Incorporate · By Province
You file Articles of Incorporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) with Corporations Canada. The fee is $200, processing takes about one business day, and at least 25% of directors must be resident Canadians. You get coast-to-coast name protection, but you must also register extra-provincially in each province where you operate.
You file Articles of Incorporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) with Corporations Canada. The fee is $200, processing takes about one business day, and at least 25% of directors must be resident Canadians. You get coast-to-coast name protection, but you must also register extra-provincially in each province where you operate.
A federal corporation is created under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the CBCA) and registered with Corporations Canada. Legally it's the same idea as a provincial corporation, a separate entity that can contract, own property, and be taxed on its own, but its home jurisdiction is the whole country rather than a single province.
The two things federal incorporation is famous for are national name protection and prestige. Your corporate name is checked and protected across all of Canada, not just one province, which matters if you don't want another corporation registering a confusingly similar name in another province. (This is name protection under corporate law, not a trademark; it doesn't stop someone from simply using a similar brand.) The government fee is $200 for an online filing, and Corporations Canada typically processes it within about one business day.
The catch, and it's an important one, is that being federally incorporated is not the same as being registered to do business everywhere. A federal corporation still has to register extra-provincially in each province where it actually carries on business.
This surprises a lot of founders: a federal corporation must register extra-provincially in every province where it carries on business, and yes, that includes the province you live and work in. If you incorporate federally but operate out of Toronto, you still have to register your federal corporation in Ontario before you're properly set up to do business there.
So the real cost of "going federal" is the $200 federal fee plus the registration cost in each province of operation. For a business that only operates in one province, that's often more paperwork and expense than simply incorporating provincially in that same province, which is why we're honest with Ontario-only founders that an OBCA corporation may serve them better.
Where federal shines is the multi-province or national business: one corporate identity, one federal annual return, national name protection, and then extra-provincial registrations layered on where you actually operate. If that's you, federal is a genuinely good fit.
Federal incorporation carries a residency requirement that provincial Ontario incorporation does not. Under the CBCA, at least 25% of a corporation's directors must be resident Canadians. If you have fewer than four directors, at least one of them must be a resident Canadian.
This is a real gate for non-resident and newcomer founders. If your ownership group is entirely non-resident, you can't incorporate federally without recruiting a resident-Canadian director to sit on the board. For founders in exactly that position, Ontario, which dropped its residency requirement in July 2021, is frequently the better path.
If you do have at least one resident-Canadian director and want national reach, the rule is easy to satisfy and shouldn't put you off. It's only a problem when nobody in your group qualifies.
The decision usually comes down to where you'll operate and whether you can meet the residency rule. If your business is rooted in one province and your group can't (or doesn't want to) satisfy the 25% resident-Canadian director requirement, provincial incorporation is often simpler and cheaper. If you'll operate across provinces or want a name protected nationwide, federal is worth its extra steps.
Cost-wise, federal's $200 filing fee is lower than Ontario's $300 at the point of incorporation, but remember that a federal corporation then pays to register extra-provincially wherever it operates, so the all-in cost for a single-province business often ends up higher, not lower.
CorpStart files both. We'll set up your federal corporation with Corporations Canada, and we can also handle the Ontario extra-provincial registration a federal corporation needs to operate here, so you're not left half-registered.
You answer a short questionnaire: numbered or named, your directors and shareholders (with at least 25% resident Canadians), your registered office, and your share structure. We check the residency requirement and flag anything that looks off before you pay.
We then prepare your Articles of Incorporation, By-law No. 1, organizational resolutions, and share registers, and file with Corporations Canada under the CBCA. Federal filings usually complete within about one business day, and your digital minute book arrives by email. If you'll operate in Ontario, we can add the extra-provincial registration so you're fully set up here too.
Three steps, and we watch the residency rule for you.
Tell us about your corporation
Choose numbered or named, name your directors and shareholders (25% or more resident Canadians), and give a registered office address.
We prepare and file with Corporations Canada
CorpStart drafts your Articles, By-law No. 1, and resolutions and files under the CBCA, usually completed within about one business day.
Register where you operate
We can add extra-provincial registration (including Ontario) so your federal corporation is properly authorized in each province you do business in.
Federal (CBCA) vs. Ontario (OBCA) incorporation
| Factor | Federal (CBCA) | Ontario (OBCA) |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | $200 | $300 (online) |
| Processing time | ~1 business day | Immediate on acceptance |
| Director-residency rule | ≥25% resident Canadians (≥1 if board <4) | None since July 5, 2021 |
| Name protection | Coast-to-coast | Within Ontario |
| Extra-provincial registration | Required in each province you operate | Only if you expand out of province |
| Best when you… | Operate across provinces or want a national name | Operate mainly in Ontario |
What is the government fee to incorporate federally?
The Corporations Canada fee to file Articles of Incorporation online under the CBCA is $200. CorpStart adds its flat $279 service fee to prepare your documents and file for you. Remember to budget for extra-provincial registration in each province where you'll carry on business.
Does a federal corporation need to register in each province?
Yes. Federal incorporation gives you national name protection, but it does not by itself authorize you to do business everywhere. A federal corporation must register extra-provincially in every province where it carries on business, including the province you're based in, such as Ontario.
What is the 25% resident-Canadian director rule?
Under the CBCA, at least 25% of a federal corporation's directors must be resident Canadians. If you have fewer than four directors, at least one must be a resident Canadian. If your ownership group is entirely non-resident, you can't incorporate federally without adding a qualifying director. Ontario, which has no residency rule, is often the alternative.
Is federal incorporation cheaper than Ontario?
At the point of filing, federal's $200 fee is lower than Ontario's $300. But a federal corporation must then pay to register extra-provincially in each province it operates in, so for a single-province business the all-in cost usually ends up higher, not lower. Federal is most cost-effective when you genuinely operate across provinces.
How long does a federal incorporation take?
Corporations Canada typically processes an online federal incorporation within about one business day. CorpStart submits your filing promptly once your questionnaire is complete, and your digital minute book follows by email. Any extra-provincial registrations are separate steps with their own provincial timelines.
Ready to go national?
$279 service fee + $200 federal government fee. Coast-to-coast name protection, digital minute book by email, plus extra-provincial registration wherever you operate.
Start my corporationCorpStart is a document preparation service, not a law firm. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed lawyer or accountant.