• Immigration & Citizenship
• Immigrating to Ontario
• General Information About Applying

Should I get help with my immigration application from an immigration consultant or lawyer?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not require you to use an immigration consultant or lawyer.

If you choose to be advised or represented by a paid consultant, IRCC has rules about who can legally do this.

If you want, you can have someone help you with:

• Your immigration application
• Representation to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Special treatment is not given to your file if you use a consultant or representative.

To protect your privacy, IRCC will not share any of your personal information with your representative unless you give written consent. You must fill out a Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form [PDF] to give consent.

Types of Consultants

Your immigration representative can be paid or unpaid.

Examples of unpaid representatives are family members, friends, or members of a religious organization.

If you choose to be represented by a paid representative or consultant in Ontario, this person must be in good standing with the:

• Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) and/or
• Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

If you use a non-authorized paid consultant, your application may be returned to you.

Find out more about who can represent you on IRCC's website.

What should I look for in a consultant?

Be careful of scams and fraudulent consultants. IRCC has a tip sheet on how to avoid immigration scams. It is available in more than 15 languages.

It is important to work with someone who has proper knowledge and training. You can:

• Ask about their experience with the Canadian immigration process
• Ask for references
• Speak to people who have used them
• Find out if they belong to any other professional associations in Canada

Read tips on choosing an immigration consultant.

Find out how to complain about an immigration consultant.

Can I change my representative?

Yes, you can change your representative at any time.

You must notify IRCC immediately if you change your representative. You must fill out a new Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form [PDF] and send it to the office processing your file.

If you want to make a complaint about your paid representative, read How do I complain about a lawyer?

For More Information

• Don't Be A Victim of a Disappearing Act (Video) - A video about consultant scams. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) - The organization that regulates immigration consultants in Canada.
• Law Society of Ontario (LSO) - The governing body for Ontario lawyers. The LSO regulates the practice of law in Ontario and protects members of the public when they hire a lawyer.
• Law Society Referral Service (LSRS) - The LSRS is an online service making it possible for residents of Ontario to obtain referrals online, 24 hours a day. The online request, the referral process, and your initial consultation of up to 30 minutes are free.
• CLEO - Immigration and Refugee Law - Clear language publications on legal topics relating to immigrants and refugees.
• IRCC Help Centre - A tool that helps answer frequently asked questions on immigration matters. It offers several ways of searching through the information available, including search by keyword. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.