Utah Foreign Qualification

Oct 28, 2025

Foreign qualification with the Secretary of State in Utah is the process by which a business entity that was originally formed in another state obtains the authority to do business in Utah. This involves registering with the Secretary of State and fulfilling any additional requirements necessary to operate legally in the state.

There are 4 different ways to foreign qualify in Utah depending on your legal entity type and tax classification. Follow the guide below to help you register with the Secretary of State in Utah or use Mosey to do it.

Use Mosey to register with the Secretary of State in Utah.

Utah Foreign Qualification for Corporation

Foreign nonprofit corporations “doing business” in Utah must register with the Department of Commerce’s Division of Corporations and Commercial Code by filing an Application for Authority to Conduct Affairs for a Foreign Corporation. Utah provides a non-exhaustive list of activities that constitute not “doing business” in lieu of defining “doing business” and enumerates transactions that do not constitute “doing business” specifically for nonprofits. The filing fee is $30. Applications can be submitted electronically or by mail.

  1. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must have a registered agent in Utah designated to accept service of process. Your resident agent must have a Utah street address and can be any Utah resident or a corporation qualified to do business in Utah.

  2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

    Utah requires a Certificate of Good Standing (also known as a Certificate of Existence) from your home state issued within 90 days.

  3. Create a Utah ID

    A Utah ID is required to access Utah OneStop Business Registration. If you do not already have one, visit the OneStop Business Registration website and select “Create your Utah ID” to create a Utah ID.

  4. File Your Registration

    Log in to OneStop Business Registration with your Utah ID account to complete your application and file your registration materials.

Utah Foreign Qualification for LLP

Foreign limited liability partnerships "doing business" in Utah must register with the Utah Department of Commerce Divisions of Corporations and Commercial Code. Utah, like most states, provides a list of activities considered not "doing business" instead of defining "doing business."

  1. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must register an agent (commercial or noncommercial) in Utah to accept service of process. Your agent must have a Utah street address. It can be a person resident of Utah or a business entity registered with the Division of Corporations and in good standing.

  2. Create a Utah ID

    A Utah ID is required to access Utah OneStop Business Registration. Create a Utah ID if you don't already have one.

  3. Register as a Foreign Limited Liability Partnership Online

    Log in to OneStop Business Registration with your Utah ID account and file a registration as a foreign limited liability partnership.

Utah Foreign Qualification for LLC

Foreign limited liability companies "doing business" in Utah must register with the Utah Department of Commerce Divisions of Corporations and Commercial Code. Utah, like most states, provides a list of activities considered not "doing business" instead of defining "doing business."

  1. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must register an agent (commercial or noncommercial) in Utah to accept service of process. Your agent must have a Utah street address. It can be a person resident of Utah or a business entity registered with the Division of Corporations and in good standing.

  2. Create a Utah ID

    A Utah ID is required to access Utah OneStop Business Registration. Create a Utah ID if you don't already have one.

  3. Register as a Foreign Limited Liability Company Online

    Log in to OneStop Business Registration with your Utah ID account and file a registration as a foreign limited liability company.

Utah Foreign Qualification for Professional Corporation, Corporation

Foreign corporations "doing business" in Utah must register with the Utah Department of Commerce Divisions of Corporations and Commercial Code. Utah, like most states, provides a list of activities considered not "doing business" in lieu of defining "doing business."

  1. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must have a registered agent in Utah designated to accept service of process. Your resident agent must have a Utah street address. It can be any Utah resident or a corporation qualified to do business in Utah.

  2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

    Utah requires a Certificate of Good Standing (also known as a Certificate of Existence) from your home state issued within 90 days.

  3. Create a Utah ID

    A Utah ID is required to access Utah OneStop Business Registration. Create a Utah ID if you don't already have one.

  4. Register as a Foreign Profit Corporation

    Log in to OneStop Business Registration with your Utah ID account and file a registration as a Foreign Profit Corporation.

What else do I need to know?

Once you are registered with the Secretary of State, you may have additional requirements to maintain your "good standing" in the state. Failing to do so can result in fines, back taxes, and forfeiting certain priveleges within the state.

Maintaining a Registered Agent

Most states require that you have a registered agent that can receive important mail from the Secretary of State should they need to contact you. There are many commercial options available or you can use Mosey to be your registered agent and keep your information private in Utah.

Annual Reports and Taxes

In addition to maintaining a registered agent, most states require you to file a report annually. Registration can also trigger state taxes such as a franchise tax or income tax. You can use Mosey to identify these additional requirements to maintain good standing in Utah.

Utah's Foreign Qualification Agencies

Review your compliance risks, free.

More from the blog

Learn how to keep your business compliant in all 50 states across payroll, HR, Secretary of State, and tax.

What Are Articles of Organization for an LLC?

Starting a business requires important decisions and steps. One of the key milestones for many entrepreneurs in the United States is filing the Articles of Organization. This document plays a pivotal role in the formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), serving as the official birth certificate of your business entity. Let’s explore the Articles of Organization, their significance, and why they are crucial to establishing your LLC.

Kaitlin Edwards | Jan 8, 2024

8 Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Manual Compliance Processes

Staying compliant is tough, especially for teams still using manual compliance processes. People on compliance teams spend hours managing documents, chasing down approvals, and checking regulatory standards by hand, often leading to mistakes and missed deadlines. The bottom line—manual compliance operations can slow down workflows, increase risk, and make it tough to keep up with ever-changing requirements. When every new regulation or request means more spreadsheets, more emails, and more stress, it’s no wonder compliance professionals feel overwhelmed. Effective compliance management should support a culture of compliance across all employees, not just a few “go-to” experts. Today, we’re exploring real signs that manual compliance has become a problem, and what better practices can look like.

Paul Boynton | Jun 26, 2025

Holiday Pay: An HR Guide for Holiday Pay Policies

Holiday pay can be a cornerstone of workplace satisfaction and competitive hiring. If you’re running a business or managing a team, you already know the stakes — morale, retention, and compliance. A holiday pay policy can be a successful HR strategy. At its core, holiday pay is straightforward. It means compensating employees on recognized holidays, whether they’re clocking in or taking the workday off. It may sound simple, but it isn’t. Without a clear company policy, misunderstandings can arise, morale can plummet, and the potential for compliance risks looms large.

Paul Boynton | Oct 18, 2025

Ready to get started?

Schedule a free consultation to see how Mosey transforms business compliance.