Ottawa's immigration bar is unusually deep for a city its size, a side effect of being the seat of IRCC and the Federal Court of Canada. Whether the need is a work permit, a spousal sponsorship, an appeal, or a U.S. visa for cross-border work, there's a range of firms here from solo boutique practices to multi-office operations. This list was put together from firm websites, business directories, and customer reviews found in public search results.
1. Capelle Kane Immigration Lawyers
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: Canadian citizenship and immigration law · Since: 1994
Capelle Kane says it is the only firm in Ottawa with two lawyers certified by the Law Society as Specialists in Citizenship and Immigration law. Reviewers describe the team as thorough and responsive on permanent residence and citizenship files, including complex cases involving cross-border birth documentation. The firm suits applicants who want a specialist-certified lawyer rather than a general practice.
2. Lighthouse Immigration Law
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: Business and corporate immigration, including LMIAs and work permits
Founder Tamara Mosher-Kuczer is a Law Society-certified specialist in Canadian citizenship and immigration law and has been named in Best Lawyers Canada since 2018. The boutique firm works with multinationals and small businesses on labour market impact assessments and LMIA exemptions, as well as individuals moving through temporary to permanent status. It suits employers navigating foreign worker hiring as much as individual applicants.
3. Ronalee Carey Law
Area: Gloucester, east end Ottawa · Specialty: Immigration and refugee law exclusively
Ronalee Carey has practised immigration law since 2008 after being called to the Ontario bar in 1998, and the firm is also involved in private refugee sponsorship. It's a small team that only handles immigration and refugee matters, which suits clients who want a lawyer with a narrow, dedicated focus rather than a general litigation practice that also does immigration on the side.
4. Julie Taub
Area: Sandy Hill, Ottawa · Specialty: Immigration, refugee law, and notary services
Julie Taub has practised immigration and refugee law exclusively since 2001 and is bilingual in French and English. Her practice covers express entry, spousal sponsorship, work and study permits, visas, and refugee claims, with consultations available by phone, WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Zoom. She suits clients who want a solo practitioner with a long track record and francophone service.
5. Olalere Law
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: Permanent residency, appeals, and inadmissibility · Since: 2004
Run by twin brothers Kehinde and Taiwo Olalere, the firm handles appeals and judicial review alongside standard PR and sponsorship files. Client reviews found on Yelp describe the team as professional and detail-oriented, with cases including restoring lapsed status and successful PR approvals after other avenues had stalled. It suits applicants dealing with more complicated or previously refused files.
6. Mandall Immigration Law
Area: Downtown Ottawa, with additional offices in Toronto and Brampton · Specialty: Work permits, permanent residency, and Immigration Appeal Division appeals
Founder Austin Mandall Rooplall personally reviews every file at the firm. Reviews consistently mention free initial consultations and transparent, no-surprise billing, which stands out among clients comparing multiple firms. The multi-office footprint suits clients who may also need Toronto-area representation.
7. Gerami Law P.C.
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: Family sponsorship, humanitarian and compassionate applications, study permits, super visas · Rating: 4.7 on TrustAnalytica
Founded by Arghavan Gerami, the firm's lawyers handle both immigration and refugee matters for individuals, families, and businesses. Reviews describe the team as consistently professional and available throughout the process, which suits clients with humanitarian or compassionate grounds cases that need sustained attention over a long file.
8. Azzi Law
Area: Beacon Hill, east end Ottawa · Specialty: Refugee claims, permanent residency, and sponsorship applications · Rating: 4.8 on ConnectOttawa (176 reviews)
Led by Bassam Azzi, who is fluent in English, French, and Arabic, the firm draws consistent praise in reviews for responsiveness and detail-oriented file handling. Its refugee and sponsorship focus, plus multilingual service, suits newcomers navigating claims where clear communication in their first language matters.
9. Immilaw Immigration
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: LMIA-based work permits and general immigration applications · Rating: 5.0 on TrustAnalytica
Led by founding director Sindumole John, a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Bar Association, the firm is frequently described in reviews as efficient with LMIA-based work permit files, including help with travel authorization during pandemic-era disruptions. It suits applicants whose case is tied to a specific job offer needing an LMIA.
10. Silver Immigration
Area: Ottawa, with a Montreal office · Specialty: U.S. immigration law for Canadians
This is the one firm on this list that doesn't do Canadian immigration at all: lawyer Matthew Silver focuses on helping Ottawa-based workers, executives, and business owners secure U.S. status, including TN, L, E, and O visas. Client testimonials describe the process as efficient and well-communicated. It suits Ottawa residents whose immigration need runs south rather than north, such as cross-border tech or trade workers.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including firm websites, business directories, and customer reviews on platforms like Yelp, TrustAnalytica, and ConnectOttawa. It is not a paid placement and no business on it has any affiliation with ottown. Ratings and review counts are only included where a specific source stated them; where they weren't found, they're left out rather than estimated. Always verify a lawyer's standing directly with the Law Society of Ontario before retaining one. Last reviewed August 2026.
Source: Best Ottawa, Ontario Immigration Lawyers - Best Lawyers
