College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC): A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) is Canada’s official regulator for immigration and citizenship consultants. It was created under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act, which received Royal Assent in June 2019, and the College was established on November 23, 2021, replacing the former Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).
• CICC licenses Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs), sets professional and ethical standards, publishes a monthly bulletin with disciplinary updates, and works with IRCC and other federal bodies to protect the public from immigration fraud.
• CICC is not the same as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The College regulates immigration consultants, while IRCC is the government department that makes decisions on Canadian immigration and citizenship applications. The CICC does not decide immigration applications or issue visas.
• You can and should verify any immigration consultant’s status through the College’s Public Register.

What Is the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)?

The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants is the national regulator responsible for overseeing individuals who charge fees for immigration and citizenship advice or representation in Canada. Within the broader immigration and citizenship Canada ecosystem, the College plays a distinct role: it doesn’t process your visa or permanent residence application – that’s IRCC’s job. Instead, it makes sure the consultants you might hire are qualified, ethical, and accountable.

The College was established by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (commonly called the College Act), which received Royal Assent in June 2019. The College Act came into force on November 26, 2020, and the College itself began operations on November 23, 2021, replacing the former Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council – also known as the Canada Regulatory Council or ICCRC.

There are two types of immigration representatives in Canada: paid and unpaid. Unpaid representatives can be family members or friends providing free services on your behalf. But paid representatives must be authorized to charge fees. Under the College, only two licence classes exist for paid consultants:

• Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) – licensed professionals who can advise and represent clients across the full range of Canadian immigration and citizenship matters.
• Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) – licensed specifically to assist international students with study-related immigration matters.

Only authorized representatives – whether RCICs, RISIAs, or lawyers licensed through a provincial law society – can receive payment for immigration services. Anyone else offering paid advice is operating illegally.

CICC vs. IRCC: What’s the Difference?

This is one of the most common points of confusion. Here’s a quick comparison:

The CICC’s mandate focuses on protecting the public interest, maintaining professional standards in the immigration consulting profession, and helping combat immigration fraud – particularly from unauthorized immigration consultants.

Mandate, Legal Framework, and Powers of the College

The College is a self-regulatory organization funded by licensee fees, not by taxpayer money. Its authority comes from federal legislation, and its powers have expanded significantly over time to address persistent problems with unlicensed immigration consultants and immigration fraud. Since its opening in 2021, the College has steadily strengthened its enforcement capabilities.

Key Legislation

Three pieces of legislation form the basis of the College’s authority:

• College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (the College Act): The foundational law that created the College, defined who qualifies as a consultant, and established complaint, discipline, and licensing processes.
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA): Governs the immigration and refugee system in Canada. The College regulates those who represent clients in IRPA-governed proceedings. In French, IRCC is known as Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (the department handling immigration et citoyenneté matters).
• Citizenship Act: The College likewise regulates paid representation or citizenship advice in citizenship applications and related proceedings.

Only licensed immigration and citizenship consultants regulated by the College – or lawyers and paralegals authorized by a provincial law society – may charge a fee for advice or representation before IRCC, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Unpaid representatives, such as family members or community organization volunteers, may assist for free but cannot charge.

Regulatory Powers

The establishment of the College under the College Act gave the regulator new powers far beyond what the predecessor ICCRC had. These include:

• Investigating complaints against licensees regarding professional misconduct
• Conducting practice audits and inspections
• Imposing sanctions including fines, license suspensions, and revocations
• Ordering restitution to clients
• Seeking court injunctions to stop unlicensed practice
• Interim suspension when public interest or security is at immediate risk

The College identifies and pursues unlicensed immigration consultants – including unauthorized practitioners located abroad. Individuals providing immigration services abroad must follow Canadian law, and the CICC has legal authority to pursue those offering unauthorized immigration advice.

The CICC also promotes public awareness about the risks of unauthorized immigration consultants, a critical function given that fraudulent operators often target vulnerable people from overseas.

Historical Context

Before CICC, the profession was shaped by several organizations. The Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC), the Association of Immigration Counsel of Canada (AICC), and the Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants (OPIC) all helped develop the profession’s early standards. The ICCRC served as the regulator from approximately 2011 until the College took over in 2021.

