To provide better protection to applicants who use the services of licensed immigration and citizenship consultants and to increase accountability within the immigration consulting profession, Canada has introduced new regulations. The regulations, which have been effective from July 15, 2026, establish a Compensation Fund that allows eligible clients to recover financial losses caused by the dishonest actions of licensed consultants. The fund covers misconduct committed on or after November 23, 2021, when the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) became the official regulator.
The Compensation Fund is to help the victims who suffered financial losses due to fraud, theft, misrepresentation, or other dishonest conduct by licensed consultants. The compensation will only be given to eligible claimants after the disciplinary process by CICC confirms that the consultant's dishonest conduct caused the financial loss. The compensation fund will not be given to those whose financial losses are caused by unauthorized or unlicensed immigration representatives, commonly known as "ghost consultants."
The CICC will strengthen the complaints and disciplinary process of the immigration consultants. Those who violate professional standards can now get imposed with tougher penalties. From April 2027, the public register of licensed consultants will include more detailed information, licensing, and disciplinary information. A client can therefore check a consultant's status before seeking a service from them. The federal immigration minister will also have the authority to appoint an executive administrator if the CICC's governing board fails to fulfill its responsibilities.
These changes aim to improve consumer protection and ensure that victims of consultant misconduct can recover their financial losses.
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