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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79833</law_id><section_number>13.1-757</section_number><catch_line>Authority to transact business required</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>23.1-219</reference><reference>38.2-1027</reference><reference>38.2-200</reference><reference>56-84</reference><reference>6.2-1069</reference><reference>6.2-702</reference><reference>6.2-840</reference><reference>6.2-852</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Virginia Stock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="17">Foreign Corporations</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> may not transact business in the Commonwealth until it obtains a certificate of authority from the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. <a id="paragraph-285970" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The following activities, among others, do not constitute transacting business within the meaning of subsection A: <a id="paragraph-285971" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Maintaining, defending, mediating, arbitrating, or settling any <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span>; <a id="paragraph-285972" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Holding meetings of the board of directors or <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> or carrying on other activities concerning internal corporate affairs; <a id="paragraph-285973" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Maintaining accounts in financial institutions; <a id="paragraph-285974" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, and registration of the corporation&#x2019;s own securities or maintaining trustees or depositories with respect to those securities; <a id="paragraph-285975" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Selling through independent contractors; <a id="paragraph-285976" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Soliciting or obtaining <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, by any means, if the <span class="dictionary">orders</span> require acceptance outside the Commonwealth before they become <span class="dictionary">contracts</span>; <a id="paragraph-285977" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Creating or acquiring indebtedness, deeds of trust, or security <span class="dictionary">interests</span> in property; <a id="paragraph-285978" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Securing or collecting debts or enforcing deeds of trust or security <span class="dictionary">interests</span> in property securing the debts, and holding, protecting, or maintaining property so acquired; <a id="paragraph-285979" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Owning, protecting, and maintaining property; <a id="paragraph-285980" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Conducting an isolated transaction that is completed within 30 consecutive days and that is not one in the course of similar transactions; <a id="paragraph-285981" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> For a period of less than 90 consecutive days, producing, directing, filming, crewing, or acting in <span class="dictionary">motion</span> picture feature films, television series, or commercials, or promotional films that are sent outside of the Commonwealth for processing, editing, marketing, and <span class="dictionary">distribution</span>; <a id="paragraph-285982" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Serving, without more, as a general partner of, or as a partner in a partnership which is a general partner of, a <span class="dictionary">domestic</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign limited partnership</span> that does not otherwise transact business in the Commonwealth; or <a id="paragraph-285983" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B13" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Transacting business in interstate commerce. <a id="paragraph-285984" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#B13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The list of activities in subsection B is not exhaustive. <a id="paragraph-285985" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> This section does not apply in determining the contacts or activities that may subject a <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> to <span class="dictionary">service of process</span>, taxation, or regulation under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth other than this chapter. <a id="paragraph-285986" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The term &#x201C;transacting business&#x201D; as used in this section shall have no effect on personal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When personal jurisdiction over person may be exercised" href="/8.01-328.1/">8.01-328.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-285987" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-757/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 13.1-102 to 13.1-102.2; 1956, c. 428; 1962, c. 239; 1980, c. 630; 1985, c. 522; 1990, c. 428; 2005, c. 765; 2019, c. 734.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
