How to Register a Business in Nunavut
Updated: July 2026. Fees and filing instructions were checked on July 13, 2026.
A Nunavut Declaration of Use of Business Name costs $50. If an individual operates under a name other than their exact personal name—or adds wording such as “& Company”—the declaration is generally due within 60 days after first use.
Nunavut Legal Registries currently accepts a signed declaration scanned as a 300-dpi PDF by email. Never put payment-card details in an email; use one of the registry's approved payment methods.
Who needs to file?
An individual using only their exact personal name can generally rely on the personal-name exception. A brand, modified name, partnership name or wording such as “& Company” triggers the declaration rule.
The filing records use of a name. It does not create a corporation, reserve Canada-wide trademark rights or issue every licence required to operate. For a separate legal entity, compare How to Incorporate in Nunavut.
Nunavut registration cost and timing
| Item | Government fee | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration of Use of Business Name | $50 | Generally within 60 days after first use |
| Numbered Nunavut corporation | $300 | Separate legal structure |
| Named Nunavut corporation | $325 | Includes $25 name reservation |
Check the current business-name package and fee schedule through Nunavut Legal Registries. A registry fee does not include accounting, insurance, licences, professional advice or procurement-registry eligibility.
File the declaration
- Confirm that a sole proprietorship or partnership fits the ownership, liability and tax plan.
- Check the proposed name against Nunavut records, Canadian trademarks, domains and other jurisdictions where the business will operate.
- Complete the current Declaration of Use of Business Name with the owner, business activity, first-use date, physical address and postal details requested.
- Sign the form and scan the complete document as a clear 300-dpi PDF.
- Submit it by the method in the current Legal Registries guide and pay the $50 fee without emailing card details.
- Keep the accepted filing and update the registry if filed information changes or the name stops being used.
Nunavut's registry may review whether a proposed name is acceptable. Name registration is still not a trademark opinion, so get professional clearance where the brand has significant value.
Sole proprietorship or corporation?
A sole proprietor and the business are the same legal person. Income is normally reported on the owner's T1, and the owner is personally responsible for business obligations.
A Nunavut corporation is a separate person with shares, directors, a physical Nunavut registered office, corporate records, a T2 return and a $70 territorial annual return. Incorporation costs $300 for a numbered company or $325 when a $25 word-name reservation is added.
Obtain CRA accounts separately
Register a CRA Business Number when the business needs GST/HST, payroll, import/export or another program account. The Legal Registries declaration does not replace CRA registration.
Nunavut has 5% GST and no territorial sales tax. GST registration is generally required once the business no longer qualifies as a small supplier; voluntary registration may be worthwhile sooner in some cases. Review the CRA's GST/HST rules for the actual facts.
Confirm WSCC and local permissions
Check whether the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission requires employer registration or coverage. Also verify municipal business licensing, zoning, home-occupation rules and any territorial or federal sector permits.
BizPaL can identify possible requirements, but confirm them with the Government of Nunavut, the applicable municipality and other issuing authorities.
Do not confuse three different registries
Nunavut businesses may encounter three systems:
- Legal Registries records business names and corporations.
- The NNI Nunavut Business Registry supports eligibility for Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti procurement benefits.
- The Inuit Firm Registry identifies eligible Inuit firms for a separate procurement-policy purpose.
The NNI registration process is separate, has no application fee, renews every two years and applies ownership, residency, Nunavut office, resident-manager and operating tests. A $50 business-name filing does not guarantee NNI eligibility.
Keep the records current
Retain the filed declaration and notify Legal Registries of relevant changes or cessation as required. Maintain CRA, GST, payroll, WSCC, licence and procurement-registry obligations on their separate schedules.
Ribbon Business does not provide Nunavut business registration, Nunavut incorporation or a Nunavut registered office. File with the territory or use qualified local legal and accounting support when the ownership, contracts or tax position is complex.
Frequently asked questions
Is the declaration the same as a business licence?
No. It records the business name. Municipal and sector operating permissions are separate.
Can I email my credit-card number with the form?
No. Nunavut's submission guidance says not to email payment-card information. Follow the approved payment instructions instead.
Does NNI registration cost anything?
The NNI registry application is currently described as no-fee, but the business must meet its substantive Nunavut eligibility criteria and renew every two years.
Treat the $50 filing as one launch step
The name declaration is inexpensive, but a compliant launch can also require CRA accounts, WSCC, municipal or sector permissions, insurance and—only when relevant—separate NNI or Inuit-firm registration.