Ottawa, January 17, 2025—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is introducing new rules to penalize paid representatives (authorized and unauthorized) who break the law when representing applicants and advising them on immigration or citizenship applications. This includes fines of up to a maximum of $1.5 million for advising clients to misrepresent themselves. The regulations would also require that the minister publish information concerning persons found liable for a violation on the department’s website, including the nature of the violation, the amount of the administrative monetary penalty and an indication of whether the person has paid the penalty.
The goals are to encourage paid representatives to act honestly and only with appropriate authorization, and to combat fraud. This will strengthen the integrity of our immigration system and support our commitment to border security.
The draft regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette. Stakeholders can review and provide feedback before the new rules are implemented in 2025.
Many people rely on immigration and citizenship representatives for help with their applications. These rules would address issues like fraud and unauthorized practice, holding representatives accountable with clear consequences for violations.
In preparation for these new regulations, we’ve launched an open, transparent and merit-based selection process to fill a reviewer position. The reviewer’s responsibilities will involve evaluating requests for review submitted by those who have been found in violation. This is a virtual, part-time position open to qualified candidates across Canada. For more information on the position and on how to apply, please see the notice of appointment opportunity.
