By Frank J Wenzel, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, College ID R709441), Wenzel Immigration Consulting Inc., Vancouver, BC. Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.

This article is general information only. It is not legal advice, and no consultant-client relationship is created by reading it. It does not guarantee any immigration outcome, timeline, or result. Wenzel Immigration Consulting is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Verify any immigration consultant, including this one, on the CICC public register: college-ic.ca/protecting-the-public/find-an-immigration-consultant.

Short answer

On October 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) put new monetary penalties into force for people who give paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation unlawfully. The rules cover paid representatives, including licensed consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives, and people who provide paid advice without authorization. IRCC asks applicants to check that a representative is authorized before paying for services.

What IRCC announced

• $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.
• Higher penalties for repeat violations, up to a maximum of $1.5 million for all violations combined. Additional penalties may apply if an application is approved based on false or misleading information.
• Names will be published. IRCC says it will publish the names of people who are penalized and the details of their violations. The online registry is expected to launch in 2027, after the first penalties are administered.
• Final regulations: scheduled for publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II (the federal government’s official record of regulations) on November 4, 2026.

The Minister of Immigration said that most people providing paid advice and representation follow the rules, and that those who do not will face consequences.

Who may charge for immigration advice in Canada

Paid immigration or citizenship advice and representation must come from an authorized representative. IRCC’s page on this lists the current categories, which include consultants licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a provincial or territorial law society, and notaries in Quebec. You are also free to apply on your own, without a representative.

How to check a representative before you pay

1. Ask for their full name and licence or membership number. An authorized representative can give you this without hesitation.
2. Look them up in the official register. For consultants, use the CICC public register. For lawyers and paralegals, use the law society directory of the province or territory. IRCC explains how here: check that your representative is authorized.
3. Get the terms in writing before you pay. A written agreement should say what services are included, what they cost, and how fees are paid. Ask for a receipt for every payment.
4. Know what is submitted in your name. Ask for a copy of every form and document filed for you, and keep your own original documents.

Warning signs

None of these proves misconduct on its own. Each one is a reason to stop and verify before paying.

• Someone promises approval or guarantees a result. No one outside IRCC can promise a decision.
• Someone says they have a special connection inside the government.
• Someone asks you to include information that is not true, or to sign blank forms.
• Someone holds your original documents or passport as leverage.
• Someone will not give you a written agreement or a receipt.
• Someone pressures you to pay right away.

If something has already gone wrong

IRCC has a page for filing a complaint about a representative: file a complaint against a representative. IRCC’s guide to choosing a representative is here: how to choose an immigration or citizenship representative.

These rules apply to licensed consultants too

The penalties cover licensed consultants, including me. I am Frank J Wenzel, RCIC, College ID R709441. You can confirm my licence on the CICC public register before you decide whether to work with me or anyone else.

Official sources

• IRCC news release: New penalties for fraudulent and unauthorized immigration and citizenship representatives (October 28, 2026)
• IRCC: Check that your representative is authorized

Questions about your own application

If you want to talk through your situation with a licensed consultant, you can book a consultation or contact the office. No outcome can be promised, and IRCC makes every decision.