Registration and compliance
Who needs to register
The obligation to register rests on the individual or entity who enters into an arrangement with a foreign principal.
Registration is required if all three of the following conditions are met:
- They have an arrangement with a foreign principal
- a foreign principal includes a foreign power or state, a foreign entity (such as an organization or institution), a foreign economic entity, or an individual acting on their behalf
- The goal of the arrangement is to influence a political or governmental process in Canada
- a political or governmental process can include a legislative proposal, election, referendum, or government contract at any level of government
- The arrangement involves any of the following influence activities
- communicating with a public office holder, including elected officials and government employees at the federal, provincial/territorial or municipal levels
- communicating or disseminating information related to the political or government process to the public, including on social media
- providing money, services, use of facilities or items of value
Description of registration conditions graphic
Graphic showing three conditions and one outcome arranged horizontally. The three conditions are linked by plus signs and followed by an equal sign that leads to a registration obligation.
Foreign principal: A foreign power, organization or individual on whose behalf influence activities may be carried out.
Influence activity: An activity intended to influence a political or governmental process in Canada.
Political or governmental process: Decision-making processes in Canada, such as legislation, regulations, elections, or government programs.
Registration obligation: Register the arrangement under the Act.
Some foreign influence activities are considered transparent under the Act and do not need to be registered. Registration obligations do not apply to arrangements entered by governments and parliamentary entities acting within their official mandates.
Other foreign influence activities may be less transparent and can therefore require registration. For example, a media interview with a foreign principal that is published or streamed may need to be registered. This process ensures these activities are transparent to Canadians.
Find out if you need to register
When to register and report your activities
You must register within 14 days of entering into an arrangement with a foreign principal.
If your arrangement existed before August 4, 2026, you have until October 3, 2026 to submit your registration.
Foreign Influence Transparency: Act and regulations
Registration process
Learn all the steps in the registration process, including what you need before you start, and what happens after you register.
Violations and offences
Offences
An individual or entity commits a violation or an offence under the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA) for any of the following reasons:
- they are obligated to register, but do not register on time
- they do not update their information as required
- they provide false or misleading information to the Commissioner
It is also an offence to knowingly obstruct the Commissioner or anyone working on the Commissioner's behalf.
The Commissioner can investigate compliance issues and may find that an individual or entity has violated the Act or refer the matter to law enforcement.
If an individual or entity is found in violation of FITAA, they may be subject to an administrative monetary penalty ranging from $250 to $1 million.
The Commissioner will also report publicly on each violation, including:
- the person's name
- the violation
- the dollar amount of the fine issued by the Commissioner
The Commissioner may also include the reasons for the decision, relevant facts, and considerations.
Notices of decisions
The commissioner has not issued a notice of decision.
For additional information about violations and offences, consult the Frequently asked questions.