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Illinois Foreign qualification

The requirements, the timing and the official sources. Everything we’ve verified, in one place.

Sources verifiedLast verified 2026-10-25
Visit the official agencyReview the sources

Authority to do business

Choose your entity type and confirm the scope of the cited requirements. Fees and additional charges are listed separately.

LLCs

Fee

$150

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Timing

Obtain admission from the Secretary of State before transacting business in Illinois, subject to the Insurance Code exception.

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Required documents

Application for Admission to Transact Business, accompanied by a certificate of good standing or existence authenticated within the last 60 days.

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Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a civil action until admitted; owes fees for the unauthorized period. Failure to obtain admission within 60 days triggers $2,000 plus $100 for each month or fraction of a month of unauthorized business.

View official source

Timing

Obtain admission from the Secretary of State before transacting business in Illinois, subject to the Insurance Code exception.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
(a) Except as provided in Article V of the Illinois Insurance Code, before transacting business in this State, a foreign limited liability company shall be admitted to do so by the Secretary of State. In order to be admitted, a
Official source

Required documents

Application for Admission to Transact Business, accompanied by a certificate of good standing or existence authenticated within the last 60 days.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
This application is accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing or Existence, duly authenticated within the last 60 days, by the officer of the state or country wherein the LLC is formed.
Official source

Fee

$150

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
Filing Fee: $150
Official source

Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a civil action until admitted; owes fees for the unauthorized period. Failure to obtain admission within 60 days triggers $2,000 plus $100 for each month or fraction of a month of unauthorized business.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
(a) A foreign limited liability company transacting business in this State may not maintain a civil action in any court of this State until the limited liability company is admitted to transact business in this State. … (d) A foreign limited liability company that transacts business in this State without being admitted to do so shall be liable to the State for the years or parts thereof during which it transacted business in this State without being admitted in an amount equal to all fees that would have been imposed by this Article upon that limited liability company had it been duly admitted, filed all reports required by this Article, and paid all penalties imposed by this Article. If a limited liability company fails to be admitted to do business in this State within 60 days after it commences transacting business in Illinois, it is liable for a penalty of $2,000 plus $100 for each month or fraction thereof in which it has continued to transact business in this State without being admitted to do so. The Attorney General shall
Official source

Corporations

Fee

$150

View official source

Timing

Obtain authority from the Secretary of State before transacting business in Illinois, subject to the Insurance Code exception.

View official source

Required documents

Execute and file the application for authority in duplicate, with authenticated copies of the articles of incorporation and all amendments.

View official source

Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a civil action until authorized; owes back fees, franchise taxes, penalties and charges. If no application is filed within 60 days, the additional penalty is the greater of 10% of filing/license fees and franchise taxes or $200 plus $5 per month or fraction of a month of unauthorized business.

View official source

Timing

Obtain authority from the Secretary of State before transacting business in Illinois, subject to the Insurance Code exception.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
Except as provided in Article V of the Illinois Insurance Code, a foreign corporation organized for profit, before it transacts business in this State, shall procure authority so to do from the Secretary of State. A foreign corporation
Official source

Required documents

Execute and file the application for authority in duplicate, with authenticated copies of the articles of incorporation and all amendments.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
(a) A foreign corporation, in order to procure authority to transact business in this State, shall execute and file in duplicate an application therefor, in accordance with Section 1.10 of this Act, and shall also file a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the proper officer of the state or country wherein it is incorporated. Such application shall set forth:
Official source

Fee

$150

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
Application for Authority to Transact Business in Illinois | $150
Official source

Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a civil action until authorized; owes back fees, franchise taxes, penalties and charges. If no application is filed within 60 days, the additional penalty is the greater of 10% of filing/license fees and franchise taxes or $200 plus $5 per month or fraction of a month of unauthorized business.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation
No foreign corporation transacting business in this State without authority to do so is permitted to maintain a civil action in any court of this State, until the corporation obtains that authority. … in an amount equal to all fees, franchise taxes, penalties and other charges … if a corporation fails to file an application for authority within 60 days after it commences business in this State, in addition thereto it is liable for a penalty of either 10% of the filing fee, license fee and franchise taxes or $200 plus $5.00 for each month or fraction thereof in which it has continued to transact business in this State without authority therefor, whichever penalty is greater.
Official source
Confirm with the official agency
Official sources and verification (8)

Last verified 2026-10-25. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.

LLC / Fee
Filing Fee: $150
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

LLC / Required documents
This application is accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing or Existence, duly authenticated within the last 60 days, by the officer of the state or country wherein the LLC is formed.
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

LLC / Timing
(a) Except as provided in Article V of the Illinois Insurance Code, before transacting business in this State, a foreign limited liability company shall be admitted to do so by the Secretary of State. In order to be admitted, a
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

LLC / Penalties for operating without registration
(a) A foreign limited liability company transacting business in this State may not maintain a civil action in any court of this State until the limited liability company is admitted to transact business in this State. … (d) A foreign limited liability company that transacts business in this State without being admitted to do so shall be liable to the State for the years or parts thereof during which it transacted business in this State without being admitted in an amount equal to all fees that would have been imposed by this Article upon that limited liability company had it been duly admitted, filed all reports required by this Article, and paid all penalties imposed by this Article. If a limited liability company fails to be admitted to do business in this State within 60 days after it commences transacting business in Illinois, it is liable for a penalty of $2,000 plus $100 for each month or fraction thereof in which it has continued to transact business in this State without being admitted to do so. The Attorney General shall
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Fee
Application for Authority to Transact Business in Illinois | $150
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Timing
Except as provided in Article V of the Illinois Insurance Code, a foreign corporation organized for profit, before it transacts business in this State, shall procure authority so to do from the Secretary of State. A foreign corporation
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Penalties for operating without registration
No foreign corporation transacting business in this State without authority to do so is permitted to maintain a civil action in any court of this State, until the corporation obtains that authority. … in an amount equal to all fees, franchise taxes, penalties and other charges … if a corporation fails to file an application for authority within 60 days after it commences business in this State, in addition thereto it is liable for a penalty of either 10% of the filing fee, license fee and franchise taxes or $200 plus $5.00 for each month or fraction thereof in which it has continued to transact business in this State without authority therefor, whichever penalty is greater.
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Required documents
(a) A foreign corporation, in order to procure authority to transact business in this State, shall execute and file in duplicate an application therefor, in accordance with Section 1.10 of this Act, and shall also file a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the proper officer of the state or country wherein it is incorporated. Such application shall set forth:
Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

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Last verified 2026-10-25.

Official sources (7)

Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.