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TL;DR
Canada announced new regulations for the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants on May 6, 2026, effective July 15, 2026.
A compensation fund will cover financial losses caused by dishonest acts of licensed consultants, with retroactive coverage to November 23, 2021.
The immigration minister gains power to appoint an administrator if the College's board fails to protect the public interest.
The fund does not cover losses caused by unlicensed practitioners or so-called ghost consultants.
Expanded public register requirements take effect in April 2027.
The federal government announced on May 6 that new regulations for the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) will take effect July 15, 2026, creating a compensation fund for people who’ve lost money to dishonest licensed consultants. The new regulations also give Ottawa authority to step in if the College's board fails to do its job.
The changes address a gap in the existing system: the College could investigate and discipline members, but had no mechanism to financially compensate their victims. The new rules give the College increased penalties, stronger investigation tools, and expanded reporting obligations, while giving the immigration minister power to appoint an administrator if the board fails in its responsibilities.
What the compensation fund looks like
The compensation fund covers financial losses tied to a licensed consultant's dishonest acts committed on or after November 23, 2021. The College defines dishonest acts as theft, fraud, or misappropriation of funds; misrepresentation or counselling misrepresentation; and knowingly failing to report a claim or cooperate with professional liability insurance.
To qualify, a person must have used a CICC licensee, filed a formal complaint through the College's complaints process, and received a discipline committee finding that links their financial loss to the consultant's dishonest conduct. The discipline committee's final decision must be issued on or after July 15, 2026. Complaints closed before that date, and duplicate complaints, are not eligible.
The College said it will provide more detail on claims, payments, timing, and application steps once the fund is fully operational.
The fund applies only to licensed CICC members. Losses caused by unlicensed practitioners, sometimes called ghost consultants, fall outside its scope.
Federal oversight and increased penalties
Beyond the fund, the regulations expand federal oversight of the College itself. The immigration minister will have authority to appoint an administrator if the College's board fails to protect the public interest. The College will also face clearer investigation rules and improved reporting requirements.
"People looking to build their future in Canada deserve access to honest and reliable immigration and citizenship advice," Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said. "These changes reflect our commitment to protecting applicants from fraud and misconduct, and to supporting a system where consultants are held to high standards."
The regulations were first published as drafts in the Canada Gazette on December 21, 2024.
Increasing fraud concerns in the immigration system
The changes come amid rising misrepresentation concerns across Canada's immigration system. A 2025 report from the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) found that IRCC refused over 52,000 temporary residence applications for misrepresentation in the first six months of 2024 alone, compared with about 46,000 in all of 2023 and nearly 26,000 in all of 2022. CILA's report recommended stricter penalties, stronger regulator powers, increased transparency, and a victims compensation fund.
Changes coming to the public register of licensed consultants
Starting in April 2027, the regulations require more information in the CICC's public register of licensed consultants. The new requirements include each consultant's business name, contact information, identification number, location, class of licence, licence status, any conditions or restrictions on the licence, and any disciplinary measures imposed. The register must also list the name of every consultant whose licence has been surrendered or revoked, along with the reasons for that decision.
The College will also have to make the register accessible by alternate means for people without internet access, and meet federal web accessibility standards.
The register is the official record of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs). It can be used to verify whether someone is licensed, in good standing, or subject to disciplinary action.
Under Canadian law, anyone who accepts payment for immigration advice or representation must be authorized by a provincial or territorial law society, the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or the CICC.
What this means for you
If you hired a licensed immigration consultant and lost money because of their dishonest conduct, the fund requires records and a complaint history. The fund requires a formal complaint through the CICC and a discipline finding, so people who have not filed a complaint can do so through the College's complaints process. Keep records of payments, contracts, and correspondence.
If you're planning to hire an immigration consultant, check the CICC's public register to verify their licence and standing before signing anything.
If your issue involves an unlicensed individual, this fund does not apply. You may need to pursue other avenues, including reporting to IRCC or law enforcement.
The College has not yet published details on claim amounts or the application process. The CICC says it will post updates on its website as the July 15 launch approaches.
