Canada immigration guides

Forms and applications

IMM 5476, Use of a Representative: what the form asks and how it is submitted — IMM 5476 tells IRCC that someone may act for you on an application, paid or unpaid. You complete the applicant sections, your representative signs their own declaration, and a paid representative must give their membership ID from the College, a law society or the Chambre des notaires. The same form is used to cancel or change a representative.
IMM 5257, Application for a Visitor Visa: what each section asks and where applications go wrong — IMM 5257 is the form for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) or transit visa, completed by each person applying. The fee is $100 per person (maximum $500 for a family of five or more), plus $85 for biometrics where required. Every question in the Background Information section must be answered or the application is treated as incomplete and returned.
IMM 1344, Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking: what it asks and who signs — IMM 1344 is the sponsor's application, sponsorship agreement and undertaking. The sponsor, any co-signer and the person being sponsored must all sign it electronically, and the application is returned if any signature is missing. A co-signer is not allowed when sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.
IMM 5532, Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Form: who completes which part, and how to sign it — IMM 5532 is completed by the sponsor (Part A), the person being sponsored (Part B) and both together (Part C) in a spouse or partner sponsorship. It is signed digitally after you choose Print to PDF, and both people must sign. The consent questions about sharing fraud-investigation results are voluntary, according to IRCC.
IMM 5406, Additional Family Information: who must list whom, and why leaving someone out matters — IMM 5406 collects details about your parents, spouse or partner, children and siblings. IRCC says it is "very important" to list all your children, including married, adopted, stepchildren and those in an ex-partner's custody, and to answer every question, using N/A where one does not apply. The online version is certified when you click the complete button, and the paper version is signed in Section D.
IMM 5669 Schedule A, Background/Declaration: what each question asks and how gaps are treated — IMM 5669 (Schedule A) records your identity, parents, education, personal history since age 18 or the last 10 years, organizations, government and military service and addresses. IRCC says not to leave gaps in time, not to use abbreviations, and that an unsigned paper form is returned. Anyone 18 or over in the application completes their own.
IMM 0008, Generic Application Form for Canada: a section-by-section walkthrough — IMM 0008 is the core form for most permanent residence applications. It lists the principal applicant, their family members and their dependants. Every family member must be declared, including those who are not applying and those whose whereabouts are unknown. A paper form with missing or unreadable barcodes, or without a signature and date, is returned unprocessed.
IMM 5562, Supplementary Information: Your Travels: what the form asks and where it goes wrong — IMM 5562 is IRCC's travel history form for permanent residence applications. The principal applicant completes it, including the sections for a spouse or common-law partner and for each dependent child aged 18 or older, whether or not they come to Canada. It asks for every trip outside your country of origin or residence in the last ten years, or since your 18th birthday if that was less than ten years ago.
IMM 5409, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union: who signs, what it asks and common mistakes — IMM 5409 is a sworn declaration by two people that they are in a common-law relationship. It must be signed by hand, it will not produce a barcode when validated, and it asks for places, dates, years together and the kinds of shared life you can document. The regulations define a common-law partner as someone who has cohabited with you in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.
IMM 5645 and IMM 5707, Family Information Form: which one to use, who completes it and what it asks — IMM 5645 and IMM 5707 carry the same title, "Family Information Form – Visitors, Students and Workers". Each person aged 18 or older applying from outside Canada for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit completes one. IRCC's guides for study and work permits from outside Canada name IMM 5707, and IRCC's forms index does not say IMM 5645 has been replaced, so confirm which one your own application package lists.
IMM 1294, Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada: what it asks and where applications go wrong — IMM 1294 is the form for a study permit applied for outside Canada, completed by each person who needs one. The IRCC fee list shows $150 per person for a study permit, plus $85 for biometrics where required, and IRCC's guide says fees are not refunded. Every Background Information question must be answered or the application is treated as incomplete and returned.
IMM 1295, Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada: what it asks and common mistakes — IMM 1295 is the form for a work permit applied for outside Canada, completed by each person who needs one. The IRCC fee list shows $155 per person, plus $100 for an open work permit holder and $85 for biometrics where required. A form completed on a computer must be validated to generate a barcode page, and the Background Information section must be fully answered or the application is returned.
IMM 5710, Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker: what it asks — IMM 5710 is the form for a worker already in Canada who wants to extend a work permit, change its conditions or apply for an initial work permit from inside the country. IRCC says to apply at least 30 calendar days before your current permit expires. The IRCC fee list shows $155 for a work permit including extensions, plus $100 for an open work permit holder.
IMM 5708: extending your stay as a visitor, what the form asks and where it goes wrong — IMM 5708 is the form for asking IRCC to extend a visitor's stay, change conditions or restore visitor status. The extension fee on the IRCC fee list is $100 per person, and IRCC's guide says to apply at least 30 days before your status expires. If every question in the Background section is not answered, the application is treated as incomplete and returned.
IMM 5709: extending a study permit from inside Canada, what the form asks and common mistakes — IMM 5709 is the form for extending a study permit, changing its conditions or restoring student status from inside Canada. The IRCC fee list shows $150 per person for a study permit including an extension, and IRCC says to apply at least 30 days before the permit expires. An application missing a required letter or answer is typically returned.
IMM 5444: renewing a PR card or applying for a PR travel document, what the form asks — IMM 5444 is one form for two applications: a permanent resident card if you are in Canada, or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) if you are outside Canada without a valid card. The IRCC fee list shows $50 for each. IRCC says not to renew a card that is still valid for more than nine months unless your legal name has changed, and an undated or electronically signed paper form is returned.
CIT 0002: the adult citizenship application, what each question asks and why applications are returned — CIT 0002 is the paper application for Canadian citizenship for adults. The IRCC fee list shows $653 for an adult, covering the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee. The Citizenship Act asks for at least 1,095 days of physical presence in the five years before applying, and IRCC returns a paper application signed more than 90 days before it receives it.
IMM 5768: the financial evaluation for sponsoring parents and grandparents, and the program's paused status — IMM 5768 is the financial evaluation form for sponsors in the Parents and Grandparents Program. That program is paused: IRCC's page (dated 18 August 2026) says it will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. The form asks for family size, previous undertakings and three years of employment and income history.
IMM 5283: the humanitarian and compassionate supplementary form, what it asks and common mistakes — IMM 5283 is the supplementary information form in the humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) permanent residence package, filed alongside the IMM 5280 document checklist and online forms. IRCC's guide calls H&C consideration "an exceptional measure". The fee list shows $1,260 with the right of permanent residence fee, or $660 without it, for an adult. Incomplete applications are returned.

