Federal or provincial incorporation: which to choose
You can create a Canadian corporation in two ways: federally, through Corporations Canada, or with the registry of one province or territory. Either way you get a corporation; the difference is mostly in the name check, the paperwork, and where you will operate.
The federal route
Federal corporations are created in Corporations Canada’s Online Filing CentreSource. Access: Paid; needs an ISED account with identity verificationSource. The federal filing fee is $200 ($300 expedited)Source.
The name check is built in: For a federal incorporation the NUANS search is part of the online application, so don't order a separate report first.Source A numbered federal company is also possible: YesSource.
The provincial route
Each province and territory runs its own registry, with its own fee and its own name check. Ontario, for example, files through the Ontario Business RegistrySource and charges $300Source. Every jurisdiction’s own page has the full route.
What each costs
The table compares the federal total with each province’s and territory’s own, for a numbered and a named company.
| Jurisdiction | Numbered company | Named company | What a name needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | $200 ($300 expedited)Source | $213.80Source | The name search is part of the filingSource
|
| Ontario | $300Source | $300 + NUANS vendor fee (varies)Source | An Ontario-biased NUANS report from a private NUANS vendorSource
|
| British Columbia | $350Source | $380Source | A name reservation with the registrySource |
| Alberta | $291.75 + registry agent fee (varies)Source | $291.75 + registry agent fee (varies) + NUANS vendor fee (varies)Source | An Alberta-biased NUANS report from a private NUANS vendorSource
|
| Nova Scotia | $200Source | $260.52 (part incl. tax)Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| Quebec | $397 ($595.50 priority)Source | $397Source | Search the registry yourself; the registry does not check the name for youSource
|
| Manitoba | $350Source | $395Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| Saskatchewan | $255Source | $305Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| New Brunswick | $262 ($312 on paper, $362 expedited)Source | $262 + NUANS vendor fee (varies)Source | A New Brunswick NUANS report from a private NUANS vendorSource
|
| Prince Edward Island | $215Source | $255Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $270 ($300 on paper)Source | $280Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| Yukon | $300Source | $340Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| Northwest Territories | $300Source | $325Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
| Nunavut | $300Source | $325Source | A name reservation with the registrySource
|
The catch with federal: registering where you operate
Incorporating federally does not replace the provinces. A federal corporation that carries on business in a province or territory generally has to register there as well, the same way a corporation from another province would, and pay that registry’s fee. Some provinces let you do this as part of the federal application; others send you to their own registry.
| Province or territory | How a federal corporation registers there | Provincial fee |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Register in Ontario in the same application as your federal incorporation.Source | FreeSource |
| British Columbia | Use the Start registration link for British Columbia on Corporations Canada's site.Source | $380($350 filing + $30 Name Request)Source |
| Alberta | Use the Start registration link for Alberta on Corporations Canada's site.Source | $291.75 + registry agent fee (varies)Source |
| Nova Scotia | Register in Nova Scotia in the same application as your federal incorporation.Source | FreeSource |
| Quebec | Use the Start registration link for Quebec on Corporations Canada's site.Source | $397 ($595.50 priority)Source |
| Manitoba | Use the Start registration link for Manitoba on Corporations Canada's site.Source | $350Source |
| Saskatchewan | Use the Start registration link for Saskatchewan on Corporations Canada's site.Source | $255Source |
| New Brunswick | Register directly with New Brunswick's own registry.Source | $212 ($312 expedited)Source |
| Prince Edward Island | Register directly with Prince Edward Island's own registry.Source | $275Source |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Register in Newfoundland and Labrador in the same application as your federal incorporation.Source | $560Source |
| Yukon | Register directly with Yukon's own registry.Source | $300Source |
| Northwest Territories | Register directly with Northwest Territories's own registry.Source | Not publishedUnconfirmed. The registry doesn't publish this online. Confirm with the registry: Business Corporations Act fee schedule |
| Nunavut | Register directly with Nunavut's own registry.Source | $300Source |
So the federal route costs the federal fee plus one registration for each province or territory where you do business. If you will only ever operate in one province, incorporating there is usually the simpler and cheaper path.
Which to choose
- One province, now and later: a provincial corporation keeps it to one registry and one set of fees.
- Several provinces, or a name you want across Canada: a federal corporation checks the name against the whole country, but plan for each provincial registration on top.
- Not sure yet: compare the totals above, then read the step-by-step guide for the route you pick, such as incorporating federally or in Ontario.