Key takeaways
- You do not need a representative: IRCC gives no special attention or faster processing to represented files
- Paid help must come from a lawyer, Quebec notary, Ontario paralegal or CICC-licensed consultant
- RCICs can handle most IRCC applications; only RCIC-IRB licensees can represent you at the Immigration and Refugee Board
- Only lawyers can take your case to the Federal Court
- For Quebec selection programs, consultants also need recognition from the Quebec government
Can I do my immigration application myself?
Yes, for many applications. IRCC says: “You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the service of a representative or not.” It also says your application “will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome.”
DIY is often fine when:
- The application is routine: visitor visa, study permit extension, work permit extension, PR card renewal, citizenship with a clear history, or an Express Entry profile.
- Your history is simple: no past refusals, no immigration violations, no criminal record, no gaps you cannot explain.
- You read English or French well and can follow IRCC’s checklists exactly.
Free help is available from settlement agencies and clinics. See free and low-cost legal help. Our document checklist generator and CRS calculator help with Express Entry.
Who is allowed to charge for immigration help
IRCC lists four types of authorized paid representatives:
| Representative | Regulated by | Where they can practise |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | Provincial or territorial law society | IRCC applications, IRB hearings and the Federal Court |
| Quebec notary | Chambre des notaires du Québec | IRCC applications |
| Paralegal (Ontario only) | Law Society of Ontario | IRCC applications and tribunals within their licence |
| Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) | College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) | IRCC applications; IRB only with the RCIC-IRB licence |
Anyone else who charges you, including an overseas “agent”, a recruiter or a relative who asks for money, is not allowed to do so. The law also covers people who offer to help for payment.
What an RCIC can and cannot do
The CICC licenses three kinds of consultants:
- RCIC (classes L1 and L2): the full scope of immigration and citizenship applications to IRCC. L1 is for consultants in their first licensed year.
- RCIC-IRB (class L3): everything an RCIC can do, plus representing clients at the Immigration and Refugee Board, for example refugee hearings, immigration appeals and detention reviews.
- RISIA (classes L4 and L5): Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors, who work on student immigration matters, usually at a school.
A consultant cannot take your case to the Federal Court, for example to ask for judicial review of a refusal. Only a lawyer can do that.
When you should use a lawyer
- Federal Court: judicial review of a refusal or other decision.
- Criminal issues: a charge, conviction or record anywhere in the world, and questions of criminal inadmissibility.
- Misrepresentation: if IRCC says you gave false or missing information. This can lead to a five-year ban.
- Removal orders and detention.
- Complex refugee claims and humanitarian and compassionate applications with high stakes.
- Business or investor immigration with corporate structures or large sums of money.
Legal aid may pay for a lawyer in refugee, removal and detention cases if your income is low.
Special rules in Quebec
Quebec runs its own selection for many economic immigrants. The Quebec government says anyone paid to advise, assist or represent a person in a Quebec immigration process must be recognized by Quebec’s immigration ministry (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration). A CICC licence alone is not enough for Quebec processes. Lawyers who are members of the Barreau du Québec and notaries of the Chambre des notaires du Québec are exempt. Recognized consultants are listed in the Quebec register of immigration consultants.
Quick comparison: DIY, RCIC or lawyer
| Situation | Reasonable choice |
|---|---|
| Visitor, study or work permit extension with a clean history | DIY, with free settlement help if needed |
| Express Entry profile and PR application | DIY or RCIC |
| Spousal sponsorship with a simple history | DIY or RCIC |
| Past refusal you do not understand | RCIC or lawyer review before reapplying |
| Refugee claim or hearing at the IRB | Lawyer or RCIC-IRB; ask legal aid first |
| Criminal record, misrepresentation, removal order | Lawyer |
| Challenge a refusal in Federal Court | Lawyer only |
| Quebec selection (for example a Quebec skilled worker program) | DIY, Quebec-recognized consultant, Quebec lawyer or notary |
How fees work
Fees vary widely by province, the type of application and the person’s experience. There is no official fee schedule. Before you agree:
- Ask for a flat fee or a written estimate for the whole application, and what is not included (government fees, translations, medical exams, biometrics).
- Ask about payment stages: many representatives take part of the fee at the start and the rest at key steps.
- Ask what happens if IRCC asks for more documents or refuses the application. Is the extra work included?
- Remember IRCC’s own fees are separate and are paid to the Government of Canada only. See our cost of PR calculator.
- Compare at least two licensed representatives. A short paid consultation can help you decide if you need full service.
If you hire someone: five checks
- Check the licence on the CICC register or the law society directory. Our guide shows how: check a licence step by step.
- Get a written service agreement with the services, the fee and what happens if you are refused.
- Make sure you sign the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) so IRCC knows who is acting for you, and ask for copies of everything they submit.
- Keep your own login and never let anyone hold your passport or ask you to lie.
- Be wary of guarantees. No one can guarantee a visa or PR. See our immigration scams guide.