CANADA VIBES NEWSROOM · EVENING EDITION
July 18, 2026 · 7:00 PM ET

New regulations governing the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, which took effect July 15, increase penalties for consultants who break the rules and create a compensation fund for fraud victims.

Announced May 6 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab, the new regulations governing the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (SOR/2026-68) took effect on July 15, 2026. Ottawa calls it the most significant regulatory update since the College opened in 2021.

The regulations strengthen the College’s complaints and discipline process, including higher financial penalties for consultants who violate professional standards. A new compensation fund will provide financial restitution to people who suffered losses because of a dishonest act by a licensed consultant. Broader transparency measures for the public register of consultants will take effect in April 2027.

The tightened oversight comes as Ottawa pursues a broader overhaul of the asylum system. A public consultation on proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, published in the Canada Gazette on June 19, closes July 20. The amendments aim to streamline how asylum claims are received and processed, complementing the legislative reforms under Bill C-12, which received Royal Assent in March 2026.

On the Quebec front, IRCC expanded the Quebec worker public policy on June 5: spouses or common-law partners of eligible Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program applicants can now apply for open work permits, provided they hold valid temporary resident status (or it expired within the last 90 days) and are named on the principal applicant’s permanent selection application.

What to watch

How the compensation fund is rolled out in practice, the April 2027 transparency measures, and the outcome of the asylum reform consultation closing July 20.

Sources

• Government of Canada — “Canada strengthens regulation of immigration and citizenship consultants”
• Canada Gazette, Part 2, Volume 160, Number 9 — Regulations Amending the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Regulations
• immigrationnewscanada.ca — “New Canada Immigration Consultant Regulations Effective July 15”