TL;DR: IRCC says it will never ask for payment by phone, never email from free services like Gmail, never ask you to pay into a personal bank account, never threaten you or offer special deals, never start conversations on social media and never send visas by email. Scams include paid “guaranteed approval” representatives, fake eTA websites, fake IRCC calls to students and AI-generated videos of officials. Official emails come from gc.ca or canada.ca addresses.
What IRCC will never do
From IRCC’s guidance on online and phone scams:
- ask for any payment by telephone;
- ask for private information like passwords, date of birth or card details by email;
- email you from Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo;
- ask you to deposit money into a personal bank account or use a private transfer service;
- threaten you or offer special deals;
- start a conversation on social media;
- send visas by email.
Common scams
- Representative fraud: services advertised as free that later charge, promise guaranteed approval, offer to speed up biometrics for a fee, or tell you to lie on your application.
- AI-generated content: fake videos or voices of officials promoting fast or guaranteed immigration. A new, very 2026 problem.
- Fake websites: copycat pages, often charging for eTA “help.” The official eTA application on Canada.ca costs CAN$7, and most are approved within minutes. If a site wants $50 or $100 for the same thing, it isn’t the government.
- Fake emails and calls: including a phone scam targeting international students reported in Ottawa and London, Ontario, according to IRCC.
- Job offers: salaries that look too good to be true.
How to check
- Official email comes from gc.ca or canada.ca addresses.
- Type the website address yourself and check it matches.
- Use only IRCC’s verified social media accounts.
- Check that any paid representative is authorised (see below).
Paying someone? Check they’re licensed
IRCC’s guidance on choosing a representative says anyone you pay, in money or anything else, for immigration or citizenship advice "must have a license and be in good standing." Immigration consultants are regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), which IRCC set up in 2021 and which keeps a public register. In January 2025 IRCC proposed rules including a compensation fund for victims of unethical consultants.
Using an unauthorised representative has consequences for you: IRCC says it may return or refuse your application. Representatives who break the rules can be fined, with their names published on IRCC’s website, including those based outside Canada. Before you hire anyone:
- check the person on the regulator’s register (CICC for consultants, the provincial law society for lawyers);
- ask about training, experience and references;
- get a written contract listing every service and the fee;
- walk away from anyone who tells you to leave something out or say something untrue on your application.
Report it
Report suspicious websites, emails, calls or representatives through the report fraud page on Canada.ca, and report losses to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Newcomers are targeted more
New arrivals are juggling unfamiliar systems, which scammers exploit with fake CRA, police and IRCC calls. See scams targeting immigrant communities and digital footprint for international students. A free email exposure check shows whether your email is in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Canadian eTA cost?
The official eTA on Canada.ca costs CAN$7. Sites charging more are not the Government of Canada.
How do I check an immigration consultant is real?
Paid representatives must be licensed and in good standing. Check consultants on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants register, and lawyers with their provincial law society.
Does IRCC ever call asking for payment?
No. IRCC says it will never ask for any payment by telephone.
What email address does IRCC use?
Official IRCC email comes from gc.ca or canada.ca addresses, never Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo.
Can someone guarantee my visa approval for a fee?
Promises of guaranteed approval are a scam sign, according to IRCC.
Where do I report immigration fraud in Canada?
Through the report fraud page on Canada.ca, and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre if you lost money.
Sources
- IRCC: Online and telephone immigration scams
- IRCC: Fraud targeting newcomers
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- IRCC: Choose an immigration or citizenship representative
- IRCC: Proposed rules to improve regulation of consultants (Jan 2025)
- IRCC: How to apply for an eTA