Apply for an employment agency licence

You'll need to provide the following documents and information along with your application:

• A completed Employment Agency Questionnaire (PDF, 193.5 KB)
• The legal name and contact information for the business
• Contact information for each director, officer, business owner and/or business partner
• The address and phone number of each location where the employment agency will operate or keep records in B.C.
• The industries that the agency recruits for
• The date the employment agency began (or is expected to begin) operating
• Whether the employment agency recruits domestic workers or workers from outside Canada
• The type(s) of work the employment agency recruits for
• Whether the employment agency offers certain services or charges any fees to individuals

Have your questionnaire saved and ready to upload.

Employment agencies must be licensed to operate in British Columbia. An employment agency is an organization or person who charges a fee to recruit, or offers to recruit, employees for employers. A licence is not required if an employment agency only recruits employees for one employer.

Use this form to apply for an employment agency licence or to renew an existing licence.

Your application will be assessed to ensure the employment agency will operate in the best interests of clients and employers.

If you're applying for the first time, a delegate will contact you to schedule an interview by phone or in person.

If your licence is approved

An employment agency must keep a record of:

• Each employer they provide service to
• Each person they direct to an employer for the purpose of being hired
• Each person they provide employment information to

Agency records must be kept in English at the employment agency’s principal place of business in B.C. for two years.

If an employment agency has employees, they must also keep payroll and employment records for each employee for four years.

If your licence is not approved

You will be contacted by phone and mail to let you know the reason(s) why.

Applicants who previously had an employment agency licence cancelled may be refused another licence.