Representation at your hearing

Learn who can represent you at your hearing, understand the differences between paid and unpaid counsel, how to tell the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) about your representative.

Paid counsel

An immigration appeal can be complex. While you can represent yourself, you may wish to hire, at your own expense, an authorized counsel. ‘Authorized’ means that your counsel must belong to one of these Canadian organizations:

Make sure that your counsel is ‘in good standing’ with their Canadian professional organization. That means that they are allowed to practise.

This rule about authorized counsel applies even if you are appealing from outside Canada.

Unpaid counsel

Your counsel does not have to be a lawyer, paralegal, notary, or immigration consultant. They could be a friend, relative, or trusted member of your community. However, they cannot be paid or receive any other form of compensation, such as a gift. An unpaid counsel can also be outside Canada.

An unpaid counsel cannot be a witness at the hearing.

Tell the IAD who is representing you

If you have a paid counsel, use the Counsel Contact Information form to tell the IAD what professional organization your counsel belongs to. Give their membership identification number.

If you have an unpaid counsel, complete and send a Notice of Representation without a Fee or Other Consideration.

No matter who represents you, they must be prepared to respond to all IAD requests and attend your hearing or conference.

Paid counsel

An immigration appeal can be complex. While you can represent yourself, you may wish to hire, at your own expense, an authorized counsel. ‘Authorized’ means that your must belong to one of these Canadian organizations:

Make sure that your counsel is ‘in good standing’ with their Canadian professional organization. That means that they are allowed to practise.

This rule about authorized counsel applies even if you are appealing from outside Canada.

Unpaid counsel

Your counsel does not have to be a lawyer, paralegal, notary, or immigration consultant. They could be an friend, relative, or trusted member of your community. However, they cannot be paid or receive any other form of compensation, such as a gift. An unpaid counsel can also be outside Canada.

An unpaid counsel cannot be a witness at the hearing.

Tell the IAD who is representing you

If you have a paid counsel, use the Counsel Contact Information form to tell the IAD what professional organization your counsel belongs to. Give their membership identification number.

If you have an unpaid counsel, complete and send a Notice of Representation without a Fee or Other Consideration.

No matter who represents you, they must be prepared to respond to all IAD requests and attend your hearing or conference.