Skip to main content
CADLEAF

CADLEAF verification guide

Find an Immigration Consultant

Before paying for Canadian immigration advice, verify the person through the official public register. CADLEAF does not recommend or rank consultants.

Check three things: current status, licence type and whether the person is entitled to practise.

Laptop showing immigration consultant verification page

Verify first

How to verify a consultant

Use the official register first. Do not rely only on a business card, website, social media page, message or referral.

  1. 01Search the person’s name, College ID, company name, city, or country on the official Public Register.
  2. 02Check the Status column. Active is the normal status you want to see.
  3. 03Check the Entitled to Practise column. It should say Yes before the person provides paid immigration advice or services.
  4. 04Check the licence type. RCIC, RCIC-IRB, and RISIA do not all have the same scope of practice.
  5. 05If the person does not appear in the College register, check whether they are authorized through another approved organization, such as a Canadian law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

Licence types

Know what the licence means.

RCIC

A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant may provide Canadian immigration and citizenship advice within their authorized scope.

RCIC-IRB

An RCIC-IRB has the additional authorization shown by the College for representation before the Immigration and Refugee Board.

RISIA

A Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor has a limited student-related scope. Always check the licence type and current status.

CADLEAF does not verify, recommend, rank or endorse immigration consultants. The College Public Register and current Government of Canada guidance are the authoritative sources for representative status and authorization.

Official verification

Verify after reading the checks

Use these official links after reviewing the status, licence and entitlement-to-practise checks above.

Search the College Public RegisterRead the College verification instructionsGovernment of Canada — authorized representatives