Government of Nova Scotia, Canada
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Use the Services Directory to quickly access information on all of the services provided by the NS Department of Finance and Treasury Board.

Agencies

An insurance agency is a business (sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation) involved in the placement of insurance contracts.  Insurance agencies must be licensed to operate in Nova Scotia. Licenses are issued in the following classes of insurance:

  • Life (including Accident and Sickness)
  • Accident and Sickness only
  • General (other-than-life)
  • Travel, Accident and Baggage

Below you will find information on:

Note: General Insurance Agencies - see information below pertaining to 2007 amendments to regulations and trust account requirments.



License Application

Step 1 : Requirements

Before submitting an application for an Insurance Agency, ensure your agency has valid registrations for: 

Step 2 : Application Form and Process

Removed reference to actual fee amount.

  1. Download the Corporate Insurance Licence Application from the Insurance Forms page,
    OR
    drop into any of the Access NS offices outside the Halifax/Dartmouth area.
  2. Complete the application form and have it endorsed by an insurance company that is licensed to operate in Nova Scotia.
  3. Return the completed application form to the address on the form with the licensing fee. If you wish to courier the application, please send to the following address:

    Finance and Treasury Board
    Financial Institutions Division
    Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
    1723 Hollis St. 4th Floor
    Halifax, NS B3J 1V9
  4. If agency is a non-resident business, current and original Certificate of Authority must be attached.

The Nova Scotia Permits Directory also provides information on insurance agency licensing.

License Renewals

Once you are a licensed agency, you will receive a renewal form in the mail, 45 days prior to the license expiry date. (Licenses are valid for three years.) Please review, sign and return with payment.

Please use this form, and only this form to renew, when there are no changes to information you originally submitted.

However, if at renewal time, at renewal time, there has been a change in your sponsor, you must use the Corporate Insurance Application Form available on our Forms page. Read our FAQ page for more information.

License Updates

Over the term of your license, there may be changes to the information you submitted.

To update your contact or office information, advise us by email or regular mail. In some cases, such as a change in sponsor, you will need to send us (another) Corporate Insurance Application Form. Read our FAQ page for more information.

Please contact us directly if you have questions about updating your license information.



Information for General Agencies

2007 Amendments to Regulations for General Insurance Sgencies

Effective January 1, 2007, amendments to the regulations respecting the licensing of a general insurance agency have been instated requiring that:

  • Every general insurance agency shall appoint an Agent-in-Charge who is a Level III general insurance agent or an agent acceptable to the Superintendent on the basis of experience and qualifications. See Insurance Agents Licensing Regulations.
  • All other agencies shall appoint an Agent-in-Charge who holds a Nova Scotia insurance license for the same class of insurance in which the agency intends to sell.

Trust Accounts - General Insurance

General insurance agencies, and independent general insurance agents are required to maintain a trust account to hold insurance premium deposits.  A Trust Account Reconciliation Worksheet (pdf) must be filed annually within 120 days of the fiscal year end. 

See Insurance Agents Licensing Regulations.

Insurance

Orange ClockFor more information

Agent, agency and adjuster licensing enquiries:
902-424-2787 or 902-424-7551

Insurer licensing enquiries: 902-424-6331

Fax: 902-424-1298
Email: fininst@novascotia.ca