Step 1: Get the Named Consultant's Full Legal Name

Licences belong to individuals, not firms. Before engaging any immigration consultant in Dubai, ask for the full legal name of the licensed practitioner who will manage your case. If a firm refuses to name a person before you sign, walk away. A marketing claim that the firm is registered means nothing without a named individual.

Step 2: Search the Destination Country Regulator Register

Verify the person directly on the regulator's official register: college-ic.ca for Canada (CICC), mara.gov.au for Australia (MARA), and gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser for the UK (IAA). Confirm three facts on the register page: active status, registration class, and a renewal date within the last 12 months.

• • Canada: CICC register at college-ic.ca - look for RCIC status
• • Australia: MARA register at mara.gov.au - look for MARN number
• • UK: IAA adviser register at gov.uk - look for OISC level
• • Confirm active status and recent renewal on every register

Step 3: Validate the UAE Trade License

A legitimate immigration consultant in Dubai operates with a valid trade license from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Request the license number and company details, and verify them through the DET public portal. Also confirm a physical office in Dubai that you can visit.

Step 4: Demand a Written Engagement Letter

Before any payment, require a written engagement letter naming the licensed associate, the regulator and registration number, the scope of work, the total fee, the refund policy, the timeline, and the complaint pathway to the regulator. No letter, no money. This single step eliminates most consultant fraud in Dubai.