- Ontario draws a meaningful line between corporations formed elsewhere in Canada (another province, or federally under the CBCA) and corporations formed outside Canada altogether.
- A corporation already incorporated somewhere else in Canada — say, in another province, or federally under the CBCA — that starts carrying on business in Ontario generally needs to file…
- The path is different for a corporation incorporated outside Canada entirely.
Ontario is often where an out-of-province business ends up needing to register once it opens a location, hires locally, or otherwise starts genuinely operating here, even though the corporation itself was formed somewhere else. What you need to file, and what it costs, depends on where your corporation was originally incorporated: elsewhere in Canada, federally, or outside Canada entirely.
This article walks through both paths.
Two Different Situations, Two Different Processes
Ontario draws a meaningful line between corporations formed elsewhere in Canada (another province, or federally under the CBCA) and corporations formed outside Canada altogether. The paperwork, and the fee, are different for each.
If You're a Canadian Corporation (Another Province or Federal)
A corporation already incorporated somewhere else in Canada — say, in another province, or federally under the CBCA — that starts carrying on business in Ontario generally needs to file an initial return with the Ontario Business Registry under the Corporations Information Act, providing information like your directors, officers, and registered or head office address. As of mid-2026, this initial return carries no government fee. It's a disclosure filing, not a fee-based licence.
If You're a Corporation Incorporated Outside Canada
The path is different for a corporation incorporated outside Canada entirely. That corporation generally needs an extra-provincial licence under Ontario's Extra-Provincial Corporations Act before it can legally carry on business here. As of mid-2026, the government fee for this licence is $330 — figures like this change periodically, so verify the current amount before you file. Our pricing page sets out how Treadstone Law charges for this kind of filing work, separately from the government fee itself.
Quick Reference
| Where you were incorporated | What Ontario requires | Government fee (as of mid-2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Another Canadian province | Initial return (Corporations Information Act) | $0 |
| Federally (CBCA) | Initial return (Corporations Information Act) | $0 |
| Outside Canada | Extra-provincial licence (Extra-Provincial Corporations Act) | $330 |
Verify current fees directly with the Ontario Business Registry before filing — government fees are periodically adjusted.
Ongoing Filings Once You're Registered
Registering isn't the end of the obligation. Once an extra-provincial corporation is on file in Ontario, it needs to keep that filing current, reporting changes to directors, officers, or its registered office address. The Corporations Information Act doesn't set a single universally confirmed number of days for reporting these changes, so rather than working to an assumed deadline, the safer practice is to file the change of information promptly once it happens.
Do You Also Need a Business Name Registration?
If your corporation plans to operate in Ontario under a name other than its own exact corporate name — a trade name or "operating as" name — that's a separate step under the Business Names Act, distinct from your extra-provincial registration. As of mid-2026, an Ontario business name registration runs for a 5-year term with its own government fee; this doesn't replace the extra-provincial filing above, it's an additional one if you're using a different name.
What Happens If You've Already Been Operating Without Registering?
If your corporation has already been carrying on business in Ontario for a while without completing this registration, the practical fix is usually to file now rather than wait. Ontario's registration requirement isn't retroactively punitive in the sense of undoing past contracts, but continuing to operate unregistered when registration is required creates unnecessary risk the longer it goes on.
Frequently asked questions
We're a company from another country opening one Ontario office — do we really need this?
If that office means you're genuinely carrying on business in Ontario, such as a physical location, employees, or ongoing local operations, then yes — this is exactly the situation the Extra-Provincial Corporations Act licence is meant to capture.
Does registering in Ontario make us an Ontario corporation?
No. Your corporation stays incorporated where it originally was — federally, in another province, or outside Canada. Ontario registration is permission to carry on business here, not a change of your corporate "home."
What if we only do occasional business in Ontario, like shipping products to customers here?
Occasional sales without a physical or employee presence in Ontario often don't cross the "carrying on business" threshold that triggers registration, but this is a fact-specific question worth confirming for your situation rather than assuming.
Can we use our existing corporate name in Ontario?
Usually, yes, if it's available and doesn't conflict with an existing Ontario name — the registry checks this as part of the registration process, similar to how it would for a new Ontario incorporation.
Does our head office location matter for which fee applies?
No — the fee and process depend specifically on whether your corporation is Canadian (another province or federal) or incorporated outside Canada, not on where your head office happens to be located day to day. A Canadian corporation with staff working abroad but incorporated in, say, Alberta, still follows the Canadian corporation path.
This is a corporate question
Start a file online — flat, published fees, reviewed by a licensed Ontario lawyer before a dollar is owed.