Foreign Qualification by State

Foreign qualification, state by state

Each state sets its own checklist for an out-of-state LLC. Find yours to see what to file, what to bring from your home state and which service to use, Mainstay Filing first.

  • 36 states want a home-state certificate
  • Fees from official sources
  • Services re-checked October 28, 2026

The 50-state checklist

What each state asks of a foreign LLC. Fee and form from official sources read October 2026 (nine fees re-read October 28, 2026).
StateFeeHome-state paperAgent termYearly filing
Alabama$150Noneregistered agentNo fee
Alaska$350Certificate requiredregistered agent$200
Arizona$150Certificate requiredstatutory agentNo fee
Arkansas$270Certificate requiredregistered agent$150
California$70Certificate requiredagent for service of process$20
Colorado$100Noneregistered agent$25
Connecticut$120Certificate requiredregistered agent$80
Delaware$200Certificate requiredregistered agent$400
Florida$125Certificate requiredregistered agent$138.75
Georgia$235Noneregistered agent$60
Hawaii$51Certificate requiredregistered agent$12.50
Idaho$100Certificate requiredregistered agentNo fee
Illinois$150Certificate requiredregistered agent$75
Indiana$105Certificate requiredregistered agent$32
Iowa$100Certificate requiredregistered agent$30
Kansas$115Noneresident agent$90
Kentucky$90Noneregistered agent$15
Louisiana$185Certificate requiredregistered agent$35
Maine$250Certificate requiredregistered agent$150
Maryland$100Certificate requiredresident agent$300
Massachusetts$500Certificate requiredresident agent$500
Michigan$50Certificate requiredresident agent$25
Minnesota$185Noneregistered agentNo fee
Mississippi$250Certificate requiredregistered agent$250
Missouri$105Certificate requiredregistered agentNo fee
Montana$70Noneregistered agentNo fee
Nebraska$100Certificate requiredagent for service of process$25
Nevada$75Noneregistered agent$350
New Hampshire$100Noneregistered agent$100
New Jersey$100Certificate requiredregistered agent$75
New Mexico$100Certificate requiredregistered agentNo fee
New York$250Certificate requiredregistered agent$9
North Carolina$250Certificate requiredregistered agent$200
North Dakota$135Certificate requiredregistered agent$50
Ohio$99Nonestatutory agentNo fee
Oklahoma$300Certificate requiredregistered agent$25
Oregon$275Noneregistered agent$275
Pennsylvania$250Noneregistered office$7
Rhode Island$150Certificate requiredresident agent$50
South Carolina$110Certificate requiredagent for service of processNo fee
South Dakota$750Certificate requiredregistered agent$55
Tennessee$300Certificate requiredregistered agent$300
Texas$750Noneregistered agentNo fee
Utah$59Certificate requiredregistered agent$18
Vermont$155Certificate requiredregistered agent$170
Virginia$100Certificate requiredregistered agent$50
Washington$180Certificate requiredregistered agent$70
West Virginia$150Certificate requiredagent for service of process$25
Wisconsin$100Noneregistered agent$65
Wyoming$150Certificate requiredregistered agent$60

Download: CSV.

Questions

What does foreign qualification require?

In every state: an application on the state’s form, the fee, and a registered agent with an address in that state. Some states also want a certificate from the LLC’s home state.

Which states ask for a home-state certificate?

36 of the 50: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Who do you recommend for the filing?

Mainstay Filing: $199 plus the state fee, in all 50 states. Every state page lists it first.