Register a Foreign LLC in North Dakota

In order to conduct business in the state of North Dakota, you must first obtain a certificate of good standing (or equivalent document) from the governing authority in your home jurisdiction. A certificate of good standing shows that your company has paid all taxes and required fees and is generally fit to do business. You’ll need to attach it to your Certificate of Authority Application.

In most states, you can request your certificate online and receive it immediately. North Dakota requires that all certificates of good standing must have been issued within 90 days prior to your application for foreign qualification.

Your North Dakota Registered Agent can be a business or someone you know—but that person must have a physical address in North Dakota, and (most importantly) must be able to deliver legal notifications to your business in a timely manner. When companies start expanding operations into other states, many choose to hire a registered agent service like Northwest to handle this important aspect of their business for them.

To really connect with your new customers, you’ll want a strong local presence—especially online. A great website and local contact info can make your business look trustworthy and professional, even if you’re just getting started. Our Business Identity Service sets you up with a custom website, secure hosting, a unique domain, a local phone number, and a professional email address to establish your business in North Dakota.

To foreign register your LLC in North Dakota, you’ll have to complete the state’s Certificate of Authority Application of a Foreign Limited Liability Company online (create an account HERE) and file it with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Here’s what to include:

• Federal identification number (EIN)
• Name of LLC
• Name of LLC in North Dakota (if your LLC’s name is taken in North Dakota)
• Jurisdiction where LLC was formed
• Business purpose
• Principal address of LLC (in home state)
• Business address in North Dakota (if any)
• Name and business address or each manager or governor (if any)
• Name and street address of registered agent in North Dakota
• Date of expiration in home jurisdiction (if your LLC has an end date—most don’t)
• Signature of someone authorized to do business on behalf of your LLC (it doesn’t have to be a member)
• Signature of registered agent

You will also need to attach your certificate of good standing (or equivalent in your state), along with the $135 filing fee. Some foreign LLCs may also require additional attachments:

• LLCs doing work that requires a professional license—for example, lawyers, medical professionals and licensed trades persons, among others—must include a Certificate of Professional License form signed by a representative from that profession’s North Dakota licensing board.
• If your business name is the same or similar to one already in use in North Dakota—and you can get permission from that business to use it as well—you can file and include a Consent to Use of Name form signed by the business in question. This form requires a $10 fee.
• If you will operate under a different name than the legal name of your company, you must file your trade name with the North Dakota Secretary of State—this process requires a $25 fee—and include the registration with your application.

Note: The information you list on your foreign qualification application will end up on North Dakota’s public record, searchable by anyone with a smart phone. If you don’t like the sound of that, hire Northwest, and our information will go here instead.

After submitting your Application for Registration, a copy of the official filing will be made available in your online account, as well as North Dakota’s Business Records Search. Just type in your LLC’s name, and boom, you’ll find your foreign qualification documents in your online account (you’ll need to create an account).