Business Copies and Certificates
Most filings are returned to the filer in the same manner they were submitted to our office—by mail, online, or in person. If you need a copy of your business registration documents, you may order a copy through our office.
Note: Filings, copy orders, and certificate orders submitted online are available in your Transaction History for 90 days. Sign in to your online account and access your Transaction History to download your documents.
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TYPE OF COPY |
DESCRIPTION |
FEE |
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BY MAIL |
ONLINE |
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Non-Certified Copy |
Regular filing copy (no certification). This is the same version you received at the time of filing – whether filed by mail, online, or in person. |
$3.00 per filing |
$3.00 per filing + $10.00 online transaction fee |
|
Certified Copy |
Regular filing copy accompanied by a “Certification of Record” page verifying the filing is a true and complete copy. |
$3.00 per filing + $5.00 certification fee |
$3.00 per filing + $10.00 online transaction fee + $5.00 certification fee |
Which copy do I need to order?
Confirm with the receiving party which type of copy they require. For example, if a bank requests a copy of your registration, ask whether they specifically need a certified copy or if a non-certified copy will suffice.
I am looking for my Articles of Incorporation/Articles of Organization.
Our office refers to this as the “Original Filing” on your business record page – this is the original business registration that was first filed with our office.
A Business Certificate is issued by the Minnesota Secretary of State to confirm that a business entity is registered and up to date with its required filings and fees on the date the certificate is issued.
Depending on the entity type, the certificate will be issued as either a Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Existence/Registration.
The certificate is a certified stand-alone document that lists the business name, file number, original filing date, Minnesota statute, home jurisdiction, and the date the certificate was issued.
Please note: the certificate only confirms the business status on the day it is issued. It does not guarantee the business will remain in compliance in the future.
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TYPE OF CERTIFICATE |
AVAILABLE FOR |
FEE |
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BY MAIL |
ONLINE |
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Certificate of Existence and Registration |
Assumed Names, Name Reservations, and General Entities
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$5.00 per certificate |
$5.00 per certificate + $10.00 online transaction fee |
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Certificate of Good Standing |
Domestic and Foreign: |
$5.00 per certificate |
$5.00 per certificate + $10.00 online transaction fee |
Do I need a Certificate of Good Standing/Certificate of Existence and Registration?
Not unless a bank, licensing agency, or other party specifically requests it.
I am looking for my Certificate of Incorporation/Certificate of Organization.
This is your original business registration document. You would order a copy of the original filing, not a Certificate of Good Standing.
How to order copies and certificates
By Mail
Complete the Copy Request Form.
For each entity, print a history printout from the entity’s Record Details page: sos.mn.gov/findabiz
Select the specific filing(s) you wish to order on the Records Details page.
Mail the Copy Request Form, record details page, and payment to:
Minnesota Secretary of State
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Online
- Copies and business certificates ordered online are separate transactions.
- All copies and business certificates will be returned electronically to the online account used to place the order. Sign in to your online account to confirm your order and download copies/certificates.
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Business Copies |
Business Certificate (Certificate of Good Standing; Certificate of Existence & Registration) |
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Older filings may take 3-7 business days to process, while more recent filings may be issued immediately upon payment.
Do not submit another online payment if your copies are not issued immediately. The order will appear as Pending in your Transaction History when you sign in to your online account. |
Certificates are issued immediately upon payment.
Sign in to your online account to confirm your order and download certificate. |
Instructions for ordering online
- Sign in to your online account: Sign In
If you do not have an account, select Create Online Account. - Select the “Business Name/File Number” tab and search your business either by business name or file number.
- Once you locate the business registration, click “Details” to the right side.
- On the Business Record Details page:
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- To order copies of business registrations: click “Order Copies”, then select the filing(s) you wish to order. Note: Certificate/Articles of Incorporation or Certificate/Articles of Organization is referred to as the Original Filing.
- To order a Certificate of Good Standing/Certificate of Existence & Registration: click “Order Certificate”
- A message will display the business name and the product type based. Click “OK” to proceed.
- The Delivery Information page will default to your account information. The email address cannot be changed. Click “Next”.
- Client Reference Information (optional): Enter information for internal notes if needed or click “Next”.
- Review the order to confirm the correct business name and certificate type. Click “Submit”.
- Record the order number and click “Continue to Make Payment”.
- On the U.S. Bank webpage, select “Pay without Registering” to complete a one-time payment with a credit or debit card. Note: The address entered must match the billing address for the credit/debit card.
After payment is successful, you will receive:
- A payment confirmation from U.S. Bank.
- An email from our office with a link to download the document. Note: Older filings may take longer to process. This email will be sent once the order is reviewed and processed in the order received (first in, first out).
Sign in to your account to check the status of your order or download completed certificates or copies from Transaction History. All orders remain available for 90 days.
Why is my online copy order taking longer than expected?
Older filings may take 3–7 business days to process because they must be retrieved from microfiche records. Newer filings may be issued immediately upon payment.
I ordered copies online, but did not receive them. What should I do?
Sign in to your online account and review your Transaction History to confirm that the copy order was successfully placed. If the order appears in your Transaction History and shows a Pending status, it means the copies are still being processed.
Pending orders typically indicate that the documents must be retrieved from microfiche cards or microfiche roll film. Because these are older records, additional time may be needed to locate and produce the best image available.
Please allow time for processing while our office works to obtain the best copy possible.
How will I receive my copies?
All copies are returned electronically to the online account used to place the order. Once completed, you will receive an email notification with a link to access the filings. You can also download the copies from your Transaction History.
Why am I receiving an error message on the “Make a Payment” page?
You may receive an error if the address entered on the “Make a Payment” page does not match the billing address associated with your credit/debit card. Please verify that the billing address is entered exactly as it appears on your card statement.
What should I do if my payment fails or I receive an error message?
If an error occurs, you will need to place a new copy order. The original order number will become inactive, and payment cannot be completed on that order.
If your payment is successfully processed, you will receive an email confirmation from US Bank with a confirmation number. You may also check your credit/debit card statement to confirm whether the charge was completed.
I am looking for copies of my renewals.
Annual Renewals may be requested only by mail.