Refusals and appeals

Judicial Review of an IRCC Refusal: The 15-Day and 60-Day Deadlines — To challenge an IRCC decision in the Federal Court you first need leave. The application must be filed within 15 days if the matter arose in Canada, or 60 days if it arose outside Canada, after you're notified (IRPA s.72). Any appeal right, such as an IAD appeal, must be used first.
Spousal Sponsorship Refused: How the 30-Day IAD Appeal Works — If IRCC refuses a permanent resident visa for a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner you sponsored, you as the sponsor can appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division. The IAD must receive your notice of appeal and the refusal within 30 days of you receiving the decision (IAD Rules r.16(a)).
Canada Visitor Visa Refused: What Your Options Are — There's no appeal from a visitor visa refusal. IRCC says you can apply again at any time unless your letter says otherwise, but only new information that addresses the refusal reasons is likely to change the result. The court route is judicial review in the Federal Court.
Study Permit Refused: Reapply, Seek Review or Rethink — There's no appeal from a study permit refusal. The options are a new application (which needs a new provincial or territorial attestation letter in most cases) or judicial review in the Federal Court within 60 days from outside Canada or 15 days from inside. Students in Canada also need to check their status.
Work Permit Refused in Canada: What Happens Next — There is no appeal from a work permit refusal. IRCC's two stated options are to apply again with new information or to seek judicial review in the Federal Court, which has a 15-day deadline for decisions made in Canada and 60 days for decisions made outside it. If you were in Canada, your right to keep working usually ends on the day of the decision.
IRCC Procedural Fairness Letter: What It Is and How the Rules Work — A procedural fairness letter tells you the officer's concerns before a decision and gives you a reasonable opportunity to respond. The deadline and the way to reply are in the letter itself, and IRCC's published instruction does not set a standard period. If the letter raises misrepresentation, the outcome can include a five-year bar.
Getting Your GCMS and Officer Notes After a Refusal — Since 29 July 2025 IRCC sends an officer's decision note with refusal letters for most temporary resident applications, and since 26 May 2026 for most permanent resident applications. Other notes in your file can be requested through access to information or privacy requests, which have a 30-day response period and a $5 application fee for access-to-information requests.
Misrepresentation in Canada: The Five-Year Inadmissibility Rule — Under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, misrepresenting or withholding a material fact that induces or could induce an error makes a person inadmissible for five years, and during that time a foreign national cannot apply for permanent residence. The five years run from the final determination if it was made outside Canada, or from the day a removal order is enforced if it was made in Canada.
Maintained Status in Canada: Working and Studying While You Wait — If you apply to extend your stay before it expires and IRCC hasn't decided by the expiry date, IRPR s.183(5) extends your authorized stay until the day of the decision and you keep your status and conditions. You can keep working or studying only under the same conditions, you must stay in Canada, and the right ends on the day a refusal is made.
Restoration of Status in Canada: The 90-Day Window — If you lose temporary resident status, IRPR s.182 lets an officer restore it if you apply within 90 days and meet the conditions. IRCC's fees are $246.25 for a visitor, $396.25 for a student and $401.25 for a worker (restoration plus permit), and you may not work or study until the restoration and any permit are approved.
Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) Applications in Canada: The Rules — An H&C request asks the Minister to grant permanent residence, or an exemption from a requirement, for humanitarian and compassionate reasons under IRPA s.25(1). IRCC calls it an exceptional measure. The IRCC fee list shows $1,260 for an adult application including the right of permanent residence fee, or $660 without it (as at 2026-09-21).
Criminal Record and Canada: Inadmissibility, Rehabilitation and Temporary Resident Permits — IRPA s.36 makes people inadmissible for certain convictions or acts. IRCC describes four ways to overcome it: deemed rehabilitation, individual rehabilitation (generally five years after the sentence ends), a record suspension for Canadian convictions, or a temporary resident permit. The IRCC fee list shows $246.25 for non-serious rehabilitation and $1,231 for serious (as at 2026-09-21).
Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC): Who Needs One and How It Works — Under IRPA s.52(1), a person whose removal order was enforced cannot come back without authorization unless an exemption applies. Which exemption depends on the order type: departure, exclusion (one or five years) or deportation (permanent until authorized). The IRCC fee list shows $492.50 for an ARC (as at 2026-09-21).

