Steps after submitting your application
Once online payment is complete, you will not be able to make any changes to your request and no refund will be possible.
For an application that doesn't need to be reviewed or approved by Corporations Canada (for example: submission of documents such as by-laws, financial statements, proxy circulars, etc.), the document will be automatically filed with the corporation's records maintained by Corporations Canada. Corporations Canada will send a correspondence indicating that the request has been processed for online applications only.
Following this is the process for an application when it needs to be reviewed and approved by Corporations Canada:
Step 1 – Is your application complete and valid?
Only for PDF form, email or mail filing. Filing online makes you skip this step since your application needs to be complete and valid before you can submit it.
Upon reception of your documents, we will check what you've submitted.
An application is complete when:
- it includes all necessary documents;
- the forms are completed and signed (when needed); and
- the fee is paid.
An application is invalid when a corporation does not exist in the legal sense (e.g., it's dissolved or has moved to another jurisdiction).
If your application is incomplete or invalid
| What Corporations Canada does |
Returns your application with a letter explaining what's missing or why it's invalid. |
|---|---|
| What you need to do |
Send a complete and valid application within the time period, starting on the date indicated in the letter:
Note that a certificate can only be issued as of the date Corporations Canada receives your complete application or at any later date you request. A corporation becomes active on the effective date that appears on a certificate. |
| What happens if you don't respond to Corporations Canada's letter |
|
Step 2 – Ensure your application complies with the legislation
Your application gets examined to make sure it meets the requirements of the legislation. At this step, the fee, if any, will not be refunded.
Sometimes, Corporations Canada needs more information than what you submitted, for example, additional information about the corporate name you propose.
If your application is complete but additional information is needed
| What Corporations Canada does |
Returns your application with a letter that tells you what additional information or documents are needed. |
|---|---|
| What you need to do |
Resend your complete application with the missing information requested within the time period, starting on the date of your letter:
|
| What happens if you don't respond to Corporations Canada's letter |
|
Step 3 – Corporations Canada accepts your application
Once your application is accepted, we will send you a confirmation and issue a certificate, if applicable.
Note that a certificate can only be issued as of the date Corporations Canada received your complete application or at any later date if you indicate it in your correspondence when submitting all the required documents and fees.
When to contact us regarding your application?
If it's currently within the defined processing time, you can assume your application is still being processed and you don't need to contact us.
If Corporations Canada does not respond to your application within the defined time period, a reimbursement could apply (see Remission Policy of Corporations Canada).
- Date modified: