How to verify an RCIC (and spot a ghost consultant)
Before you pay anyone, learn how to verify an RCIC on the official CICC register. It takes about two minutes, it is free, and it is the surest way to avoid an unlicensed ghost consultant.
Key takeaways
To verify an RCIC, search the free CICC public register by name or licence number (an R followed by six digits) and confirm the consultant's status is active and in good standing. Under IRPA section 91, only a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, a lawyer or Quebec notary, or a regulated Ontario paralegal may charge for Canadian immigration advice. Anyone who will not give a licence number, will not put their name on your forms, or asks you to sign as though you did the work yourself is a ghost consultant to avoid.
- Search the free CICC public register by name or licence number (R + six digits).
- Confirm the status is active and in good standing, and the name matches who signs your forms.
- Only an RCIC, a lawyer/Quebec notary, or an Ontario paralegal may charge for advice (IRPA s.91).
- A ghost consultant hides their name, gives no licence number, or has you sign as if self-prepared.
- Verification is free and takes about two minutes, do it before you pay anyone.
How to verify an RCIC on the CICC register
To verify an RCIC, the only authoritative source is the official public register kept by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), the body that licenses and regulates every Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in Canada. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant is a representative licensed by the CICC to give immigration and citizenship advice and represent clients before IRCC for a fee. The register is free, open to anyone, and updated by the regulator itself, so it is the source of truth, not a consultant's own website. Here is exactly how to check, step by step.
- 01
Open the CICC public register
Go to college-ic.ca and open the public register, also called "Find an Immigration Consultant." It is free and needs no account.
- 02
Search by name or licence number
Enter the consultant's full name, or their licence number (an R followed by six digits). The licence number is the most precise way to search.
- 03
Confirm the licence is RCIC and active
Check the record shows a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant whose status is active and in good standing, not suspended, revoked or expired.
- 04
Match the name to your forms
Make sure the verified name is the same person who will sign your application and appear as your representative on IRCC's form IMM 5476.
If all four checks pass, you are dealing with a licensed professional you can hold accountable to a regulator. If any check fails, stop and get an explanation you can independently confirm before you pay or sign anything. Verifying an RCIC on the CICC public register is free, takes about two minutes, and is the single most important check before you hire any immigration representative.
What to look for when you verify an RCIC
A genuine register entry tells you more than just “licensed.” When you verify an immigration consultant in Canada, these are the fields that matter and what each one should show.
| What to check | What you want to see |
|---|---|
| Name | The full legal name of the person who will sign your forms, matching what they told you. |
| Licence number | An R followed by six digits (for example R706497), matching the number they gave you. |
| Class of licence | Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), the class authorised to represent you with IRCC. |
| Status | Active and in good standing, not suspended, revoked, surrendered or expired. |
| Province / firm | Details that line up with the business you are actually dealing with. |
Who is allowed to charge for immigration advice?
This is the rule the whole question rests on. Under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), only three kinds of representative may charge a fee to advise on or represent a Canadian immigration or citizenship matter:
- A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing with the CICC.
- A lawyer or Quebec notary who is a member of a provincial or territorial law society.
- A regulated paralegal in Ontario.
Anyone else who charges for immigration advice is acting outside the law. That is the heart of why verification matters: the danger is not “consultant versus lawyer,” both are licensed and regulated, but rather paying someone who is neither. If you are weighing the two licensed options, our guide to an immigration consultant vs lawyer explains how to choose.
Red flags: how to spot a ghost consultant
A ghost immigration consultant is someone who prepares applications for a fee while staying invisible to IRCC, no name on the forms, no licence, no accountability. They are the single biggest reason to verify before you pay. Watch for these warning signs:
- They will not give a licence number, or the number does not appear on the CICC register.
- They refuse to put their name on your application as your representative (IMM 5476).
- They ask you to sign as if you completed the application yourself.
- They guarantee a visa, PR or a specific outcome, something no honest representative can promise.
- They want payment only in cash or to a personal account, with no written service agreement.
- They pressure you to act immediately or pay before anything is in writing.
Why ghost consultants are dangerous
Verified RCIC vs ghost consultant: how they compare
When you verify an immigration consultant in Canada, the difference between a licensed representative and a ghost consultant shows up in every part of how they work. This side-by-side comparison makes the contrast clear before you decide who to trust with your case.
| Signal | Verified RCIC | Ghost consultant |
|---|---|---|
| Licence number | Shares an R-number freely and it appears on the CICC register. | Will not give a licence number, or it is not on the register. |
| CICC public register | Listed as active and in good standing. | Not listed, or status is suspended, revoked or expired. |
| Name on your forms | Named as your authorized representative on IRCC form IMM 5476. | Refuses to be named; has you sign as if self-prepared. |
| Accountability | Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. | Unregulated, with no professional body to complain to. |
| Promises | Never guarantees a visa, PR or a specific outcome. | Guarantees a visa, PR or outcome no honest representative can promise. |
| Fees and agreement | Clear written service agreement with fixed-scope fees. | Cash or personal-account only, with no written agreement. |
How to verify an RCIC before each stage of your case
It is worth taking a moment to verify an RCIC whenever you are about to commit to a new piece of work, because the same licensed representative supports very different programs. Whether you are mapping a route through Express Entry, scoring yourself on the Comprehensive Ranking System with our CRS calculator, weighing a Provincial Nominee Program stream, exploring Alberta immigration through the AAIP, applying for a Canadian work permit, bringing a partner over through family sponsorship, or finishing the journey with Canadian citizenship, the licence you confirmed on the CICC public register is what entitles that consultant to charge for advice at every step. Verifying once and keeping the R-number on file means you can re-check good standing at any time, for free, before you pay for the next stage.
