Foreign Registration in District of Columbia

If your company is registered outside of District of Columbia it is required to obtain a certificate of authority before transacting business in the state.

This process is called “Foreign Qualification”, and it involves filing Foreign Registration Statement with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

To approve foreign qualification application District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs requires certificate of good standing or its equivalent from the home state. The certificate must be current within 30 days. Keep in mind, foreign entity is required to appoint and maintain a registered agent in District of Columbia on file at all times in order to be in good standing.

The filing process with District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs could take about 10-15 business days, with expedited option of 1 business day available for extra fee.. Applicants should also allow additional time for obtaining the certificate of good standing from their home state.