The NAIC Uniform Certificate of Authority Application (UCAA) Primary Application is the standard filing a brand-new insurance company submits to its home state regulator to get its first Certificate of Authority and start writing insurance. You file it when you form a new stand-alone insurer, a new affiliate inside an existing group, or when an alien (foreign-country) insurer seeks admission in its first U.S. state, as explained on the NAIC Primary Application page.
This filing is high-stakes and detailed. Each Uniform State sets a goal to process a complete Primary Application within 90 days, but the clock pauses every time the state sends a Request for Information, so a sloppy package can stretch your launch by many months. Getting it right the first time protects your capital, your timeline, and your investors’ confidence.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the Primary Application is, who must file it, and the exact forms inside the package
- 🗂️ The documents, ID numbers, and financial data you must gather before you open the application
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every major form and field, with formatting rules and consequences
- 👥 Three full filled-out examples following real filers from start to finish
- ⚠️ The mistakes that trigger Requests for Information, plus answers to the most common questions
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The UCAA Primary Application is a package of standardized forms and attachments that a newly formed insurer files with its domiciliary (home) state to obtain an initial Certificate of Authority. The NAIC designed it so that a single uniform format works across the Uniform States that accept the UCAA, instead of every state demanding a different application. A “Uniform State” is one that commits to using the UCAA forms and the standard review process for company licensing.
You use the Primary Application in three situations, as stated on the Primary Application instructions. The first is a newly formed and admitted stand-alone insurer with no parent. The second is a newly formed affiliate insurer inside an existing holding company group. The third is an alien insurer, meaning a company organized under the laws of a foreign country, that is applying to be admitted in its first U.S. state. If you already hold a Certificate of Authority somewhere and want to expand into a new state, you do not use this form; you use the UCAA Expansion Application instead.
The agency that receives the Primary Application is the insurance department of the state where you intend to domicile. That department checks your capital, your management, your business plan, and your character before it grants authority. The statutory backbone for these reviews is each state’s insurance code, and for holding-company filers the NAIC Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (#440) shapes what you must disclose. The consequence of filing the wrong application type is simple and painful: the state rejects it, keeps any nonrefundable fee, and asks you to start over with the correct one.
The form is built around a 2023 revision of the UCAA forms (look for the “© NAIC” revision marking on each form and confirm you pulled the current version from the portal). Filing on an outdated form is a common reason a state bounces a package back. Always download fresh forms at the time you file.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
The Primary Application is not something you complete in one sitting. Gathering everything first is the single biggest factor in clearing the two-week completeness check that opens the 90-day review. The filing requirements section lists what a complete package must contain.
Use this pre-filing checklist before you open the application:
- Proposed company name and name-approval evidence. Each state has its own name rules, and you attach proof of a name reservation or approval request. If the name is missing or conflicts with an existing insurer, the state will not seat the application.
- Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). The portal asks for it at creation. Without it, the state cannot match your entity to federal records, which slows verification.
- Articles of incorporation and bylaws. These prove your legal existence and corporate structure. A missing charter document stops the review cold.
- Lines of business you want authority to write (Form 3). Your requested classes drive your minimum capital, so an unclear answer here forces a clarifying RFI.
- Proof of minimum capital and surplus. The state confirms you meet its statutory floor; falling short means automatic denial or a demand for more capital.
- Three-year proforma financials (Form 13). Regulators test whether your plan is solvent on paper. Weak or unsupported projections draw deep questioning.
- Biographical affidavits (Form 11) for all officers, directors, key managers, and 10%+ owners. Each must be notarized and signed within six months. A stale or missing affidavit delays the whole background-check process.
- Holding company filings (Form B, Form F) if you are part of a group. These show ultimate control and intercompany agreements; omitting them stalls any affiliate or group filing.
- Statutory deposit documentation and the correct filing fee. Both are state-specific, and an unpaid or wrong fee means the application is never seated for review.
Missing any one of these items does not just slow you down a little. The state’s completeness review treats an incomplete package as not filed, so your official filing date does not start until everything arrives.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The Primary Application is filed electronically through the NAIC UCAA portal, and you start by requesting credentials. All login IDs come from the NAIC Help Desk using the UCAA User ID Request Form found on the UCAA website. First-time, start-up companies receive access that lets them create a Primary Application only, while users tied to an existing NAIC company code see the full menu of applications.
