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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54666</law_id><section_number>13.1-919</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>13.1-898.4</reference><reference>23.1-219</reference><reference>38.2-1027</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="10">Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="14">Foreign Corporations</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> may not <span class="dictionary">transact business</span> in the Commonwealth until it obtains a certificate of authority from the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. <a id="paragraph-200707" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#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-200708" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Maintaining, defending, or settling any <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span>; <a id="paragraph-200709" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#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 <span class="dictionary">board of directors</span> or <span class="dictionary">members</span> or carrying on other activities concerning internal corporate affairs; <a id="paragraph-200710" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Maintaining bank accounts; <a id="paragraph-200711" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Selling through independent contractors; <a id="paragraph-200712" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Soliciting or obtaining <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, whether by mail or through employees or agents or otherwise, if the <span class="dictionary">orders</span> require acceptance outside the Commonwealth before they become <span class="dictionary">contracts</span>; <a id="paragraph-200713" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Creating or acquiring indebtedness, deeds of trust, and security <span class="dictionary">interests</span> in real or personal property; <a id="paragraph-200714" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Securing or collecting debts or enforcing deeds of trust and security <span class="dictionary">interests</span> in property securing the debts; <a id="paragraph-200715" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Owning, without more, real or personal property; <a id="paragraph-200716" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Conducting an isolated transaction that is completed within 30 days and that is not one in the course of repeated transactions of a like nature; <a id="paragraph-200717" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</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 which are sent outside of the Commonwealth for processing, editing, marketing and distribution; or <a id="paragraph-200718" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Serving, without more, as a general partner of or as a partner in a partnership that is a general partner of a domestic or <span class="dictionary">foreign limited partnership</span> that does not otherwise <span class="dictionary">transact business</span> in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-200719" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#B11"><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-200720" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-919/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 13.1-265 to 13.1-265.2; 1956, c. 428; 1962, c. 239; 1980, c. 630; 1985, c. 522; 2007, c. 925.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
