South Carolina Foreign qualification

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

Sources verifiedLast verified 2026-10-25

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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

$110

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Timing

If an entity will be transacting business in the State of South Carolina, it must apply for a Certificate of Authority. Below are the statutory sections that set forth the guidelines for transacting business:

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Required documents

Certificate-of-authority application with a certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State no more than 30 days old; use a fictitious-name form if the legal name is unavailable.

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Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a South Carolina action or proceeding unless authorized.

View official source

Timing

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

If an entity will be transacting business in the State of South Carolina, it must apply for a Certificate of Authority. Below are the statutory sections that set forth the guidelines for transacting business:

Official source

Required documents

Certificate-of-authority application with a certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State no more than 30 days old; use a fictitious-name form if the legal name is unavailable.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a dated certificate of existence (not more than 30 days old) from the Secretary of State of the applying entity's domestic state must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for an amended certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a certified copy of the amendment must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, the foreign entity must file a fictitious name form if its legal name is not available in South Carolina.

Official source

Fee

$110

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

(4) application by a foreign limited liability company for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina: one hundred ten dollars.

Official source

Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a South Carolina action or proceeding unless authorized.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

(a) A foreign limited liability company transacting business in this State may not maintain an action or proceeding in this State unless it has a certificate of authority to transact business in this State.

Official source

Corporations

Fee

$135

View official source

Timing

View official source

Required documents

Certificate-of-authority application with a certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State no more than 30 days old; use a fictitious-name form if the legal name is unavailable.

View official source

Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a South Carolina court proceeding until authorized; civil penalty of $10 per day, capped at $1,000 per year.

View official source

Timing

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

If an entity will be transacting business in the State of South Carolina, it must apply for a Certificate of Authority. Below are the statutory sections that set forth the guidelines for transacting business:

Official source

Required documents

Certificate-of-authority application with a certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State no more than 30 days old; use a fictitious-name form if the legal name is unavailable.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a dated certificate of existence (not more than 30 days old) from the Secretary of State of the applying entity's domestic state must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for an amended certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a certified copy of the amendment must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, the foreign entity must file a fictitious name form if its legal name is not available in South Carolina.

Official source

Fee

$135

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

Application for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business §33-15-103 This form is used by a foreign corporation to apply for a Certificate of Authority to transact business in the state of South Carolina. An original certificate of existence no more than 30 days old from the official state of jurisdiction where the corporation is incorporated must be uploaded in conjunction with this filing. A CL-1 Form must be included with the Articles of Incorporation. You must submit a total payment of $135 which includes the $25 fee for the CL-1 Form. $110.00

Official source

Penalties for operating without registration

Cannot maintain a South Carolina court proceeding until authorized; civil penalty of $10 per day, capped at $1,000 per year.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

(a) A foreign corporation transacting business in this State without a certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any court in this State until it obtains a certificate of authority. … (d) A foreign corporation is liable for a civil penalty of ten dollars for each day but not to exceed a total of one thousand dollars for each year it transacts business in this State without a certificate of authority.

Official source

Fee notes

The $135 total includes the $25 CL-1 fee.

Verified 2026-10-25 — source and quotation

This form is used by a foreign corporation to apply for a Certificate of Authority to transact business in the state of South Carolina. An original certificate of existence no more than 30 days old from the official state of jurisdiction where the corporation is incorporated must be uploaded in conjunction with this filing. A CL-1 Form must be included with the Articles of Incorporation. You must submit a total payment of $135 which includes the $25 fee for the CL-1 Form.

Official source

Confirm with the official agency

Official sources and verification (9)

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

LLC / Required documents

For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a dated certificate of existence (not more than 30 days old) from the Secretary of State of the applying entity's domestic state must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for an amended certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a certified copy of the amendment must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, the foreign entity must file a fictitious name form if its legal name is not available in South Carolina.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

LLC / Timing

If an entity will be transacting business in the State of South Carolina, it must apply for a Certificate of Authority. Below are the statutory sections that set forth the guidelines for transacting business:

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

LLC / Fee

(4) application by a foreign limited liability company for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina: one hundred ten dollars.

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 an action or proceeding in this State unless it has a certificate of authority to transact business in this State.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Required documents

For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a dated certificate of existence (not more than 30 days old) from the Secretary of State of the applying entity's domestic state must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for an amended certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, a certified copy of the amendment must accompany the application. For applications by a foreign entity for a certificate of authority to transact business in South Carolina, the foreign entity must file a fictitious name form if its legal name is not available in South Carolina.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Timing

If an entity will be transacting business in the State of South Carolina, it must apply for a Certificate of Authority. Below are the statutory sections that set forth the guidelines for transacting business:

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Penalties for operating without registration

(a) A foreign corporation transacting business in this State without a certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any court in this State until it obtains a certificate of authority. … (d) A foreign corporation is liable for a civil penalty of ten dollars for each day but not to exceed a total of one thousand dollars for each year it transacts business in this State without a certificate of authority.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Fee

Application for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business §33-15-103 This form is used by a foreign corporation to apply for a Certificate of Authority to transact business in the state of South Carolina. An original certificate of existence no more than 30 days old from the official state of jurisdiction where the corporation is incorporated must be uploaded in conjunction with this filing. A CL-1 Form must be included with the Articles of Incorporation. You must submit a total payment of $135 which includes the $25 fee for the CL-1 Form. $110.00

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

Corporation / Fee notes

This form is used by a foreign corporation to apply for a Certificate of Authority to transact business in the state of South Carolina. An original certificate of existence no more than 30 days old from the official state of jurisdiction where the corporation is incorporated must be uploaded in conjunction with this filing. A CL-1 Form must be included with the Articles of Incorporation. You must submit a total payment of $135 which includes the $25 fee for the CL-1 Form.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-25

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Last verified 2026-10-25.

Official sources (4)

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