Existing UCAA users must first authenticate their ID in the current environment through the NAIC authentication link before they can work. New users simply request a fresh ID. Plan for a short lead time here, because you cannot build anything until your credentials are active.
Once you log in, you create the application from the Home page: select Primary from the drop-down menu and click Create. A pop-up then asks for the Proposed Company Name, the Application Jurisdiction, any required name-approval documents, and your FEIN if you have it, as described in the How to File Electronically section. After you click Create, you click Go to Application to enter the workspace.
Every required field in the portal is marked with an asterisk. After creation, only the proposed company name and FEIN can be edited, and each change demands a written reason that lands in the audit history. Treat the creation screen carefully, because correcting other details later means more work.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the UCAA Primary Application Line by Line
The Primary Application is a package of forms, not a single page. Below, each major form gets its own walkthrough in the order you encounter it. Sample entries are shown in italics so you can tell them apart from instructions.
Step 1: Form 1P — Primary Application Checklist
What it asks in plain English. Form 1P is the cover checklist that lists every required item and lets both you and the state confirm nothing is missing. It is the table of contents for your whole filing.
How to answer it. Work down the list and mark each item you have attached, matching every entry to the actual document in your package. Attach the completed checklist to the top of the application so the reviewer sees it first.
A specific example. Northstar Mutual Insurance Company marks an X beside “Articles of Incorporation,” “Form 3 Line of Business Matrix,” and “Biographical Affidavits” as each attachment is uploaded.
A nuance. Some states publish their own state-specific checklist that sits alongside Form 1P, and you must complete both. The state version often adds items the uniform list does not.
A common mistake and its consequence. Filers check a box without actually attaching the matching document. The reviewer opens the package, finds the gap, and issues a Request for Information that pauses your 90-day clock.
A misconception. People think Form 1P is optional busywork. It is not; the state uses it during the completeness check, and a sloppy checklist signals a sloppy filing.
Step 2: Form 2P — Certification and Attestation
What it asks in plain English. Form 2P is the page where an authorized officer or director swears the application is true and complete and formally requests the Certificate of Authority.
How to answer it. A designated officer or director signs it electronically through the DocuSign envelope the portal generates after you pay the usage fee. The signer must have authority to bind the company.
A specific example. Maria Chen, President of Northstar Mutual, signs the Form 2P attestation, and her signature converts the filing into an officially submitted application.
A nuance. The signatory can refuse to sign, or you can recall the signature, if you discover the application needs edits before it goes to the state. This is your last checkpoint before submission.
A common mistake and its consequence. Letting someone without binding authority sign the attestation. The state can reject the certification, voiding the submission until a proper officer re-signs.
A misconception. Filers assume the electronic signature is a formality. It is a sworn legal attestation, and false statements carry real regulatory and criminal exposure.
Step 3: Form 3 — Line of Business Matrix
What it asks in plain English. Form 3 is where you mark every class and line of insurance you want authority to transact, such as life, property, casualty, health, or title.
How to answer it. Place a mark next to each requested line, guided by your plan of operation. Request only the lines your business plan and capital actually support.
A specific example. A new property-casualty carrier, Cascade Surety Company, marks fidelity and surety on Form 3 and leaves life and health blank.
A nuance. If you request life lines and want separate accounts, variable annuities, or variable life, you must also answer the Life Questionnaire questions and attach items such as the investment policy statement and SEC prospectus.
A common mistake and its consequence. Requesting more lines than your capital supports. The state raises your required minimum surplus to match the broadest line, which can stall approval until you add capital.
A misconception. Filers think they can add lines easily later. Adding a line after licensure is a separate corporate-amendment filing with its own fee, so plan your matrix carefully now.
Step 4: Minimum Capital and Surplus Documentation
What it asks in plain English. This part proves you hold at least the capital and surplus your state requires for the lines you requested.
How to answer it. Attach an explanation of how you meet the statutory floor in the Jurisdiction attachment section, referencing the state’s Minimum Capital and Surplus Requirements chart and any risk-based capital instructions.
A specific example. Cascade Surety attaches a statement showing $6 million in paid-in capital and surplus against a $4 million statutory minimum for its lines.
A nuance. Meeting the statutory minimum is not always enough. The state weighs your product line, operating record, and financial condition and may demand more surplus than the printed floor.
A common mistake and its consequence. Treating the statutory minimum as a guaranteed pass. Regulators can require additional surplus, and assuming otherwise leads to a late capital scramble.
