How to Register a Business in Virginia: SCC Foreign Registration Guide (2026)
If your company was formed in another state and now has employees, an office or regular business in Virginia, you register with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), not the Secretary of State. Corporations apply for a Certificate of Authority; LLCs apply for a Certificate of Registration. Here is what it costs, what you need, and what comes after.
Virginia at a glance
Item | Virginia |
|---|---|
Filing | Application for a Certificate of Authority (corporations) or Certificate of Registration (LLCs) |
Where | Virginia State Corporation Commission, online through the Clerk's Information System or by mail |
State fee | $100 for LLCs. Corporations: based on authorized shares, from $75 |
Typical processing | 1–2 weeks; same-day expedite available for $100 |
You'll need | A copy of your formation documents certified by your home state within the past 12 months |
Registered agent | Required, with a Virginia street address |
Ongoing filing | Annual registration fee every year by the end of the month you registered (LLCs $50; corporations based on shares, plus an annual report) |
Do you need to register in Virginia?
You generally need to register if your company is "doing business" in Virginia, for example if you:
Have an office, store or warehouse in Virginia
Employ people who live and work in Virginia
Regularly sell to, or provide services for, Virginia customers
Activities that usually don't count on their own include holding a bank account in Virginia, holding internal meetings there, and isolated one-off transactions. If you're unsure, check with your attorney or book a call with us.
Hiring a remote employee in Virginia always means opening Virginia payroll tax accounts, even when Secretary of State registration isn't required. See the payroll section below.
How to register, step by step
Get certified formation documents from your home state. Virginia wants a copy of your articles of incorporation or organization, certified within the past 12 months. A certificate that only shows good standing isn't enough.
Choose a Virginia registered agent. See the rules below.
File with the SCC. LLCs pay $100. Corporations pay a fee based on their authorized shares, starting at $75. If you're in a hurry, same-day service costs an extra $100.
Save your approval and SCC ID number. You'll need them for payroll and tax registrations.
Registered agent rules in Virginia
Every business registered in Virginia must keep a registered agent with a Virginia street address. The agent must be a Virginia resident who is an officer, director, member or manager of your company, a Virginia lawyer, or a business authorized to act as a registered agent in Virginia.
Using an employee as your agent is allowed, but it means legal papers go to one person's home, and they're lost if that person leaves. A commercial registered agent avoids that. Every AbstractOps plan includes registered agent service.
Annual registration: every year
Virginia bills every registered business an annual registration fee, due by the last day of the month you registered. LLCs pay $50. Corporations pay a fee based on their authorized shares and also file a short annual report.
Late payments add a penalty, and companies that stay unpaid for a few months have their registration revoked.
Virginia payroll accounts
If you have employees in Virginia, you'll also need:
A withholding account with Virginia Tax.
An unemployment insurance account with the Virginia Employment Commission.
Our Virginia payroll tax registration guide walks through the details.
Virginia registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC or corporation in Virginia?
$100 for an LLC. Corporations pay a fee based on authorized shares, starting at $75.
How long does Virginia take?
Typically 1–2 weeks. Same-day service costs an extra $100.
Does Virginia require a certificate of good standing?
Not by itself. Virginia asks for a copy of your formation documents certified by your home state within the past 12 months.
When is the Virginia annual registration fee due?
Every year by the last day of the month you registered. LLCs pay $50; corporations pay based on authorized shares.
Let us handle Virginia for you
AbstractOps files your Virginia registration, acts as your registered agent, opens your payroll accounts and tracks your annual filings, from $250 per state per year. Start a 7-day free trial or book a 15-minute call.
This guide is for general information and isn't tax or legal advice. Fees and rules change; confirm current requirements with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk.