Key Takeaways

  • A Certificate of Good Standing PA verifies that your Pennsylvania business is properly registered and compliant with all state requirements.
  • The certificate may be called a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Subsistence, and is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State (Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations).
  • You can request the certificate online, by mail, or in person, with a $40 filing fee payable to the “Department of State.”
  • Businesses often need this certificate to open bank accounts, apply for loans, renew business licenses, or register as a foreign entity in another state.
  • Avoid scams—the official certificate is only issued through the Pennsylvania Department of State, not by private or third-party solicitations.
  • To use the certificate internationally, it can be authenticated with an apostille through the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Division of Notaries, Commissions, and Legislation.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing PA is a document that is used by the State of Pennsylvania to indicate that a business has paid all required fees and filed the paperwork necessary to operate in the state. In simpler terms, this certificate means that a business or LLC is in existence and has good standing with the state. A Certificate of Good Standing can sometimes be called a Certificate of Existence or a Certificate of Subsistence, and is usually employed by a company that wants to do business outside of its normal jurisdiction.

Why You Might Need a Certificate of Good Standing in PA

Businesses often need a certificate of good standing PA to demonstrate compliance when working with outside entities. Lenders, investors, government agencies, or other states may require proof that your company is legally recognized and up to date with all filings and taxes.

Common reasons to obtain this certificate include:

  • Registering as a foreign entity to conduct business outside Pennsylvania.
  • Securing financing or business loans from banks or investors.
  • Renewing business licenses or permits in regulated industries.
  • Participating in mergers, acquisitions, or contracts with larger companies or government agencies.
  • Opening new bank accounts or expanding operations across state lines.

Although the document is not mandatory for everyday operations within Pennsylvania, having it readily available demonstrates your company’s legitimacy and can streamline important business transactions.

Pennsylvania LLC Certificate of Good Standing

In Pennsylvania, a Certificate of Good Standing will contain:

  • The date of issuance
  • The name of the LLC
  • A statement that reads the LLC or company is “duly organized with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”

While LLCs in Pennsylvania are not required to have a Certificate of Good Standing, this document can still be very useful. For instance, the LLC may need a certificate to complete a real estate purchase or open a bank account. 

In addition, before doing business outside of Pennsylvania, an LLC will need to register as a “foreign entity” or “foreign LLC.” Before being granted approval to do business as a foreign entity, a Certificate of Good Standing will need to be examined by the State. After receiving approval, a business may be issued a “Certificate of Authority.”

LLCs must pay $40 to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in Pennsylvania. A personal check or money order can be used to pay this fee, which is similar to requesting a Certificate of Organization. All payments should be made payable to the “Department of State.”

When requesting a Certificate of Good Standing and filing a Certificate of Organization, it is important to use two separate envelopes to prevent confusion, even if they are being mailed to the exact same address. In the past, a company has sent both documents in the same envelope and then been unable to locate their Certificate of Good Standing. Even after calling the state, the request for the certificate could not be found. As a result, the company had to pay an additional $40 and submit another request. 

Request letters and the $40 payment can be sent to the following address: Department of State, Corporation Bureau, PO Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722

At one time, it was common practice to include the request for a Certificate of Good Standing with the Certificate of Organization, but companies should now wait to request a Certificate of Good Standing until their LLC has been approved.

Common Problems and How to Resolve Them

If your certificate of good standing PA request is denied, it may be because:

  • The business has outstanding taxes or unfiled reports.
  • The company’s registered agent information is outdated.
  • The entity has been administratively dissolved due to noncompliance.

To fix these issues:

  1. File any missing annual or decennial reports.
  2. Update your registered agent or principal address through an amendment.
  3. Pay overdue fees or penalties to restore active status.
  4. Wait for the state to update your records, then reapply for the certificate.

If your entity was dissolved, you may need to reinstate your business before reapplying for a certificate of good standing.

