- Entry
- No sign-in [1]
Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search language
- The Corporations Canada company search is available in English and French. Use “Français” or “English” to switch languages. This applies to the federal register. [13]
- Digital documents
- Uncertified federal register copies are supplied through a download link sent by email. The document selection distinguishes records available immediately from those available within one business day. Certified copies use a separate request process. [14] [2]
- Document language
- Not specified
- Paper and collection
- Not specified
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- Federal: online copies free, certified copies CAD 40. Ontario: basic search free, profile CAD 8, document copy CAD 3.
- Access
- Public federal company search and free Ontario basic search; document orders and company-administration access are distinct.
Choose the right register
A Canadian corporation may be incorporated under federal, provincial or territorial law. Corporations Canada is therefore not a register of every Canadian business. Its search explicitly excludes provincial and foreign corporations and certain financial institutions. [1]
Start with the legal name and registry identifier. If you only have an address, establish the incorporation jurisdiction. A federal corporation may also be registered in a province where it carries on business. [1] [10]
Public search for federally incorporated entities. Provincial corporations and specified financial institutions are excluded.
Direct entry to Ontario’s free basic registry search and search-product ordering.
Official links to the responsible provincial and territorial registrars.
Names and abbreviations explained
- Corporations CanadaFederal corporate registration authority
- Maintains corporations under the federal legislation it administers. Provincial corporations have different registries. [1]
- CBCACanada Business Corporations Act
- The federal statute governing corporations formed under it, excluding specified banking, insurance, trust and loan corporations. [9]
- Corporation NumberFederal corporation identifier
- Assigned by Corporations Canada on incorporation, amalgamation or continuance; usually seven digits. [9]
- BNBusiness Number
- Identifier assigned within the Canada Revenue Agency’s numbering system. Distinguish its nine-digit registration component, additional account identifiers and the Corporation Number. [9]
- OBROntario Business Registry
- Ontario’s provincial business register, with free basic searches and separate paid search products. [4]
- ISCIndividual with Significant Control
- An individual with significant ownership or control. Specified information filed by CBCA corporations is public. [6] [7]
- Annual ReturnAnnual corporate register filing
- A filing updating corporate particulars, not financial statements or a tax return. [9] [8]
- DirectorIndividual supervising corporate management
- The authority’s definition identifies directors as individuals supervising the management of the corporate body. [9]
- Certificate of ComplianceCertificate of existence and register compliance
- Confirms corporate existence, required annual filings and payment of required fees. [12]
- Certificate of ExistenceCertificate of existence for a date or period
- Confirms existence at the requested date or period. [12]
Search step by step
Find a federal corporation and order documents
Open the federal company search
Search for a Federal Corporation accepts corporate name, Corporation Number or Business Number. Additional filters cover registered-office province, status and governing legislation. [1]
Check the governing legislation
Review status and Governing legislation. Active, Dissolved, Amalgamated and Discontinued represent different states. If no match appears, continue to the relevant provincial or territorial register or Canada’s Business Registries, linked from the search page. [1] [10]
Identify the required filing
Record the name, Corporation Number, document type and year for annual returns. Available documents include incorporation records, articles amendments, director and registered-office changes and specified not-for-profit filings. [2]
Order a plain copy online
Select Order copies of corporate documents. Plain online copies are free. The instructions require a contact name, telephone number and email address in addition to company and document details. [2]
Receive the download link
Check “Availability” when selecting documents. Immediately available records arrive through a link in the confirmation email. Other records are followed by a further email with a download link within one business day. [14]
Request certification if necessary
Certified copies must be requested by email or mail and cost CAD 40 per document. Plain copies through this written fallback route cost CAD 5 per document. [2]
Research an Ontario entity
Use the public OBR search
Follow Search the OBR from Ontario’s official page. Anyone can search basic business or not-for-profit information for free. [4]
Select a search product
A Profile Report costs CAD 8, a document copy CAD 3 and a standard Certificate of Status CAD 26. These are direct ministry prices. [4] [5]
Allow for older filings
The fee schedule describes immediate delivery for documents filed from 19 October 2021 or where an archived document package already exists. Converting an older microfiche record can take five business days. [5]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal corporate-document copy [2] [14] | Copy of an available incorporation, amendment or register filing. | Online free; email or mail CAD 5 per document. | Order through the Online Filing Centre. The download link arrives by email, either immediately or within one business day, depending on availability.
|
| Federal certified copy [2] | Certified copy of a specified filing. | CAD 40 per document. | Request by email or mail only.
