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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.

Anyone can call themselves an "agent", a "visa expert" or a "travel consultant". Canadian law is narrower. Section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) makes it an offence to advise or represent someone for payment on a Canadian immigration application unless you belong to one of a short list of licensed groups.

This guide sets out who is on that list, how to check a name in a few minutes, the patterns IRCC and the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants warn about, and where to report someone. It explains the rules. It doesn't assess any particular adviser or application.

Who is allowed to charge for immigration advice

IRPA s.91(1) says no person shall "knowingly, directly or indirectly, represent or advise a person for consideration — or offer to do so" in connection with an Express Entry profile or any application or proceeding under the Act. "For consideration" means for money or any other benefit.

Section 91(2) lists who is exempt from that ban:

  • lawyers who are members in good standing of a provincial law society, and notaries of the Chambre des notaires du Québec;
  • other law society members, including paralegals (IRCC's representative page names paralegals licensed by the Law Society of Ontario);
  • members in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (the College, or CICC). These are Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs).

Students-at-law working under a lawyer's supervision, and organisations acting under an agreement with the Government of Canada, are also covered (s.91(3) and (4)).

The College's own guidance adds a point many people miss: "Immigration consultants providing Canadian immigration or citizenship services in countries other than Canada are subject to Canadian law." An adviser being based abroad doesn't take them outside the rule.

What counts as advice

The College's "Who needs a licence?" page lists activities that count as giving immigration or citizenship advice. Among them: "Using publicly available information to advise someone on an immigration matter", "Telling someone how best to answer a question on an immigration-related application form", "Advising about what additional information someone should include with an application", "Writing a covering letter to accompany someone's application" and "Acting as their representative."

So a person who only "fills in forms", "checks your documents" or "writes your cover letter" for a fee is giving advice in the College's terms. If they aren't in one of the licensed groups, they are not allowed to charge for it.

The College also names three groups that often offer immigration help on the side: travel agents, labour recruiters and student recruiters or education agents. In its words, "In most cases, these people are not authorized to provide you immigration services", unless they are also a Canadian lawyer, a Quebec notary or a College licensee.

How to check a consultant on the CICC register

The College keeps a public register at https://register.college-ic.ca/. You can search by first name, last name, College ID, company, country or city.

Two columns matter most. The College says: "Only RCICs and RISIAs with an 'Active' status and who are marked as 'Yes' in the 'Entitled to Practise' column on the Public Register can provide immigration advice or services." Anyone marked "No" "CANNOT legally provide immigration advice or services."

The register also uses these statuses, all of which mean the person can't take on your file: Leave of Absence, Resigned, Resigned – Called to the Bar, Resigned – While Under Investigation, Administrative Suspension, Administrative Revocation, Disciplinary Suspension, Disciplinary Revocation and Deceased. "Active – Practice Restricted" means the licensee can practise, but with a restriction the register lists beside the status.

The "Type" column shows the licence class. Class L1 and L2 RCICs have a full scope of practice but cannot appear before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) unless they are also an Ontario-licensed paralegal. Class L3 (RCIC-IRB) adds representation before the IRB. RISIAs (classes L4 and L5) advise international students on study permits, visitor visas and related permits. The College says RISIAs "are not authorized to represent you in immigration or citizenship matters or complete immigration forms for you."

If the name you have is a lawyer or paralegal, they won't be on the CICC register. IRCC's "Check if your representative is authorized" page links to each provincial and territorial law society, where you can look them up.

The College's three checks before paying anyone

The College's unauthorized-practice page says not to pay an immigration consultant until:

  1. "You have verified that your consultant is licensed with the College."
  2. "You have communicated with the consultant using the contact information listed on our Public Register."
  3. "You have signed a service agreement (previously known as a retainer agreement)."

The second check deals with a common trick: a real RCIC's name and College ID used by someone else. If an office says it is "partnering with" an RCIC, the College says to double-check "by directly asking that RCIC or RISIA (use the contact information on our Public Register)" and to sign the agreement directly with the RCIC.