A misconception. Filers believe one national capital number applies everywhere. Minimum capital varies by state and by the classes of insurance you request.
Step 5: Statutory Deposit Documentation (Form 7)
What it asks in plain English. Many domiciliary states require you to place a deposit of cash or securities for the protection of policyholders before you can write business.
How to answer it. Attach documentation in the Jurisdiction section explaining how you meet, or are meeting, the deposit requirement, using the state’s Statutory Deposit Requirements chart.
A specific example. Northstar Mutual attaches a custodian certificate showing a $1.5 million securities deposit held for the benefit of all policyholders.
A nuance. Unless the state says otherwise, the deposit benefits all policyholders, not just those in the domiciliary state. Some states tie the amount to your lines.
A common mistake and its consequence. Documenting an intent to deposit without proof the deposit exists. The state withholds the Certificate of Authority until the deposit is confirmed.
A misconception. Filers think the deposit is a one-time formality. It is an ongoing requirement that the state monitors after licensure.
Step 6: Name Approval Evidence
What it asks in plain English. This confirms your proposed company name is approved or reserved and does not conflict with another insurer’s name.
How to answer it. Where required, attach evidence of your name approval or reservation request when you create the application, following the state’s Name Approval Requirements chart.
A specific example. Cascade Surety Company attaches a state name-reservation receipt dated 03/01/2026 confirming the name is held.
A nuance. Each state has different name rules, so a name cleared in one state may be refused in another. Check the specific state’s guidelines.
A common mistake and its consequence. Building the whole filing around a name that is later rejected. You must redo charter documents, the matrix, and affidavits under the corrected name.
A misconception. Filers assume name clearance is automatic if the name “sounds available.” States actively reject confusingly similar names.
Step 7: Plan of Operation Narrative
What it asks in plain English. The narrative is your written business plan that explains, in plain terms, what the company will do and how it will succeed.
How to answer it. Write a clear narrative covering significant information not captured in the Questionnaire, such as your market strategy, distribution, and reinsurance approach. It is one of the three Plan of Operation components.
A specific example. Cascade Surety describes a plan to write contract surety bonds for small construction firms in the Western U.S., distributed through independent agents.
A nuance. The narrative should fill gaps the Form 8 Questionnaire leaves open, not repeat it. Use it to tell the story behind your numbers.
A common mistake and its consequence. Submitting a vague, one-page narrative. Regulators read this as a weak plan and pepper you with RFIs that delay review.
A misconception. Filers think the proforma numbers speak for themselves. The state wants the reasoning and assumptions behind the numbers, which only the narrative provides.
Step 8: Form 13 — Proforma Financial Statements
What it asks in plain English. Form 13 is the spreadsheet of projected balance sheets and income statements that shows your company stays solvent over its first years.
How to answer it. Attach a company-wide three-year proforma balance sheet and income statement, plus three-year premium and loss projections by line for the application state, including all assumptions. Use the correct password-protected workbook for Life, Property/Casualty, Health, or Title.
A specific example. Cascade Surety uses the Property/Casualty Form 13 workbook and projects $2.1 million in year-one direct written premium with a 62% loss ratio.
A nuance. Some states want five-year projections instead of three, which requires two workbooks. Start the proforma with your first full year of active writing in the state.
A common mistake and its consequence. Trying to edit the locked workbook or leaving assumptions blank. The state cannot validate unsupported projections and will return the filing.
A misconception. Filers think rough estimates are fine. Regulators expect projections prepared by statutory-accounting professionals who can defend every number.
Step 9: Form 8 — Plan of Operation Questionnaire
What it asks in plain English. Form 8 is a detailed questionnaire about your operations, management, sales, advertising, claims, and reinsurance. The main questionnaire applies to all companies.
How to answer it. Answer every numbered question and attach the supporting items each one calls for, such as the executive-management organizational chart (Question 7), the sales-technique description (Question 8), and the advertising plan (Question 9). Mark each yes/no item clearly and attach details for any “yes.”
A specific example. For Question 7, Cascade Surety attaches a flow chart naming David Okoro as Chief Underwriting Officer and Priya Raman as Chief Financial Officer.
A nuance. The main questionnaire applies to everyone, the Holding Company questionnaire (Form 8HC) applies only to group members, and the Life questionnaire applies only to variable product writers. Complete only what fits you.
A common mistake and its consequence. Leaving a question blank instead of answering “None.” The state treats blanks as incomplete and issues an RFI, pausing the clock.
