Electronic signatures (e-signatures) have been implemented in CROS for all users.
Your e-signature will only be generated on documents that you file in CROS on your own behalf. If you appoint an agent to complete transactions for you, those documents will not be generated with an e-signature.
When you create a Companies Registry Account (CRA), you receive login credentials and a unique CRA Identity PIN. This PIN uniquely identifies you in the system and represents your e-signature in CROS.
Documents which you submit for filing will be generated with your e-signature automatically affixed to the document.
Your e-signature will be automatically affixed, by the system, to documents which:
Transactions which meet the criteria above will result in the generated form officially signed with your e-signature once the payment has been processed.
Each user is responsible for protecting their CRA credentials (username and password). Your credentials grant access to your account and your e-signature.
Once a document is filed with your e-signature, the information in the document is deemed to be:
You are liable for all documents filed in CROS with your e-signature.
You may file the following with e-signatures:
Your electronic signature is a digital representation of your first initial and last name which is automatically attached to documents generated when filed in CROS. This signature is verified by your Companies Registry Account (CRA) and attests to your identity as:
When you register for a Companies Registry Account (CRA), you automatically receive an electronic signature.
When submitting documents to the Companies Registry, you can only use an electronic signature that has been created with your Companies Registry Account (CRA).
Your electronic signature is stored in your Companies Registry Account (CRA), which needs to be kept secure. We highly advise against giving anyone your login information.
Please be informed that if you choose to share your Companies Registry Account (CRA) credentials with others, the Companies Registry cannot be held responsible for any adverse outcomes that may occur.
Your electronic signature will be automatically affixed to a document when you submit it on your own behalf and pay the necessary fees, making it legally binding.
With the exception of the Articles of Incorporation for a Non-Profit Company, Application for Registration of a Non-Profit Organisation, and Application for Name Reservation requests, all of the aforementioned documents will be automatically registered after submission and payment of fees.
However, before they may be granted, the Registry must first approve the Application for Name Reservation, Articles of Incorporation for Non-Profit Companies, and Application for Registration of a Non-Profit Organisation.
You will receive an email confirmation indicating that your application has been processed successfully. Included in the email will be a copy of the electronically registered document. For the purpose of collecting your certificate, you must visit the Companies Registry and present the email confirmation, which can be printed or displayed on a smart device.
No. Electronically signed documents, upon registration, are automatically uploaded to the company/business records and the duplicate copies are also emailed to you, eliminating the need to file or stamp physical documents.
The words "Registered" and the registration date will be electronically endorsed on any document that has been signed electronically. This electronic certification is legally equivalent to a document that has been physically stamped and issued by the Companies Registry. Therefore, it is acceptable to regard the printed document as official.
The Companies Registry will allow the submission of an amended document to rectify a previously registered document. You can complete the process by:
To confirm that the form constitutes an amendment to a previously registered document, you must insert:
It is important to remember that documents with electronic signatures should not be tampered with.
Electronic and physical signatures are equivalent in legal validity and weight when binding a document filed at the Companies Registry.
When applied to a document, the Companies Registry Electronic Seal is used to authenticate an electronic signature, confirming its legality as well as the originality of the document.
Yes, your document can be questioned by anyone from the public or an external organization if there were any changes made to it after the electronic signature was applied, or if the signature seems to have been tampered with.
An electronically registered document can be inspected through the Companies Registry Name Search Facility, accessible through a user's Companies Registry Account (CRA).
