Registrations and filings required for businesses - Office of the Insurance Commissioner

You may be required to have a license, registration, or permit from the list below based on the business activity you selected from the Business Licensing Wizard. For more information, please contact the Office the Insurance Commissioner at 360-725-7144.

Captive Insurer Registration

Purpose

To be able to remit premium taxes owed to the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit online application.

Captive insurer registration

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$2,500 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Certificate of Authority

Purpose

To authorize an insurer to transact insurance in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities, usually 60 to 90 days.

Fees

$400 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Certificate of Exemption to Issue Charitable Gift Annuities

Purpose

To permit an organization to issue charitable gift annuities. License required for any insurer or educational, religious, charitable, or scientific institution conducting a charitable gift annuity business.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$25 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Certificate of Registration - Certified and Accredited Reinsurers

Purpose

To operate certified and accredited reinsurers to operate in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities. Must be issued or denied within 90 days after application is deemed complete.

Fees

$25 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Certificate of Registration - Health Carrier as a Health Care Service Contractor

Purpose

To operate a health carrier as a Health Care Service Contractor in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities, usually 60 to 90 days.

Fees

$10 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Certificate of Registration - Health Carrier as a Health Maintenance Organization

Purpose

To operate a health carrier as a Health Maintenance Organization in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities. Must be issued or denied within 90 days after application is deemed complete.

Fees

$100 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Certificate of Registration - Independent Review Organization

Purpose

To operate an independent review organization in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

None

License renewals

None. However, annual recertification required.

Certificate of Registration - Trusted alien reinsurer

Purpose

To operate a trusteed alien reinsurer to operate in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities. Must be issued or denied within 90 days after application is deemed complete.

Fees

$25 - Filing

License renewals

No, however annual report requirement.

Discount Plan Organization License

Purpose

To allow the operation of a Discount Plan Organization in the state of Washington. A company that in exchange for fees, dues, charges, or other consideration, provides or purports to provide access to discounts to its members on charges by providers for health care services.

How to submit

Submit a paper application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities. Must be issued or denied within 90 days after application is deemed complete.

Fees

$250 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Fraternal benefit Society License

Purpose

To operate as a fraternal benefit society in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper application or online applications.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$25 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Home Heating Fuel Service Contract Provider Registration

Purpose

To authorize the repair, replacement or maintenance of a customer-owned home heating fuel supply system.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$100 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Independent Insurance Adjuster License

Purpose

To authorize the work as an Independent Insurance Adjuster in the state of Washington. Applies to independent Insurance Adjuster businesses providing service in the state.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually one to seven days.

Fees

$5 - Filing
$50 - Location fee (for each location)

License renewals

Every two years.

Letter of Registration - Risk Purchasing Group

Purpose

To operate as a risk purchasing group in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

None

License renewals

None

Letter of Registration - Risk Retention Group

Purpose

To operate as a risk retention group in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

None

License renewals

None

Life Insurance Settlement Broker License

Purpose

To authorize the work of a Life Insurance Settlement Broker in the state of Washington. Applies to Life Insurance Settlement Brokers providing service in the state.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually one to seven days.

Fees

$5 - Filing
$100 - Location fee (for each location)

License renewals

Every two years.

Life Settlement Provider License

Purpose

To authorize the work as a Life Settlement Provider in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$250 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Portable Electronics License (Business Entity only)

Purpose

Allows businesses to provide insurance coverage for portable electronics sold

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Usually 1 to 7 days, depending upon the completeness of the application.

Fees

$130 - $375 - Filing
$35 - Location fee (for each additional location)

License renewals

Every 2 years.

Premium Finance Company License (business entity only)

Purpose

Allows a business entity to finance insurance premiums for customers.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually 1 to 7 days.

Fees

$100

License renewals

Annually

Producer - Full Line Insurance License

Purpose

To authorize the work of a Full Line Insurance Producer in the state of Washington. Applies to businesses operating as a Full Line Insurance Producer.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually one to seven days.

Fees

$5 - Filing
$55 - Location fee (for each location)

License renewals

Every two years.

Producer - Limited Line Insurance License

Purpose

To authorize the work of a Limited Line Insurance Producer in the State of Washington. Applies to businesses operating as a Limited Line Insurance Producer.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually one to seven days.

Fees

$5 - Filing
$20 - Location fee (for each location)

License renewals

Every two years.

Protection Product Guarantee Provider Registration

Purpose

To authorize the work as a protection product guarantee provider in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$250 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Public Insurance Adjuster License

Purpose

To authorize the work as a Public Insurance Adjuster in the state of Washington. Applies to Public Insurance Adjuster businesses providing service in the state.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually one to seven days.

Fees

$5 - Filing
$50 - Location fee (for each location)

License renewals

Every two years.

Rating Bureau Organization License

Purpose

To operate a rating bureau organization in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$25 - Filing
$250 - Title rating organization

License renewals

Every three years.

Registration to Offer GAP Waivers

Purpose

To register companies offering non-insurance GAP waivers in auto financing contracts. Applies to non-exempt companies participating in the financing of an automobile and offering debt-forgiveness of the excess over insurance reimbursement when a car is totaled.

How to submit

Online application only.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$250 - Filing

License renewals

None

Reinsurance Intermediary License

Purpose

To allow reinsurance intermediary services to be provided in the state of Washington. License applies to a reinsurance intermediary broker or manager.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$50 - Broker
$100 - Manager

License renewals

Annual

Rental Car Agency License

Purpose

To allow a rental car agent to provide insurance services in the state of Washington. License applies to rental car insurance producers in the state.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Usually one to seven days, depending upon the completeness of the application.

Fees

$130 - $375 - Filing
$35 - Location fee (for each additional location)

License renewals

Every two years.

Self-Service Storage License

Purpose

Allows storage facilities to provide insurance coverage to tenants storing personal property at the facility.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually 1 to 7 days.

Fees

$130 - $375 - Filing
$35 - Location fee (for each additional location)

License renewals

Every 2 years.

Service Contract Provider Registration

Purpose

To be able to conduct a service contract business in the state of Washington.

How to submit

Submit a paper or online application.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application and the absence of irregularities.

Fees

$250 - Filing

License renewals

Annual

Surplus Line Insurance Broker License

Purpose

To allow a Surplus Insurance Broker to provide services in the state of Washington. Applies to Surplus Line Insurance Broker businesses providing service in the state.

How to submit

Apply through online licensing services of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Processing time

Depends upon the completeness of the application - usually one to seven days.

Fees

$5 - Filing
$200 - Location fee (for each location)

License renewals

Every two years.