Do Ontario corporations still need Canadian resident directors?

No — Ontario removed the 25% Canadian resident director requirement in July 2023. An Ontario corporation can now be formed with 100% non-resident directors, matching British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. Federal (CBCA) still requires 25% Canadian residents. This change made Ontario significantly more attractive for international founders and cross-border startups that previously had to pick BC or AB to avoid the residency rule.

Ontario or federal — which is better for a Canadian startup?

Provincial Ontario is usually simpler if your operations are primarily in Ontario: one annual return to the Ontario Business Registry, no extra-provincial paperwork. Federal (CBCA) makes sense if you're planning to raise national institutional capital, want cross-Canada name protection, or expect to operate in multiple provinces. Many Canadian VCs default to CBCA for portfolio companies — worth asking your investors on the consultation call which they prefer.

What is the Ontario Business Registry (OBR)?

The Ontario Business Registry is Ontario's online corporate filing system, launched in October 2021 to replace the older Ministry of Government Services processes. It handles incorporation, annual returns, changes to directors and addresses, and corporate name searches for all OBCA corporations. Access requires an Ontario.ca Login and an Ontario Business Account, plus your corporation's 9-digit company key to claim its profile — which CRS handles on your behalf so you don't need any of them.

How long does Ontario incorporation take?

Ontario is one of the fastest Canadian jurisdictions to incorporate in. CRS-filed OBCA incorporations typically complete end-to-end in 3–5 business days: NUANS name search cleared on day 1–2, Articles of Incorporation filed with the OBR by day 2–3, Certificate of Incorporation issued within 24–48 hours by the OBR, and the full minute book delivered as signable PDFs shortly after.

Named or numbered — which should I pick for Ontario?

A named Ontario corporation (e.g., 'Acme Consulting Inc.') requires a NUANS report to confirm the name is available and doesn't conflict with existing corporations or trademarks. A numbered corporation (e.g., '1234567 Ontario Inc.') skips the NUANS entirely and is faster and cheaper to set up. Many businesses start with numbered and later file Articles of Amendment to add a name once branding is finalized — a common and cost-effective approach.

Ontario Incorporation | $699 All-In, Filed Through the OBR

Ready to incorporate in Ontario? Start your Ontario incorporation — $699 all-in → · Articles filed through the OBR, minute book delivered in 3–5 business days. Not sure Ontario vs. federal? Book a free 15-min consultation → — no obligation.

Ontario is Canada's largest business jurisdiction by GDP and the default incorporation choice for most small and mid-sized businesses operating in the province. The regulatory environment has modernised significantly in the past few years — the Ontario Business Registry replaced the old ministry filing system in 2021, and the 25% Canadian resident director requirement was removed in 2023 — making OBCA incorporation both faster and more accessible to international founders than it used to be.

Why incorporate in Ontario?

No Canadian resident director requirement. As of July 2023, Ontario no longer requires any of your directors to be Canadian residents. This aligns Ontario with BC, Alberta, Quebec, and Nova Scotia — meaning international founders can now incorporate in Canada's largest market without appointing a Canadian director purely for compliance. Federal (CBCA) still requires 25% Canadian residents, so an Ontario corporation with 100% US or European founders is now genuinely feasible.

Access to Canada's largest business market. Ontario represents roughly 38% of Canadian GDP, the largest talent pool, and the deepest capital markets outside the US. If your customers, employees, or investors are primarily in the GTA, provincial Ontario incorporation avoids the extra-provincial registration burden a federal corporation would carry.

Preferred structure for many VC-backed startups. While federal (CBCA) is the default for some institutional investors, a large share of Canadian VCs and angel networks are comfortable with — and often prefer — OBCA for portfolio companies operating within Ontario. Term sheets and closing documents are well-established under OBCA and rarely encounter friction.

Modern, fast filing infrastructure. Since the OBR launched in 2021, Ontario incorporations that once took 5–10 business days now typically complete in 24–72 hours at the registry level. The paperwork is standardised, and status is trackable online.

Ontario incorporation requirements

Under the Ontario Business Corporations Act:

Articles of Incorporation — the founding document specifying name, share structure, restrictions on transfer, and any other special provisions.
Notice of Directors (Form 5) — names and addresses of the initial board.
Notice of Registered Office (Form 3) — physical address in Ontario (not a PO box) where records can be inspected.
Consent to Act as Director — each initial director signs a consent (mandatory in Ontario and often forgotten in DIY minute books; buyer's lawyers flag missing consents in due diligence).
At least one director — must be 18+. No Canadian residency requirement.
NUANS name search for named corporations, or skip it for a numbered corporation.
Corporate name — Ontario names are protected within Ontario only. If you want cross-Canada name protection, incorporate federally instead.

What's included in the $699 all-in fee

Preliminary name availability check with the Ontario Business Registry
NUANS name search filed
Articles of Incorporation drafted, customised to your ownership structure
Notice of Directors + Notice of Registered Office prepared
Consent to Act as Director signed by initial directors
Direct filing with the Ontario Business Registry (OBR) on your behalf
Personalised by-laws (standard set covering meetings, share transfers, borrowing, dividends)
Organizational resolutions (first directors' and shareholders' resolutions)
Complete minute book: Register of Directors, Register of Officers, Securities Register, Ledger of Shareholders
Share certificates for founding shareholders
BN (Business Number) application filed with the CRA
Lifetime good-standing support — CRS tracks your annual return deadline every year and notifies you before it's due

All government fees, NUANS charges, and OBR filing fees are included in the $699. No surprise charges at checkout.

The Ontario incorporation timeline

Standard CRS turnaround for an Ontario incorporation:

Day 1 (order received): We confirm your intended names, director list, registered office, and share structure. Preliminary name check.
Day 1–2: NUANS name search filed. Articles of Incorporation drafted.
Day 2–3: Names cleared. Articles filed with the Ontario Business Registry.
Day 3–5: Certificate of Incorporation issued by the OBR (typically 24–48 hours after filing). Minute book, share certificates, and organizational resolutions delivered as signable PDFs. BN application submitted to the CRA.

Total: typically 3–5 business days end-to-end. Ontario is among the fastest Canadian jurisdictions post-OBR modernisation.

What happens after you incorporate

Every Ontario corporation has ongoing statutory obligations. In your first year:

Annual return — due within 6 months of your fiscal year-end, filed with the OBR (moved from the CRA in 2021). $22 government fee, filed at $159 all-in through CRS. See our Ontario annual return guide.
Directors' resolutions — decisions about share issuances, dividends, officer appointments, and annual approval of financial statements must be documented in the minute book. See our director resolutions guide. CRS prepares these at $79 per resolution set.
CRA T2 corporate income tax return — annually, due 6 months after fiscal year-end (separate from the OBR annual return, handled by your accountant).

CRS can bundle all three ongoing filings if you'd like to keep everything under one roof.

Ontario or federal? Not sure yet — book a free consultation

Not sure whether Ontario or federal (CBCA) is the right jurisdiction? A CRS incorporation specialist walks through where you operate, your investor makeup, whether you'd benefit from national name protection, and any tax-planning considerations. Free 15-minute call, no obligation.

Book a free incorporation consultation →

Or read the comparison in Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation in Canada for a self-serve overview.

Ready to incorporate in Ontario?

Start your Ontario incorporation — $699 all-in → · Articles filed through the OBR, minute book delivered in 3–5 business days.

Ontario Incorporation Service: OBCA Filing, $699 All-In