New penalties for fraudulent and unauthorized immigration and citizenship representatives
The Voice of Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to upholding the integrity of its immigration and citizenship systems and protecting applicants from fraud and exploitation. To help safeguard applicants from those who would take advantage of them, new penalties of up to $1.5 million are now in force for those who break the law when providing paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation.
The new rules apply to paid representatives, including licensed immigration consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives, as well as people who provide paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation without authorization.
Government can impose monetary penalties including
- $5,000 for providing paid advice or representation without authorization
- $15,000 for knowingly providing false or misleading information on an applicant’s behalf or helping an applicant do so
Additional penalties may apply if an application is approved based on false or misleading information. Penalties also increase for repeat violations, up to a maximum of $1.5 million for all violations combined.
As penalties are issued, IRCC will publish the names of those penalized and the details of their violations on its website. This will help protect the public by alerting clients to dishonest representatives and increasing transparency. The online registry is expected to launch in 2027, following the administration of the first penalties.
People seeking immigration or citizenship advice should check that their representative is authorized before paying for their services.
Visit our website to learn what happens if you break the rules when giving advice or representation.
Quotes
“Anyone hoping to build a future in Canada deserves access to trustworthy and accurate immigration and citizenship advice. These new measures will help protect people from fraud and misconduct and hold those who break the law accountable. While most people providing paid advice and representation follow the rules, those who do not will face consequences. This will help protect applicants and strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration and citizenship systems.”– The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Quick facts
The draft regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 21, 2024, giving stakeholders and Canadians an opportunity to review and provide feedback. Final regulations will be posted in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on November 4, 2026.
If someone believes they are being incorrectly penalized, they can submit a request to have their penalty reviewed through a formal process.