A misconception. Filers think short answers suffice. Questions 8 through 11 demand detailed attachments on sales, advertising, and claims handling, and thin answers draw follow-up.
Step 10: Form 8HC — Holding Company Questionnaire and Form B/F Filings
What it asks in plain English. If you belong to a holding company group, this set documents who ultimately controls you and what intercompany agreements exist.
How to answer it. Attach the most recent Holding Company Act filings, including the Annual Form B Registration Statement and related Form F, plus all advisory, management, and service agreements. Complete the debt-to-equity ratio statement and list principal owners of 10% or more.
A specific example. Summit Health Plan, Inc., an affiliate, attaches its parent’s Form B, a consolidated GAAP statement, and a tax-allocation agreement, and lists Summit Holdings LLC as the ultimate controlling person.
A nuance. If your parent or ultimate holding company filed an 8-K, 10-K, or 10-Q with the SEC in the last year, you note that it is available electronically rather than re-attaching it. If not publicly traded, attach the most recent consolidated GAAP financials.
A common mistake and its consequence. Omitting intercompany agreements or the Form F enterprise risk report. The state cannot assess group risk and stalls the affiliate’s review.
A misconception. Filers think only the insurer’s own finances matter. For a group member, the state scrutinizes the entire holding-company structure and its debt.
Step 11: Form 11 — NAIC Biographical Affidavit
What it asks in plain English. Form 11 collects each key person’s employment history, education, personal information, and character so the state can judge fitness and propriety.
How to answer it. Submit a separate notarized affidavit for every officer, director, key managerial person, and any individual owning 10% or more, plus the ultimate controlling person. Answer every question, write “None” where applicable, and include the signed Disclosure and Authorization Form that permits an independent third-party background check.
A specific example. David Okoro completes Form 11, lists his MBA and 12 years of underwriting experience, and signs the Disclosure and Authorization Form so an approved vendor can run his background report.
A nuance. The affidavit must use the most current form and be signed no more than six months before you file, and the Disclosure and Authorization Form is valid for only six months. Use the corresponding disclosure form for each state where the affiant lived or worked in the last ten years.
A common mistake and its consequence. Submitting an affidavit signed more than six months before filing. The background report is rejected, and the state delays the entire application review.
A misconception. Filers think a background check from another deal counts. Any alteration or new signature requires a freshly prepared background report from an approved independent third-party vendor.
Step 12: Public Records Package and Custody Agreements
What it asks in plain English. This grouping gathers the documents states must disclose to the public, plus any agreements covering who physically holds your securities.
How to answer it. Attach all operational-section items from the state’s Public Records Package chart as a jurisdiction attachment, and include a statement on whether any of your securities are held by another entity. If they are, attach the custody agreement with proper safeguards.
A specific example. Northstar Mutual attaches its custody agreement with First Custodial Bank and confirms the safeguards follow the NAIC Financial Condition Examiners Handbook.
A nuance. Securities in a safe deposit box under your exclusive control do not need a custody agreement, but third-party-held securities do.
A common mistake and its consequence. Forgetting the custody statement entirely. The state cannot verify control of your assets and issues an RFI.
A misconception. Filers think custody is a back-office detail. Regulators view control of invested assets as central to solvency.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common filers walked through the Primary Application from start to finish. Each table shows what that filer enters in the major sections.
Scenario 1: Newly formed stand-alone domestic stock insurer (Cascade Surety Company)
| Form Section | What Cascade Surety Enters |
|---|---|
| Application type | Primary — stand-alone, newly formed |
| Proposed company name | Cascade Surety Company (reservation receipt attached) |
| Application jurisdiction | Oregon |
| FEIN | 88-1234567 |
| Form 3 lines of business | Fidelity and Surety |
| Minimum capital and surplus | $6,000,000 against a $4,000,000 statutory floor |
| Form 13 proforma | P&C workbook; $2.1M year-one premium, 62% loss ratio |
| Form 11 affidavits | President, CFO, CUO, and three directors |
| Filing fee | Larger of $2,500 or retaliatory, nonrefundable (Oregon) |
Scenario 2: Newly formed affiliate inside a holding company group (Summit Health Plan, Inc.)
