How to Change Your Corporation's Name in Canada (Federal, Step by Step)

To change your corporation’s name in Canada, a federal corporation files Articles of Amendment with Corporations Canada. I haven’t changed my own corporation’s name, but so many of you asked me about it that I went through the official guidance to connect the dots. This page is that research, in the order you’d need it, with every fact linked to its official source.

Your name-change checklist

1. 1. Choose your option: new name, numbered, or numbered to named
2. 2. Get a NUANS report (only for a new name)
3. 3. Approve it: directors, then shareholders
4. 4. File Articles of Amendment and pay the fee
5. 5. Update the CRA, bank and everything else

Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks stay on this device only.

Your three options

1. From a named company to a numbered one (for example, “Maple Consulting Inc.” to “12345678 Canada Inc.”).
2. From one name to a new name.
3. From a numbered company to a named one, often when a business that started quietly is ready to build a brand.

Named or numbered: which suits you?

Compare	Named corporation	Numbered corporation
Branding	Your name builds recognition	A number says nothing about you
Name search	Needs a NUANS report	No NUANS report needed
Privacy	Your name is public	More anonymous
Legal standing	The same	The same

There’s no legal difference between them. A numbered corporation can still trade under an operating name; see legal name vs operating name below.

Step 1: Check your corporation is in good standing

Make sure your annual returns are filed and your corporate information is current. You can review your corporation’s profile on Corporations Canada. How the yearly filings work is in my start-a-business guide.

Step 2: Get a NUANS name search report (new names only)

For a federal corporation, the new name needs a Canada-biased NUANS search report. If you’re switching to a numbered name, you don’t need one. NUANS reports are ordered online for a fee, from the NUANS service or a search house; check the current price when you order.

Step 3: Approve the change

• Directors pass a resolution approving the new name.
• Shareholders confirm it with a special resolution.
• Keep both resolutions in your minute book.

If you’re the only director and shareholder, you still sign both resolutions; it just takes you a few minutes.

Step 4: File Articles of Amendment

File Articles of Amendment (Form 4) with Corporations Canada, signed by a director or officer, with your NUANS report if you’re choosing a new name.

How you file	Fee
Online	$200
By email or mail	$250

Fees from Corporations Canada’s fee and refund policy, which also shows online amendments are normally processed within one business day. The new name takes effect when Corporations Canada issues your Certificate of Amendment.

Fees and processing times change. Always confirm the current fee and requirements on Corporations Canada’s website before you file.

Rather have it done for you?

If this is your first amendment, it’s worth checking with Ownr, so someone holds your hand through the process instead of you working out the forms alone. Ownr’s Managed Corporation plan includes changes to a federal corporation’s name or structure, with the government filings and corporate resolutions prepared for you. It costs more than filing yourself, so compare the plan price with the $200 government fee. My Ownr review covers its plans and prices.

After the change: what to update

• CRA: the new legal name should reach your Business Number and program accounts (GST/HST, payroll, corporate tax). Check it in your CRA business account, and contact the CRA if it hasn’t updated.
• Your province: if your federal corporation is registered in a province where it does business, update the name there too.
• Bank accounts, cheques and payment details.
• Contracts, invoices and quotes, so clients pay the right name.
• Licences and permits (see my licences and permits guide).
• Website, email signature, social media, business cards and your listing on maps and directories.
• Insurance, suppliers and accounting software.

Legal name vs operating name

Your legal name is the corporation’s registered name. An operating name (a trade name) is a different name you do business under. Changing an operating name is simpler than changing your legal name and doesn’t need Articles of Amendment. The CRA explains how to change your operating name on its side; registering it may also need a provincial business name registration.

Incorporated in Ontario instead?

This guide covers federal corporations. An Ontario corporation changes its name through the Ontario Business Registry, with its own forms and fees; start from Ontario’s business registry pages.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to change a corporation’s name in Canada?

For a federal corporation, Corporations Canada charges $200 to file Articles of Amendment online ($250 by email or mail), plus the cost of a NUANS report if you choose a new name.

Do I need a NUANS report to change my corporation’s name?

Yes, for a new name: a Canada-biased NUANS report dated within 90 days. No, if you’re switching to a numbered name.

How long does a name change take?

Corporations Canada’s service standard for online amendments is one business day. The name changes when your Certificate of Amendment is issued.

Is a numbered company legally different from a named one?

No. Both are corporations with the same legal standing. The difference is branding and privacy.

My research from official sources, not legal advice. For anything beyond a simple name change, speak to a lawyer or accountant, and always confirm current fees and forms on the government websites linked above.

What next

See every yearly filing in my start-a-business guide, or follow the Business guide.