Corporations or partnerships that have an inactive general insurance licence can apply to reinstate their licence, with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
The following instructions apply to corporations or partnerships that sold property and casualty insurance, including auto insurance.
About licence reinstatements
If your licence has lapsed or if you had previously surrendered your licence, you can apply to have it reinstated. To get a link to your old account, send an email to [email protected] with your previous licence number.
Fee for reinstating a licence
The fee to reinstate a general licence is:
- $400 for a corporation
- $200 for a partnership
This fee will cover the next two years of the licence.
Requirements for reinstating a licence
To reinstate your licence, you will need to meet many of the requirements from when you first applied for your licence, including:
- Confirm the name of your designated agent and ensure they have a general agent licence.
- Be sponsored by a licensed insurer.
- If you use a trade name that is different than your legal name, provide a copy of your Master Business Licence.
If there have been any changes to your directors or officers (for corporations) :
- You will need to provide a copy of the Articles of Amendment that you filed with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Affairs. For details, go to ServiceOntario.
If it's your first time using the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies:
- You will need to provide a copy of your incorporation documents (for corporations) or partnership documents that you filed with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Affairs. For details, go to ServiceOntario.
If you have all of the required documents ready, you can begin the renewal application process.
Ready to reinstate a licence?
Who can reinstate the licence?
You will need to identify a Principal Representative whose role is to own the account on the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and submit all online applications. The Principal Representative must be a director, officer or partner.
How to renew
First, you will need to get a link to your old account. Send an email to [email protected] with your previous licence number.
There is then a two-step process that involves verifying your officers and directors or partners and submitting the reinstatement application. Each step will require approval from FSRA.
1. Verify your officers and directors or partners on FSRA Portal
a. Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and submit a request to Add or remove officers and directors/partners.
Corporations |
You will be asked to upload a copy of your incorporation documents to verify that they include the same list of officers and directors. |
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Partnerships |
You will be asked to upload a copy of your partnership documents (a Declaration or a partnership agreement) to verify they include the same list of partners. |
b. After completing the application, any new directors, officers, or partner will receive an email to set up their own account on the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies.
- They are required to set up an account and complete an application confirming they are a director, officer, or partnership of the corporation including a a criminal record and judicial matters check (CRJMC) through FSRA’s approved vendor, Triton Canada (Triton).
- They will need to provide their email address and one form of government-issued identification (passport, driver's licence or birth certificate).
c. FSRA will review your request to confirm the list of officers and directors or partners are the same.
- Once approved, you will receive an email notifying you can proceed with the next application.
- This process should take 10 business days.
Please note that verification of a director, officer, or partner may require a criminal record and judicial matters check (CRJMC) through FSRA’s approved vendor, Triton Canada (Triton).
2. Submit the reinstatement application on the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies
Go to the Licensing Portal for Insurance Agencies and submit the reinstatement application. You will be asked to:
- Select which insurance type you are reinstating. In this case, choose general insurance.
- Confirm your designated agent and provide a copy of their Ontario licence.
- Confirm the names of all agents who will act on behalf of your business.
- Send a copy of your application to your sponsoring company, and upload their sponsorship approval
- Pay the fee with credit card (VISA, Mastercard) or select debit cards (RBC, TD, First Nations Bank of Canada, most credit unions).
If your business is selling other types of insurance (e.g., accident & sickness insurance), you can use the same business account, but you will need to submit a reinstatement application for each licence type.
New Criminal Record check process
FSRA is changing its licensing processes for background criminal checks to ensure the processes remain up to date. Criminal record checks are part of FSRA’s rigorous licence qualification process to protect consumers by ensuring only suitable individuals sell or offer financial products and services in Ontario.
FSRA now requires licence applicants to complete their criminal record checks through our approved vendor, Triton Canada (Triton). If you have disclosed information about a criminal matter, or FSRA has received information that you may be involved in a criminal matter, you may be required to complete a background check after you have submitted your renewal application.
If required, FSRA will notify you, and will send a link to Triton’s website to complete the background check. Once completed, you will need to provide the 8-digit confirmation number found in your Triton invoice to FSRA. A fee of $19.15 applies for Triton’s service, and the background check is valid for 90 days.
Please monitor your email frequently for any information requests from FSRA. If you have any further questions about the new background check process, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions – Background check process
What happens after the reinstatement application is submitted:
A message will be displayed in the Principal Representative's portal account to confirm FSRA has received your application.
For most applications |
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If the application requires additional review |
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