Insurance agents who have an inactive general licence can apply to reinstate their licence, with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). The process differs depending on how many years the licence has been inactive.

Note: a general agent sells property and casualty insurance, including auto insurance, and is sometimes referred to as an Other Than Life (OTL) agent in Ontario.

About licence reinstatements

If your licence lapsed or you previously surrendered your licence, you can apply to have your licence reinstated. The process you must follow depends on how long your licence has been inactive:

If the inactive date is less than two years ago

You can renew your licence as if your licence is still active.

 

For example, you do not need to retake the OTL Agent’s Exam.

 

Review all requirements, fees and instructions on Renew my general insurance licence.

If the inactive date is more than two years ago

  • Your licence may not be listed on the Public registry.
  • You should also check the inactive date to confirm if it's been two years.

You will have to requalify as a new agent.

 

For example, you will need to retake the OTL Agent’s Exam.

 

Review all requirements, fees and instructions on Apply for a new general insurance licence.

When is the inactive date?

The inactive date starts from whichever date comes first:

  • Expiry date – you did not renew your previous licence and you let it lapse
  • Surrender date – when FSRA approved your surrender application. See Surrender my insurance licence for details
  • Termination date (sponsored agents only) – the sponsoring insurer terminates your licence

How to reinstate your licence

The process for reinstating your licence depends on whether it has expired.

If your licence expired less than 3 months ago and you are applying with the same sponsoring company:

  • Contact your sponsoring company to initiate your renewal application.

If your licence expired less than 3 months ago and you have a new sponsoring company:

1. Go to Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators to find the application and detailed instructions.

2. Print and fill out the application.

  • Complete pages 1 to 5 and page 9
  • Ask your sponsoring insurer to fill out page 5 (Sponsor’s Attestation: Notice of Appointment of Agent by Sponsoring Company)

3. Submit the form to FSRA through the Online Services Portal.

4. You can make the payment through the Online Services Portal with credit card (VISA, Mastercard) or select debit cards (RBC, TD, First Nations Bank of Canada, most credit unions).

If your licence expired more than 3 months ago:

1. Go to Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators to find the application and detailed instructions.

2. Print and fill out the application.

  • Complete pages 1 to 5 and page 9
  • Ask your sponsoring insurer to fill out page 5 (Sponsor’s Attestation: Notice of Appointment of Agent by Sponsoring Company)

3. Submit the form to FSRA through the Online Services Portal.

4. You can make the payment through the Online Services Portal with credit card (VISA, Mastercard) or select debit cards (RBC, TD, First Nations Bank of Canada, most credit unions).

If your licence was terminated, but has not expired:

  • Contact your new sponsoring company to initiate a transfer application.

If your licence was terminated and has expired:

1. Go to Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators to find the application and detailed instructions.

2. Print and fill out the application.

  • Complete pages 1 to 5 and page 9
  • Ask your sponsoring insurer to fill out page 5 (Sponsor’s Attestation: Notice of Appointment of Agent by Sponsoring Company)

3. Submit the form to FSRA through the Online Services Portal.

4. You can make the payment through the Online Services Portal with credit card (VISA, Mastercard) or select debit cards (RBC, TD, First Nations Bank of Canada, most credit unions).

If your licence was surrendered:

1. Go to Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators to find the application and detailed instructions.

2. Print and fill out the application.

  • Complete pages 1 to 5 and page 9
  • Ask your sponsoring insurer to fill out page 5 (Sponsor’s Attestation: Notice of Appointment of Agent by Sponsoring Company)

3. Submit the form to FSRA through the Online Services Portal.

4. You can make the payment through the Online Services Portal with credit card (VISA, Mastercard) or select debit cards (RBC, TD, First Nations Bank of Canada, most credit unions).