You are required to report any updates to your corporation or partnership insurance licence, to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).

The following instructions apply to corporations or partnerships that sell life and accident & sickness insurance, accident & sickness insurance and general insurance.

Update the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services first

You should start by reporting these changes to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. You will need to submit copies of the relevant documents to FSRA (more details below). For details on how to report these changes, go to ServiceOntario.

Who can make these changes?

Your Principal Representative can submit most of these updates through the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies.

How to change your mailing address

Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and complete the Change Business Address request.

How to change your legal name

  1. Before you can report a change to your legal name to FSRA, notify the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services by filing an Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act). To get started, go to ServiceOntario.
  2. Update your errors and omissions (E&O) insurance reflecting the new legal name.
  3. If you are also adding or removing a trade name, register for a new Master Business Licence
  4. Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and complete the Change Business Name / Trade Names request.
  5. Upload copies of the following:
    • Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act)
    • Updated E&O insurance certificate
    • Master Business Licence (if you’re also adding a new trade name)

How to add or remove a trade name

  1. Before you can report a change to your trade name to FSRA, register any new trade names with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and receive a new Master Business Licence. To get started, go to ServiceOntario.
  2. Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and complete the Change Business Name/Trade Names request.
  3. Upload copies of any new Master Business Licences.

How to change your directors and officers or partners

  1. If you are a corporation, you must first notify the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services by filing an Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act). To get started, go to ServiceOntario.
  2. Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and complete either the:
    • Add Directors, Officers and Partners request
    • Remove Directors, Officers and Partners request
  3. If you are a corporation, upload a copy of the Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act).

How to change an individual’s name

If a partner, director or officer changes their name, they will need to provide copies of their government-issued identification to verify the requested change.

Government-issued identification includes:

  • Birth certificate
  • Driver’s licence
  • Passport

Change

Required documents

Name correction

  • Two forms of identification

Name change (official)

  • One form of identification
  • Name change certificate

Name change (marriage)

  • One form of identification
  • Marriage certificate

Name change (divorce)

  • One form of identification
  • Birth certificate

OR

  • Two forms of identification

Before you submit the change to FSRA, there may be additional steps you need to take first:

  • If you are a corporation, you will first need to notify the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services by filing an Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act). For details, go to ServiceOntario.
  • If the individual is your designated agent, they will first need to update their name on their agent licence. Go to Change my agent insurance licence information for details.

When you are ready to submit to FSRA:

  1. Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and complete the Change Individual Name request.
  2. Upload copies of the following:
    • Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act) – for corporations
    • Government-issued identification (see chart above)

How to change your designated agent

Remember: the designated agent must have the same type of licence as your corporation or partnership.

Your Principal Representative will need to send an email to [email protected] and provide the following:

  • Your corporation or partnership licence number
  • Name of the new designated agent
  • Their agent licence number
  • Their email address

How to change your Principal Representative

The incoming Principal Representative will need to register as a director, officer or partner with your corporation or partnership on the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies.

If your Principal Representative is not registered:

The outgoing Principal Representative will need to go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies.

  • Submit the Add Director, Officer or Partner request
  • Upload the Articles of Amendment (Form 3 under the Business Corporations Act) – for corporations

Once the incoming Principal Representative is registered, you can proceed to the next step.

If your Principal Representative is already registered:

  1. The outgoing Principal Representative will need to go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and submit a Change Principal Representative request
  2. The incoming Principal Representative will go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and submit the Principal Representative Agreement.

Once FSRA approves the application:

If the outgoing Principal Representative is no longer a director, officer or partner, the new Principal Representative can submit a Remove Directors, Officers and Partners request on the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies.

How to make changes if you are not incorporated in Ontario

If you are incorporated in a different province or territory or you are incorporated federally, you will need to make the changes in your home jurisdiction first.

  1. File the required changes in your home province or territory (or federally)
  2. Report the changes with the Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.
  3. Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and complete the online request.
  4. Upload copies of all required documents from both jurisdictions.