Business verification in Canada
VBC certifies businesses registered in Canada. Verification starts from the official record: in Canada the company register is maintained by Corporations Canada for federal companies, or the provincial registry, and the entity is identified by its corporation number, federal or provincial.
Canadian companies may be incorporated federally or provincially, and the two produce different records. The CRA Business Number is the common thread across tax, payroll and import accounts.
Where a business is registered for tax, the Business Number (BN) issued by the CRA is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why Canadian businesses certify
Canadian businesses may be incorporated federally or provincially, producing different records for what looks like the same kind of company. The CRA Business Number is the thread that runs through tax, payroll and import accounts.
What VBC verifies for a Canadian business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a Canadian business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Certificate of incorporation, federal or provincial
- Corporate profile report
- Business Number confirmation
- Proof of the registered office
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a Canadian business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from Canadian businesses
Can a business registered in Canada get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in Canada. Verification is based on records from Corporations Canada for federal companies, or the provincial registry, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a Canadian business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a Canadian business normally supplies: certificate of incorporation, federal or provincial; corporate profile report; business Number confirmation; proof of the registered office. The Business Number (BN) issued by the CRA is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the corporation number, federal or provincial used for in verification?
The corporation number, federal or provincial identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by Corporations Canada for federal companies, or the provincial registry. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a Canadian business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in Canada?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in Canada remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a Canadian business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.