, and the application is approved under the applicable Act, the corporation or limited partnership as applicable will be notified when the certificate has been issued. The corporation or limited partnership, as applicable, agrees to review the issued corrected certificate in the records maintained by the Ministry forthwith and to confirm that the issued certificate corresponds with the final approved application for correction. The corporation or limited partnership, as applicable, agrees to be responsible and assume all liability for any discrepancies between the issued corrected certificate and the final approved application if these are not immediately brought to the attention of the Ministry.

10. If this is a new filing, a company key consisting of a unique series of digits will be provided electronically by the Ministry to the entity at the time of completion of the transaction, together with the final documentation for the transaction. If this is not a new filing, the entity will have received a company key. The company key provides authority over the entity; by proceeding with this transaction, any person(s) acting on behalf of the entity is confirming that they are duly authorized by the entity.

11. The company key will be required for any subsequent paper or online filings regarding the entity. The entity is responsible for the care and control of the company key. The entity is responsible for treating this key as confidential information and not sharing it unless it is in the course of providing delegated authority to a trusted service provider or trusted intermediary to make filings on their behalf. The recipient of the company key agrees to notify the Ministry as soon as they become aware that the key has been lost, stolen or misused to request a replacement key. The entity agrees to be responsible and assume all liability for all filings authorized by the key in respect of the entity. Unauthorized use of the company key or delegated authority may result in suspension of access to the electronic business registration system.

12. The Ministry may take appropriate compliance action at any time if it comes to the attention of the Ministry that a filing does not comply with the applicable Act, regulations or the requirements of the Director or Registrar.

13. The Acts set out penalties, including fines, for submitting false or misleading information.

14. The corporation agrees to file restated articles at any time equired by the Director under the Business Corporations Act or Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010.

15. Where a filing under the Business Corporations Act, Extra-Provincial Corporations Act or Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 must be supported by an Ontario biased or weighted Nuans search report, and the identifying information is provided, the authorizer(s) consents for the Director appointed under the Act or other person delegated by the Director to retrieve the Nuans report directly from the appropriate department of the Government of Canada. The corporation agrees to keep a copy of the Nuans report in electronic or paper format at the corporation’s registered office.

16. A corporation under the Business Corporations Act or Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 that continues out of Ontario agrees to file with the Ministry a copy of the instrument of continuance issued to it by the other jurisdiction within 60 days after the date of issuance.

17. If this is a filing made in respect of an arrangement under the Business Corporations Act or Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, the corporation acknowledges that it must give the Director notice of the application to the court and that the Director is entitled to appear in court and be heard in person or by counsel. The corporation agrees to submit the required notice and a draft copy of the Plan of Arrangement under the applicable Act for review through the electronic system maintained by the Ministry at least seven business days before seeking an interim and/or final order with the court. The corporation agrees to make changes required by the Director to ensure that the Plan complies with the applicable Act and Ministry requirements, and is capable of being implemented in the electronic system maintained by the Ministry under the applicable Act. The corporation agrees that if the Ministry does not receive a draft of the application or sufficient notice of the application, additional time may be required for review. The corporation acknowledges that the Ministry may seek an adjournment if the corporation fails to provide a draft of the application or sufficient notice of the application. The corporation agrees that if it obtains a court order without providing the required notice of the application to the Ministry, revisions may be required to any Plan of Arrangement attached to a court order and a further court order may be required before the articles of arrangement are endorsed.

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Articles of Incorporation - Business Corporations Act

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Additional Information

Ontario Incorporation Service

Incorporate Now Online

To incorporate a new company in Ontario., one or more persons(called “the incorporators”) may form a company by filing articles of incorporation, notice of address and notice of directors with the Ontario Corporate Registry Office.

Companies are owned by their shareholders. Small companies can have a single shareholder, while very large and often publicly traded companies can have several thousand shareholders. As a rule, the shareholders are only responsible for the payment of their own shares. As owners, the shareholders are entitled to receive the profits of the company, usually in the form of dividends. The shareholders also elect the directors of the company.

The directors of the company are responsible for the day-to-day activities of the company. They owe a duty of care to the company and must act in its best interest. They are usually elected annually. Smaller companies can have a single director, while larger ones often have a board comprised of a dozen or more directors. Except in cases of fraud or in some specific tax statutes, the directors do not have personal liability for the company’s debts.

Ecompanies offers fast & easy Ontario online incorporation and business registration services.

At Ecompanies we help you step-by-step and take care of the entire business registration process from start to finish. Incorporating a new business in Ontario with us is fast, easy and takes just minutes.

Before you begin your Ontario Incorporation order, ensure you have the following information on hand:

• The proposed company name (for named corporations).
• The date and time the incorporation is to take effect.
• The names and addresses of the incorporator(s).
• The names and addresses (delivery and mailing) of the director(s).
• The mailing and delivery addresses for the proposed registered and records offices.
• The authorized share structure for the proposed company.

Ontario Incorporation Fees

Ontario Gov Fees: $362 Ontario NUANS Report: $30 Registered Agent Service: Not Included eCompanies Canada Service Fee: $99.99 Tax (GST): $4.99 Total Fees: $496.98

Our Ontario Incorporation Service Includes:

• Name availability check We perform a preliminary search to determine if your name choice is available or if it is too similar to one already registered.
• Preparation of Articles of Incorporation Preparation of the initial document that establishes the existence of the corporation.
• Preparation of Notice of Directors Preparation of notice of directors that defines who is in charge of your corporation
• Preparation of Notice of Address Preparation of notice of address that tells the government where your business can be reached
• Filing of Incorporation Documents with the Registries Office Submission of the incorporation documents to the registries office in a timely manner.
• Coordinate all Communication with the Registries Office Ensure there are no issues with the filing and continued assistance until filing is complete.
• Personalized Bylaws We will build a standard set of bylaws that are used by a corporation to detail how it is managed and operated.
• Minutes and Resolutions We will build many of the basic resolutions a corporation uses to demonstrate decisions made or activity taken by it.
• Satisfaction Guarantee If you order a service from us and for any reason are not satisfied, simply let us know within 24 hours from the time of your order and receive a full refund of our service fees.
• Preparation of BN Application We will complete the necessary forms required by the CRA to obtain your corporation business number.