Pennsylvania Certificate of Authority

If your company was not incorporated in Pennsylvania, but you wish to do business there, you need to register as a foreign entity with the state.

Pennsylvania Foreign Qualification allows a company incorporated in Delaware or any other state to legally transact business in Pennsylvania.

Please note: information on this page is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, requirements and costs can be changed by states at any time and Harvard Business Services cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

How to Get a Pennsylvania Certificate of Authority:

When applying for Pennsylvania Foreign Qualification, the Pennsylvania Department of State requires different forms and fees depending on what type of entity you are operating.

Requirements for LLCs:

• File a Foreign Registration Statement
• Fee: $250
• In Pennsylvania, a certificate of good standing is not required. 

Requirements for Corporations:

• File a Foreign Registration Statement
• Fee: $250 (both for-profit and non-profit)
• In Pennsylvania, a certificate of good standing is not required. 

You must also appoint and list a Pennsylvania Registered Agent. The Registered Agent must be maintained at all times. Harvard Business Services can provide this service at a cost of just $99/year.

Harvard Business Services can assist with your application so you don’t have to deal with the Pennsylvania Department of State directly. We do charge our own fee for this service, in addition to state fees. The exact fee can vary based upon whether your company is already filed and whether you need us to obtain additional documents to meet the state’s requirements. Please contact us for an exact quote.

How Do I Know If I Need a Pennsylvania Certificate of Authority?

The most common reasons to apply for Pennsylvania Certificate of Authority are if you plan to:

• Open an office or physical location within the state
• Hire employees who reside in the state
• Before beginning a contract or job

Keep in mind that even if a Pennsylvania Certificate of Authority is not required for a specific activity, a bank, vendor or another party can still require one in order to establish a relationship.

Pennsylvania Annual Requirements

Once you have Foreign Qualification in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of State requires all LLCs and Corporations to submit a decennial report. Decennial reports are only due for those entities that have not made a new or amended filing with the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations (Bureau) in the 10 year reporting period.  For example, if an LLC was formed in 2011, but did not file any changes from January 1, 2012 thru December 31, 2021, it must file a report by December 31, 2021 that they continue to exist.

The filing fee is $70, made payable to the PA Department of State. 

Please note that Pennsylvania Foreign Qualification annual requirements are independent from requirements you may have in Delaware or other states.