Search registry entities

    Canada registry entity search

    Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.

    Search Company Records in Canada

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    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamContent reviewed June 2026Primary source: Corporations Canada

    How do I find the right registered entity in Canada?

    A registry entity search in Canada identifies which specific legal entity you are dealing with when a name is shared across several. Corporations Canada distinguishes them by registration number, entity type (Federal Corporation, Provincial Corporation, Cooperative) and registered address.

    Step-by-step

    1. 1

      Search the name and expect several hits

      Groups commonly register holding, trading and dormant entities under near-identical names. The first result is not necessarily the one you are dealing with.

    2. 2

      Disambiguate by registration number

      The registration number is unique. If a counterparty cannot give you theirs, that is itself informative.

    3. 3

      Compare entity type and address

      Where the number is unavailable, entity type (Federal Corporation, Provincial Corporation, Cooperative) and registered address usually separate the candidates.

    4. 4

      Record which entity you chose

      Contracts are with an entity, not a brand. Note the registration number you verified so later checks look at the same record.

    Open Corporations CanadaAll Canada records

    Canada: choosing and checking the right record

    Choose the correct source
    First identify whether the corporation was created federally or under a province or territory. Corporations Canada's search covers federal corporations; use the relevant provincial or territorial register for entities incorporated there.
    Confirm the entity
    Record the corporation number together with its incorporating jurisdiction. A business number is not interchangeable with every provincial corporation number. Compare numbered-company names and any operating names carefully.

    Check current access and document options on the official Corporations Canada / Provincial Registries site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the Canada registry guide.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why do several Canada entities share the same name?

    Groups register separate legal entities — holding, operating, dormant — under closely related names. Corporations Canada treats each as a distinct entity with its own registration number.

    How do I tell which entity I am contracting with?

    By registration number. Ask the counterparty for it, then confirm that exact number on Corporations Canada. Name alone is not sufficient.

    Is entity search on Corporations Canada free?

    Check official search, account and fee rules. LemReveal's basic lookup is separate from official document and subscription charges.

    Does the biggest entity in the results matter most?

    No. What matters is the entity named on your contract or invoice. A dormant shell and a trading company in the same group look similar in a name search and carry very different risk.

    Should I search federal or provincial?

    If you know the company incorporated federally, search Corporations Canada. Otherwise, most Canadian businesses register provincially. Ontario (ONBIS), BC (BC Registry), Alberta (CORES), and Quebec (REQ) each have separate searchable databases.

    People also ask about find the right registered entity in Canada

    The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.

    Is the Canada company register free to search?

    Yes. Basic company lookups on the Corporations Canada / Provincial Registries are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.

    What is the official Canada business registry?

    The Corporations Canada / Provincial Registries is the official public register of companies incorporated in Canada. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/cc/CorporationsCanada/fdrlCrpSrch.html.

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