West Virginia Foreign qualification

$150

$150

Limited Liability Company (LLC/PLLC)$150.00

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Certificate-of-authority application with home-state certificate of existence or good standing dated during the current tax year.

Certificate-of-authority application with home-state certificate of existence or good standing dated during the current tax year.

CHECK HERE to indicate you have obtained and submitted with this application a CERTIFICATE OF EXISTENCE (GOOD STANDING), dated during the current tax year, from your home state of original formation as required to process your application. The certificate may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State's Office in the home state of original formation.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

(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.

(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.

(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.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Register with the Secretary of State for a Certificate of Authority to transact business in West Virginia.

Register with the Secretary of State for a Certificate of Authority in order to transact business in West Virginia.

Foreign companies are those which are formed in another state or country. In order to transact business in West Virginia these entities must register with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office for a Certificate of Authority.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

$100

$100

Corporation (for profit)$100.00

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Foreign registration accompanied by a certificate of good standing or existence from the domestic state of formation.

Foreign registration accompanied by a certificate of good standing or existence from the domestic state of formation.

The registration must be accompanied by a "certificate of good standing" or a "certificate of existence" from the domestic state of formation. Select your home state below to navigate to the appropriate state agency website to request the certificate.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Cannot maintain a West Virginia circuit-court proceeding until authorized; owes fees, taxes and penalties for unauthorized years or parts of years.

Cannot maintain a West Virginia circuit-court proceeding until authorized; owes fees, taxes and penalties for unauthorized years or parts of years.

(a) A foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any circuit court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority. … (d) A foreign corporation which conducts affairs or does or transacts business in this state without a certificate of authority is liable to this state for the years or parts of years during which it conducted affairs or did or transacted business in this state without a certificate of authority in an amount equal to all fees and taxes which would have been imposed by this chapter, or by any other provision of this code, upon the corporation had it duly applied for and received a certificate of authority to conduct affairs or do or transact business in this state as required by this article and had filed all reports, statements or returns required by this chapter or by any other chapter of this code, plus all penalties imposed for failure to pay any fees and taxes.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Before conducting affairs in West Virginia.

Before conducting affairs in West Virginia.

(a) A foreign corporation may not conduct affairs in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026