Express Entry

Express Entry explained: how the system and its three programs work — Express Entry is an online system IRCC uses to manage applications for permanent residence under three programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. You create a profile, candidates with the highest scores are invited in rounds, invited candidates apply, and an officer decides. This page explains the mechanics. It cannot tell you whether you are eligible.
Category-based Express Entry draws: the ten categories explained — IRCC's category-based selection page, dated 22 June 2026, lists ten current categories: French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, transport, physicians, senior managers and researchers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits. A category is a way of being invited, not a program. A candidate still has to be eligible for FSW, CEC or FST.
CRS score explained: where Express Entry points come from — The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores Express Entry profiles out of 1,200: core factors up to 500 (460 with a spouse), spouse factors up to 40, skill transferability up to 100 and additional points up to 600. A provincial nomination is worth 600. Job offers have not earned CRS points since 25 March 2025. This page explains the scoring. It cannot say whether a score will lead to an invitation.
Canadian Experience Class requirements: what the rules say — The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for people with skilled work experience gained in Canada. IRCC's page says at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours in the 3 years before applying, in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, with temporary resident status and paid employment, plus approved language tests. There is no education requirement. The CEC is managed through Express Entry.
Federal Skilled Trades Program: who it covers and what it asks for — The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) is for people qualified in a skilled trade. IRCC's page asks for 2 years of full-time trade work in the 5 years before applying, language minimums of CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing, and either a valid job offer of at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification. It is managed through Express Entry. There is no education requirement.
NOC and TEER categories: how Canada classifies jobs for immigration — The National Occupational Classification (NOC) gives every job in Canada a code, and the TEER category groups codes by the training, education, experience and responsibilities they usually need. IRCC has used NOC 2021 since 16 November 2022. The Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker classes use TEER 0 to 3. The Federal Skilled Trades Program uses specified NOC groups. Duties, not job titles, decide the code.
Educational credential assessment (ECA) for Canada: who issues it and what it is used for — An educational credential assessment (ECA) is a report from an organization IRCC has designated. It says what a credential earned outside Canada is equal to in Canada. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program it must be less than 5 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and again when you submit your application. Fees and times differ by organization, so check each one.
Language tests for Canada PR: the approved tests and how scores become CLB levels — For Express Entry, IRCC accepts five tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core in English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada in French. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply. Scores are converted into Canadian Language Benchmark (English) or NCLC (French) levels, and the minimum level depends on the program.
Canada PR from India: programs, fees and documents, as IRCC states them — Applicants in India use the same permanent residence programs as everyone else. IRCC's 2025 annual report records 94,105 economic-class admissions from India in 2024. The fee for a principal applicant is $1,590 with the right of permanent residence fee. India has its own police certificate page on canada.ca, and Express Entry applicants must get a medical exam after the invitation but before applying.
Canadian PR for nurses: the Express Entry healthcare category and nursing licensing are two different processes — IRCC's healthcare and social services category lists registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301), nurse practitioners (31302) and licensed practical nurses (32101), with 12 months of qualifying work experience in the past three years. Permanent residence and nursing registration are separate. NNAS does not grant licences, and each provincial regulator sets its own steps.
Express Entry Proof of Funds 2026: Amounts by Family Size — IRCC's settlement funds table (marked updated July 7, 2025, on a page dated 22 June 2026) runs from $15,263 for one person to $40,392 for seven, plus $4,112 for each person beyond seven. IRCC says Canadian Experience Class applicants and people authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer do not need to show proof of funds.

