The CICC regulations 2026 — the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Regulations, SOR/2026-68 — came into force on 15 July 2026. They create a compensation fund for clients harmed by a licensee’s dishonest act committed on or after 23 November 2021, set discipline penalties of up to $50,000 and suspensions of up to two years, allow random premises verification with notice, and expand the public register from April 2027.
- SOR/2026-68 has been in force since 15 July 2026; the expanded public register follows on 16 April 2027.
- The compensation fund covers dishonest acts committed on or after 23 November 2021, and the College can recover payouts from the licensee.
- Failing to report a claim to your professional liability insurer, or reporting late, counts as a dishonest act.
- Discipline can mean penalties up to $50,000, suspension up to two years and a freeze on trust-fund withdrawals.
- Keep agreements, receipts and communications from late 2021 onward easy to retrieve.
This page explains what the new regulations mean for how an RCIC practice runs day to day: which records to keep findable, what to tell your insurer and when, and how to prepare for a premises check. It summarizes the regulation text on Justice Laws and the Canada Gazette, checked 3 November 2026. It is not legal advice; read the sections that apply to you.
What are the CICC regulations 2026 and when did they take effect?
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Regulations (SOR/2026-68) were registered on 16 April 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on 6 May 2026. Under section 57, they came into force on the 90th day after registration — 15 July 2026 — except section 22 (the contents of the public register), which comes into force on the first anniversary of registration, 16 April 2027.
They sit alongside, not instead of, the CICC Code of Professional Conduct (SOR/2022-128), which still governs service agreements, client accounts and file handling.
How does the new compensation fund work?
- What it covers. Financial loss caused by a licensee’s “dishonest act” (s. 1). That includes theft, fraud or misappropriation of funds; knowingly failing to report a claim to the professional liability insurer, reporting it late or not cooperating with the insurer; and knowingly giving, or advising someone to give, false or misleading information in an immigration or citizenship matter.
- How far back. Dishonest acts committed on or after 23 November 2021 (s. 4). The individual must have had a consultation or service agreement with the licensee, or reasonably concluded the licensee had agreed to provide services.
- Who funds it. Section 3 lists any contribution included in licensees’ annual fee, amounts recovered from licensees and other amounts the College assigns. The regulations do not set a contribution amount.
- Recovery. The College may recover from a licensee any compensation it pays out (s. 6(2)).
What penalties can the Discipline Committee impose?
- A monetary penalty of up to $30,000 or, where a dishonest act caused a client’s loss, an amount equal to the fees and disbursements that client paid (s. 38(1)(b)(iv)); the penalty under paragraph 69(3)(d) of the Act is capped at $50,000 (s. 38(3)).
- Suspension of up to two years (s. 38(2)).
- Reimbursement of the College’s costs and of fees and disbursements a client paid (s. 38(1)(b)(i)–(iii)).
- A prohibition on withdrawing funds held in connection with the practice, including funds held in trust (s. 38(1)(b)(v)).
- Mandatory continuing professional development courses (s. 38(1)(b)(vi)).
Short of discipline, the Registrar can caution a licensee; a caution cannot stay on file for more than two years (s. 29(2)), and a licensee required to appear to be cautioned must appear (s. 35).
What changes for your practice workflow?
The regulations do not prescribe office procedures, but several provisions translate directly into habits worth building. These are our practical suggestions, not requirements quoted from the text:
| Provision | Practical step for the practice |
|---|---|
| Fund reaches back to acts from 23 November 2021 (s. 4) | Make sure consultation agreements, service agreements, receipts and communications from late 2021 onward can be found quickly by client name. |
| Not reporting an insurance claim, or reporting it late, is a “dishonest act” (s. 1(b)) | Write down who in the office notifies your insurer and how fast, and log the date each potential claim was reported. See RCIC errors and omissions. |
| Random verification of business premises, with reasonable notice (s. 25) | Keep client files organized and complete so any file can be produced on request — signed agreement, documents, accounting. |
| Possible freeze on withdrawing trust funds (s. 38(1)(b)(v)) | Follow the Code’s RCIC client account rules and keep per-client records of deposits and withdrawals. |
| Public register will list agents and employers (s. 22, from April 2027) | Review the business names, agents and employer details the College holds for you before they become public. |
What will the public register show from April 2027?
Section 22 lists what the register must contain for every licensee, including: name and any business names; contact details for each business through which you provide services, in or outside Canada; your identification number; the name and location of any agent; your licence class and status; your employer’s name and contact details if you work as an employee; suspensions, revocations, conditions and restrictions; and disciplinary measures. Clients — and competitors — will see this, so make sure it is accurate.
For a wider view of your duties, read RCIC confidentiality and file-keeping duties and, on the software side, what an RCIC CRM should hold.
General information about running an immigration practice — not legal advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with official sources and your regulator.