Quebec Business Registry (Company Search In Quebec: Overview)

Looking for more information on Quebec Business Registry?

Where do you do a search for a company in Quebec?

What are the essential elements you should know!

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What Is The Quebec Business Registry

The Quebec Business Registry is a database of registered companies in the province of Quebec managed by the “Registraire des entreprises du Québec”  or “REQ”.

Anyone can search for an enterprise or company in the Quebec Enterprise Register by going to the Company Registry Quebec tool offered online by clicking on the “Find An Enterprise” button.

All companies looking to conduct business in the province of Quebec are required to be registered with the Quebec registry of companies. 

If a company is incorporated under Quebec laws, it will be registered with the Quebec registry upon its constitution.

On the other hand, a foreign company registered outside of the province of Quebec will need to register the foreign entity to be authorized to do business in Quebec.

Who Must File A Declaration of Registration in Quebec

Most companies doing business in Quebec must be registered with the Registraire des enterprises du Québec.

Companies incorporated in Quebec will file a “declaration of registration” providing mandatory information required to be publicly disclosed by companies.

Here are the type of persons that are required to file a declaration of registration in Quebec:

• Sole proprietors in Quebec 
• Natural persons operating a tobacco retail outlet or a tanning salon 
• Foreign entities if they carry business operations in Quebec
• Foreign entities if they have a domicile in Quebec, carry business in Quebec or possess an immovable property 
• Legal entities constituted in Quebec before 1994
• General and limited partnerships 
• Foreign partnerships doing business in Quebec
• Foreign partnerships having a domicile in Quebec or possessing an immovable property 
• Syndicates of co-ownerships 
• Trusts operating a commercial enterprise 

The objective is to ensure that the Quebec population and government agencies know who they are doing business with.

Typically, when a company is formed in Quebec or when a foreign company demands a Quebec registration, the REQ obtains the necessary information and assigns a unique identification number to the company (called “Numéro d’entreprise du Québec” or “NEQ”).

The NEQ allows the government and government agencies to easily identify the company in their communications.

Once a company is registered, it will then need to maintain its registration in good standing by completing its ongoing legal obligations stemming from registration.

Quebec Company Registry Search

How do you search the Quebec Company Registry?

Doing a company search on the Quebec Enterprise Register is quite simple.

One way is to search for a company by using the name of the company.

For example, if you are searching for the Company ABC, you can do a search by entering the entire name (Company ABC) or parts of the name (ABC).

Another way you can search for a company is by using the company’s Quebec Enterprise Number (“Numéro d’entreprise du Québec” in French or NEQ).

The enterprise number is a unique identification number assigned to every company registered with the Registre des entreprises.

Basic Search

The basic Quebec registry search option allows you to search the companies database by either using the company name or its unique enterprise number.

To do a search by name, you should:

• Go to the Registaire des enterprises website
• Click on “Find An Enterprise”
• Type the company name or parts of the name 
• Accept the terms of use
• Click on “Rechercher” or search 

To do a search using the company’s NEQ, you should:

• Go to the Registaire des enterprises website
• Click on “Find An Enterprise”
• Type the company NEQ number
• Accept the terms of use
• Click on “Rechercher” or search 

Advanced Search

You can also do an advanced Quebec business registry search. 

With this type of search, you can search for companies registered in the public authorities database or in the central enterprise database.

To do an advanced search, you should:

• Go to the Registaire des enterprises website
• Click on “Find An Enterprise”
• Click on “Recherche avancée” (advanced search)
• Select the database in which you want to search 
• Select the type of search you want to do (by name, by keywords, or related words)
• Select the type of company you are searching for (partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation, or all)
• Accept the terms of use
• Click on “Rechercher” or search 

Company Information In Quebec Registry of Companies

What type of information is available in the Quebec Registry of Companies?

Companies, corporations, partnerships, and registered sole proprietors are required to provide certain information about their business so the public is informed as to who they are dealing with.

When you do a search in the Quebec business registry, you will find the following information on a company or corporation:

• Company’s unique file number (NEQ)
• Company’s registered name 
• Company’s registered address
• Company’s registration status (registered, not registered, cancelled, cancelled ex officio or cancelled on request)
• Date of last reported change to the company’s enterprise file
• The company’s registered names (current name and past names)
• Registration date (initial date)
• Date when company last active (final date)
• Company’s business establishments
• Company’s related persons such as directors, shareholders and partners
• Trade names used in Quebec

REQ Contact Information

You can contact the REQ in several ways:

• By telephone (418-644-0075 or 1800-644-0075)
• In person
• By mail

You can also send documents to them by courier service or via bailiff.

If you go in person in the City of Montreal, the REQ is located at:

If you are in Quebec City, the REQ is located at:

If you are going to mail your documents to them, here is the address to use if you are requesting the amendment to a company’s registration information:

Here is the address you should use if you are looking to incorporate a new company:

Quebec Registry Takeaways 

So, who needs to file a declaration with the Registraire des enterprises du Quebec?

How do you do a company search in the Business Registry Quebec?

Let’s look at a summary of our findings.

Quebec Corporate Registry

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