Penalties up to $1.5M now apply to unauthorized consultants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada began applying monetary penalties of up to $1.5 million on Oct. 28 to people who give paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation without authorization, or who break the rules while doing so.

The department said in an Oct. 28 news release that the penalties took effect that day.

Under the schedule, a penalty of $5,000 applies to providing paid advice or representation without authorization. A penalty of $15,000 applies to knowingly giving false or misleading information on an applicant’s behalf, or helping an applicant do so.

IRCC said further penalties may apply if an application is approved on the basis of false or misleading information. Amounts rise for repeat violations, to a maximum of $1.5 million for all violations combined.

The rules cover paid representatives, including licensed immigration consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives, as well as people who are not authorized to charge for immigration or citizenship help at all.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab is quoted in the release. IRCC said final regulations are to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on Nov. 4. Draft regulations appeared in Part I of the Gazette on Dec. 21, 2024.

The department said it will publish the names of penalized representatives and details of the violations. It said the online registry is expected to launch in 2027, after the first penalties have been administered.

People hiring help with an application can check whether a representative is authorized through IRCC and the regulators named on its website. For questions about a specific case, IRCC points applicants to a licensed immigration consultant or a lawyer. This article is not legal advice.

The change adds to a busy autumn for applicants. Canada News Media has also reported on the latest Express Entry draw and on the job-offer points change that affects profiles after Nov. 3.

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