What to do if a consultant isn't on the register
Not finding someone on the register is not always proof of fraud, but it is always a reason to pause. Work through it calmly:
- Recheck the details. Search again by the exact full name and by the licence number; a business name is not the same as the licensed person's name.
- Ask directly. Request the precise name and R-number on file with the CICC, then verify that.
- Don't pay or sign yet. Hold off on any fee or signature until the licence is confirmed.
- Report if needed. If they cannot be verified or pressure you to continue, you can report an unauthorised representative to the CICC, and walk away.
How to verify Wild Mountain Immigration as your RCIC
We hold ourselves to the same standard we are asking you to apply. Wild Mountain Immigration works under our lead RCIC, Nicola Wightman, licence #R706497, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. You can verify our standing on the CICC public register right now, and we genuinely encourage it. Every client also gets a clear written service agreement with fixed-scope fees, and we never guarantee an outcome, because no honest consultant can. When you are ready, you can read more about Nicola and our practice, compare your options in our guide to an immigration consultant vs lawyer, or book a free first call. The habit is simple: learn how to verify an RCIC on the CICC public register, confirm the licence is active and in good standing, and never pay an unverified representative.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify an RCIC?
To verify an RCIC, open the CICC public register at college-ic.ca and search by the consultant's full name or their licence number (an R followed by six digits). Confirm the record shows the person is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant whose status is active and in good standing, and that the name matches the person who will actually sign your forms. If the name is not on the register, or the status is anything other than active, do not pay them. Verification takes about two minutes and is the single most important check before you hire anyone.
What is an RCIC licence number?
An RCIC licence number is the unique identifier the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) assigns to every Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. It is the letter R followed by six digits, for example Wild Mountain Immigration's number is R706497. A genuine consultant will share their licence number freely and often displays it on their website and in their email signature. You use that number, or the consultant's name, to look them up on the CICC public register.
What is a ghost immigration consultant?
A ghost consultant is someone who gives immigration advice or completes applications for a fee without being a licensed, authorised representative. They often stay invisible, they will not put their name on your forms, will not give a licence number, and ask you to sign as if you completed the application yourself. Using a ghost consultant is risky: their work is unregulated, you have no professional body to complain to, and misrepresentation on an application they prepared can lead to a refusal or a ban. Verifying a representative on the CICC register is how you avoid them.
Who is allowed to charge for immigration advice in Canada?
Under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), only three kinds of representative may charge a fee for Canadian immigration or citizenship advice: a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing with the CICC, a lawyer or Quebec notary who is a member of a provincial or territorial law society, and a regulated Ontario paralegal. Anyone else charging for immigration advice is acting unlawfully, which is exactly why verifying your representative's licence matters.
Can I verify an RCIC for free?
Yes. The CICC public register is free and open to anyone, you do not need an account or any documents to search it. You can look up any Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant by name or licence number at any time, and we encourage every client to verify us before they pay anything.
What should I do if a consultant is not on the CICC register?
If you cannot find a consultant on the CICC register, do not pay them or sign anything until you have an explanation you can confirm. Sometimes the issue is a spelling difference or a business name versus a personal name, ask for the exact name and licence number on file and search again. If they still do not appear, will not provide a licence number, or pressure you to proceed, treat that as a serious red flag and walk away. You can also report an unlicensed representative to the CICC.
What does it mean for an RCIC to be in good standing?
Good standing means the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) lists the Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant as active, with no suspension, revocation, surrender or expiry on their licence. When you verify an RCIC on the public register, the status field is what confirms this. A licence that is suspended, revoked or expired is not in good standing, so do not pay or sign until the status reads active and in good standing.
Is the CICC the same as IRCC?
No. The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) is the regulator that licenses every Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and keeps the public register you use to verify an RCIC. IRCC, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, is the government department that processes applications and where your authorized representative is named on form IMM 5476. You verify a consultant with the CICC; you submit your application to IRCC.
How do I know who my authorized representative is on my application?
Your authorized representative is the person named on IRCC's form IMM 5476, the form that appoints a paid representative on an immigration or citizenship application. To verify an RCIC properly, confirm the licensed name on the CICC public register is the same person listed on that form. If someone prepares your application for a fee but refuses to be named as your representative, that is a ghost consultant and a serious red flag.
Work with a consultant you can verify
Look us up on the CICC register, then book a free first call with a licensed RCIC. Honest advice, never a guaranteed outcome.