Immigration consultant fees, explained honestly

How much does an immigration consultant cost in Canada?

At Wild Mountain Immigration, File Management costs $1,000 for an Express Entry profile, $3,000 for the Canadian Experience Class, $4,000 for inland spousal sponsorship and $3,500 to $4,500 for an Alberta PNP file; File Review costs $350, $850, $850 and $850 to $1,200. The full list by program is further down this page. The immigration consultant cost is the professional fee a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) charges to prepare, review and represent your application, and it depends on the work involved. A short visitor-record extension is a small piece of work; a permanent-residence application for a family of four, with foreign documents and a provincial nomination, is a large one. Anyone who quotes a single flat figure for “immigration” without knowing your case is guessing, and you may end up paying for scope you do not need, or discovering hidden work later. That is why our immigration consultant price list below is published by program rather than as one blanket rate: you can see the fee for the work your case actually involves.

Our pricing is simple. At Wild Mountain Immigration, a consultation with a licensed RCIC costs nothing when we offer one, and the professional fee you pay for the work itself is quoted in writing before anything starts. That professional fee is always separate from the government fees set by IRCC and Alberta, so a transparent quote itemises both.

The prices below are our published professional fees by program. Once we understand your situation we confirm a fixed, written fee for your file, so you see the full scope and the full cost before you commit a dollar. Below, we set out exactly what drives the number so you can judge a fair fee, wherever you get your quote.

What affects the cost of immigration consultant fees?

Professional fees reflect time, complexity and risk. Several factors push the cost up or down, and understanding them helps you compare quotes sensibly when you look at immigration consultant fees in Canada:

• The program. Express Entry, a provincial nominee program, family sponsorship and work or study permits each involve different forms, evidence and steps.
• Number of applicants. A principal applicant plus a spouse and dependants means more documentation and more review.
• Complexity. Complicated work or travel histories, multiple family members, or hard-to-document evidence all take more time to prepare properly.
• Service tier. Full File Management costs more than a File Review, because we do the preparation rather than check yours.
• Stage and urgency. A tight deadline or a time-sensitive intake is more involved than starting a routine application early.

None of this is unique to Alberta, but as a Canmore-based practice, our RCIC fees in Alberta are set the same transparent way for clients here in the Bow Valley, in Calgary (our immigration consultant Calgary page explains how we serve the city online), and across Canada and overseas. If you are weighing the Alberta route, our free Alberta PNP points calculator helps you gauge your Alberta Advantage Immigration Program eligibility before you ask for a quote.

Our two ways to work: File Management vs File Review

We keep pricing simple by offering two clear service tiers. Most clients choose full File Management for peace of mind; others who are confident with paperwork prefer the lower-cost File Review. Both are delivered by the same licensed RCIC.

Not sure which fits? Tell us about your case and we will recommend the tier that gives you the right balance of cost and support.

Our published immigration consultant fees

Here are our current professional fees by program, for both service tiers. These are professional fees only; government fees are separate and paid directly to the authority (listed here) (IRCC processing, biometrics, the right-of-permanent-residence fee and AAIP fees). Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and may change, and we always confirm a fixed, written quote before any work begins. Source: Wild Mountain Immigration fee list, September 2026; professional fees only (government fees are separate).

File Management fees (full service)

Our most popular option: we prepare and submit your entire application and represent you with IRCC from start to finish.

File Review fees (lower cost)

You prepare your own application and our RCIC reviews it for errors and missed opportunities before you submit: a licensed check at a lower cost.

Spousal sponsorship fees: our flat fees

For sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner, our professional fee is a flat fee, not an hourly rate. File Management is $4,000 for an inland (In-Canada Class) application and $4,500 for an outland (Family Class) application. File Review, where you prepare the file and a licensed RCIC checks it before you submit, is $850 inland and $950 outland. IRCC's government fees are separate and paid directly to IRCC.

How to get a quote for your immigration consultant cost

Getting a quote for your immigration consultant cost is simple and there is no obligation. You tell us about your situation through our contact page or by phone, we assess your case, and we come back to you with the right service tier and a clear, written, fixed-scope fee before you commit to anything. Everything is handled online, by video call and secure document sharing, so it makes no difference where in Canada or the world you are. If you already know your route, you can read more about Express Entry, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program or family sponsorship before you reach out, or check your odds with our free eligibility checker.

