Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially rolled out new Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) that can reach up to CAD 1.5 million for individuals or agencies engaged in immigration fraud, unauthorized practice, or applicant misrepresentation.
The penalties for immigration fraud target unauthorized representatives, ghost consultants, and rogue legal practitioners, both inside Canada and operating internationally.
The new financial penalty structure establishes explicit baseline fines for non-compliance, enabling IRCC to penalize bad actors without requiring lengthier criminal prosecution cycles.
The new penalties took effect on October 28, 2026, under rules enforced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The penalty framework covers licensed immigration consultants, lawyers, other authorised representatives, and individuals who provide paid immigration services without the required authorisation.
The penalties include:
- CAD 5,000: Providing paid immigration or citizenship advice without authorisation.
- CAD 15,000: Knowingly submitting false or misleading information, or helping an applicant do so.
- Up to CAD 1.5 million: Combined penalties for multiple or serious violations.
Additional fines may apply if an immigration application is approved based on false or misleading information. Penalties depend on the seriousness and frequency of the violations.
Canada is also preparing a public registry, expected to launch in 2027, listing immigration representatives who receive penalties and details of their violations.
This will give applicants another way to check whether an immigration consultant or representative has faced enforcement action.
Foreign nationals applying for Canadian visitor visas, work permits, study permits, or permanent residence should be careful when hiring immigration agents.
The rules also cover paid representatives operating outside Canada, meaning foreign consultants are not automatically exempt.
Applicants should:
- Verify that their immigration consultant or lawyer is authorised to represent them.
- Check all information before submitting an application.
- Avoid agents promising guaranteed visas or suggesting false documents.
- Keep copies of submitted applications and supporting documents.
- Employers managing Canadian immigration applications internally should also review whether their staff need formal authorisation to provide paid immigration advice or representation.
The new fines build on Canada’s July 15, 2026, regulations strengthening oversight of immigration and citizenship consultants.
Those rules expanded the investigative and disciplinary powers of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, increased penalties for misconduct and introduced a compensation fund for victims of dishonest consultants.
Canada is increasingly targeting the people and businesses facilitating immigration fraud, rather than placing the burden entirely on applicants.
