If you hire workers in B.C. you are required to register for WorkSafeBC insurance coverage. If you are a self-employed proprietor or partner, you may be eligible to purchase optional insurance coverage. Accounts can only be established with associated insurance coverage. If your application does not include mandatory worker coverage or a request for Personal Optional Protection coverage, it will not be reviewed for eligibility. This page will ensure you have the information you need before you get started.

The application process

The first step in purchasing WorkSafeBC insurance is to complete an application for coverage. We recommend you submit your application no earlier than 30 days before hiring your own worker or requesting Personal Optional Protection. Once we receive your application, we require approximately 10 business days to gather information, review your application, and notify you of our decision.

Information you need to provide

We’ll ask for the following information in your application to help us understand your situation and/or firm:

If you are applying for Personal Optional Protection coverage, you will also need to provide:

• The amount of monthly coverage you would like (this can be between $2,700 and $9,033). To apply for coverage of more than $5,000 per month, please do not use the online application and instead submit an Application for Personal Optional Protection (Form 180C) if you’re setting up a new account or an Application for Personal Optional Protection (Form 1801) if you’ve already submitted an application or you have an active account.
• The start date of your Personal Optional Protection coverage, which can be today or a future date that is within 30 days of when work begins.

If you are an out of province applicant who is coming to work in B.C., please complete the application based specifically on your B.C. operations including:

• start date
• number of workers
• payroll
• location

If you operate as a proprietorship and wish to apply for Voluntary Spousal coverage, you will also need:

• An estimate of your spouse’s earnings.
• The start date of your Voluntary Spousal coverage, which can be today or a future date that is within 30 days of when work begins.

Reviewing your application

Once we receive your application, we will review the information you’ve provided and determine whether you are eligible for coverage. In looking at your application, we consider:

• Whether you operate as a self-employed proprietor, partner, incorporated company, homeowner, or renter, or any other type of legal entity
• What services or products your business provides
• Who you provide your services to
• If you have workers and, if so, how much you pay them
• If you supply any major equipment or materials as part of the services you provide
• If you have been registered before under a different business
• If you are working with related businesses

If we need to clarify any of the details you provided in your application, we will contact you.

If you are eligible for registration with WorkSafeBC, we will confirm or determine:

• Whether you are an independent firm (learn more about contractors and subcontractors)
• Your classification and corresponding premium
• The date your coverage comes into effect

Notifying you of our decision

If you are eligible, we will create an account for you and send a letter confirming your account number, classification unit, the effective date of your coverage, and your premium rate.

If you are not eligible for registration with WorkSafeBC, we will send you a letter outlining why your application was not accepted. If we determine that you are a worker, you will have the benefit of workers’ compensation coverage through the firm(s) you are providing your services to.

Apply online, by mail, or by fax

Online

The first step in applying for coverage online is to create an online services account (or log in if you already have one). Your application will be saved automatically as you go through it. If you need to exit before completing it, we will save your application and you will be able to continue the next time you log in. Please note that to protect the privacy of your data, partially completed applications will expire after 30 days. 

Applying online will take about 15 to 20 minutes. Once you've submitted your application, you'll receive a confirmation number by email to confirm that we’ve received your application. 

Mail or fax

You can download the appropriate form based on the coverage you need:

• If you're legally required to have WorkSafeBC coverage, complete the Employer's Registration Application Form. If you're unsure if you need coverage, learn more about who does and doesn’t need coverage.
• If you're not required to have WorkSafeBC coverage, but want to – and are eligible to – buy optional insurance coverage, complete an Application for Personal Optional Protection (Form 180C).

Then, mail or fax us the completed form(s). Once we’ve reviewed your application, we’ll send you a letter that will either provide your account number or outline why your application was not accepted.

Cost of coverage

Your WorkSafeBC insurance premiums protect you from lawsuits related to worker compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses in B.C.

The cost of your coverage is based on your industry’s base premium rate, your firm’s assessable payroll, and your firm’s net experience rating.

To learn more about each of these factors and see the formula we use to calculate the cost, visit Know how much coverage costs.

Need more information?

We're here to help. Please contact our Employer Service Centre.