Consultant fees vs government fees

One of the most common points of confusion is the difference between what you pay us and what you pay the government. They are completely separate, and we always itemise them.

• Our professional fee pays for our team's time, expertise, strategy and representation. It is the fee we agree in writing in your retainer agreement.
• Government fees and disbursements are set by government and paid directly to them, for example IRCC application and processing fees, biometrics, the right-of-permanent-residence fee (RPRF), and Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) fees where applicable.

In short, it is a question of professional fee vs disbursements: the professional fee is ours to earn, while disbursements are third-party costs, paid at cost and itemised in your quote. Where a larger file makes a single up-front payment difficult, we can also discuss a staged payment plan tied to the milestones in your retainer agreement.

Keeping the two separate means our quote is genuinely transparent: you can see precisely what is our professional fee and what is an unavoidable government cost that any applicant would pay. The paperwork is separate again: each application package has its own set of IRCC forms, and our IRCC forms guide explains what each common form is for and who signs it.

What an immigration consultant's fee does not include

A consultant's professional fee does not include government fees paid to IRCC or a province, or third-party costs such as an approved language test, an Educational Credential Assessment and the panel physician's medical exam, which you pay to the organisations that provide them (canada.ca, checked 12 October 2026).

• Government fees: IRCC processing fees, biometrics, the right-of-permanent-residence fee and AAIP fees are set by government and paid directly to the authority, which is why the prices on this page are professional fees only.
• Language tests: an Express Entry applicant must schedule the test with an agency approved by IRCC and pay the costs of the test.
• Educational Credential Assessment: the assessment must come from an organization or professional body designated by IRCC, and IRCC notes that processing times and costs may vary by organization or professional body.
• Medical exam: a permanent residence applicant pays all fees related to the medical exam at the appointment, including the panel physician or radiologist fee and any special tests, and IRCC does not refund those fees if it refuses the application.

IRCC explains each requirement on its own pages for the Express Entry language test, the Educational Credential Assessment and the medical exam for permanent residence applicants, and our cost to immigrate guide lists the full set of costs around a permanent residence application.

Who sets immigration consultant fees in Canada?

Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants set their own fees, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants does not set fee guidelines, and the Code of Professional Conduct requires every fee to be fair and reasonable in the circumstances (college-ic.ca and Justice Laws, checked 12 October 2026).

• Written agreement: a consultant must enter into a written service agreement with you before providing any immigration or citizenship consulting services, and must give you a draft of it first (Code of Professional Conduct, SOR/2022-128, section 24).
• Consultation agreement: before an initial consultation the consultant must enter into a written consultation agreement that states the fee for the consultation or states that it is provided pro bono (section 23).
• Disbursements: a consultant must not charge a disbursement above its actual amount (section 31).
• Changes to the price: if fees or disbursements will exceed the estimates or fixed amounts in the agreement, or a new disbursement arises, the consultant must inform you and obtain your agreement in writing (section 31).
• Unlicensed advisers: section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act makes it an offence to represent or advise a person for consideration without being an authorized lawyer, notary, law society member or College member, punishable on indictment by a fine of up to $200,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, and on summary conviction by a fine of up to $40,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.

The rules are published in the Code of Professional Conduct for College licensees (SOR/2022-128), the text of IRPA section 91 and the College's guidance on working with an immigration consultant. To check that a consultant is licensed before you pay, see how to verify an RCIC.

Flat fee, hourly or retainer: how Canadian consultants charge

Under the CICC Code of Professional Conduct, a consultant's written service agreement must state either an estimate of fees based on an hourly rate and the anticipated number of hours or an agreed fixed fee, and any advance payment from the client must be held in trust (Justice Laws, checked 12 October 2026).

