In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in New York
New York’s certificate of good standing is the Certificate of Status, issued by the Department of State, Division of Corporations. It costs $25 for LLCs and corporations and cannot be ordered online or by phone. Send a written request by mail, email or hand delivery to 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231. Optional expedite costs $25 for 24 hours, $75 for same day and $150 for 2 hours.
- Official name: Certificate of Status (also called a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Existence)
- Issued by: New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
- Fee: $25 for LLCs and corporations; expedite $25 (24 hours), $75 (same day) or $150 (2 hours)
- How to order: Written request by mail, email or hand delivery. Not available online, by phone or by fax
- Turnaround: Routine (no time published) or expedited: 24 hours, same day or 2 hours
- Free status check: Department of State public inquiry database
- What keeps you in good standing: File the Biennial Statement every two years; LLCs also complete the publication requirement
New York does not sell its good standing certificate online. The document is the Certificate of Status from the Department of State, and you order it with a written request. This page covers how to write and send that request, the expedite tiers, and the Biennial Statement and LLC publication rules that decide what the certificate says. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a New York Certificate of Good Standing Is
The New York Certificate of Status is an official document from the Department of State, Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code, confirming that your LLC or corporation exists on the Department’s records. New York also calls it a Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Existence; all three names refer to the same document.
A Certificate of Status also shows past-due filings. If your Biennial Statement is overdue, the certificate says so, and the recipient can refuse to proceed until you file. Parties who ask for it include:
- Banks opening an account or approving a loan
- Other states, when you register your New York LLC as a foreign entity there
- Lenders and investors in due diligence
- Payment processors verifying a merchant
- Buyers closing an acquisition
- Licensing agencies and public contracting offices
How to Order a Certificate of Status in New York
The Department of State accepts Certificate of Status requests in writing only. It does not take orders online, by phone or by fax.
- Confirm the entity’s exact name in the Department of State public inquiry database.
- Write a request for a Certificate of Status naming the entity.
- Choose routine handling or an expedite tier: 24 hours ($25 extra), same day ($75 extra) or 2 hours ($150 extra).
- Arrange payment of the $25 fee plus any expedite fee: a money order payable to “Department of State,” or MasterCard, Visa or American Express.
- Send the request by mail or hand delivery to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231. To send it by email, include the signed Credit Card/Debit Card Authorization Form.
- Include an email address to receive the certificate by email, or a prepaid label for overnight return.
How the Certificate Is Returned
The Department returns the Certificate of Status by first-class mail by default. If you give an email address, it sends the certificate by email and does not mail a hard copy. For overnight return, include a prepaid overnight label. Full instructions are on the Department’s Certificate of Status page.
New York Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Written request, routine (LLC or corporation) | $25 | Not published by the state |
| Expedite, 24 hours | $25 plus $25 expedite | Within 24 hours |
| Expedite, same day | $25 plus $75 expedite | Same day |
| Expedite, 2 hours | $25 plus $150 expedite | Within 2 hours |
| Online, phone or fax order | Not offered | Not offered |
Expedite fees apply per document. For a fast turnaround, combine an expedite tier with email return, which removes mailing time.
How to Check New York Good Standing Status for Free
The Department of State’s public inquiry database lets you look up any New York LLC or corporation at no cost. Use it to confirm the exact entity name for your request and to see the entity’s filing record before you pay $25. For a guide to the search fields, see our New York business entity search page.
How a New York LLC Stays in Good Standing
Two New York requirements decide what your Certificate of Status shows.
- Biennial Statement: due every two years in the calendar month of the original formation filing. The fee is $9 for business corporations and LLCs. A past-due statement shows on the Certificate of Status and can block a bank or buyer from closing.
- LLC publication requirement: an LLC formed or authorized after June 1, 2006 publishes notice of its formation for six successive weeks in two newspapers, then files a certificate of publication. Until it files, its authority to do business is suspended.
- Address for service of process: keep the address the Department of State forwards legal papers to current. A registered agent gives your entity a dedicated address for those papers.
The Department’s business entity FAQs cover both filings in more detail. To compare New York’s two-year cycle with other states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your New York Business Is Not in Good Standing
When a Certificate of Status shows past-due filings, fix the record first and then order a new certificate.
- Look up the entity in the public inquiry database and note which filings are past due.
- File the past-due Biennial Statement online with the $9 fee.
- For an LLC with a suspended authority, complete the publication requirement and file the certificate of publication.
- Request a new Certificate of Status once the filings are on record.
New York lets you file the past-due Biennial Statement online even though the certificate itself is ordered in writing. For the general process when a state dissolves an entity, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Using a New York Certificate in Another State
When a New York LLC registers to do business in another state, the receiving filing office asks for a New York Certificate of Status as proof of good standing. Because New York does not sell it online, build in time for the written request, or pay for the 24-hour, same-day or 2-hour expedite with email return. For how this document relates to the authority you receive, see certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
New York Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a New York Certificate of Status?
It is New York’s certificate of good standing, issued by the Department of State, Division of Corporations. New York also calls it a Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Existence.
How much is a New York Certificate of Status?
The fee is $25 for LLCs and corporations. Optional expedite costs $25 for 24 hours, $75 for same day and $150 for 2 hours, per document.
Can I order a New York Certificate of Status online?
No. The Department of State does not sell it online, by phone or by fax. Send a written request by mail, email or hand delivery to 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231.
How do I get the certificate by email?
Include an email address in your request, and the Department of State emails the certificate instead of mailing a hard copy. Requests sent by email must include the signed Credit Card/Debit Card Authorization Form.
Why does my Certificate of Status show past-due filings?
The certificate lists overdue filings such as a missed Biennial Statement. File the past-due statement online with the $9 fee, then request a new Certificate of Status.
Fees verified against official New York sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the New York Department of State site before you order.
