Almost any adult can incorporate a business in Alberta. One person can hold the director and shareholder roles, and that person does not need to live in Alberta or Canada. The rules differ for each role, so it helps to look at them one at a time, along with the two Alberta addresses every corporation must have.
Role | What the law requires | Residency |
Director | An individual aged 18 or older | None |
Shareholder | An individual, a corporation or a trust | Not a condition of ownership |
Registered office | A physical location in Alberta | Must be in Alberta |
Agent for service | An individual in Alberta who agrees to the appointment | Must be in Alberta |
Who Can Be a Director?
Directors oversee the corporation, so this role has the clearest requirements. A director must be an individual, not another corporation, and must be 18 or older.
Residency is no longer a barrier. Alberta removed its residency requirement for directors on March 29, 2021. Before that change, at least a quarter of a corporation’s directors had to be resident Canadians. A director can now live anywhere.
Who Can Own Shares?
Shareholders own the corporation. Ownership rules are broader than director rules, and a shareholder can be:
An individual, including a family member or a co-owner
Another corporation, which is the basis of a holding company structure
A trust, which is often used for family and succession planning
Ownership is still shaped by the corporation’s articles, bylaws and any shareholder agreement. Choosing who owns shares and what rights they carry is a separate decision from who can technically hold them.
What Does an Alberta Corporation Need?
The people behind a corporation can live outside Alberta, but the corporation itself must have two Alberta connections:
A registered office. This is a physical location in Alberta where legal documents can be delivered. A post office box does not meet the requirements.
An agent for service. This is an individual in Alberta who accepts notices and documents for the corporation, in person or by mail. The agent does not need to be a lawyer and must agree to the appointment. The corporation can also name an alternative agent.
These two services are included for one year in your CorpDiem incorporation and renews with annual maintenance.
If the corporation’s records are kept at a different address, that address must also be in Alberta. A mailing address in Alberta is needed if mail is not delivered to the registered office. A non-resident owner can satisfy these requirements by naming an Alberta agent or using a service provider that supplies both.
Does the Corporation’s Name Matter?
It does for the filing. A named corporation needs a NUANS report to check for similar names before filing. A numbered corporation, such as “785843 Alberta Inc.,” does not require that report.
What About Regulated Professionals?
Some regulated professions have their own corporation rules under their governing legislation and regulators. These rules can affect the permitted name, who may own shares and whether regulatory approval is needed before filing. Confirm your regulator’s requirements before choosing a corporation type.
How CorpDiem Can Help
CorpDiem prepares Alberta corporations and their initial records once the directors, shareholders and share structure are confirmed. This includes the incorporation documents filing and articles, initial director and shareholder resolutions, share documents and corporate registers. For a regulated profession with a separate approval process, CorpDiem can prepare the corporate documents used in that process within the scope of the engagement.
A CorpDiem incorporation includes registered records office and agent for service which renews yearly if you use our annual maintenance services. CorpDiem does not select, instruct, supervise or coordinate with a client’s accountant.
If you are still deciding between a sole proprietorship and a corporation, read Comparing Business Structures: Sole Proprietor vs Corporation.
Official Sources
Government of Alberta, Incorporate an Alberta corporation: https://www.alberta.ca/incorporate-alberta-corporation
Government of Alberta, Register an out-of-province corporation (agent for service requirements): https://www.alberta.ca/register-out-of-province-corporation.aspx
Business Corporations Act (Alberta), director qualifications and the 2021 removal of director residency requirements under the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020 (Bill 22).
Information Note
This page provides general information about Alberta corporate requirements. It is not legal, accounting or tax advice and does not determine whether a corporation is appropriate for a particular person or business. Consult a lawyer about your corporate structure and your accountant about tax. Sources reviewed October 2026.
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