Provincial nominee programs

Provincial Nominee Program explained: provincial streams and the two paths to PR — Under the Provincial Nominee Program, a province or territory nominates people it wants to settle, and IRCC handles the permanent residence application. IRCC describes two paths: an Express Entry path, where a nomination adds 600 points to a profile, and a non-Express Entry path. Each province sets its own streams and numbers, and Quebec and Nunavut have no program.
BC Provincial Nominee Program: how the streams, fees and invitations work — The BC PNP has two main branches on WelcomeBC: Skills Immigration for workers (the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams) and Entrepreneur Immigration (Base, Regional and Strategic Projects). Workers register and may be invited to apply; the worker application fee on the page read was $1,750. Streams change, so check WelcomeBC on the day you apply.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP): the streams and how selection works — The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program lists four worker streams (Tourism and Hospitality, Alberta Opportunity, Alberta Express Entry and Rural Renewal) and four entrepreneur streams. Alberta says its draws are not regularly scheduled, that score is not the only selection factor, and that it does not disclose recent draw parameters. Check Alberta's updates page before applying.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): categories, points grid and 2026 limits — The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program lists four categories: International Skilled Worker, Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience, Entrepreneur, and Farm Owner and Operator. Some sub-categories use a 110-point grid with a 60-point minimum. Saskatchewan says it makes the final choice on nominations, and its FAQ describes 2026 sector caps and intake windows. Check saskatchewan.ca before applying.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program: the three streams and how the EOI pool works — The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) runs three streams: Skilled Worker, International Education and Business Investor. For the first two you create an Expression of Interest, the highest-ranked profiles are invited to apply, and a nomination is followed by a separate federal application. This page explains the rules as Manitoba published them on 10 October 2026. They change, so check the MPNP site before you act. It cannot tell you whether you are eligible.
Atlantic Immigration Program: how designated employers, endorsement and the PR application fit together — The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) offers permanent residence to skilled workers and international graduates who have a job offer from an employer designated by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. A provincial endorsement comes before the federal PR application. This guide explains the rules IRCC published, as read on 10 October 2026. Check the IRCC pages before you apply, and note that it cannot tell you whether you qualify.
Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots: the 18 communities and how a recommendation works — IRCC runs two community-driven pilots that offer permanent residence to skilled workers: the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (14 communities) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (6 communities, 18 unique places in total). You need a job offer from an employer the community has designated, then a recommendation from that community, then an application to IRCC. This guide explains the rules as read on 10 October 2026. It cannot tell you whether you are eligible, so check each community's own page.
Quebec's PSTQ: how skilled worker selection works, from Arrima to the CSQ — Quebec, not IRCC, selects its own skilled workers. Under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) you file an expression of interest in Arrima (no charge; the later application fee is $940 for the main applicant), may receive an invitation, apply to Quebec for selection, and if selected receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) before applying to IRCC for permanent residence. This guide is information only, read from quebec.ca and canada.ca on 10 October 2026. Check those pages before you act.
OINP 2026: How the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Works — Ontario's OINP page (updated 14 July 2026) says the new Workforce Priority stream has launched and all other streams are closed. The stream page (updated 6 October 2026) describes a process in which an employer submits a job offer, the worker registers an expression of interest within 30 days, and invited applicants must file within 17 days.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program Fees From 1 September 2026 — Nova Scotia charges an NSNP application fee from 1 September 2026: $1,000 for the worker streams and $2,000 for the entrepreneur stream, per principal applicant. There is no fee to submit an expression of interest. The fee is due after selection, and the province says it is non-refundable except where required by law or when an administrative error has occurred.

