Short answer: only three groups can legally charge for Canadian immigration advice — ① CICC licensees (RCICs/RISIAs), ② lawyers in a provincial law society, ③ Quebec notaries. Anyone else charging a fee is breaking the law, and IRCC can return or refuse applications involving unauthorized paid representatives. Verification takes one minute on the CICC Public Register.
Red flags first
- They won't give you a licence number. A legitimate RCIC hands over their R###### instantly.
- "Guaranteed approval", "special channels", "inside contacts." Approval is an officer's discretion; guarantee marketing is itself the warning.
- Cash or personal-account payments with no written contract or invoice.
- Offers to file "under someone else's name." The representative must be declared on your application — ghost consultants are a classic fraud pattern.
- "Member of an association" you can't find. Only CICC, law societies, and the Chambre des notaires du Québec count.
Reading the CICC Register, step by step
- Open the Public Register on the CICC site (source below).
- Search by name or licence number (R######).
- Check three fields:
- Status = Active (Leave of Absence, Resigned, Suspended, Revoked cannot practise) - Entitled to Practise = Yes — 'No' means they cannot legally advise - Type: L1–L3 are RCICs (full scope; L3 adds IRB representation), L4–L5 are RISIAs (international student advising only)
- Not listed? Check whether they're a lawyer (law society lookup) or Quebec notary. Nowhere = unauthorized.
Practice on us: our principal consultant Jungmin (Lisa) Noh's licence is R706158. Look it up and check the Status and Entitled to Practise columns yourself — and do the same for any firm you consider.
Pre-engagement checklist
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| Get the licence number and look it up yourself | A business card is not verification |
| Written contract with scope and fees | IRCC recommends a written agreement |
| Representative declared on the application | Ghost consulting is the top fraud pattern |
| Discipline history (CICC publishes it) | Even Active licensees can carry restrictions |
FAQ
Does free help require a licence? Unpaid help (family, friends, pro bono) is allowed. It's *compensated* advice and representation that's regulated.
What about agencies outside Canada? Charging for Canadian immigration advice follows the same rules regardless of location. Ask which named RCIC or lawyer the agency works through, and whether that person appears as representative on your application.
