Kept simple · Virginia
2 Best Foreign Registration Services in Virginia (2026) and What Virginia Requires
The short version
- State fee to register
- $100
- Certificate from home?
- Yes (365 days old, at most)
- After registering
- $50, annual registration fee
- Ranked first
- Mainstay Filing then VA Registered Agent.org
Virginia, ranked
The order follows five checks. Three-year cost comes first, then what the price covers. See method.1. Mainstay Filing: best for adding more states
Service $199 plus $100 to the state. Agent renewal $149
Mainstay Filing comes first because Virginia's fee plus $199 gets you registered, with no registered agent bill until year two.
Choose VA Registered Agent.org and save $100 across three years, if the LLC never leaves Virginia.
No registered agent fee in year one, then $149 a year.
Includes
- The registration filing
- Registered agent, free in year one
- The same price anywhere
Good
- The price does not change by state
- Agent free the first year
- $199 to register
Against
- Agent renews at $149, $50 above VA Registered Agent.org
2. VA Registered Agent.org: best for adding only this state
Service $199 plus $100 to the state. Agent renewal $99
VA Registered Agent.org ranks second. Registration costs $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.
Includes
- Virginia registration filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- The first agent year is included
- $199 over the state fee
- Agent renews at $99
Against
- Virginia only. The home state needs another agent
Side by side
| # | Company | Year one | Renewal | Three years | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | the registration filing; registered agent, free in year one; the same price anywhere | View Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | VA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | virginia registration filing; agent for year one | View VA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The facts
Must my LLC register here?
An LLC formed elsewhere registers with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk, then begins business in Virginia.
Without registration, an LLC may face it cannot act as plaintiff (Va. Code 13.1-1057(A)).
law.lis.virginia.gov as of October 2026, our only source here
How much to register?
The state charges $100. A service adds $199.
By year three the state has collected $200. scc.virginia.gov as of October 2026, our only source here
Which form, and where?
The Application for Certificate of Registration to Transact Business in Virginia as a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC1052) goes to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk. One filing registers the LLC.
Attach certified copy of articles of organization and all amendments no older than 365 days.
Is there a filing that repeats?
Next comes the annual registration fee, at $50.
Date set by the state: last day of your registration month.
What put the first pick first?
Mainstay Filing wins on work included. That check carries 27%.
Two checks carry most of the weight: three-year cost (38%) and work included (27%).
Two states are involved, so a provider for every state ranks above VA Registered Agent.org.
What Virginia requires to register
| Requirement | Rule or amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | $100 | scc.virginia.gov as of October 2026, our only source here |
| Home-state certificate | Yes, 365 days | law.lis.virginia.gov as of October 2026, our only source here |
| Annual registration fee | $50 | law.lis.virginia.gov as of October 2026, our only source here |
| State fees, three years | $200 | Sum of the rows above |
Also asked
Does the home state need its own agent?
Yes, in most cases. A provider active in every state, such as Mainstay Filing, can cover home and this state together.
What do the picks cost over three years?
Mainstay Filing is $497, while VA Registered Agent.org is $397, services only.
Where do the figures come from?
State fees come from Virginia's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.
Must I use a service?
No law requires a service. It is a paid convenience.
Does a service file it for me?
All of them do. Only the service fee differs.
Which foreign registration service should I use in Virginia?
Mainstay Filing ranks first. It pairs a $199 service fee with a free first registered agent year, then $149 yearly. After it, VA Registered Agent.org.
References
- Entry for Virginia yearly filing: Recurring filing: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Virginia yearly filing: Recurring filing: read at scc.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Va: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Virginia formation fee: Filing fee: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Virginia registered agent statute: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for SCC, foreign limited liability company: read at scc.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for SCC, foreign business entities FAQ: read at scc.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for SCC, foreign registration checklist: read at scc.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Code of Virginia § 13.1-1052: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Code of Virginia § 13.1-1059: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Code of Virginia § 13.1-1057: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Code of Virginia 13.1-1051 to: read at law.lis.virginia.gov, dated November 2026, kept short on purpose
- Mainstay Filing Virginia service page, read November 13, 2026
- VA Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026