Fees and costs

Immigration consultant fees in Canada: what you pay for and how it must be billed — There is no official fee scale: the College says "RCICs set their own fees," and they must be "fair and reasonable." What the rules do fix is the paperwork. The fee for a first consultation must be in a written agreement before it starts, the full job needs a written service agreement with a fee estimate, and money paid in advance must sit in a trust account until the work is done.
Spousal Sponsorship Cost in 2026: Every Government Fee and What Else to Budget For — On the IRCC fee list (modified 2026-09-21), sponsoring a spouse or partner costs $1,260 including the right of permanent residence fee, or $660 without it, plus $180 for each dependent child and biometrics of $85 per person (family maximum $170). Medical exams, police certificates, translations and any adviser fees are extra and set by others.
Canadian Immigration Fees 2026: The IRCC List, Explained — The IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026) sets the government fees for most applications: for example $100 for a visitor visa, $150 for a study permit, $155 for a work permit, $1,590 for an economic permanent residence application including the $600 right of permanent residence fee, and $653 for an adult citizenship application. Medical exams, language tests, police certificates and representative fees are not on it.
LMIA Cost: The $1,000 Fee and Why a Worker Cannot Be Charged — An employer applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) pays $1,000 for each position requested. ESDC's page says the fee cannot be paid by, or recovered from, the temporary foreign worker, and a recruiter acting for the employer cannot recover it or recruitment costs from the worker either. It is not refunded if the application is withdrawn, cancelled or the LMIA is negative.
Canada PR Fees 2026: Application Fee and the $600 RPRF — On the IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026), an economic permanent residence application, including Express Entry, is $1,590 with the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) and $990 without it. A spouse or partner included on the application is the same again, and each dependent child is $270. IRCC says it refunds the RPRF if you withdraw or it refuses the application.
Canada Visitor Visa Cost: Visa, Biometrics and the Family Cap — On the IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026), a visitor visa is $100 per person, capped at $500 for a family of five or more applying at the same time and place. Biometrics are $85 per person, capped at $170 for a family of two or more eligible people. IRCC says biometrics are needed only once every 10 years.
Canadian Citizenship Fee: $653 for Adults and What It Covers — On the IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026), the citizenship application fee is $653 for an adult, which includes the processing fee and the $123 right of citizenship fee, and $100 for a minor under 18. A citizenship certificate is $75. IRCC refunds the full amount if processing has not started.

Work and study permits

PGWP eligibility 2026: program length, language, field of study, the 180-day deadline and the fee — A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is for graduates of eligible designated learning institutions. IRCC's page, read on 10 October 2026, says you must meet all requirements: a program of at least 8 months, full-time study, language results (CLB or NCLC 7 or 5 depending on the program), an eligible field of study for some programs, and an application within 180 days. The fee is $255. This guide explains the rules. It cannot tell you whether you qualify.
Provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL): what it is, who needs one and how it is issued — A provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) is a letter from the province or territory where you plan to study. IRCC says it is usually required with a study permit application, must be valid on the day you apply, and cannot be sent in afterwards. Some groups are exempt, and Quebec uses a different document. Each province runs its own process through its schools.
LMIA explained: what it is and which Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams employers use — A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is an assessment by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that an officer uses when deciding on an employer-specific work permit. The employer applies for it and pays the $1,000 fee per position. Workers cannot be charged for it or for recruitment. A positive LMIA does not by itself guarantee a work permit.
LMIA-exempt work permits: how the International Mobility Program works — The International Mobility Program lets employers hire temporary foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment. The legal basis is sections 204 and 205 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. For most employer-specific permits the employer pays a $230 compliance fee, submits an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and gives the worker a 7-digit number.
International Experience Canada (IEC) working holiday 2026: pools, invitations and fees — International Experience Canada lets young people from countries with a youth mobility agreement work in Canada for up to two years. IRCC says the 2026 pools are open. You create a profile, may be invited, then have 10 days to accept and 20 days to apply. The IEC fee is $184.75, plus $100 for the open work permit under Working Holiday, plus biometrics.
Medical exam and police certificates for Canada: who needs them, when, and how long they last — IRCC requires an immigration medical exam from a panel physician for permanent residence applicants, and for some temporary residents. Results are valid for 12 months. Police certificates are required for permanent residence, citizenship and International Experience Canada. Express Entry candidates must get the medical exam after the invitation but before applying, and have 60 days to submit police certificates.
Study Permit Proof of Funds: $23,448 From September 2026 — For study permit applications made outside Quebec on or after 1 September 2026, IRCC's living-expense amount is $23,448 for one person, $29,192 for two and $35,888 for three, excluding tuition and travel. IRCC's page (dated 28 August 2026) also shows the earlier amounts for applications from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2026. Quebec has its own requirements.