Monthly Bulletin and Disciplinary Updates

The College publishes a monthly bulletin that lists licensees recently subjected to disciplinary action – including details on fines, suspensions, and revocations. These regulatory updates are posted on the college-ic.ca website and serve as a public record. If you’re considering hiring a consultant, reviewing these bulletins is a practical way to check for any history of misconduct.

Collaboration with Other Federal Bodies

CICC works in cooperation with IRCC, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Immigration and Refugee Board, and other government bodies. The minister responsible has oversight powers – for instance, under the new regulations, the minister may temporarily appoint an administrator if the board of directors fails its duties. Budget 2023 also allocated funding to both IRCC and CBSA as a branch of government support to help crack down on unauthorized representatives.

As of October 2023, the Discipline Committee had issued fines totalling CAD $302,600 and ordered CAD $365,810 in restitution to clients. The number of licensed consultants more than doubled – from about 6,000 in 2018 to over 12,000 by 2023, reflecting the growing size and professionalization of the field.

RCICs, How Regulation Works, and How to Check a Consultant

A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is a professional who has met specific education, exam, and ethics requirements set by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants and is authorized to provide paid immigration and citizenship advice. Similarly, a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) is a licensed professional specifically authorized to advise international students. Both are subject to the College’s oversight.

Path to Becoming an RCIC

The CICC establishes licensing and educational standards for immigration consultants. Here’s what the path looks like:

1. Complete an accredited immigration practitioner program at a designated Canadian institution
2. Pass the College’s Entry-to-Practice Exam
3. Meet language proficiency requirements (English or French)
4. Clear background and security checks
5. Agree to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct

Candidates seeking to represent clients before tribunals such as the IRB must complete additional training. The process is rigorous – and by design, it ensures that each member of the profession meets a baseline standard of competence.

Key Duties of RCICs

An RCIC’s role in the immigration and citizenship process includes:

• Assessing eligibility for Canadian immigration programs
• Preparing and submitting applications to IRCC
• Advising on work permits, study permits, permanent residence pathways, and citizenship Canada applications
• Communicating with government authorities on behalf of clients
• Representing clients in proceedings before the IRB or CBSA
• Responding to application refusals and advising on next steps

An RCIC’s duties are defined and limited by law. They cannot guarantee an application outcome, influence an IRCC officer’s decision, or misrepresent facts.

Ongoing Regulation and Standards

The CICC provides ongoing professional development requirements for its licensees. Regulation doesn’t end at licensing. The College regulates Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants through:

• Continuing professional development (CPD): Licensees must complete regular training to stay current
• Practice inspections and audits: The College can review an RCIC’s practice at any time
• Complaint handling: Any member of the public can file a complaint
• Disciplinary hearings: The Discipline Committee can impose fines, suspension, revocation, or require remedial training
• Code of Professional Conduct: Licensees must adhere to a strict Code of Professional Conduct enforced by the CICC, covering competence, integrity, record-keeping, and conflict of interest

The College sets licensing and ethical standards for immigration consultants and expects every licensee to uphold those standards throughout their career.

How to Verify an Immigration Consultant

This is one of the most important steps you can take. Here’s how to do it:

1. Visit the CICC’s official website at college-ic.ca, use the Public Register (also called “Find an Immigration Consultant”)
2. Search by the consultant’s name, CICC license number, company name, or city
3. Confirm that their status shows as active and in good standing
4. Check for any disciplinary history or conditions on their license
5. You can verify the license of Moving2Canada’s official immigration consultant, Rebecca Major, here.

Consumers can verify the status of immigration consultants using the CICC Public Register at any time. The College maintains this public register of licensed immigration consultants as a key consumer protection tool.

Warning Signs of Fraud

Watch out for these red flags that may signal unauthorized practitioners or immigration fraud:

• The consultant refuses to provide a CICC license number
• They ask to be paid in cash only, with no receipts
• They guarantee Canadian immigration approval
• They suggest misrepresenting information on IRCC forms
• They cannot be found on the College’s Public Register
• They pressure you to sign without a written service agreement

If a consultant guarantees your application will be approved, walk away. No one – not even the most experienced professional immigration consultants – can control an IRCC officer’s decision.

