Ottawa, January 17, 2025 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced significant new measures to penalize paid representatives who break the law while advising applicants on immigration or citizenship applications.
Under the proposed regulations, paid representatives—whether authorized or unauthorized—found guilty of advising clients to misrepresent themselves could face fines of up to $1.5 million. To increase transparency, the names of violators, details of their violations, and information on fines will be published on the department’s website.
The new rules aim to ensure paid representatives act honestly, operate with proper authorization, and uphold the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. By targeting fraudulent practices, the government is reinforcing its commitment to protecting applicants and maintaining border security.
The draft regulations are now available in the Canada Gazette, and IRCC is inviting stakeholders to provide feedback before the rules are implemented later this year.