Warning signs IRCC and the College describe

These come from IRCC's "Learn about representatives" page and the College's guidance:

  • The person isn't on any register. The College says unauthorized practitioners "are not regulated. You will not find their names on our Public Register."
  • Services advertised at no charge that later turn into a fee. IRCC warns about representatives who "advertise their services as free and later ask you to pay a fee."
  • Advice to lie or leave things out. IRCC says it's "against the law to give false or misleading information in your application" and that "You are responsible for all the information in your application, even if your representative completes it for you."
  • Promises about the result. IRCC says using a representative "will not draw special attention to your application and doesn't mean we'll approve it." On visitor visas it goes further: "If anyone tells you you'll have a better chance on your second application because they're representing you, they're not being truthful and are likely looking to take your money."
  • Pressure to pay before you've checked anything, or refusal to put the arrangement in writing. That fails the College's third check.
  • A "partner RCIC" you can't reach through the register details.

IRCC also reminds applicants that using a representative is optional: "You don't need to hire a representative!"

What happens to an application filed by an unlicensed adviser

IRCC's position is direct: "We won't deal with representatives who charge a fee but are not authorized." If you use one, in Canada or abroad, IRCC says "we may return your application or refuse it."

That is on top of the risk to the person who did the work. Under IRPA s.91(9), breaking s.91(1) carries a fine of up to $200,000, up to two years in prison, or both, on indictment; or up to $40,000, up to six months, or both, on summary conviction. The College can also ask a court for an injunction to stop someone using a protected title or practising without a licence (College Act s.77 and s.78).

The College Act s.77(a) separately bars anyone who isn't a licensee from using the titles "immigration consultant", "citizenship consultant" or "international student immigration advisor", or anything that leads to a reasonable belief they are licensed.

To remove a representative from your file, IRCC uses the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476), sent through its web form. IRCC says "You can change or cancel your representative at any time."

How to report an unlicensed practitioner

IRCC's "How to report fraud or abuse" page (page date 11 May 2026) lists these routes:

  • If you have an application with IRCC: report the representative to IRCC through its online form, and to the Canada Border Services Agency's Border Watch Line.
  • Whether or not you have an application: report to the Border Watch Line, and to the College through its complaint channel.
  • For a lawyer or paralegal: complain to the law society they belong to.
  • For a related scam (for example, a fake job offer or payment demand): the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The College takes reports about unauthorized practitioners through an online form in its College Portal. It says its legal authority over them is limited: it can ask the courts to stop them and work with other agencies.

When paying a regulated adviser makes sense

IRCC says a representative is optional and that using one doesn't draw special attention to an application. People often decide to pay a licensed adviser when a file has a refusal history, a past immigration or criminal issue, a deadline such as a 15-day judicial review window, or a hearing before the IRB.

With an RCIC, the College's Code of Professional Conduct (SOR/2022-128) requires a written consultation agreement before the first consultation, stating the fee for it (s.23), and a written service agreement before any further services (s.24). Lawyers work under their law society's rules. Either way, the adviser's name and licence number should match a register entry you checked yourself.

Find a regulated adviser

Migratio's directory lists only advisers who have signed up with us and who show "Entitled to Practise: Yes" on the live CICC register, or who are in good standing with a law society. Each listing links to the official register so you can confirm the licence yourself before you book. Migratio is a directory and booking platform; it is not an immigration consultant and doesn't give immigration advice.

Questions people ask

How do I check if an immigration consultant is licensed in Canada?

Search their name or College ID on the College's public register at register.college-ic.ca. Only licensees with an Active status and 'Yes' in the Entitled to Practise column can provide immigration advice or services. Lawyers and paralegals are checked on their provincial law society's register instead.

Is it illegal to use an unlicensed immigration consultant?

IRPA s.91 makes it an offence for the unlicensed person to advise or represent you for payment, with fines up to $200,000 and up to two years in prison on indictment. For the applicant, IRCC says it won't deal with unauthorized paid representatives and may return or refuse the application.

Can a travel agent or education agent help with my visa?

The College says that in most cases travel agents, labour recruiters and student recruiters are not authorized to provide immigration services for a fee, unless they are also a Canadian lawyer, a Quebec notary or a College licensee.

What does 'Entitled to Practise: No' mean on the RCIC register?

It means the person cannot legally provide immigration advice or services. Statuses such as Leave of Absence, Resigned, Administrative Suspension and Disciplinary Revocation all show 'No'.

My consultant says they are working with an RCIC. How can I tell?

The College says to contact that RCIC directly using the contact details on the public register, and to sign the service agreement directly with the RCIC.

Where do I report a fake immigration consultant?

IRCC lists the CBSA Border Watch Line, IRCC's online form (if you have an application), the College's unauthorized practitioner form, and the relevant law society for lawyers and paralegals. Scams can also go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.