Many people successfully manage their Canadian immigration applications without hiring an immigration consultant. By relying on the official IRCC website and trusted, free resources like Moving2Canada’s guides, tools, and newsletters, you can handle straightforward applications yourself. Using or not using a consultant does not change how IRCC evaluates an application.

Using CICC-Regulated Consultants vs. Free Information Platforms

Some applicants prefer to hire a licensed immigration consultant. Others take a do-it-yourself approach using official government resources and independent platforms. Both paths can lead to a successful outcome in Canadian immigration, depending on your personal circumstances.

What CICC Does (and Doesn’t Do)

CICC itself does not provide immigration advice to the public or file applications on anyone’s behalf. It regulates those who do. Platforms like Moving2Canada, on the other hand, provide free, up-to-date information about immigration and citizenship pathways, settlement in Canada, and related topics like jobs and finances – but we also don’t act as consultants.

Combining Both Options

A practical approach many newcomers take in the future is to combine resources:

• Use Moving2Canada for free planning tools, checklists, document preparation guides, and news on Canadian immigration policy changes
• Use the College’s Public Register to research any immigration consultant you’re considering.
• Ask the right questions before hiring to ensure the consultant is a good fit.

The Bottom Line on Decision-Making

Hiring a regulated consultant does not guarantee application success or special treatment. Only IRCC officers can approve or refuse visas, work permits, study permits, or citizenship applications. Your decision to hire should be based on the complexity of your case, your budget, and your comfort level with the process.

As of July 15, 2026, new regulations introduced a Compensation Fund that allows clients to recover financial losses caused by dishonest conduct of licensed RCICs, for misconduct dating back to November 23, 2021.

Whether you work with an RCIC or follow a self-directed path using free information platforms, staying informed about the role of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants and your rights as a client is the best way to protect yourself against immigration fraud.

New Protections Worth Knowing About (August 2026 Update)

The CICC Regulations (SOR/2026-68) that took effect in July 2026 introduced several mechanisms that support consumers. In addition to the Compensation Fund, these include expanded public register requirements (with full transparency measures due to come into force by April 2027), a Capacity Evaluation Committee to assess whether a licensee is fit to practise, and enhanced powers for the minister to intervene if the board of directors fails in its duties.

These regulations represent a significant step forward for the integrity of the profession and provide meaningful recourse for anyone who encounters misconduct.

FAQs about the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants

Is CICC the same as IRCC or Citizenship Canada?

No. CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants) is the regulator of immigration and citizenship consultants. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) is the federal department – sometimes informally referred to as “Citizenship Canada” – that processes applications for visas, permanent residence, and citizenship. The CICC does not approve applications, issue visas, or grant citizenship. Those decisions are made solely by IRCC officers under Canadian immigration and citizenship law.

Do I have to hire a CICC-licensed immigration consultant to apply for Canadian immigration?

No. Hiring a CICC-licensed immigration consultant is optional, not mandatory, for any Canadian immigration or citizenship application. Many applicants successfully apply entirely on their own using resources like the official IRCC website and free platforms such as Moving2Canada. IRCC treats all applications the same whether they are submitted by the applicant directly or through an authorized representative – there is no preferential treatment for applications prepared by an immigration consultant.

How can I report suspected immigration fraud or an unlicensed consultant?

If you suspect an immigration consultant is working without a CICC license or acting dishonestly, you can file a complaint directly with the College via its official website. Provide as many details and supporting documents as possible. For serious fraud or criminal behaviour, you may also report it to local police or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Always keep copies of all contracts, receipts, and communications as evidence.

Where can I find the College’s monthly bulletin and disciplinary decisions?

The monthly bulletin and disciplinary decisions are published on the CICC website (college-ic.ca) under the news or regulatory updates sections, usually organized by date – month and year. Reviewing these bulletins when researching a potential immigration consultant is a smart way to check whether they have any recent findings of misconduct or subject matter before a discipline committee.

Does Moving2Canada work with or endorse specific immigration consultants?

Moving2Canada is a free information platform. We do not provide paid immigration and citizenship consulting services or act as an immigration consultant. While we may occasionally partner with vetted service providers, we strongly encourage you to independently verify any immigration consultant’s status through the College’s Public Register before proceeding. You can also explore our Consultants and Lawyers page for more guidance on who can represent your Canadian immigration application.