New Fines for Shady Immigration Consultants: Check Your Rep

Habari. From October 28, 2026, Canada can fine people who break the law when they give paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation. That includes licensed consultants and lawyers, not only people with no authorization. Here is what was announced, and how to check a representative before you pay.

What the new penalties are

The penalties are now in force. They apply to paid representatives, including people who are already licensed, and to anyone who charges for advice or representation without authorization (IRCC, October 28).

The amounts in that October 28 announcement:

• $5,000 for giving paid advice or representation without authorization.
• $15,000 for knowingly giving false or misleading information on an applicant’s behalf, or for helping an applicant do so.
• Extra penalties can apply if an application is approved based on false or misleading information.
• Repeat violations can cost more. The maximum for all violations combined is $1.5 million.

As penalties are issued, IRCC will publish the names of people who are penalized and the details of the violations. An online registry is expected to launch in 2027, after the first penalties (IRCC, October 28).

Check a paid representative before you pay

IRCC says to check that a representative is authorized before you pay (how to check).

Who may charge you:

• Immigration consultants must be members of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Search the College’s public register before you pay.
• Lawyers, Ontario paralegals and Quebec notaries must be members in good standing of the right law society or notary chamber. The IRCC page above is where to check (how to check).
• If they are not members in good standing, IRCC says not to use their services (how to check).

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association runs newcomer settlement programs, including orientation and language classes (newcomer services). Our First 30 Days guide lists the address and phone.

For how to check someone you might pay, and for free or low-cost legal help in Thunder Bay, see legal and immigration help. Common consultant scams are on the scams page.

Express Entry: a job offer needs an update before November 3

If you are in the Express Entry pool and want points for a qualifying job offer, IRCC says you must add the required information to your profile before November 3, 2026 (IRCC, October 16).

Scores already in the pool will be recalculated, and that can take up to two weeks. Invitation rounds are paused during that time (IRCC, October 16).

We walked through the wider point changes in our October 26 note.

This note is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, use the official pages linked above or a licensed representative.