Registering Your Company as Foreign Entity in Washington

If your company is registered outside of Washington 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 Certificate of Authority with the Washington Secretary of State.

To approve foreign qualification application Washington Secretary of State requires certificate of good standing or its equivalent from the home state. The certificate must be current within 60 days. Keep in mind, foreign entity is required to appoint and maintain a registered agent in Washington on file at all times in order to be in good standing.

The filing process with Washington Secretary of State could take about 1 business week, plus additional time for mailing. Applicants should also allow additional time for obtaining the certificate of good standing from their home state.

Ready to Order?

Our company provides full service in assisting with foreign registration in Washington. We will handle all the steps of foreign qualification in Washington from obtaining the necessary documents from the home state, to filing all applications with the Washington Secretary of State, and making sure the filing is successful.