| Form Section | What Summit Health Enters |
|---|---|
| Application type | Primary — affiliate within a group |
| Proposed company name | Summit Health Plan, Inc. |
| Application jurisdiction | California |
| Form 3 lines of business | Health (HMO) |
| Form 8HC holding company | Form B, Form F, and tax-allocation agreement attached |
| Ultimate controlling person | Summit Holdings LLC |
| Debt-to-equity statement | Completed for 5-, 10-, and 20-year debt durations |
| Form 11 affidavits | Officers, directors, and Summit Holdings 10%+ owners |
| Filing fee | Per California schedule, submitted with cover letter |
Scenario 3: Alien insurer seeking first U.S. admission (Britannia Marine Assurance plc)
| Form Section | What Britannia Marine Enters |
|---|---|
| Application type | Primary — alien insurer, first U.S. state |
| Proposed company name | Britannia Marine Assurance plc (U.S. Branch) |
| Application jurisdiction | New York |
| Form 3 lines of business | Ocean Marine |
| Minimum capital and surplus | Trusteed surplus documentation attached |
| Plan of operation narrative | U.S. branch marine cargo strategy |
| Form 11 affidavits | U.S. branch manager and home-office directors |
| Public records package | Operational items per New York chart |
| Filing fee | $30 charter filing + $10 license issuance (New York) |
Across these three filers you can see the same backbone forms in action, with the affiliate adding holding-company filings and the alien insurer adding branch and trusteed-surplus documentation.
How to File the Completed Form
Filing happens through the NAIC UCAA electronic portal, though the fee payment channel varies by state. The portal walks you through submission once your forms are complete.
Follow these steps for the electronic filing channel:
- Pay the usage fee. Before the portal will generate a PDF of your application forms, you must pay the NAIC usage fee. Once payment validates, a Submit link appears in the Actions panel.
- Sign the attestation. A DocuSign envelope goes to your designated officer or director, who signs the Form 2P certification. The signed application then routes automatically to the chosen state.
- Watch the status bar. The application moves through Creation, Submission, Signature, Acceptance, Review, and Recommendation statuses, as described in the How to File Electronically section.
State filing fees, payees, and addresses differ, and you confirm yours on the foreign filing fees chart and the domestic fee chart. Examples show the range: Oregon charges the larger of $2,500 or retaliatory, nonrefundable, paid by check mailed with the application. Texas charges $0 for an expansion filing. California requires its fee mailed with a cover letter, while the application itself can be emailed to CAB-SF-Intake@insurance.ca.gov. Many states now accept payment electronically through NAIC OPTins.
For accepted payment methods, expect checks by mail in many states, OPTins or portal ACH in others, and a few states that invoice you after submission (such as Connecticut and Indiana). Keep proof of filing: save the portal confirmation, the audit-history record, and a copy of your mailed check or electronic payment receipt. That proof of filing is your evidence the official date was set.
What Happens After You File
After you submit, the state runs a completeness check, generally within two weeks of acknowledging the application. If the package is complete, the acknowledgment serves as notice that the state accepted it for filing, and the status date becomes your official filing date, per the application review process.
If the state finds a deficiency, it sends a Request for Information rather than accepting the filing. Depending on the issue, you may get two weeks to fix it, and the state can ask you to withdraw any application that is deficient and not accepted. Every RFI pauses the 90-day clock until you respond, so fast, complete responses keep your timeline intact.
Once seated, your application undergoes a rigorous financial and operational review. A lead reviewer is assigned and listed in the Details section of the Summary page, and that reviewer typically requests any additional information within about 30 days. At the end, the state either grants a Certificate of Authority as a domestic company or invites you to withdraw. When approved, you complete and submit the Company Code Application form to receive your NAIC company code.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each field on this filing is a potential error, so the most common mistakes are listed below with their direct consequence.
- Filing the wrong application type. Using the Primary instead of the Expansion (or vice versa) gets the filing rejected and the fee kept.
- Using an outdated form version. The state bounces the package and asks you to refile on the current form.
- Checking a Form 1P box without attaching the document. The completeness check fails and an RFI pauses your clock.
- Leaving Form 8 questions blank instead of writing “None.” The state treats blanks as incomplete and delays seating.
- Submitting biographical affidavits older than six months. The background report is rejected, stalling the whole review.
- Requesting more lines on Form 3 than your capital supports. The state raises your required surplus, delaying approval.
- Editing or under-supporting the locked Form 13 proforma. Regulators cannot validate the numbers and return the filing.
- Omitting holding-company Form B or Form F for an affiliate. The state cannot assess group risk and stalls the review.
- Forgetting name-approval evidence. A rejected name forces you to redo charter documents and affidavits.
