Use of Representative

Types of representatives

There are 2 types of representatives:

• PAID (must be authorized) &
• UNPAID

PAID Authorized representatives

Only some people can charge you a fee or receive any other type of payment. These people are called “authorized” representatives. They 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
• citizenship or immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council

We won’t deal with representatives who charge a fee but are not authorized. If you use an unauthorized representative, in Canada or abroad, we may return your application or refuse it.

Remember: if you pay a representative or compensate them in any way in exchange for their services, we consider that paid and they must be authorized. Find out how to check if your representative is authorized.

Application Returned if:

• IMM 5476 was not included and mailing address on forms IMM1344 or IMM0008 appears as c/o a representative.
• IMM 5476 was submitted but signatures of Representative, SPR or PA is missing.

[EXCEPTION]:

• Application NOT Returned if "I am:" section is not checked. IRCC will assume PA is appointing representative (as long as Section C is blank).
• Application NOT Returned if mailing address appears as SPR's address while PA is clearly overseas and no IMM 5476 is provided or is missing information
• Application NOT Returned if Question 6 of IMM 5476 is not filled but Representative is in good standing as per ICCRC website or Legal Counsel Website.

Q71) Do I have to send blank form if I am not using Representative or want all correspondence come to me?

IMM 5476 (Use of Representative) form should only be enclosed if you are appointing anyone as representative other than you - such as SPONSOR, IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT, LAWYER, etc. If you don’t want to appoint anyone, you don’t have to include this form in application package.

If you use same email in all forms, all correspondence from IRCC will come to that email only.

Note: Your application will not be returned if the mailing address appears as the SPR's address while the PA is clearly overseas and no IMM5476 is provided or is missing information.

Form : Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB)

Q71) Do I have to send blank form if I am not using Representative or want all correspondence come to me?

No. You just need to skip it and move on.

Q87) How to ADD / CHANGE / CANCEL representative and will it affect my application?

No. It will not affect your application, however IRCC have stated on their website that you don't require representative/consultant/lawyer at all.

Add a representative to your immigration or citizenship file

Follow the steps below to add or appoint a representative to your application:

• If you’re hiring a paid representative, find out if your representative is authorized.
• Complete a Use of a Representative form and have your representative sign it.

→ To get help filling out the representative form, see

• the instruction guide and/or
• the how-to video

→ If your representative filled out the form for you, make sure the information is accurate.

→ Beware of representatives who write on the form that they’re unpaid representatives and then later charge you a fee or ask for compensation.

• If you haven’t applied yet, include the form in your application package and send it to the address listed in your application instruction guide
• If you’ve already applied, send your completed form electronically to IRCC through this Web form.