Canada has put new monetary penalties of up to $1.5 million in force for people who break the law while providing paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on Wednesday, October 28.

Source: Government of Canada / IRCC, Oct 28, 2026

Yaani: the maximum penalty is $1.5 million Canadian dollars — 15 lakh Canadian dollars in total across all violations combined.

The rules apply to paid representatives, including licensed immigration consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives, as well as to people who provide paid advice or representation without any authorization, IRCC said. The government can now impose $5,000 for providing paid advice or representation without authorization, and $15,000 for knowingly providing false or misleading information on an applicant's behalf or helping an applicant do so.

Additional penalties may apply if an application is approved based on false or misleading information, and penalties increase for repeat violations, up to the $1.5 million combined maximum, the department said.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said: “Anyone hoping to build a future in Canada deserves access to trustworthy and accurate immigration and citizenship advice. These new measures will help protect people from fraud and misconduct and hold those who break the law accountable.” She added that most people providing paid advice follow the rules, but those who do not will face consequences.

As penalties are issued, IRCC will publish the names of those penalized and the details of their violations on its website. The online registry is expected to launch in 2027, following the administration of the first penalties, the department said. VisaVerge, which reviewed the rules against the Government of Canada announcement on October 28, reported that a preliminary notice gives recipients 30 days to respond or request an extension, and that final regulations are scheduled for Canada Gazette publication on November 4, 2026.

Source: VisaVerge, Oct 28, 2026

For Punjabi and other South Asian applicants — among the largest groups using paid immigration representatives in Canada and abroad — the change is directly practical: IRCC urges anyone seeking immigration or citizenship advice to check that their representative is authorized before paying for their services.