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Qualifying your Foreign Corporation in the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State Corporations Division

• Do I have to qualify ?     Any foreign corporation is required to obtain a certificate of authority before transacting business in the state.
• Do I need to reserve my corporate title?     The only way to assure that your name is available for use prior to submitting your application for certificate of authority is to obtain a name reservation certificate.
• How do I obtain a name reservation for a foreign corporation?     You must make a request in writing to obtain a name reservation for a foreign corporation. The fee for issuing the name reservation is $10 and must accompany your written request.
• Secretary of State filing requirements?
  1. Completed application in duplicate.
  2. Articles or certificate of incorporation and all amendments duly certified within the last six months by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated. Certificates of status, existence and good standing are unacceptable.
  3. $175 for-profit filing fee or $75 non-profit filing fee payable to the Alabama Secretary of State dated within the last 90 days.
  4. A self-addressed stamped envelope.

• Secretary of State...... if you have any questions, please contact the Corporations Call Center at (334) 242-5324
• Where do I mail my application?

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