|
| Federal Certificate of Compliance / Existence [3] [12] | Compliance: existence, annual filings and fees. Existence: corporate existence on a requested date or during a period. | CAD 10 each in the Online Filing Centre. | Anyone may request one. Provide the name, corporation or business number and contact details; for Existence, add the date or period. |
| Ontario Profile Report [4] [5] | More detailed registry profile of the Ontario entity. | CAD 8 for direct ministry orders. | Use the OBR search-product route. |
| Ontario document copy [4] [5] | Copy of a particular filed record. | CAD 3 per document; intermediaries may charge extra. | Immediate for newer records; certain older records require conversion. |
| Ontario Certificate of Status [4] [5] | Official status certificate. | Standard tariff CAD 26; co-operative tariff CAD 25. | Direct ministry order or separately priced intermediary service. |
Federal incorporation and provincial registration
The federal search directs users to Canada’s Business Registries for provincial entities. This provides a route to registry information; the relevant registrar remains the source for an official document copy. Corporations Canada also links to provincial and territorial authorities. [1] [10]
An additional provincial registration does not automatically change the entity’s incorporation law. Compare the federal number, any provincial number and the Business Number. Identifiers from different systems are not interchangeable. [9] [10]
Federal documents and costs
Plain copies of available federal filings can be ordered online for free. These include incorporation and amendment documents and director or registered-office changes. For not-for-profit corporations, the authority also lists by-laws, meaning internal organisational rules, and financial statements as possible document types. [2]
The Online Filing Centre charges CAD 10 for either certificate. If requirements are not met, the request can be refused without a refund. [3] [12]
Ontario’s basic information is free. A Profile Report, document copy and status certificate have separate prices. An intermediary may add its own service fee to the official ministry charge. [4] [5]
The articles of incorporation of a federally incorporated business corporation may be in English, French or both official languages. When ordering a copy, check which language version was filed. [15]
Public beneficial-control information
Since 22 January 2024, covered CBCA corporations must file information on Individuals with Significant Control. This includes individuals with at least 25% of voting rights or share value and individuals exercising control in fact without share ownership. Exclusions include specified publicly traded and government-owned corporations. [6]
Public fields generally include full legal name, dates of becoming or ceasing to be an ISC, a description of control and an address for service. A residential address may appear where no service address is supplied. Birth date, citizenship and tax residence are not public. Minors and specified protection cases have additional safeguards. [7]
Do not apply this federal access regime to every provincial corporation. First confirm that the record is governed by the CBCA. [6] [7]
Why financial statements may be unavailable
Most business corporations do not have to file their financial statements with Corporations Canada. Preparing accounts and providing them to shareholders is a separate obligation. [8]
An annual return confirms or updates corporate register information. Use it for corporate history, not as a substitute for financial statements. Entities offering securities publicly may also have disclosure routes under securities legislation. [9] [8]
Overseas research and ordering access
The federal corporation search is a public form. The documented online-copy route requires company details and the requester’s contact information. Written fallback and certified-copy requests have their own fees and contact channels. [1] [2]
Company changes use different access arrangements. The Online Filing Centre labels many administration services with sign-in and identity verification. A Corporation Key is an authorisation credential for company administration, distinct from a public registration number. [3]
Ontario’s public business-documents search and search-product ordering are accessible without creating an Ontario Business Account. That account supports administration of the user’s own business. Do not request another company’s Company Key for research; it is a credential for administering its registry record. [4] [11]
Avoid common mistakes
- Corporations Canada explicitly excludes provincial corporations and specified financial institutions from its search. [1]
- A federal document may be free online but cost CAD 5 by email and CAD 40 as a certified copy. [2]
- Distinguish Ontario’s official ministry charges from intermediary service fees. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Why is a Canadian company missing from the federal search?
It may be provincially or territorially incorporated. Specified financial institutions and foreign corporations are also outside this federal search. [1]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 16 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- Search for a Federal Corporation Corporations Canada
- Order copies of corporate documents Corporations Canada
- Online Filing Centre Corporations Canada
- Ontario Business Registry Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
- Ontario service fees and times Government of Ontario
- Individuals with significant control Corporations Canada
- Individuals with significant control: file your information Corporations Canada
- Corporate records and other corporate obligations Corporations Canada
- Glossary of terms Corporations Canada
- Register a federal corporation in a province or territory Corporations Canada
- Ontario Business Account Government of Ontario
- Get a Certificate of Compliance or a Certificate of Existence Corporations Canada
- Federal corporation search: English and French Corporations Canada; provincial and territorial registrars
- Obtain copies of corporate documents Corporations Canada; provincial and territorial registrars
- How to incorporate a business: Language of the articles Corporations Canada