What the list is
The OSFI list is the publicly available list of federally regulated financial institutions maintained by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). For super visa applicants, it matters because the insurer behind a health policy must be a Canadian company or an OSFI-authorized one.
The common misunderstanding
A frequent misunderstanding is that any insurance-branded business appears on it. According to IRCC, “Insurance brokers and insurance claims administrators are not insurance companies and will not appear on the OSFI list.”
When you check a plan, verify the underwriting company — not the broker or agency — against the list.