Washington invites property and casualty, life, disability and title companies to apply for admission to our state. Our regulations are fair and reasonable. We're business-friendly and recently ranked in the top 10 of Forbes magazine's best states for business.
How to apply
We use the Uniform Certificate of Authority Application (UCAA) to process your application quickly. We don't require hard copies, so we encourage you to apply online. Your company may also need to file a biographical affadavit.
Foreign companies
If you want to expand your business to other Uniform States, use the UCAA's expansion application. You can file expansion applications in multiple states at the same time. Our review and processing goal for expansion applications is 60 days after we receive your complete electronic application.
In Washington state, the health line of authority is referred to as "disability." The following terms all mean the same thing:
- Health
- Disability
- Accident/sickness
State-specific requirements for foreign companies
- Seasoning requirement
- Minimum capital and surplus requirements
- Biographical affidavit requirements
- Filing fees
Domestic companies
If you're a new insurer or an existing insurer applying to redomesticate to another state, use the UCAA. Our review and processing goal for primary applications is 90 days after we receive your complete electronic application.
State-specific requirements for domestic companies
- If you're forming or planning to form an insurer or insurance holding corporation in this state, you need to complete a solicitation permit. For details, read the laws about the solicitation permit, application for solicitation permit, and fee schedule.
- Minimum capital and surplus requirements
- Before we can issue a certificate of authority, you need to complete a qualifying financial exam. For details, read the law about the examination of insurers, bureaus.
- Filing fees
How to request an amendment
To request amendments to your certificate of authority, use the UCAA's corporate amendments application.
You can use this application to file multiple changes at once. Include all changes on form and along with all the items they need.
For any of the following changes, you'll also need to submit your original Certificate of Authority:
- Name changes
- Adding or deleting lines of business
- Redomestication
- Changing your city or state
- Merger (for non-surviving companies)