Choosing a representative

Do I need an immigration consultant to apply to Canada? — No. IRCC's own answer is "No. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use a representative or not." If you do pay someone for advice, the law says they must be a licensed consultant, a lawyer or paralegal, or a Quebec notary.
RCIC vs immigration lawyer in Canada: what each one can do — Both a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) and a lawyer may charge you for Canadian immigration advice and represent you before IRCC. The differences are at the edges: only RCIC-IRB consultants and lawyers may appear before the Immigration and Refugee Board, only lawyers may act for you in the Federal Court, and Quebec files need extra recognition for consultants.
How to check an RCIC licence on the College's Public Register — Search the consultant on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Public Register (register.college-ic.ca). Only people with an "Active" status and "Yes" in the "Entitled to Practise" column may legally give you immigration advice for a fee. Then contact them using the details on the register, not the ones in an ad or a message.
"Free consultation" with an immigration consultant: what it covers — A no-charge call is allowed, but it is not the same thing as a paid advice consultation, and the price of that paid consultation must be written in a consultation agreement before it starts (Code s.23). If the consultation itself is genuinely at no charge, the agreement has to say so. IRCC warns about representatives who "advertise their services as free and later ask you to pay a fee."
Unlicensed Immigration Consultants: How to Check Before You Pay — Only RCICs and RISIAs licensed by the College, lawyers and paralegals in good standing with a law society, and Quebec notaries may charge for Canadian immigration advice. IRCC says it won't deal with unauthorized paid representatives and may return or refuse an application that uses one.
How to Complain About an Immigration Consultant in Canada — Complaints about an RCIC or RISIA go to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants through its online portal. The College looks at conduct and competence, not fee disputes; refunds usually need a court. Lawyers and paralegals are complained about to their law society.

Family sponsorship

Common-law partner in Canadian immigration: the legal definition, the 12 months and where it matters — Under section 1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a common-law partner is someone who is cohabiting with you in a conjugal relationship and has done so for at least one year. IRCC's sponsorship page words this as 12 consecutive months without long periods apart. This guide explains the rule and the form that supports it (IMM 5409). It cannot tell you whether your relationship counts.
Spousal Sponsorship in Canada: Inland vs Outland, Eligibility and the Process — A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is 18 or older and lives in Canada can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child. Spouses and common-law partners can be sponsored in the 'in Canada' class (IRPR s.124) or the family class from outside; the choice depends on residence and status, and the appeal rights differ.
Spousal Open Work Permit in Canada: Who Qualifies in 2026 — There are two separate spousal open work permits. One is for the spouse of a skilled foreign worker, and since 21 January 2025 it depends on the worker's TEER category and on the worker's permit having at least 16 months left. The other is for a spouse already living in Canada who is being sponsored for permanent residence. Each costs $155 plus the $100 open work permit holder fee (IRCC fee list, 21 September 2026).
Parents and Grandparents Program: Paused in 2026 — IRCC's Parents and Grandparents Program page (page date 18 August 2026) says the program is paused: IRCC is not currently accepting applications, will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice, and will keep processing existing applications. The page names the super visa as the alternative for parents and grandparents who were not invited.
Super Visa Requirements: Host, Insurance, Medical Exam and the Five-Year Stay — A super visa is a visitor visa for parents and grandparents. IRCC's eligibility pages require a host child or grandchild in Canada who meets the minimum necessary income and writes an invitation letter, private health insurance of at least $100,000 emergency cover valid for at least one year from entry, and an immigration medical exam. The visa allows stays of up to five years at a time (applications made on or after 22 June 2023).

Citizenship

Canadian citizenship requirements: the 1,095-day rule, tax filing, language and the test — Under section 5(1) of the Citizenship Act an adult applicant must be a permanent resident, have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the five years before applying, have met any tax-filing requirement for three years, and, if aged 18 to 54, show language ability and pass the knowledge test. Days before permanent residence count at half value, up to a cap.
PR Residency Obligation: The 730-Day Rule and What Happens If You Miss It — A permanent resident must be in Canada, or in a few listed situations treated as in Canada, on at least 730 days in every five-year period (IRPA s.28). Falling short does not end status by itself: status continues until an official decision, and a decision made outside Canada can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division within 60 days.