Get a certificate of compliance or a certificate of existence

These certificates are often needed to support a loan request or to provide assurance to a potential supplier or buyer you are looking to enter into a contract with that your corporation exists and has not been dissolved.

The certificates issued will show the following information, as of the issuance date of the certificate:

  Certificate of compliance Certificate of existence

The corporation exists under the legislation

This means that the corporation has not been dissolved, amalgamated into another corporation or discontinued (export), causing the company to become governed by another law.

Yes

Yes, but it states the existence at a specific date or a specific time period

The corporation has filed the required annual filings with Corporations Canada

For businesses, the annual filings include the annual returns and the information on individual with significant control.

For not-for-profits and cooperatives, the corporation has filed its annual returns with Corporations Canada.

Yes

No

The corporation has paid all required fees

Yes

No

The date of issuance

The certificate will be dated as of the day Corporations Canada issues the certificate.

The certificate cannot have a date prior to its issuance. The issuance date might not be the date on which the request is received by Corporations Canada.

Yes

Yes

Corporate name change

No

Yes
The certificate indicates the current corporate name (even if the corporation may have existed under a different name during part of the specific time period requested).

What to know before you start

  • Any person can request a certificate of compliance or a certificate of existence.
  • There is a fee (see Services, fees and processing times).
  • When making your request, you will need to provide:
    • the name of the corporation
    • its corporation number or business number
    • information of a contact person
    • email address or postal address where Corporations Canada should send the certificate.
    • If you request a certificate of existence, you will also need to provide the date or the time period(s) for which you want the confirmation of the existence of the corporation.

Request a certificate  of compliance

or

Request a certificate  of existence

If you are requesting a certificate for a cooperative, please send an email with the type of certificate you need and the information listed above (see How to file and pay an application).

How to get a certificate of existence for a time period when a corporation was governed by the Canada Corporations Act (CCA)?

Corporations Canada cannot issue a certificate of compliance or a certificate of existence under the NFP Act for a time period when a corporation was governed by the CCA.

However, Corporations Canada can issue a letter of existence instead that certifies the corporation existed under the CCA at a specific date or for a specific time period.

Send a written request to Corporations Canada stating that you would like to get a letter of existence with the following information:

  • corporate name of the corporation for which the letter is being requested
  • requested date or time period
  • name and telephone number of a contact person
  • email address or postal address where Corporations Canada should send the certificate

There is no fee for a letter of existence related to the CCA.

Failure to meet certificate requirements

If the corporation does not meet Corporations Canada's requirements for issuing a requested certificate, Corporations Canada will send the applicant notice of refusal indicating the reasons why the certificate cannot be issued. The fees are non-refundable.