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ARTICLE · 05 NOVEMBER 2026

BC’s Restricted Insurance Licensing Framework: What Businesses Need To Know

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British Columbia's restricted insurance agency licensing framework takes effect January 1, 2027, introducing new requirements for businesses selling insurance incidental to their primary activities. The Insurance Council Rules now establish mandatory licensing, training and compliance obligations for 18 prescribed classes of non-insurance businesses offering insurance products. Businesses must assess their licensing needs, appoint designated representatives, arrange errors and omissions coverage

CanadaInsurance
Darcy Ammerman
Darcy Ammerman
Delina Wen
Delina Wen
Sara Lillie (Articling Student)
Sara Lillie (Articling Student)
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British Columbia’s restricted insurance agency (RIA) licensing framework takes effect on January 1, 2027. With the supporting Insurance Council Rules now approved, businesses selling insurance incidental to their primary activities should prepare for new licensing, training and compliance requirements.

Who requires a licence?

The Restricted Insurance Agent Licence Regulation (Regulation) covers 18 prescribed classes of non-insurance businesses and their corresponding insurance products. A separate RIA licence is required for each prescribed class in which a business offers insurance. See our December 2025 bulletin for the full list.

The Council has identified two key groups of incidental sellers that may need to obtain a licence:

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