• Fixed fee: the agreement states a single agreed amount for the listed services, which is how Wild Mountain Immigration quotes its fees, with the scope and price agreed in writing before work begins.
• Hourly rate: the agreement states the hourly rate and the anticipated number of hours as an estimate, and the consultant must get your written agreement if the fees will exceed that estimate.
• Advance payment held in trust: a consultant who takes money in advance must hold it in trust in a client account at a financial institution approved by the College, give you a receipt, and invoice you before withdrawing any of it.
• Invoicing: a consultant may invoice only once the services have been provided or disbursements have been made, and each invoice must fully describe the services and disbursements it covers.
• Payment terms and tax: the agreement must set out the terms of payment, including any interest on unpaid amounts, and identify any GST, HST or other tax charged to you.

Can you get a refund of an immigration consultant's fee?

The CICC Code of Professional Conduct requires every service agreement to state the consultant's refund policy for any advance payments, and requires the consultant to refund any money held in trust above the invoiced amount within 30 days after the agreement is completed or terminated (Justice Laws, checked 12 October 2026).

• Refund policy in writing: the service agreement must set out any advance payments you are to make and the consultant's refund policy, so read that clause before you sign.
• Unspent trust money: within 30 days of completion or early termination the consultant must return your documents, account for all funds received, issue a final invoice and refund any trust funds above the invoiced amount.
• If you dispute a fee: the College says its authority to help complainants recover money is limited and encourages you to seek remedies through the civil court process, which can run at the same time as a complaint.
• Government and third-party fees: these are paid to the organisation that charges them, and IRCC states that it does not refund medical exam fees if it refuses the application.

Are immigration consultants worth it?

Whether immigration consultants are worth it comes down to risk and value. Canadian immigration is detailed and unforgiving of small mistakes. A wrong NOC code, weak proof of funds, an inconsistent work history or a missed deadline can cost you months, or a refusal that follows you into future applications. Deadlines are the cheapest of those to avoid: our free permit expiry planner works out when to apply before a work, study or visitor permit runs out, and if your status has already lapsed, our guide to restoration of status explains the 90-day window to apply to restore it.

A licensed RCIC builds a complete, well-evidenced application, chooses the right program, represents you with IRCC, and catches problems before they reach a decision-maker. For many people the cost of doing it right once is far lower than the cost of a refusal and a second attempt. And if you would rather do the work yourself, our lower-cost File Review still puts a licensed RCIC between you and an avoidable mistake. The same logic applies whether you are filing an Express Entry profile, an employer-specific work permit or a study permit.

Canada immigration lawyer cost vs consultant fees

For comparable application work, an immigration lawyer in Canada generally costs more than a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, and the gap reflects scope: a lawyer's licence also covers Federal Court work, which a standard application never needs. To compare a lawyer's quote with ours, ask for a written, fixed-scope fee for the same work and set it against the File Management prices above.

Both professions are licensed and regulated, and our guide to whether a consultant is cheaper than a lawyer compares what each can do. A licensed RCIC handles standard IRCC and provincial applications, from Express Entry to a provincial nominee program. Some matters that go before the Immigration and Refugee Board or the courts call for a lawyer, and we will tell you honestly if your case needs one.

How to avoid “ghost consultants” and verify an RCIC

A “ghost consultant” is an unlicensed person who charges for immigration advice while staying off your paperwork, which is illegal and leaves you with no protection if things go wrong. Only a licensed RCIC, or a lawyer, Quebec notary or other law society member (such as a paralegal) in good standing, may represent you for a fee. Protect yourself before you pay anyone:

• Ask for their RCIC number and the name that will appear on your forms. A paid representative is appointed on IRCC's Use of a Representative form, and our IMM 5476 guide shows how that appointment works.
• Check the public CICC register to confirm the licence is valid and in good standing, and read our short guide on how to verify an RCIC.
• Insist on a written agreement that sets out the scope and the fee.
• Be wary of guarantees and “money-back” promises. No honest professional can guarantee an outcome or sell a money-back guarantee on approval, because outcomes are decided by IRCC or the province, not your representative.

Wild Mountain Immigration works under our lead RCIC, Nicola Wightman, licence #R706497, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). With us, immigration consultant fees are always fixed and set out in writing in a clear retainer agreement, with government disbursements itemised separately, so you know exactly what you are paying for before you commit. You can verify our standing on the CICC register at any time, we encourage it. Learn more about Nicola and her RCIC licence.