Can I Save Money on a Nova Scotia Name Reservation by Providing My Own NUANS Report?
August 31, 2026
If you're reserving a business or corporation name in Nova Scotia, you may notice that the Registry of Joint Stock Companies gives you the option to provide your own NUANS Report.
So does bringing your own NUANS Report actually save money?
Yes. Nova Scotia currently charges $15.12 for the name-reservation search when you provide an eligible NUANS Report dated within the previous 90 days.
For comparison, the Government of Nova Scotia currently charges:
- $60.52 for an Atlantic region search
- $75.58 for a Federal (Canada-wide) search
- $15.12 if you provide your own recent NUANS Report
For a typical Nova Scotia NUANS Report ordered from GetNuans:
GetNuans Nova Scotia NUANS Report: $39.95 CAD
Nova Scotia name reservation processing/search fee: $15.12 CAD
Combined cost: $55.07 CAD
Compared with the standard $60.52 Atlantic region search, that is a savings of:
$5.45 CAD
The bigger advantage for some applicants is that you can obtain your NUANS Report online in advance, while the Registry of Joint Stock Companies still performs the official Nova Scotia name review and reservation separately.
Order a Nova Scotia NUANS Report →
Table of Contents
- How Much Does a Nova Scotia Name Reservation Cost?
- Can I Provide My Own NUANS Report?
- How Much Can I Save?
- Does My Own NUANS Report Reserve the Name?
- How Recent Does the NUANS Report Need to Be?
- What Is the Difference Between an Atlantic and Federal Search?
- How Does the Bring-Your-Own-NUANS Process Work?
- How Quickly Can I Get the NUANS Report?
- Does Providing My Own NUANS Make the Government Approval Instant?
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Nova Scotia Name Reservation Cost?
The Government of Nova Scotia currently offers two main paid name-search options when reserving a business or non-profit name.
| Search option | Current government fee |
|---|---|
| Atlantic region search | $60.52 |
| Atlantic region search if you provide your own NUANS Report | $15.12 |
| Federal (Canada-wide) search | $75.58 |
| Federal search if you provide your own NUANS Report | $15.12 |
These fees are charged as part of the Nova Scotia name-reservation process.
The Registry of Joint Stock Companies still reviews the proposed name and decides whether it can be approved for use in Nova Scotia.
Can I Provide My Own NUANS Report?
Yes.
The Government of Nova Scotia specifically allows applicants to upload their own NUANS Report when applying to reserve a name.
The report must be dated within 90 days before you reserve the name.
If you already have an appropriate recent NUANS Report, you can upload a PDF copy with the online name-reservation application.
Instead of paying the full government search fee, the applicable government fee is currently:
$15.12 CAD
This does not eliminate the Nova Scotia name-reservation process.
The Registry still needs to review and approve the proposed name.
How Much Can I Save?
For a standard Atlantic-region name reservation, the comparison is straightforward.
Option 1: Have Nova Scotia obtain the search
Government Atlantic region search:
$60.52
Option 2: Provide your own Nova Scotia NUANS Report
GetNuans Nova Scotia NUANS Report:
$39.95
Nova Scotia fee when you provide your own NUANS Report:
$15.12
Combined:
$55.07
Difference:
$60.52 − $55.07 = $5.45 savings
So yes, providing your own NUANS Report can reduce the overall cost.
The savings for an ordinary Atlantic-region search are modest, but cost is not the only reason someone may choose to obtain the report separately.
With an online NUANS provider, you can have the NUANS Report ready before completing the Nova Scotia name-reservation application.
Does My Own NUANS Report Reserve the Name?
No.
This is an important difference between Nova Scotia and some other NUANS jurisdictions.
A Nova Scotia NUANS Report is used as part of the Nova Scotia name-reservation application.
Obtaining the report by itself does not mean the Registry of Joint Stock Companies has:
- Approved the proposed name
- Reserved the name for use
- Registered your business
- Incorporated your company
You still need to submit the name-reservation application to the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
If the Registry approves the name, you then generally have 90 days to register or incorporate using the approved name.
How Recent Does the NUANS Report Need to Be?
If you provide your own NUANS Report, Nova Scotia requires it to be dated within 90 days before the name reservation.
For example:
NUANS Report issued: September 1
Nova Scotia name-reservation application: September 20
The report is still within the applicable period.
