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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Virginia

Virginia calls it the Certificate of Fact (Good Standing for LLCs) and charges $6. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Fact (Good Standing for LLCs)
State fee
$6
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Instant download through the Clerks Information System (CIS)
Issuing office
Virginia SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Virginia SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the Virginia portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $6 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for Virginia

Virginia is the cheapest state in the country for a good standing certificate at $6. Issued by the State Corporation Commission (SCC), not the Secretary of State. Virginia uses entity-specific terminology: corporations receive a "Certificate of Good Standing" while LLCs receive a "Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration". Order instantly through the SCC Clerks Information System at cis.scc.virginia.gov - the certificate is available for download within seconds of payment. The $50 annual registration fee must be current (due by the last day of the anniversary month). Missing the annual fee for 3 months automatically cancels LLC existence under VA law.

Processing and expedited tiers: Instant download through the Clerks Information System (CIS)

Important to know about Virginia

  • Virginia uses the STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION (SCC), not Secretary of State - unusual. Orders go through cis.scc.virginia.gov, not a state SOS site.
  • For LLCs, the certificate is officially called "Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration" - not "Certificate of Good Standing". Some out-of-state receiving parties may not recognize this terminology; explain that its the VA equivalent.
  • The base fee is $6 - the cheapest in the country. The SCC does not charge extra for expedite because instant download is the standard for online orders.
  • VA LLCs do NOT file annual reports (only corporations do). Good standing requires paying the $50 annual registration fee by the last day of the anniversary month. Missing the deadline triggers a $25 late penalty.
  • If the annual fee is unpaid for 3 months, LLC existence is automatically cancelled by operation of law - no notice or court action required. Reinstatement requires filing all overdue fees plus reinstatement fees.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your Virginia LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

Virginia foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Virginia Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Virginia SOS before ordering.