Choosing a consultant

How to Choose a Canada Education Consultant in Bangladesh

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

What a good Canada consultant actually does

A good consultant helps you plan before you pay anything large. After the first meeting you should know which schools suit your results and budget, what the steps are, and which parts you can do yourself. They should also tell you what is uncertain. Rules and figures for international students can change, so a careful adviser sends you to the official page for every number instead of quoting from memory. Here is what you can reasonably expect.

• A school and programme list that matches your grades, IELTS score and money, not only the schools the office prefers.
• A clear explanation of the provincial attestation letter (PAL). IRCC says most study permit applicants need one, and Quebec students need a CAQ instead.
• A realistic funds plan. For applications from 1 September 2026, IRCC lists CAN$23,448 for one year of living costs for a single applicant outside Quebec. Tuition and travel are extra, and the amount is updated every year.
• Help with a letter of explanation about why you want to study in Canada. IRCC recommends one.
• An honest answer when your profile is weak, with options instead of false hope.

Who is allowed to charge for immigration advice

IRCC says only authorised representatives may charge a fee, or take any other payment, for immigration advice or for representing you. These are lawyers and paralegals in good standing with a Canadian law society, notaries in good standing with the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and immigration consultants in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

This applies in Canada and abroad, so it applies to an office in Dhaka too. IRCC warns that an application can be returned or refused if a paid representative is not authorised.

There is one more point. IRCC says a person who is not paid can help you, for example a friend or a family member. That is allowed. The rule is about being paid. If you give money, or any other reward, in return for help with your application, IRCC treats that person as a paid representative.

Ask the office who is authorised, then check that person yourself. IRCC lists the CICC directory and the law society tools on its page. Do not rely on a certificate on the wall.

Questions to ask before you pay

Write the answers down, or ask the office to send them by email. A good consultant will not mind. If the answers change from one visit to the next, take that as information too. These six questions are a start, and you can add your own.

• Who will handle my file, and are they an authorised representative? Can I check their number myself?
• Can I have every fee in writing, and what does each payment cover?
• Which fees go to the school or IRCC, and how will I pay them? IRCC lists a study permit fee of CAN$150 on its official page.
• Will I see my own online application account and the school's letter of acceptance?
• What happens to my money if the school or IRCC refuses?
• Who keeps my original documents, and for how long?

Insist on seeing the official process

IRCC provides its forms and guides free and says you do not have to hire anyone to apply. It also says using a representative does not make approval more likely.

So you should be able to see your application account, the uploaded documents and every message from IRCC. You are responsible for everything in the application, even if someone else fills it in.

Ask to sit with the counsellor when your online account is opened. The account should use an email address and phone number that you control, and you should get copies of everything submitted in your name. If the office wants to keep the login details only to itself, ask why.

Funds need the same honesty. IRCC accepts bank statements for the past 6 months that show where the income came from, or a guaranteed investment certificate from a Canadian financial institution. Ask the consultant how your family's real income and savings will be shown. Money that appears in an account just before you apply, with no clear source, can raise questions.

Never let anyone alter a bank statement, certificate or any other document. IRCC says false or misleading information can lead to a refusal and a five-year ban from entering Canada.

Red flags

Most problems start with a promise or with pressure. The first five signs below match warnings on IRCC's own pages. The last one is a practical sign of careless handling.

• A promise of a visa or a fixed result. IRCC says no one can promise a visa or faster processing.
• Pressure to pay quickly, or a large payment in cash.
• A service called free that later needs a fee.
• A charge for forms that IRCC gives out free.
• Advice to hide something, or to show funds or documents that are not true.
• No written fee list, no receipts, or no clear answer on who is authorised.

Refunds, and what we could not find about Bangladesh

We did not find an official Bangladeshi rule that licenses or regulates study abroad consultancies. A signboard or a trade licence only shows that a business exists. It does not show quality or honesty, so check the person and the written terms.

Because no single rule sets refunds, ask for the refund policy in writing before you pay. It should say which fees can be returned, which cannot (for example fees paid to a school or IRCC), how long a refund takes, and what happens if you change your mind or are refused.

What IGC counsellors check with you

At IGC, a counsellor goes through your results, IELTS plan, budget and the source of your funds. We check that every document is true and complete, explain the costs in writing, and tell you which steps you can take yourself on the official sites. We cannot promise a visa, and nobody honestly can.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a consultant to apply for a Canada study permit?

No. IRCC says it is your choice. Its forms and guides are free and you can usually apply yourself. A representative does not make approval more likely, so hire one only if the help is worth the cost to you.

Can a consultant guarantee my Canada visa?

No. IRCC says no one can promise a visa or faster processing, and only Canadian immigration officials decide. A promise of a guaranteed result is a reason to stop and look for another adviser.

How do I check if a representative is authorised?

For immigration consultants, search the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants directory. For lawyers and notaries, use the directory of their law society. They should be members in good standing. IRCC lists these tools on its page.

What if someone unauthorised charges me for immigration advice?

IRCC says it may return or refuse an application when a paid representative is not authorised. IRCC also points people to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the CICC or the law society for reports.

If you want a clear, written view of your profile before you pay anyone, book a free profile assessment with IGC. Fees and rules change, so we will point you to the official page for every figure.