If the report becomes too old before you submit the name reservation, you may need to obtain a new report.
For this reason, it usually makes sense to order your NUANS Report when you are ready to proceed with the Nova Scotia application.
What Is the Difference Between an Atlantic and Federal Search?
Nova Scotia offers both an Atlantic region search and a Federal (Canada-wide) search.
Atlantic region search
The Government of Nova Scotia recommends an Atlantic search if you only plan to do business in Nova Scotia.
The related NUANS search identifies similar names within the applicable Atlantic search scope.
The standard government fee is currently:
$60.52
Federal (Canada-wide) search
Nova Scotia recommends the Federal search if you intend to do business beyond the Atlantic region.
A Federal search is also required by the Registry when the proposed name contains:
Canada
or:
Canadian
The standard government fee is currently:
$75.58
If you already have an appropriate recent NUANS Report for the required search and provide it with the application, the government fee is currently:
$15.12
Make sure the report you obtain is appropriate for the search and filing you are preparing.
How Does the Bring-Your-Own-NUANS Process Work?
The process generally looks like this:
Step 1: Choose your proposed name
Decide exactly what business or corporation name you want to reserve.
For example:
Atlantic Horizon Technologies Limited
Check the spelling, wording and legal ending carefully.
Step 2: Obtain the appropriate NUANS Report
You can order the applicable NUANS Report from a NUANS service provider.
GetNuans offers Nova Scotia NUANS Reports online for:
$39.95 CAD
The report is generated automatically and delivered electronically.
Order a Nova Scotia NUANS Report →
Step 3: Apply to reserve the name with Nova Scotia
Go to the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies name-reservation service.
Complete the Reserve Name Form and select the appropriate search type.
When providing your own NUANS Report, upload the report PDF with the application.
Step 4: Pay the Nova Scotia fee
The current government search fee when you provide your own eligible NUANS Report is:
$15.12 CAD
This fee is separate from what you paid the NUANS provider.
Step 5: Wait for the Registry's decision
The Registry of Joint Stock Companies performs the final name review.
If the proposed name is approved, you can proceed with the applicable registration, incorporation or name-change process.
You cannot assume the name is approved simply because a NUANS Report has been issued.
How Quickly Can I Get the NUANS Report?
Processing times depend on the NUANS provider.
GetNuans automatically processes Nova Scotia NUANS Reports, with completed reports typically delivered electronically within minutes, 24 hours a day.
This means you can obtain the report:
- During regular business hours
- In the evening
- Overnight
- On weekends
- On holidays
The completed report is delivered electronically as a PDF, which can then be used with the applicable Nova Scotia name-reservation application.
Does Providing My Own NUANS Make the Government Approval Instant?
No.
Getting the NUANS Report quickly and getting the proposed name approved by Nova Scotia are two separate steps.
GetNuans can generate and deliver the NUANS Report within minutes.
However, the Registry of Joint Stock Companies still performs the official name-reservation review.
The Government of Nova Scotia currently says name-reservation results should normally take approximately 2 days, although processing can take longer and the Registry may experience delays.
So the process is:
NUANS Report → can be obtained quickly
but:
Nova Scotia name approval/reservation → still requires Registry review
Providing your own NUANS Report should therefore not be interpreted as instant government approval.
Why Would I Provide My Own NUANS Report?
There are several possible reasons.
Lower government search fee
Providing an eligible report reduces the Nova Scotia government search fee to:
$15.12
instead of the standard $60.52 Atlantic-region search fee or $75.58 Federal search fee.
Get the NUANS Report on your own schedule
An automated NUANS service can provide the report outside regular government or business hours.
For example, you can prepare the report on:
- A Saturday evening
- Late at night
- A holiday
- Before you are ready to submit the government application
Review the NUANS results yourself
Having the report first also gives you an opportunity to review potentially similar corporate names, business names and trademarks before submitting the proposed name to Nova Scotia.
Remember that the Registry still makes the final decision.
Is GetNuans a Government Website?
No.
GetNuans is an independent private service operated by a NUANS member.
It is not the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies and is not operated by or affiliated with the Government of Nova Scotia.
GetNuans provides the NUANS Report.
The Nova Scotia government separately handles:
- Name reservation
- Name approval
- Business registration
- Incorporation
- Other Registry filings
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own NUANS Report to Nova Scotia?
Yes.
Nova Scotia allows you to provide an eligible NUANS Report dated within 90 days before the name-reservation application.
You can upload a PDF copy when applying online.
How much does Nova Scotia charge if I already have a NUANS Report?
The current government fee is:
$15.12 CAD
when you provide your own eligible NUANS Report.
How much is the normal Nova Scotia Atlantic name search?
The current Atlantic-region search fee is:
$60.52 CAD
How much is a Federal name search through Nova Scotia?
The current Federal (Canada-wide) search fee is:
$75.58 CAD
How much does GetNuans charge for a Nova Scotia NUANS Report?
GetNuans currently charges:
$39.95 CAD
for a Nova Scotia NUANS Report.
For the ordinary Atlantic-region route, combining the $39.95 report with Nova Scotia's $15.12 government fee gives a total of:
$55.07 CAD
How much do I save by providing my own NUANS Report?
Using a $39.95 Nova Scotia NUANS Report plus the current $15.12 government fee:
Total: $55.07
Compared with the current $60.52 Atlantic-region government search:
Savings: $5.45
Prices can change, so check the current Nova Scotia government fee before filing.
Does the NUANS Report reserve my Nova Scotia business name?
No.
For Nova Scotia, the NUANS Report is used as part of the name-reservation process.
The Registry of Joint Stock Companies performs the final name review and reservation.
Is my Nova Scotia NUANS Report valid for 90 days?
Nova Scotia says that if you provide your own NUANS Report, it must be dated within 90 days before you reserve the name.
After the Registry approves the proposed name, you generally have a separate 90-day period to register or incorporate before the name reservation expires.
These are related but separate timing rules.
Can I upload the NUANS Report online?
Yes.
Nova Scotia's online name-reservation process allows you to upload supporting documents in PDF format, including your NUANS Report.
Does bringing my own NUANS make the reservation faster?
Do not assume that it makes the government approval instant.
Your NUANS provider may generate the report quickly, but the Registry of Joint Stock Companies still reviews the proposed name.
Nova Scotia currently states that name-reservation results should normally take around 2 days, although processing can take longer.
Can I get my NUANS Report on a weekend?
Yes.
GetNuans automatically processes Nova Scotia NUANS Reports 24/7, with reports typically delivered electronically within minutes.
The Nova Scotia government name-reservation review remains a separate step.
Do I still have to pay Nova Scotia after buying my NUANS Report?
Yes.
Buying your own NUANS Report does not replace the government name-reservation application.
Nova Scotia currently charges:
$15.12
for the applicable search/name-reservation process when you provide your own eligible NUANS Report.
Does GetNuans reserve the Nova Scotia name for me?
No.
GetNuans provides the NUANS Report only.
You still submit the name-reservation application to the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies, which decides whether the name is approved.
Official Nova Scotia Source
For current fees and name-reservation requirements, see:
Reserve a name for your business or non-profit — Government of Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia currently confirms that applicants who already have a NUANS Report dated within 90 days can upload it with their name-reservation application and pay the reduced search fee.
Final Thoughts
Yes — providing your own NUANS Report can reduce the cost of reserving a business or corporation name in Nova Scotia.
For a typical Atlantic-region search:
Nova Scotia Atlantic search: $60.52
versus:
GetNuans Nova Scotia NUANS Report: $39.95
Nova Scotia fee with your own NUANS: $15.12
Total: $55.07
That saves $5.45 at current prices.
The other advantage is that you can obtain and review your NUANS Report on your own schedule before submitting the Nova Scotia name-reservation application.
Just remember:
The NUANS Report and the Nova Scotia name reservation are not the same thing.
GetNuans provides the report.
The Registry of Joint Stock Companies still reviews the proposed name and decides whether it can be approved and reserved for use in Nova Scotia.
Need a Nova Scotia NUANS Report?
Get a Nova Scotia NUANS Report for $39.95 CAD from GetNuans.
- Official NUANS Report
- Automatic processing
- Typically delivered within minutes
- Available 24/7
- Electronic PDF delivery
- For use with a Nova Scotia name-reservation application
Order a Nova Scotia NUANS Report →
This article provides general information about NUANS and Nova Scotia name-reservation requirements and is not legal advice. Government fees and requirements may change.