What an Immigration Consultant Actually Costs in 2026 — and When You Need One
A licensed consultant for a full file runs roughly CAD 1,000–5,000 (and a UK or Australia lawyer often more), with consultations at CAD 50–300. Here is what that buys, and where a cheaper tool is enough.
Before you pay anyone to help with your visa, it is worth knowing what the market actually charges — and what that money buys. This is a straight look at 2026 pricing across Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and an honest take on when representation is worth it.
The typical numbers
Canada. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for a complete file usually charges CAD 1,000 to 5,000. An initial consultation is CAD 50 to 250. Immigration lawyers sit at the higher end, and specialist work — refusal responses, Federal Court judicial review, business immigration — costs more.
United Kingdom. OISC-regulated advisers and immigration solicitors typically charge £500 to £2,000+ for a straightforward sponsored work or family application, more for complex cases and appeals. Hourly rates for solicitors commonly run £150 to £350.
Australia. A registered migration agent (MARA) commonly charges AUD 1,500 to 6,000+ for a skilled or partner visa, depending on complexity and whether state nomination is involved.
New Zealand. A licensed immigration adviser (IAA) usually charges NZD 2,000 to 6,000 for a residence application, less for a straightforward work visa.
None of these figures include government fees. IRCC, UKVI, Home Affairs and Immigration New Zealand charge their own application fees, biometrics, health surcharges and medicals on top — often another CAD/AUD/NZD 1,000–3,000 for a family.
What the fee actually buys
A good licensed representative gives you:
- An assessment of which routes you realistically qualify for.
- Case strategy — timing, which programme, how to present weak points.
- Form completion and a document checklist tailored to your file.
- A submission in their name, and communication with the department.
- Professional accountability — they are regulated, insured, and answerable to a regulator.
See which visas you actually qualify for
Score every study and work route against your profile — free, no card.
That last point matters most for genuinely complex or high-stakes cases: a prior refusal or overstay, a medical or character issue, a family split across visa types, a business or investor route, or an appeal.
When you probably do not need to pay that
For a straightforward application where you clearly qualify — a standard skilled work visa, a student visa, a Working Holiday or Youth Mobility visa — a lot of what you are paying for is organisation and confidence, not legal complexity. The official guidance is public. The forms are fillable. The document lists are published.
What people actually get stuck on is:
- Am I even eligible, and for which route? — that is a scoring question.
- What order do the documents go in, and how do I present funds and history? — that is a formatting question.
- Is my statement or letter strong enough? — that is a drafting question.
- My application was refused — what now? — that is a diagnosis question.
The middle ground
ImmigraPath was built for exactly that gap. A free [Evaluation](/evaluation) ranks every study and work route for the four countries against your profile — the eligibility question, answered before you pay anyone. If you decide to file, a one-time plan (Solo $79, Couple $139, Family $199 — no subscription) gives you the full step-by-step path, [Letter Studio](/tools/letter-studio) for your statements, [Document Creator](/tools/document-creator) for submission-ready packets, and [Rejection Analysis](/tools/rejection-analysis) if something goes wrong. It is a fraction of one consultation, and you still keep the option to bring in a licensed adviser for the parts that genuinely need one.
Whatever you decide: if you do hire someone, check they are licensed first. Read our guide on [how to verify an immigration consultant in under 5 minutes](/blog/is-your-immigration-consultant-actually-licensed-how-to-check-in-under-5-minutes).
Frequently asked questions
How much does an immigration consultant cost in Canada?+
Roughly CAD 1,000–5,000 for a full file with a licensed RCIC, plus CAD 50–250 for an initial consultation. Government fees are separate.
Is it cheaper to do my visa application myself?+
Yes, in direct cost — you only pay government fees. The trade-off is time, and the risk of a mistake on eligibility, documents, or presentation. Tools that handle the eligibility check, document assembly and drafting close most of that gap for a straightforward case.
When is it worth paying for a licensed representative?+
When the case is complex or high-stakes: a previous refusal or overstay, a medical or character issue, an appeal, a business or investor route, or a family with members on different visa types.
Do consultant fees include the government application fees?+
No. Professional fees cover the adviser's work only. IRCC, UKVI, Home Affairs and Immigration New Zealand fees, biometrics, health surcharges and medicals are all additional.
How do I know if an immigration consultant is legitimate?+
They must be registered with the relevant regulator — ICCRC/CICC in Canada, OISC in the UK, MARA in Australia, IAA in New Zealand — and their registration number should be verifiable on the regulator's public register. --- *ImmigraPath is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm everything against the official government page for your visa, or with a licensed adviser, before you apply.*
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