A corporation is a business that is a legal entity, separate from its owners (stakeholders).
A “legal person”
A business corporation is considered to be a "legal person" and therefore can:
- enter into contracts;
- get financing;
- sue and be sued;
- hire employees;
- own assets; and
- pay taxes.
Elects a board of directors
Shareholders elect a board of directors. The board of directors is the “operating mind” of the corporation. They appoint and supervise the managers of the corporation’s day-to-day operations.
Corporations must incorporate
Before they can operate as a business, corporations must go through a process to incorporate. Business corporations incorporate under Yukon’s Business Corporations Act.
Your name must contain 1 of the following words or its abbreviation:
- Limited or Ltd.;
- Incorporated or Inc.;
- Corporation or Corp.; or
- the French language equivalent of the above 3 options.
Choosing a bilingual name
If you decide on a bilingual name (English and French):
- both names must be submitted;
- both names must be approved; and
- you must pay the fee for each name search.
You'll receive 2 name reservation certificates. You can include both names on the bilingual form you submit for registration. You do not need to submit a separate registration form for each name.
Choosing a numbered name
If you decide on a numbered name for your corporation, there's no fee. There's also no need to complete Form 1 ‒ Application for name reservation below. We'll give you a numbered name once your business is incorporate
Guidelines on choosing a name for your business
- The minimum length of a name is 5 characters.
- The maximum length of a name is 120 characters.
- The name must have more letters than the total number of other characters in the name.
- Obscene or objectionable names are not allowed.
- Names must not mislead.
- Names must not be the same as another organization’s.
Names that need consent
- Names that suggest government affiliation such as the Government of Yukon or a Yukon First Nations government.
- Names that suggest academic or technical affiliation such as university or college.
- Names that suggest the teaching of a trade such as a school, institute or academy.
- Names such as accountant, dentist, engineer or private investigators.
- Names that suggest a regulated financial business.
See the full list of naming guidelines in the Naming Regulation.
To obtain a certificate of name reservation, you must submit the following to our office:
- Form 1 ‒ Application for name reservation;
- pay the $60 fee; or
- complete the name reservation on the Yukon Corporate Online Registry (YCOR) and pay $40 by credit card.
Follow these steps for registering your business name.
The proposed name has to follow the requirements of the Naming Regulation. If the name does this, we'll issue a Certificate of Name Reservation. This is valid for 90 days.
The process can take up to 5 business days.
The certificate of name reservation is valid for a period of 90 days. Within the 90 days, you can proceed to complete the required documents.
Submit your application by the expiration date on the certificate. If you miss this date, you'll have to:
- resubmit an application for name reservation; and
- pay the $60 in-person or $40 online fee again.
After you get your certificate of name reservation, download and complete the following forms:
- Form 1 ‒ Articles of incorporation;
- Form 2 ‒ Notice of address of corporation; and
- Form 8 ‒ Notice of directors.
How to fill out the forms
The information you provide on each form must be legible. Make sure to complete each section.
Articles of incorporation
Download and complete Form 1 ‒ Articles of incorporation.
Section 1: Name of corporation
The name must match the name appearing on the certificate of name reservation. Leave this section blank if it is going to be a numbered name.
Section 2: Authorized classes of shares
Include the classes of shares that the corporation is authorized to issue.
- The maximum number of shares of each class that the corporation is authorized to issue or a statement that the number of shares of that class is unlimited.
- The par value of shares of a class with par value or a statement that the shares of that class are without par value.
- If there are two or more classes of shares, the special rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to each class of shares.
For more information or further instructions, please refer to section 8(1) of the Yukon Business Corporations Act or seek legal advice from your legal counsel.
Section 3: Restrictions on share transfers
If there are restrictions on share transfers, list them in this section. If there are no restrictions, complete as “NA”.
Section 4: Number of directors
Include the number of directors or, the minimum and maximum number of directors of the corporation.
Section 5: Restrictions on business conducted
Include restrictions, if any, on business the corporation can conduct. If there are no restrictions, complete as “NA”.
Section 6: Other provisions
If there are any other provisions, list them in this section.
