North Dakota Certificate of Authority

What is a North Dakota certificate of authority?

Companies are required to register with the North Dakota Secretary of State before doing business in North Dakota. Businesses that are incorporated in another state will typically apply for a North Dakota certificate of authority. Doing so registers the business as a foreign entity and eliminates the need to incorporate a new entity.

Operating without a certificate of authority may result in penalties or fines. In addition to the state’s requirements, licensing agencies, banks, and vendors will often request a certificate of authority.

When do I need a certificate of authority?

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

• Opening an office or physical location within the foreign state
• Hiring an employee who resides within the state
• Before beginning a contract or a job in a new state
• A vendor or bank’s requirements
• Licensing authority requirements

What does it cost and how long does it take?

The state fees and processing times depend on the type of entity. We prepare your filings within one business day, and make the state’s expedite options available to you. Please note that processing times can fluctuate. Approximate turnaround is listed below:

• Limited Liability Company: 5 weeks - $135
• Corporation: 5 weeks - $145
• Nonprofit Corporation: 5 weeks - $50
• Professional Corporation: 5 weeks - $145

How do I get a North Dakota certificate of authority?

To obtain your North Dakota Certificate of Authority, you will submit an Application for Certificate of Authority, along with required certificates or certified copies from your home state. You will need to appoint a registered agent in order for your filing to be approved. Be sure to follow the state’s instructions carefully, as they can reject a document for the smallest error.

When you use our foreign qualification service, we quickly obtain your North Dakota Certificate of Authority. We prepare your application, serve as your registered agent, obtain documents from your home state, and eliminate costly errors.

Structure	Filing Info	Fee
Corporation	North Dakota Secretary of State Certificate of Authority Foreign Corporation Application (SFN 13100) ND Cent Code § 10-19.1-134	$145
Limited Liability Company	North Dakota Secretary of State Certificate of Authority Foreign LLC Application (SFN 19381) ND Cent Code § 10-32.1-74	$135
Nonprofit Corporation	North Dakota Secretary of State Certificate of Authority Foreign Corporation Application (SFN 13100) ND Cent Code § 10-33-127	$50
Professional Corporation	North Dakota Secretary of State Certificate of Authority Foreign Corporation Application (SFN 13100) ND Cent Code § 10-31-13.1	$145
Limited Liability Partnership	North Dakota Secretary of State Foreign LLP Registration (SFN 50339) ND Cent Code § 45-22-19	$60
Nonprofit LLC	North Dakota Secretary of State Certificate of Authority Foreign LLC Application (SFN 19381) ND Cent Code § 10-36	$40

What do I need from my home state?

In order to obtain a North Dakota Certificate of Authority, you must also submit:

• Limited Liability Company: Certificate of existence, or certificate of good standing, dated within 90 days.
• Corporation: Certificate of existence, or certificate of good standing, dated within 90 days.
• Nonprofit Corporation: Certificate of existence, or certificate of good standing, dated within 90 days.

Included in our foreign qualification service, we will obtain any copies and certificates necessary to obtain a Certificate of Authority in North Dakota.

What is a registered agent?

A registered agent receives service of process and government notices on behalf of your business. When you prepare your North Dakota Certificate of Authority application, you must list a registered agent with a physical address within the state (P.O. Boxes are not allowed).

Many businesses do not have an individual or physical address in a new state. Listing our local registered agent address on your certificate of authority application meets the state’s requirements. Additionally, you get same day document scanning from our local office in all 50 states and DC. Our registered agent service is a flat rate of $99 per year, and you can easily add our service to any certificate of authority order.

What is the contact information for the state?

North Dakota Secretary of State
600 E. Boulevard Ave. Dept. 108, 1st Floor
Bismarck, ND 58505
Phone: 701-328-2900 Toll Free: 800-352-0867 TTY: 800-366-6888
Fax: 701-328-0106
http://www.nd.gov/sos/
Email: sosbir@nd.gov

Can I obtain a certificate of authority myself?

You can prepare and submit your North Dakota certificate of authority application yourself, or we can complete the process for you. As a business owner or manager, keeping up with changing compliance requirements is probably not the best use of your time. You can rely on our expertise in all 50 states. Order now and we will obtain your certificate of authority and act as your registered agent, saving you time and minimizing costly errors.