Apply for a recruiter's licence

In order to apply for a recruiter licence, you'll need:

• Your name, address, email and phone number
• The legal name, address and phone number of the business you work for
• The name, email and phone number for each business owner, director or partner

Individuals who offer foreign worker recruitment services to employers in B.C. must be licensed, even if they work outside the province. If a business employs more than one recruiter, each recruiter needs their own licence.

Both unlicensed recruiters and employers who use them can be fined up to $10,000.

After you complete your application, the Employment Standards Branch will review it for completeness and evaluate your conduct based on character, financial history, competence and prior compliance. The Branch can also review your partners, affiliates and agents.

Licensed recruiters are added to the public list of licensed recruiters in B.C.

You must uphold your obligations required by law. You also need to keep records in B.C. for at least 4 years related to any recruitment services provided to a temporary foreign worker, including:

• All signed contracts
• The name and address for each foreign worker who received recruitment services
• A description of recruitment services provided
• The name of each employer a foreign worker was referred to and/or placed with
• Fees and expenses requested or received

The Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act allows the Director to issue a recruiter licence for a period of up to 3 years. New applicants usually receive a 1-year licence. Recruiters must renew their licence before it expires.