Order a NUANS Report Online
Official NUANS reports for Ontario, Alberta and federal filings, run by our team and emailed to you as a PDF within a few hours. Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick require a NUANS report to incorporate a named corporation, and Corporations Canada requires one for federal revivals and amalgamations. For a new federal incorporation the name search is built into the online application, so a report there is an optional check before you commit to a name.
No account or membership. Several names per order, ideal for law firms and accountants.
Start your orderHow to enter your proposed name
Type the name exactly as you intend to file it, then pick the jurisdiction the corporation will be filed in. Each report is weighted for the jurisdiction you choose, so an Ontario incorporation needs Ontario selected, and an Alberta incorporation needs Alberta.
Ontario, Alberta and other provincial filings
Enter the name exactly as it will appear on the certificate of incorporation, including the legal ending. Abbreviated endings such as Inc., Ltd. or Corp. end with a period. Ontario requires the name on your articles to be identical to the name searched.
Federal filings (CBCA)
Leave the legal ending off your search term. NUANS compares only the distinctive element of a federal name; including the suffix dilutes the match score and can cause valid names to be flagged.
Acceptable legal endings
Corp., Corporation, Inc., Incorporated, Incorporée, Ltd., Ltée, Limited, Limitée, plus their French-language equivalents where the jurisdiction permits French wording.
Order a NUANS name search report online
A NUANS report compares a proposed corporate name against registered Canadian business names, corporate names and trademarks, and lists the closest existing matches. Korporex runs an official NUANS report for each name you list, weighted for the jurisdiction you choose (an Ontario-biased report for Ontario, an Alberta report for Alberta), and emails all the reports to you together in a single PDF. Each report carries its own reference number, ready to use on your filing. To understand each part of the report once you have it, read our guide on how to read a NUANS report.
Who this service is for
- Founders incorporating a named corporation in Ontario, Alberta or New Brunswick, the three provinces where a NUANS report must be supplied to incorporate.
- Corporations preparing a federal revival or amalgamation, where Corporations Canada still requires a NUANS report.
- Lawyers, law clerks and accountants ordering reports for clients, several names at a time.
- Business owners who want to see the closest existing names across Canada before committing to a brand.
What we order and what you receive
You can list up to 10 proposed names in one order. For each name you give the full proposed name, its distinctive element and the jurisdiction the name is for: federal or any province or territory listed in the form. We run a separate NUANS search on every name and deliver the results together as one PDF, emailed to the address on the order, within a few hours of payment.
How to enter your names
- For Ontario and other provincial filings, enter the name exactly as it will appear on the certificate, including the legal ending. Abbreviated endings such as Inc., Ltd. or Corp. end with a period.
- For a federal (CBCA) name, leave the legal ending off. NUANS compares only the distinctive element of a federal name.
- The distinctive element is the unique part of the name: in Maple Ridge Logistics Inc., it is Maple Ridge.
- A report is generally treated as valid for 90 days from the date it is generated, and Ontario requires the report filed with the Articles of Incorporation to be dated within 90 days. A report ordered long before filing can expire first.
What a NUANS report does not do
A NUANS report is a search result, not a name approval or a reservation of the name. Federally, a Corporations Canada examiner decides whether the name is granted. Ontario does not review names for similarity at all, so in Ontario it is up to you to check the report for conflicts before you file. For which jurisdictions actually ask for a report, see which provinces require a NUANS report. If you are ready to incorporate, the Standard and Premium incorporation packages include one name search for the name in your order.
NUANS reports: common questions
Can I file the report with my Ontario or Alberta incorporation?+
Yes. Each report is an official NUANS report, run for the jurisdiction you select and carrying its own reference number. In Ontario you enter the reference number, the name searched and the report date on the Ontario Business Registry; in Alberta the complete report goes in with your filing through a registry agent. File within 90 days of the report date.
Do I need a NUANS report to incorporate federally?+
Not to incorporate. Corporations Canada has built the name search into its online incorporation filing, so no separate NUANS report is required for a new federal corporation. A NUANS report is still required for some federal filings, including the revival or amalgamation of a business corporation. Some founders order a federal report anyway, to see the closest existing names first.
How long is a NUANS report valid?+
A NUANS report is generally treated as valid for 90 days from the date it is generated. For a named Ontario corporation, the report filed with the Articles of Incorporation must be dated within that window. If the filing does not go through in time, a new report has to be ordered.
Does a clean NUANS report mean my name is approved?+
No. The report lists existing names and trademarks that resemble yours, but it does not approve or reserve the name. Federally, a Corporations Canada examiner reviews the name and can still reject it. Ontario does not review names for similarity, so a conflicting name can be challenged after filing, and in Alberta another corporation can object to the Registrar of Corporations. Read the report before you file.
Can I search several names in one order?+
Yes. You can list up to 10 proposed names in a single order, each with its own distinctive element and jurisdiction. Each name is a separate NUANS search and is priced per name. All the results are delivered together in one PDF emailed to you.
Does a numbered corporation need a NUANS report?+
No. No Canadian jurisdiction requires a NUANS report for a numbered corporation, because the government assigns the number and there is no chosen name to search. The corporation can later register a business name or change its name by amending its Articles.
Korporex is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about NUANS name-search reports; Korporex does not advise on whether a particular name will be approved. For advice on your specific situation, consult a lawyer.
Learn before you file
Related guides
Incorporation Guides
NUANS Report Ontario: How to Order One and File It
Ontario accepts only an Ontario-biased NUANS report, dated within 90 days, and the government never checks your name for you. Here is which filings need one, how to order it, and exactly what to enter on the Ontario Business Registry.
Incorporation Guides
NUANS Report Alberta: When You Need One and How to Get It
Alberta requires an Alberta NUANS report for a named corporation, and unlike Ontario it wants the full report handed in, less than 91 days old, through a registry agent. Here is which filings need one and how to order it.
Incorporation Guides
What Is a NUANS Name Search, and Do You Need One?
Ontario and some other provinces require a NUANS report before you incorporate a named corporation, and federally the search is built into the filing. Learn what it is, how it works, and what happens if your first-choice name is unavailable.
Jurisdiction Comparisons
Which Canadian Jurisdictions Actually Require a NUANS Report?
Most articles list seven or eight provinces. The real answer, according to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, is three provinces, and a federal incorporation no longer needs one. Here is the jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction breakdown.
Incorporation Guides
How to Read a NUANS Report, Line by Line
A NUANS report is a list of names with codes beside them and no verdict at the bottom. Here is what each part means, how an examiner reads it, and how to tell a fatal conflict from background noise.
Incorporation Guides
Your Corporate Name Was Refused. What Now?
A clean NUANS report and a refused name are not a contradiction. Here are the four grounds examiners actually refuse on, and the five routes back, including the one most people never consider.