- Paying the wrong or no filing fee. The application is never seated, so your official filing date never starts.
- Skipping the custody statement for third-party-held securities. The state cannot verify asset control and issues an RFI.
- Ignoring state-specific checklist items. Each missed item is a separate deficiency that triggers more follow-up.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do download fresh forms at filing time because using the current revision prevents an automatic rejection.
- Do gather every checklist item before you create the application so you clear the two-week completeness check on the first pass.
- Do answer every Form 8 question, writing “None” where it applies, because blanks read as incomplete.
- Do have statutory-accounting professionals prepare Form 13 since regulators expect defensible, supported projections.
- Do respond to RFIs quickly and completely because every open RFI freezes your 90-day clock.
- Do keep proof of filing and payment so you can confirm your official filing date if a question arises.
Don’t:
- Don’t sign biographical affidavits more than six months before filing because the background report will be rejected.
- Don’t request lines of business you cannot capitalize since the state will raise your required surplus.
- Don’t treat the statutory minimum capital as a guaranteed pass because regulators can demand more surplus.
- Don’t edit the password-protected proforma workbook as the state needs the unmodified validated file.
- Don’t let an officer without binding authority sign Form 2P because the certification can be voided.
- Don’t assume a name cleared elsewhere works in your state since name rules differ by jurisdiction.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Professional Help
Pros of filing with professional help (consultant or attorney):
- Fewer RFIs because experienced filers know what each state expects, which protects your timeline.
- Stronger proforma and narrative since specialists build projections regulators trust.
- Correct affidavit timing because pros track the six-month signature window for every affiant.
- State-specific knowledge that catches the extra checklist items uniform instructions miss.
- Faster path to approval as a clean first filing avoids months of back-and-forth.
Cons of filing with professional help:
- Higher upfront cost because consultants and counsel charge meaningful fees on top of state fees.
- Less internal knowledge since outsourcing means your team learns the process less deeply.
- Coordination overhead as you still must supply every document and answer the experts’ questions.
- Dependency risk if the consultant is unavailable during a tight RFI deadline.
- Variable quality because not every advisor knows every state equally well.
FAQs
Do I use the Primary Application to expand into a new state?
No. The Primary Application is for newly formed insurers or alien insurers entering their first U.S. state. To enter additional states, file the UCAA Expansion Application instead.
Do all officers and directors need a biographical affidavit?
Yes. Every officer, director, key managerial person, and any 10%-or-more owner, plus the ultimate controlling person, must submit a notarized Form 11 affidavit.
Do I write “None” if a Form 8 question does not apply to my company?
Yes. Every question on the questionnaire needs a response, so write “None” rather than leaving the field blank, which the state treats as incomplete.
Do biographical affidavits expire?
Yes. An affiant must not sign more than six months before you file, and the Disclosure and Authorization Form is valid for only six months from signing.
Do I list every line of business on Form 3 or only what I will write at launch?
No, do not over-request; mark only the lines your plan of operation and capital support, because broader requests raise your required minimum surplus.
Do I need a holding company questionnaire if I am a stand-alone insurer?
No. Form 8HC and the Form B/F filings apply only to insurers that are members of a holding company system.
Do I have to file electronically through the NAIC portal?
Yes. Primary Applications are created and submitted through the UCAA electronic portal, though some states still require the fee to be paid by mailed check.
Do I pay the filing fee before the state reviews the application?
Yes. Most states require the nonrefundable fee at submission, and the application is not seated for review until the correct fee is received.
Do I write the company name in the box exactly as reserved?
Yes. Enter the proposed name exactly as it appears on your name-approval or reservation evidence so the state can match it during review.
Do I attach the proforma as a regular spreadsheet?
No. You must use the official password-protected Form 13 workbook for your company type and may not modify its locked structure.
Do I include a statutory deposit with the Primary Application?
Yes, where the domiciliary state requires one; attach documentation showing how you meet the deposit, which generally benefits all policyholders.
Do I get my NAIC company code when I file?
No. You receive the company code only after the state approves the application and you submit the separate Company Code Application form.
Do RFIs affect the 90-day processing goal?
Yes. Each Request for Information pauses the 90-day clock until you respond, so incomplete filings can extend your timeline by months.
Do I need separate disclosure forms for each state an affiant lived in?
Yes. Each affiant signs the corresponding Disclosure and Authorization Form for every state where they lived or worked within the last ten years.
Related reading
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