Overview

Request a Certificate of Good Standing

The following overview provides information on how to request a Certificate of Good Standing.  For business or legal advice, you should go to a small business consultant or a lawyer.

Click on a particular topic of interest below, or read the whole guide using the scroll bar.

Important Information

Pay & Receive Certificate of Good Standing

Your Receipt

Getting Started

Important Information

A certificate of good standing can be requested by clients with a BC OnLine account for any BC or extraprovincial company that is in good standing.  A company is NOT "in good standing" if any of the following apply:

• A BC or extraprovincial company that has 1 or more outstanding annual reports;

• A BC company created prior to March 29, 2004 and hasn't filed a transition application;

• A BC company restored after March 29, 2004 and hasn't filed a post restoration transition application within one year of the date of restoration or conversion to a full restoration,

A cover letter and Certificate of Good Standing are emailed as an attachment to the company's email address.  A certificate can also be printed immediately after completing the request from the "Your Receipt" screen.  

To file any outstanding annual reports, click on the "File a BC Annual Report" or "File an Extraprovincial Annual Report" link from Corporate Online.  To file a transition or post restoration transition application, click on the "Transition Application" or "Post Restoration Transition Application" link from Corporate Online. Video demonstrations and online help information are available to assist you with these online filings.  

For those clients who do not have a BC OnLine account, the certificate may be ordered by mail from the Corporate Registry.  For those BC OnLine clients who prefer to receive a paper certificate rather than a PDF file, the certificate may be ordered by fax from the Corporate Registry.  To order by mail or fax please download the Certificate of Good Standing Order Form.

Alberta Companies Registered in BC as Extraprovincial Companies (NWPTA)

As of April 27, 2009, the requirement for an Alberta company to file an extraprovincial annual report in BC was eliminated under the Trade Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).  As a Certificate of Good Standing is issued based on the timely filing of annual reports, these certificates will no longer be issued to Alberta Companies doing business in BC.  

Saskatchewan Companies Registered in BC as Extraprovincial Companies (NWPTA)

As of July 1, 2012, the requirement for a Saskatchewan company to file an extraprovincial annual report in BC was eliminated under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) which is an enhancement to TILMA.  As a Certificate of Good Standing is issued based on the timely filing of annual reports, these certificates will no longer be issued to Saskatchewan companies doing business in BC.

 Pay and Receive Certificate of Good Standing

Please view the complete draft of your request by clicking "View Draft Filing" before you submit it to ensure that the certificate for good standing is for the correct company. You require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Your Receipt

When you are presented with the receipt, you will be able to view a print-friendly version of your Certificate of Good Standing and the receipt.  You require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Getting Started

Select "Request Certificate of Good Standing" from the Services Menu.  You must be logged in as a BC OnLine client to request a certificate.

Before you begin, ensure you have the following information on hand:

While you are completing the request, you can view a draft of the company information you have entered by clicking "View Draft Filing" from the left sidebar.  To view the company details, you require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED AS A GUIDE ONLY AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT AND THE REGULATION UNDER THE BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT