(1)    A foreign corporation may be served with any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law by serving its registered agent. The department may serve any written notice required or authorized under this chapter by e-mailing it to the registered agent’s e-mail address on file with the department, and such notice shall be effective as provided in s. 181.0105 (4).

   (2)   A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state may be served in the manner provided in sub. (4) if the foreign corporation has no registered agent or its registered agent cannot, with reasonable diligence, be served.

   (3)   A foreign corporation formerly authorized to transact business in this state may be served in the manner provided in sub. (4) in any civil, criminal, administrative or investigatory proceeding based on a cause of action arising while it was authorized to transact business in this state, if the foreign corporation has done any of the following:

      (a)    Withdrawn from transacting business in this state under s. 181.1520.

      (b)    Had its certificate of authority revoked under s. 181.1531.

   (4)   

      (a)    With respect to a foreign corporation described in sub. (2) or (3), the foreign corporation may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by similar commercial delivery service, addressed to the foreign corporation at its principal office, as shown on the records of the department on the date of sending, except as provided in par. (b). Service is perfected under this paragraph at the earliest of the following:

         1.    The date the foreign corporation receives the mail or delivery by commercial delivery service.

         2.    The date shown on the return receipt, if signed on behalf of the foreign corporation.

         3.    Five days after its deposit in the U.S. mail, or with the commercial delivery service, if correctly addressed and with sufficient postage or payment.

      (b)    If process, notice, or demand in an action cannot be served on a foreign corporation pursuant to subs. (1) to (3), service may be made by handing a copy to the individual in charge of any regular place of business or activity of the foreign corporation if the individual served is not a plaintiff in the action. If the address of the foreign corporation’s principal office cannot be determined from the records of the department, the foreign corporation may be served by publishing a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the community where the foreign corporation’s principal office or registered office, as most recently designated in the records of the department, is located.

   (4m)   Service of process, notice, or demand on a registered agent must be in a written record.

   (5)   Service of process, notice, or demand may be made by other means under law other than this chapter.