Register a Foreign Nonprofit in Washington
To register a foreign nonprofit in Washington, file a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation Certificate of Authority with the Secretary of State by mail or in person. The fee is $50 for online filings and $30 by mail.
Our guide shows you how to file and goes over frequently asked questions regarding filing as a foreign nonprofit in Washington. Or keep it simple and use our Washington Foreign Nonprofit service and we’ll file for you.
Free PDF Download
Download the Washington Foreign Nonprofit Corporation Certificate of Authority. Fill out the form and submit it to the state.
Do It Yourself Online
Our free account and tools will walk you through registering your Foreign Nonprofit in Washington. All for free.
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Hire Northwest and let an expert register your Foreign Nonprofit in Washington. Includes 1 year of registered agent service.
Free Guide to Registering a Foreign Nonprofit in Washington
How do I register my foreign nonprofit corporation in Washington State?
To register a foreign nonprofit in Washington, you file the Foreign Nonprofit Corporation Certificate of Authority form with the Washington Secretary of State. Deliver it by mail or in person with a certificate of existence from the home state and the filing fee. The best method of qualifying a foreign nonprofit is online.
What is the cost to register a foreign nonprofit in Washington?
The filing fee is $30 for mailed filings and $50 for online filings. Pay with check, money order or cash in person. Use a credit or debit card when filing online.
How long does it take for Washington to process my foreign qualification?
Washington State can take several weeks to process mailed filings, but online filings are processed within two days of being received.
How current does your certificate of existence need to be?
60 days.
Will I need a Washington Registered Agent for my foreign nonprofit?
Yes, you will need to name a Washington registered agent with a physical address. If you hire Northwest, you will have an online account with the all the forms you need to file already pre-populated with our info. You also get annual report reminders and all documents that we receive for you will be uploaded for you to view immediately.
Does the Washington registered agent need to sign my foreign qualification?
Yes, but it doesn’t need to be original.
How will Washington return my processed filing?
Washington State mails you a certificate of authority. If filed online, you will also receive an email.
Are there any annual report requirements for foreign nonprofits in Washington?
Yes, you must file an annual report by the end of your anniversary month. There is a $10 report fee. These annual reports are best filed online. See our link below. If the foreign nonprofit is a registered Washington charity, it will typically renew its registration each November 30 for $40. See our WA Charities registration page.
Are there any weird things about qualifying in Washington?
Washington State has stopped accepting fax filed documents, but it is actually quite handy to be able to easily qualify a foreign nonprofit in Washington online.
File with:
Washington Secretary of State
Corporations Division
801 Capitol Way South
P.O. Box 40234
Olympia, WA 98504-0234
Phone: (360) 725-0377
Email: [email protected]
Why choose Northwest?
Forming a foreign nonprofit corporation in Washington isn’t rocket science. But it can be difficult if you’re trying to also keep an eye on your daily business operations. With Northwest, you’ll get fast accurate filing, a year of registered agent service, free domain name for a year, and a 90-day trial of our Business Identity Service, which includes a website, local phone number, business address, email, and more.
Plus, when you hire Northwest, our information goes on your formation documents, helping to keep your personal info off of Washington’s records, and keeping your name, address and phone number away from scammers and spammers!