District of Columbia Corporation Foreign Qualification

Steps to District of Columbia Corporation Foreign Qualification:

Corporation Name: You must register a name to do business under in DC. If your corporation’s name does not adhere to the regulations outlined in the Code of the District of Columbia § 29-105.03, you will need to register an alternate name. You cannot register a name that is already in use in DC.
Foreign Qualification: To register a foreign corporation you must file a Foreign Registration Statement (Form FN-1). The document is filed with the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs Corporations Division. It can be filed online. Included with the filing, you must submit a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state. There is a $220 filing fee.
DC Registered Agent: You must appoint a District of Columbia registered agent when submitting your Foreign Registration Statement. A registered agent accepts service of process on behalf of your corporation in DC.
Biennial Report: After a foreign corporation qualification is complete, you must file a biennial report every two years. The first report is filed by April 1 of the year following registration. There is a $300 filing fee. The biennial report can be filed online.

Foreign Corporation Registration Quick Facts

The Form to File: Foreign Registration Statement
File With: Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs Corporations Division
Filing Fee: $220
Online Filing: Yes
Biennial Report Date: April 1
Biennial Report Fee: $300

District of Columbia Registered Agent Duties

A registered agent in the District of Columbia must maintain a registered office (a physical street location, not a PO box) within the district. The agent is required to accept service of process and official business mail on behalf of clients. These documents are then forwarded to clients in a timely manner, and clients are contacted whenever documents are accepted at the registered office.

How Do I Reserve a Name for My Foreign Corporation to Use in DC?

You can reserve a name to use in Washington DC by filing a Name Registration and Renewal Form GN-4. This form is filed with the DCRA Corporations Division. This can be filed online through the DCRA’s CorpOnline Web Portal. There is a $200 filing fee.

Biennial Report

Once a foreign corporation qualification is complete, you are required to file a biennial report. The first report must be filed by April 1 of the year following your registration, and every two years after that. There is a $300 filing fee. The biennial report can be filed online.