How Do I Get a WSIB Clearance Certificate in Ontario?
Updated: Oct 9
Short answer: A WSIB clearance certificate is free and you get it online. If your business is registered with the WSIB and your premium reporting and payments are up to date, a clearance is created for you automatically. You download it from the WSIB's quick access clearances service. It is valid for up to 90 days.
A WSIB clearance certificate is a unique number the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board issues to a registered business to show its account is up to date. In construction it is required by law before work starts. In other industries, the business hiring you will often ask for one before it signs the contract or pays the invoice.
What is a WSIB clearance certificate, and who needs one?
A clearance shows that a business is registered with the WSIB and is current with its premium reporting and payments. Two parties rely on it:
The principal - any business that hires another business to do work for it.
The contractor - any business hired by another business to do work.
A contractor that hires a subcontractor becomes the principal for that part of the work.
The clearance protects the principal. While a clearance is valid, the WSIB does not hold the principal liable for unpaid premiums and other amounts the contractor owes the WSIB.
| Construction | Other industries |
Is a clearance required? | Yes, before work starts and for the whole job | Not required by the construction rule, but principals commonly ask for one |
Who must make sure it is in place? | Both the principal and the contractor | The principal, to protect itself |
Exemption | Home repairs or renovations hired by the home's resident, occupant or a family member | - |
If you have not registered yet, start with whether you have to register for WSIB in Ontario. Only a registered business can get a clearance.
How do I get a WSIB clearance certificate?
You get it from the WSIB's online services. The WSIB says you can request a clearance immediately once your account is up to date. As of October 2026 the steps are:
Register. Open a WSIB account if you do not have one. Only registered businesses in good standing can get a clearance.
Bring the account up to date. Report your premiums for every period that is due, finish any reconciliation, and pay what is owing.
Open quick access clearances. The WSIB's Clearances page links to this service. No log-in is needed to find, view and download your clearance.
Send it to the business that hired you. Download the certificate or use "Email this clearance".
Turn on automatic emails. In the clearance tool, choose "My Email Notifications" to receive each new certificate by email when it is created.
If you log in to WSIB online services, you can also build a list of the contractors you hire, see your clearance history and get reminder emails. A clearance requested by email takes three to five business days.
How long is a WSIB clearance valid?
A clearance is valid for up to 90 days from the date of issue. Most clearances expire on the 20th of February, May, August and November each year.
The WSIB issues a new clearance automatically if the account is still in good standing.
One clearance number covers all of your contracts for that period.
The principal's name no longer appears on the certificate. The protection for the principal is the same.
If the job runs longer than the validity period, a new clearance must be in place. A valid clearance is needed for the full length of the job.
In construction, principals and contractors must keep a record of clearances for at least three years.
How much does a WSIB clearance cost?
Nothing. The WSIB provides clearances at no charge.
There is one cost to plan for if you are new. Most newly registered businesses that need a clearance at the time of registration make an initial advance payment of $250. The WSIB applies it to your account as a credit toward future premiums, so it is a prepayment, not a fee.
Why does my account show "not eligible" for a clearance?
"Not eligible" means the account is not in good standing. The WSIB lists four conditions for good standing:
an open WSIB account, with all registration information and documents provided
the appropriate classification for your business activity
all required premium amounts reported, and reconciliation completed if it applies
all premiums and other amounts owing paid
The usual causes are a missed premium report, an unfiled reconciliation or an unpaid balance. Interest and non-compliance charges count as amounts owing. If you have more than one WSIB account, each one must be in good standing.
Fix the missing report or payment and the clearance becomes available. Where a balance cannot be paid at once, the WSIB's construction clearance policy says a clearance may still be issued if an approved payment plan is in place and the payments are made.
What happens if work starts without a valid clearance?
In construction it is an offence for both sides. The WSIB's clearance questions and answers state that if construction work goes ahead without a valid clearance number, both the contractor and the business that hired them are committing an offence, whatever industry the hiring business is in. The maximum fine on conviction is $100,000.
There is also a money risk for the principal. Under the WSIB's Clearance Certificate in Construction policy, without a clearance the principal may be liable for what the contractor owes the WSIB, up to the value of the labour portion of the contract.
The same policy lists what each side must do:
Principal: get the clearance before work begins, renew it if it expires or is revoked, and keep a record of it.
Contractor: not work without a clearance, and tell the principal if the clearance is revoked.
How can a bookkeeper help with WSIB clearances?
A clearance depends on the account being up to date, and that is bookkeeping work. Premium reports filed on time, payroll figures that match the books and balances paid when due are what keep an account in good standing.
At Remote Bookkeeping we prepare and file workplace safety insurance returns in all Canadian provinces, including WSIB in Ontario. We also register clients with the WSIB and request clearances for them. Read how payroll works for a small business in Canada for the payroll side.
Workers' compensation filing is one of the modules on our services page. Our pricing is published: you build your own plan and pay only for what you need, wherever you are in Canada.
Have a contract waiting on a clearance? Contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a WSIB clearance if I am not in construction?
The rule that makes it an offence to start work without a clearance applies to construction work. In other industries, the WSIB's Clearance Certificate policy says a clearance relieves the principal of liability for a contractor's unpaid WSIB amounts, so many businesses ask for one before work starts.
Can I get a WSIB clearance if I have no employees?
Maybe not. The WSIB says independent operators outside construction might not be obligated to register, and so would not be eligible for a clearance. The WSIB uses a questionnaire for each industry to rule on your status. See the WSIB's independent operators page.
Do suppliers and delivery drivers need a clearance?
No. The WSIB says a clearance is not needed for anyone who is not a contractor working for a principal, such as delivery drivers, equipment repair technicians and utility employees.
How do I check that a contractor's clearance is real?
Verify the clearance number in the WSIB's online services. You can also search for a registered business by name, phone number, address, city or postal code.
Sources
About Remote Bookkeeping
Remote Bookkeeping is a Canadian-owned firm providing monthly bookkeeping, financial reporting, payroll, HST/GST filing, year-end preparation and QuickBooks Online setup for small businesses across Canada. Founded by Lia and George, the firm brings more than 30 years of combined experience. Call (289) 867-0808 or 1-800-880-9141, or contact us. Related reading: Do I Have to Register for WSIB in Ontario as a Small Business?
This article is general information for Canadian small business owners. It is not tax, legal or accounting advice for your particular situation. Rates and thresholds change - always confirm against the source linked above or ask us.
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