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Last verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca← Back to IRPA ExplorerLast verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca
PART 3: Enforcement
§123

Penalty

Penalty

Family Sponsorship
🍁 In Simple Terms

Simply possessing a fraudulent identity document to break immigration law can get you up to 5 years in prison. Using, importing, exporting, or trafficking in such documents can result in up to 14 years.

Affects: Persons subject to removal or detention
Legal Text: IRPA Section 123

(1)Every person who contravenes (a)paragraph 122(1)(a) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment of up to five years; and (b)paragraph 122(1)(b) or (c) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment of up to 14 years.

Aggravating factors

(2)The court, in determining the penalty to be imposed, shall take into account whether (a)the commission of the offence was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization as defined in subsection 121.1(1); and (b)the commission of the offence was for profit, whether or not any profit was realized.

In Practice
Official Source: Justice Canada: IRPA s. 123 (authoritative, may differ from this display)
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