Register a Foreign Corporation in Georgia
To register a foreign corporation in Georgia, you must file a Georgia Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Corporation with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. You can submit this document online, by mail, or in person. The Application for Certificate of Authority for a foreign Georgia corporation costs $225 to file (add $10 for paper filings). Below, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about how to file the Application for Certificate of Authority and register a foreign corporation in Georgia. Or, sign up for our Georgia Foreign Corporation service, and we’ll handle your filing instead!
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$450 TotalFree Guide to Registering a Foreign Corporation in Georgia
What does it cost to register a foreign corporation in Georgia?
$225 for online filings. Add $10 for all paper applications.
How do I submit my application for foreign registration?
Online:
Georgia Corporations Division Online Services
By Mail or In Person:
Office of Secretary of State
Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Suite 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
How long does it take for the state to process the Georgia Certificate of Authority?
How long it takes Georgia to process your paperwork depends on how you file.
- Online: Georgia’s Secretary of State (SOS) will process online applications in about 7 to 10 business days.
- In Person: Filings submitted by mail or in person are processed in about 15 business days after receipt of paperwork by Georgia’s SOS.
- Expedited: Georgia’s SOS offers two-day and same-day processing for $100 and $250 respectively. Expedited paper filings will be processed once they are received.
How will I get verification of foreign qualification back from Georgia?
You will receive a verification certificate by email.
What forms do I file with Georgia to qualify my out of State Corporation?
The original and one copy of the Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Corporation, an original Certificate of Existence or Good Standing, and the filing fee are required.
What do I need from my home state?
A Certificate of Existence or Good Standing.
Does it need to be an original copy?
Yes.
How current does the certificate need to be?
Not more than 90 days old.
Will I need an Georgia registered agent for my corporation?
Yes, when you hire Northwest as your registered agent service, it’s a flat rate yearly price of $125 a year, you’ll have an online account that tracks your report due dates, which states your registered in, when your yearly service with us is up, and any documents we receive locally for you are uploaded into your account immediately for complete viewing. If or when you get served with a lawsuit, we can email up to 4 people and your attorney at the same time for real time complete viewing of a lawsuit. You’ll receive annual report reminders. It’s the same price every year, and there are no weird fees or cancellation fees.
You’ll also see all the pre-populated forms and specific filing instructions on the thank you page, in your online account, and they are emailed to you immediately upon signing up for 1 year of registered agent service.
Does the Georgia registered agent need to sign the filing?
No.
How can I file the Georgia Certificate of Authority?
By mail, online, or in person.
What is the state agency that accepts the out of state registration?
Office of Secretary of State
Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Suite 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Phone: (404)656-2817
Do the signatures on the Georgia corporation application need to be original?
No.
Who has to sign the foreign corporation filing?
A person authorized by the corporation.
Are there any weird things about registering in Georgia?
County filing or publication is not necessary, unless specifically required by the county in which your registered agent resides.
Is there ongoing Georgia annual report and/or initial reporting requirements?
The Georgia annual report is due April 1st. It may be filed anytime between January 1st through April 1st.
You may also want to look into Georgia taxes.
What are your fees?
You’ll need to have a Georgia registered agent. We charge $125 a year to act as your registered agent in Georgia. It’s a flat rate, once a year fee, and includes more than other registered agents.
We charge a $100 one-time filing service fee if you would like us to obtain the certificates needed from your home state, and register your company in any state you choose. We have offices in every state and can act as your registered agent and make your filings for you in any state. If you would like to register with multiple states at once, we can usually drop our filing service fee down.
Additional resources:
Georgia corporation
Withdraw foreign corporation from Georgia
State by state foreign corporation requirements