Who Requires NUANS® Search?

NUANS® search is required, if you wish to incorporate your business in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. They are also required for Federal (Canada) incorporation.

A corporate name search report is required in order to register:

• Provincial or Federal Corporation
• Non-profit organization or a Charity Corporation
• A Federal Trademark

A company cannot be incorporated with a name that is identical to another name already registered. Confusingly similar names are also a cause for concern. When you incorporate a company, the government must ensure that the name is free to use. The NUANS® name search report is the document required to prove name availability. The report will show whether there is an exact name already registered that would be in conflict with the proposed name.

In other words, you need to make sure that no one else has already registered the corporate name or trademark that you would like to use.

After the name search has been done the NUANS® Report System reserves the corporate business name you selected for 90 days. If the name already exists, the reservation is invalid. No one should be able to register the name you reserved before 90 days expire.

Please note that trademark names cannot be reserved and it is recommended that you file a trademark application as soon as possible.

After 90 days, a new search would have to be completed and submitted to the appropriate government office or registry agent.

You can incorporate your business here