How to Request Your Certificate of Good Standing Online

The fastest way to file for a certificate of good standing PA is through the Pennsylvania Department of State’s online filing system, accessible via the Business Filing Services portal.

Steps include:

  1. Log in or create an account on the PA Department of State website.
  2. Select your business from the registry using its name or entity number.
  3. Choose “Order Certified Documents” and select “Certificate of Subsistence.”
  4. Submit payment of $40 via credit card.
  5. Download your certificate immediately after processing or receive it by email.

Processing times for online requests are typically instantaneous, while mail requests may take up to two weeks. Businesses should verify that all prior filings (e.g., annual reports or tax returns) are current before ordering, as the certificate cannot be issued to entities that are delinquent or dissolved.

Request to Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

After downloading the request letter, you will notice that the document is simple and should be easy to fill out and submit.

You should write the current date in the upper right-hand corner of the document. You can add the name of your LLC, as well as the name and address where your documents should be delivered, after deleting the blue ink in the document.

You should be certain that your document includes the following information:

  • Your attorney's full name
  • Your attorney's identification number
  • Your attorney's signature
  • A check or money order for $25 made payable to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  • One self-addressed envelope

At the bottom of the document, you should write your name and phone number. Once the document has been printed, add your signature where it says, “below here." After submitting your document and required payment, you can expect to receive your Certificate of Good Standing within 7 to 10 business days. The Pennsylvania Department of State will process all corporate certificates. If your attorney has an inactive status, they will need to get in touch with the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board.

Beware of Certificate of Good Standing Scams in Pennsylvania

Some Pennsylvania business owners receive misleading notices or solicitations offering to obtain a certificate of good standing PA for a high fee. These mailers often look official, using state seals or urgent language.

However, the Pennsylvania Department of State has issued warnings about such scams. These third-party notices are not from the government and typically charge far more than the standard $40 fee.

To avoid scams:

  • Always verify communications directly through the PA Department of State’s official website.
  • Ignore notices that require payment via money order or non-secure links.
  • Know that only the Department of State can issue an official certificate.
  • Report suspicious correspondence to the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations.

How to Obtain an Apostille or Certification

In addition to being signed, the documents sent by a company must contain the seal of a notary public or a custodian of the record. Before receiving a certification or an apostille; transcripts, criminal record checks, and diplomas must be notarized. You are not required to, nor should you, have a birth certificate notarized.

When submitting your company's documents to the Department of State, you should include a cover letter that provides your company's full mailing address and name.

Using a Certificate of Good Standing Outside the U.S.

When using your certificate of good standing PA internationally—for example, to register a branch or open a bank account abroad—you may need it authenticated with an apostille.

Steps to obtain an apostille:

  1. Request a certified copy of your Certificate of Good Standing from the PA Department of State.
  2. Submit it with an apostille request form to the Department of State, Division of Notaries, Commissions, and Legislation.
  3. Include the $15 apostille fee per document.
  4. Specify the destination country to ensure the document meets international standards.

Apostilles verify the authenticity of signatures and seals on state-issued documents, making them valid for official use under the Hague Convention of 1961.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a Certificate of Good Standing in Pennsylvania?
    It’s an official document verifying that your business is legally registered and compliant with Pennsylvania’s filing and fee requirements.
  2. How long does it take to get a Certificate of Good Standing in PA?
    Online requests are processed instantly, while mail-in requests usually take 7–14 business days.
  3. How much does a Certificate of Good Standing cost in Pennsylvania?
    The standard filing fee is $40, payable to the Department of State.
  4. Can I request a Certificate of Good Standing for a dissolved company?
    No. The business must first reinstate its active status by filing missing reports or paying penalties.
  5. How can I avoid scams related to Certificates of Good Standing?
    Order the certificate only through the official Pennsylvania Department of State website and ignore third-party solicitations offering the service for inflated prices.

If you need help with requesting your Certificate of Good Standing PA, you can post your legal needs on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.