Section 7: Name of incorporator
Include the name of the incorporator.
Section 8: Mailing address of incorporator
Include the mailing address of the incorporator.
Section 9: Signature of incorporator
Include the signature of the incorporator.
Section 10: Date
Include the date the form was signed.
Notice of address of corporation
Download and complete Form 2 ‒ Notice of address of corporation.
Section 1: Name of corporation
The name must match the name appearing on the certificate of name reservation. Leave this section blank if it is going to be a numbered name.
Section 2: Registered office in Yukon
A corporation must have a registered office in Yukon.
“Delivery address” refers to a physical location. Include an address or other description to identify a person’s home or place of business. This must not include a post office box.
“Mailing address” refers to where you send mail. Include a complete mailing address, including the postal code. This address can be a person’s home, place of business or post office box.
Section 3: Records office
If the corporation is a public corporation, it may have a separate records office at a different place in or out of Yukon.
Section 4: Address for mail service
Complete this section only if the mailing address if different from the address in section 2. This address must be a Yukon address.
Section 5: Name of incorporator
Include the name of incorporator.
Section 6: Signature of incorporator
Include the signature of the incorporator.
Section 7: Date of signature
Include the date the form was signed.
Notice of directors
Download and complete Form 8 ‒ Notice of directors.
Section 1: Name of corporation
The name must match the name appearing on the certificate of name reservation. Leave this section blank if it is going to be a numbered name.
Section 2: First directors of the corporation
Include the names of the directors of the corporation. The number of directors listed in this section must be the same as listed on Form 1, section 4. If the director is a corporation or extra-territorial corporation, include its Yukon registry number. Attach additional pages if necessary.
Section 3: Name of incorporator
Include the name of the incorporator.
Section 4: Signature of incorporator
Include the signature of the incorporator.
Section 5: Date of signature
Include the date the form was signed.
Submit your documents and pay your fees
For new incorporations, original signatures are required. We only accept originals. Copies or electronic signatures are not accepted.
After the forms are completed, submit it along with the fee.
The cost of filing an application for incorporation of a Yukon business corporation is $300.
How to pay
You can pay by:
- cheque;
- credit card;
- cash; or
- debit card.
Cheque
Provide a cheque in the appropriate amount made out to Government of Yukon.
Credit card
We accept Visa, Master Card and American Express payment at the office. If you send your documents by mail, provide a phone number where we can reach you. This is so you can give us your credit card information.
Cash or debit
Payment in cash or with a debit card can only be made in person at our office: 307 Black Street, 1st floor.
Deliver your documents to us
You can drop off forms at our office or in our secure drop box in the lobby.
When you put your forms in our secure drop box, you can include:
- cash;
- cheque; or
- a payment information form to contact you for credit card payments.
Submit your documents by mail
Our offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 867-667-5314, or toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5314
Mail:
Government of Yukon
Corporate Affairs (C-6)
Box 2703,
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Processing time
After all documents are accepted and filed, you will receive a certificate of incorporation and the corporation comes into existence on the date shown on the certificate.
The process can take up to 10 business days.
Legal advice
Staff at Corporate Affairs cannot provide any interpretation of legislation or operational advice of any sort regarding:
- business corporations;
- sole proprietorships;
- partnerships;
- cooperative associations; or
- societies.
If you need advice, talk with a professional such as a lawyer or an accountant. Our staff cannot provide legal advice or services. For legal matters, contact a lawyer or phone the Yukon Law Line: 867-668-5297; toll free 1-866-667-4305
Business identifier numbers and taxes
For information about business identifier numbers, taxes and charitable status, visit the Canada Revenue Agency.
Business licences
For information about business licences, contact the City of Whitehorse 867-668-8346 or email adminbuilding@whitehorse.ca.
Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 307 Black Street, 1st floor in Whitehorse. For clients who prefer limited contact, a drop box is located in the main lobby.
Phone: 867-667-5314, or toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5314
Fax: 867-393-6251
Email: corporateaffairs@yukon.ca
Mail:
Government of Yukon
Corporate Affairs (C-6)
Box 2703,
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6