Free and low-cost immigration legal help in Canada

Who is allowed to help you with immigration?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says anyone who represents or advises you for payment is breaking the law unless they are an authorized representative. Authorized (paid) representatives are:

• Lawyers who are members of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society.
• Notaries who are members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
• Paralegals in Ontario who are members of the Law Society of Ontario.
• Immigration consultants who are licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

Unpaid helpers are also allowed: friends, family, community workers and settlement agencies who do not charge a fee. IRCC also says “we treat everyone equally, whether they use the service of a representative or not”. Many people apply on their own. Read our guide to choosing between a lawyer, a consultant and doing it yourself.

Legal aid for immigration and refugee cases

Legal aid is government-funded legal help for people with low income. Not every province covers immigration, and cover is usually limited to serious cases such as refugee claims, removal (deportation) and detention. The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) lists these legal aid offices for immigration and refugee matters:

Phone numbers from the IRB list and Legal Aid BC, checked October 5, 2026.

What legal aid usually covers

• Ontario: Legal Aid Ontario funds lawyers for low-income people with covered issues, including refugee hearings, appeals, detention and humanitarian and compassionate applications. It offers services in over 300 languages.
• British Columbia: Legal Aid BC helps if you face an immigration proceeding that may lead to removal from Canada, or if you want to claim refugee status. Legal Aid BC notes that new rules from March 26, 2026 affect refugee claims made more than one year after entering Canada. If you get an IRCC letter about eligibility, contact it right away.

Other provinces and territories may help with refugee claims through their general legal aid plan. Call your provincial legal aid office to ask.

Community legal clinics and law school clinics

Ontario community legal clinics

Ontario has a network of community and specialty legal clinics funded by Legal Aid Ontario. They give free services to low-income people. Specialty clinics serve specific communities, including South Asian, Chinese and Southeast Asian, Spanish-speaking and francophone clients. Find one through Steps to Justice.

Law school clinics

Law students give free legal advice under the supervision of lawyers. For example, the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) at the University of British Columbia runs a clinic just for immigration and refugee issues for people in Greater Vancouver (604-822-5791). Many other law schools run similar clinics. Ask the nearest law faculty.

Refugee-focused organizations

Organizations such as the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto and the Halifax Refugee Clinic help refugee claimants and people without secure status with paperwork and lawyer referrals.

Low-cost and short free consultations

• Law Society Referral Service (Ontario): a free consultation of up to 30 minutes with a lawyer or paralegal. Phone 1-855-947-5255.
• Ontario Legal Information Centre: a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer by phone or online, in English or French. Phone 1-844-343-7462.
• JusticeNet: a not-for-profit that connects people whose income is too high for legal aid but too low for full fees with lawyers who charge reduced rates.
• Lawyer referral services exist in most provinces through the law society or the Canadian Bar Association branch.

A short consultation is useful to check your plan, then you can do the forms yourself.

Free help from settlement agencies

Settlement agencies funded by IRCC and the provinces give free help to permanent residents and, in many provinces, to other newcomers. They can explain processes, help you read letters and fill in forms, and refer you to a lawyer or clinic. Because they do not charge, they are allowed to help without being licensed. Find one with our support finder or the free settlement services guide.

What to bring to a legal clinic or legal aid

Clinics and legal aid offices are busy. Be ready so you get the most from a short meeting:

• Your passport and any Canadian immigration documents (permits, visas, confirmation of PR).
• All letters from IRCC, the CBSA or the IRB, with dates. Deadlines are often in these letters.
• A copy of any application you sent, and your IRCC account details.
• Proof of income, such as pay stubs or a notice of assessment, if you are asking for legal aid.
• A short written timeline: when you arrived, your status changes, and what happened.

You can ask for an interpreter. Legal Aid Ontario, for example, offers services in over 300 languages.

If your case is urgent

• Removal or deportation order, or detention: call legal aid in your province the same day.
• Refusal with an appeal deadline: deadlines can be short. Get advice right away.
• Abuse or threats: call 911 in an emergency. Temporary foreign workers can report employer abuse to the federal tip line at 1-866-602-9448, 24 hours a day.
• Fraud by a consultant: see our immigration scams guide.

For other emergencies, see our emergency help page.

Before you pay anyone

Check that the person is licensed. It takes two minutes on the CICC public register or your law society’s directory. Our step-by-step guide shows how: how to check if your consultant is licensed. Get a written agreement that lists the services and the fees.

Common questions

Sources

• IRCC: Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
• IRCC: Find out if your representative is authorized
• Immigration and Refugee Board: List of legal aid offices
• Legal Aid BC: Immigration and refugee issues
• Steps to Justice (CLEO): Getting help with immigration law
• Legal Aid BC: Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
• ESDC: How to report abuse of temporary foreign workers

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.