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Immigration Representatives

Who May Represent You?

Are you:

• Applying for a visa or making any other application under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act?
• Undergoing a proceeding or hearing for an immigration or refugee matter?

In some cases, individuals who wish to come to, or stay in, Canada have a representative provide them with additional support or advice.

Remember you are not obliged to hire a representative for immigration and refugee matters. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not.

There are two types of representatives: paid and unpaid.

Consult these pages to find more information about paid and unpaid representatives.

	New Regulations for Paid Representatives Find information about the new regulations for paid representatives that came into effect on April 13, 2004.
	Regulations on Immigration Representatives Consult the Regulations and see the Regulatory Impact Assessment Statement (RIAS). [Canada Gazette, Extra Vol. 138, No. 4, April 14, 2004]
	Unpaid Representatives Find out who may act as an unpaid representative.
	General Information about Representatives Read about your responsibilities when dealing with a representative; how to work with CIC through a representative and what to do if things go wrong.
	Verify a Representative Find out if a representative is a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), of a Canadian law society or of the Chambres des notaires du Québec.