Fees payable to the Minnesota Department of Commerce

• Primary and Expansion Applications
  Include a $1,500 application fee. The application fee is non-refundable. 
• Alien and Foreign Surplus Lines Applications
  Include a $500 application fee. The application fee is non-refundable. 
• Company Fees & Deposits
  Various application fees and/or deposits required when filing and C&S requirements

Insurers seeking a Minnesota Certificate of Authority or filing a corporate amendment application must use NAIC's Uniform Certificate of Authority Application (UCAA). In addition, please note the Minnesota specific requirements in the list below. The majority of the application may be submitted in hard copy or electronically, however, items requiring original certifications and state specific items must be submitted in hard copy.

Seasoning requirements for a foreign insurer to apply for a Minnesota Certificate of Authority can be found in the UCAA Expansion Application under State Charts.

• UCAA Expansion/Primary State Specific Requirements and Forms, P&C and Life & Health (.pdf)
  Application checklist 
  
• Foreign Surplus Lines Insurers (.pdf) 
  Application checklist, statement of insurance company fees
• Alien Surplus Lines Insurers (.pdf) 
  Application checklist, designation of addresses
• Risk Retention Groups (.pdf) 
  Application checklist and application for risk retention group registration (part a and b)
• Accredited Reinsurers (.pdf) 
  Application checklist, long-tail casualty reinsurance certification (for P&C companies only) 
  
• Trusteed Reinsurers (.pdf) 
  Application checklist
• Company Mergers and Agent Appointments
  • For insurance agents appointed with a merged company to be appointed with the surviving company on the date of merger, insurers need to contact Sircon at sircon@sircon.com or 517-381-3870 to accomplish the transfer. If arrangements to transfer the merged company's agents to the surviving company are not made with Sircon, these individuals cannot sell for the surviving insurer until appointed with the surviving company on an individual basis as a regular appointment.
  • After the transfer of agents is made with Sircon, the surviving company must notify the Department of Commerce. We will take the final step of insuring that the non-surviving company is deactivated.

All items on the application checklist should be provided. Items not applicable to your situation must be clearly explained. Submit only complete applications. Incomplete applications will be immediately returned.

Certified Reinsurer and Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer information

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §§ 60A.092-60A.0921, any unauthorized assuming insurer or any alien group of insurers that meets the Department’s requirements may qualify as a Certified Reinsurer or Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer. Depending on the financial strength rating granted by the Department, a Certified Reinsurer will be allowed to post less than 100% collateral and still enable an authorized insurer to qualify for full reserve credit with respect to reinsurance contracts renewed or entered into on or after January 1, 2019, or the date the reinsurer becomes certified.

• 60A.092 Reinsurance Credit Allowed A Domestic Ceding Insurer
• 60A.0921 Credit for Reinsurance; Certified Reinsurers

Process for first time certification of a reinsurer

• Application Checklist– Certified Reinsurer (.pdf)
• Application Checklist – Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer (.pdf)

Process if Reinsurer is already certified in another state

The Reinsurer wishing to become a Certified Reinsurer or Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer in Minnesota must file a formal request to be designated as a Certified Reinsurer or Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer in Minnesota. We will require: 

• Application Checklist – Certified Reinsurer (.pdf) or Application Checklist – Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer (.pdf)
• Confirmation that the Reinsurer has pursued and received Certified Reinsurer or Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer status through another Lead US state, 
• Identification of the US state in which the Reinsurer initially applied for certification which was in turn reviewed by the NAIC Reinsurance Financial Analysis Working Group, 
• Identification of the information submitted to the original certification state.  We do not require a resubmission of these materials to Minnesota; just a detailed description of the materials, and 
• Submission of a CR-1 Form (.pdf) for Certified Reinsurers in Minnesota or submission of a RJ-1 Form for Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurers (.pdf).

Certified or Reciprocal Jurisdiction reinsurers whose rating has changed or status was suspended, revoked, or withdrew during past year:

None at this time.

Non-US Qualified Jurisdictions:

• Bermuda
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Japan
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

Applicants Seeking Certified Reinsurer Status:

Below is a list of applicants seeking certified reinsurer status in the State of Minnesota. Pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 60A.0921, Subdivision 2, please mail any comments to the appropriate contact person at the address listed below.

Contact
Jennifer Price
Licensing Director – Insurer Licensing
Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 Seventh Place, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN  55101-2198
jennifer.price@state.mn.us
651-539-1736