Policy on the use of Third Party Representatives

Under Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative is responsible for managing bilateral youth mobility arrangements and agreements (i.e., memoranda of understanding and treaties) between Canada and foreign governments, in which non-Canadian applicants are asked to submit their IEC application package to the designated Canadian Embassy or High Commission. An IEC application package is consisted of two sets of documents:

1. IEC program eligibility assessed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and
2. immigration admissibility assessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

IEC applicants can not use a third-party to act on their behalf with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. They may, however, choose to consult an authorized representative to act on their behalf with CIC, the Immigration and Refugee Board or the Canada Border Services Agency, with regard to the CIC component of their IEC application.

Use of a Third Party Representative under the IEC component

IEC communicates exclusively with the applicants themselves and not through a third party.

If the applicant expresses the need for it, it is possible for a third party to provide advice and help to a participant to prepare their IEC application package. However, the third party cannot charge the client for such advice and service.

It is important to highlight that even if the IEC applicant receives advice from a third party, the applicant is entirely responsible for the information contained in the application package. All IEC applicants are required to complete the IEC Application and Declaration form, pay the IEC participation fee and submit the entire IEC application package directly to the designated Canadian Embassy or High Commission without going through a third party. Information on the applicant's file will only be provided to him/her directly, and under no circumstances will it be shared with another third party.

No one, including a third party representative, is authorized to sell the IEC Application and Declaration form. Third party representatives cannot charge a fee to give access to the form, to give advice on how to complete the form, or to “reserve a place” for the applicant under the IEC initiative.

IEC applicants do not need to hire a third party representative. Applications will not be given special attention or guaranteed approval if the applicant uses a representative.

Use of Immigration Representatives under the CIC component

Paid immigration representatives : The only representatives who may charge a fee to represent or advise applicants on immigration and refugee matters with the Government of Canada are:

• lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society,
• Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and
• Immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.

The Government of Canada will not deal with non-authorized immigration representatives who charge for their services.

NEW - Other people who offer paid immigration advice: With the coming into force of Bill C-35, anyone who provides paid advice prior to the filing of an application or the commencement of a proceeding will need to be an authorized representative. This means that some third parties who were not formerly required to be recognized to provide paid advice will now have to refer people to an authorized representative or become authorized themselves.

IEC applicants do not need to hire an immigration representative. Applications will not be given special attention or guaranteed approval if the applicant uses a representative.

Unpaid immigration third parties: Unpaid third parties, such as family members, friends, non-governmental or religious organizations will still be allowed to act on behalf of an applicant.