Wyoming Foreign Corporation Registration
A foreign Wyoming corporation is a corporation that was formed in another state but has registered to do business in Wyoming. All foreign corporations in Wyoming must register to do business in our state with the Wyoming Secretary of State.
Below, you’ll find an explanation of the process and costs associated with registering a foreign corporation in Wyoming.
How to Register Your Corporation in Wyoming
1. Get a Certificate of Good Standing From Your Home State
The first thing you’ll need to do is obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the state in which your corporation was originally formed. These are also often called a Certificate of Existence or a Certificate of Status. This document verifies that your corporation was formed and remains active in that state. Wyoming requires that you attach this document when you apply for your foreign corporation, and it needs to be done within 60 days of getting the Certificate from the state. Depending on your home state, this document will cost you somewhere between $0 and $50.
2. Complete the Application for Your Certificate of Authority
The next step is completing the For Profit Corporation Application for your Certificate of Authority. When you apply for your Certificate of Authority, you’ll be asked to provide the following information:
- Name of corporation as incorporated (must match certificate of existence)
- Where the corporation was originally incorporated
- Date of original incorporation
- Corporation’s period of duration (most likely answer is “perpetual”)
- Mailing and principal addresses of the corporation
- Name and address of Wyoming registered agent
- Effective date of filing
- Date when the corporation began doing business in Wyoming (you may have to pay back taxes if corporation has been actively doing business in the state before qualifying as a foreign corp in Wyoming)
- Registered Agent consent form
- Original certificate of existence/good standing
3. Obtain your Registered Agent’s Consent and Signature
Every foreign corporation doing business in Wyoming must appoint a Wyoming registered agent. As part of the registration process, your registered agent must consent to the appointment by signing the Registered Agent Consent form.
If you don’t have a registered agent in Wyoming, you can hire us to do the job for you. When you hire Best Wyoming Registered Agent, you’ll get instant access to your online account, all the forms you’ll need, and the registered agent information required for your filing.
4. Submit your Documents and Wait for Processing
Once you have the original copy of your Certificate of Good Standing, your application for your Certificate of Authority, and your registered agent’s signature, you’re ready to send in your full application. The state wants the physical documents in hand, which typically means you’ll need to send them in to the Wyoming Secretary of State by mail. It usually takes the state about 10 days to complete your filing.
Send Your Filing to:
Wyoming Secretary of State
Herschler Building East
122 W 25th St
Suites 100 and 101
Cheyenne, WY 82002
5. Get your Wyoming Sales Tax License
If the foreign corporation sells anything (services, products, etc.) in Wyoming, it must obtain a Wyoming sales tax license. The qualifying corporation must complete a one-page form with Wyoming Department of Revenue and pay the $60 application fee. A week or two later, you’ll receive a packet of info from the Department of Revenue and WY state employment and labor agencies concerning the corporation’s ongoing requirements in our state.
6. File your Foreign Corporation Annual Reports
Out-of-state corporations that register to do business in Wyoming must file an annual report each year. Wyoming foreign corp annual reports are due on the first day of the month in which the corporation originally qualified to do business in our state. For example, if a corporation registers to do business in Wyoming on March 15, each year after, the corporation will need to file an annual report by March 1. Wyoming annual reports cost $60 to file, but there is a $4 convenience fee online. You can file annual reports online on the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website for a $4 convenience fee.
Hire Wyoming’s Best to File Your Foreign Corporation
Our main goal is to make doing business in Wyoming simple. We love our state and want businesses here to succeed. We offer fast service from Wyoming business specialists, including same-day filings for your Certificate of Authority. You’ll get a fair price with our high-volume, low-cost business model and still get top-shelf customer service from people who know what it takes to succeed in Wyoming. We’re here to help businesses at every turn, so reach out today to find out why we’re the best.
Wyoming Foreign Corporation Costs and Fees
| Wyoming Foreign Corporation Certificate of Authority filing fee | $150 |
| Best Wyoming Registered Agent Foreign Corporation Qualification fee | $50 |
| One Year of Best Wyoming Registered Agent service | $50 |
| Certificate of Good Standing fee | $0 to $50 |
| Total Wyoming Foreign Corporation Qualification Cost: For $250, plus the cost of the certificate of good standing, we’ll qualify your corporation to do business in Wyoming and give you a year of the best Wyoming registered agent service. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why if my business name is unavailable in Wyoming?
If your current corporation’s name is already being used by another company in Wyoming, you’ll need to provide a different name on your registration application. You can check for name availability on the Wyoming Secretary of State website.
Can I act as my own registered agent in Wyoming?
Yes, it’s totally possible to be your own registered agent in Wyoming. But there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet to do so:
- You need to be a resident of Wyoming with a permanent physical address (not a P.O. box).
- You’ll have to be available at this address during regular business hours.
- You have to be at least 18 years or older.
What happens if I do business in Wyoming without registering a foreign corporation first?
If you’re doing business in Wyoming without registering a foreign corporation, the state can hit you with penalties, back fees, and restrict your ability to enforce contracts in court until you’re properly registered.
In other words, you may not be able to legally defend or pursue business claims in Wyoming until you fix it.
How long does it take to register a foreign corporation in Wyoming?
Processing times vary, but mailed filings typically take around 10 business days once received by the Wyoming Secretary of State. Delays are common when forms are incomplete or documents don’t match, so accuracy matters.