In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in North Dakota
North Dakota issues a Certificate of Good Standing through the Secretary of State, Business Division. Submit a Request Certificate form in the FirstStop Portal, select your LLC or corporation and pay the $20 fee. North Dakota does not issue electronic certifications, so the certificate is a paper original. The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time. Your entity must be current on its Annual Report to qualify.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division
- Fee: $20 for LLCs and corporations
- How to order: Request Certificate form in the FirstStop Portal
- Turnaround: Not published by the state; paper original
- Free status check: Business search in the FirstStop Portal
- What keeps you in good standing: File the Annual Report by your entity’s deadline each year and keep a registered agent
North Dakota keeps everything in one place: you search your entity, request the certificate and file your Annual Report in the Secretary of State’s FirstStop Portal. Two details set North Dakota apart: the certificate arrives as a paper original, and LLCs and corporations file their Annual Reports on different dates. This page covers the order steps, the $20 fee, and the deadlines that keep you in Good Standing status. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing Is
A North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing is an official document from the Secretary of State, Business Division, confirming that your LLC or corporation is registered and in Good Standing status on the state’s records. An entity that missed its Annual Report moves to Not Good Standing status and cannot get the certificate until it files.
Parties who ask for one:
- Banks opening an account or approving credit
- Other states, when you register your North Dakota LLC as a foreign LLC there
- Lenders and investors in due diligence
- Payment processors verifying a merchant
- Buyers of the business
- State and local licensing agencies
Certificate of Good Standing vs Certificate of Fact
The Secretary of State’s maintain registration page describes two certificates. The Certificate of Good Standing confirms the entity’s status. The Certificate of Fact is a separate document. When a bank or another state asks for proof of good standing, order the Certificate of Good Standing.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in North Dakota
North Dakota takes certificate requests through the FirstStop Portal.
- Go to the FirstStop Portal and sign in.
- Search for your LLC or corporation and confirm it shows Good Standing status.
- Open the Request Certificate form.
- Select Certificate of Good Standing.
- Pay the $20 fee.
- Watch for the paper original. North Dakota does not offer electronic certifications.
Because the certificate is a paper document, allow mailing time when a bank or another state sets a deadline. Time your request to your Annual Report: an LLC that files its report by November 15 keeps Good Standing status, while an LLC that misses that date shows Not Good Standing until the report is filed, and FirstStop will not issue the certificate in that state.
North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Request Certificate form in FirstStop, LLC | $20 | Not published by the state; paper original |
| Request Certificate form in FirstStop, corporation | $20 | Not published by the state; paper original |
The fee is the same for LLCs and corporations. Entity-specific fee lists are on the Secretary of State’s LLC fees page and general business corporation fees page.
How to Check North Dakota Good Standing Status for Free
Search your entity in the FirstStop Portal to read its status at no cost. The record shows Good Standing or Not Good Standing. If it shows Not Good Standing, file the past-due Annual Report before you request the certificate. For a guide to each search field, see our North Dakota business entity search page.
How a North Dakota LLC Stays in Good Standing
North Dakota requires an Annual Report from every LLC and corporation, with different deadlines by entity type:
- LLCs: Annual Report due November 15, fee $50.
- Domestic business corporations: Annual Report due August 1, fee $25.
- Foreign corporations: Annual Report due May 15.
- Late reports: a late filing fee applies on top of the report fee.
- Registered agent: every North Dakota entity must keep a registered agent on record with the Secretary of State.
Missing the deadline moves the entity to Not Good Standing status. If it stays uncured, the Secretary of State involuntarily dissolves a domestic entity or terminates a foreign entity’s authority. To compare North Dakota’s dates with other states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your North Dakota Business Is Not in Good Standing
North Dakota gives you one year to bring an entity back to Good Standing status.
- Search the entity in FirstStop and confirm it shows Not Good Standing.
- File the past-due Annual Report with the report fee and the late filing fee.
- Confirm a registered agent is on record.
- Once the record shows Good Standing, submit a new Request Certificate form.
If the year has passed and the entity has been dissolved or terminated, contact the Secretary of State for its reinstatement options. For the general process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
North Dakota Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State certificate covers business registration status only. North Dakota’s Office of State Tax Commissioner issues its own certificate of good standing for tax purposes. Request it with the Application to Obtain Certificate of Good Standing (SFN 60035), mailed to Office of State Tax Commissioner, Business Registration, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 127, Bismarck, ND 58505-0599. A bank or another state asks for the Secretary of State certificate. A buyer, lender or agency that needs proof your North Dakota taxes are current asks for the Tax Commissioner’s certificate.
Using a North Dakota Certificate in Another State
When your North Dakota LLC registers in another state, the receiving filing office asks for a North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing with the foreign registration. Since North Dakota issues a paper original, order it early enough to mail it with your application. For how this certificate 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.
North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does a North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing cost?
The fee is $20 for LLCs and corporations. Pay it when you submit the Request Certificate form in the FirstStop Portal.
Does North Dakota issue electronic certificates?
No. North Dakota does not offer electronic certifications, so the Certificate of Good Standing is a paper original. Allow mailing time before your deadline.
When is the North Dakota LLC Annual Report due?
North Dakota LLCs file the Annual Report by November 15 each year. The fee is $50, and a late filing fee applies after the deadline.
What happens if a North Dakota entity misses its Annual Report?
It moves to Not Good Standing status. If it is not cured within one year, the Secretary of State involuntarily dissolves a domestic entity or terminates a foreign entity’s authority.
Is the Secretary of State certificate the same as a tax certificate of good standing?
No. The Office of State Tax Commissioner issues a separate certificate of good standing for taxes. Request it by mail with form SFN 60035.
Fees verified against official North Dakota sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the North Dakota Secretary of State site before you order.
