Client portal update: change to eligibility criteria for recent arrivals
Published: June 22, 2026
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has updated the client portal eligibility criteria for newcomers to Canada who have no income.
These clients may now apply for a legal aid certificate through the client portal only if they have been in Canada for less than six months. The client portal wording has been updated accordingly to reflect this change.
Clients who have been in Canada six months or more must apply through the LAO contact centre, unless they are receiving social assistance, are in jail, or living in a shelter.
Reminder: client portal use and eligibility obligations
Clients can use the client portal to apply for the following immigration and refugee services:
- Basis of Claim (BOC) preparation
- Refugee hearings
- Refugee appeals
- Judicial reviews
Applications for criminal and family law services are also available through the client portal.
To receive legal aid services, clients must be financially eligible when they apply and remain eligible throughout their certificate. Clients with certificates must also report any changes in their financial situation, regardless of how they applied. Roster lawyers must also report changes in a client’s financial circumstances, including when a client begins working after receiving a work permit, as required under the legislation.
Assisting clients with portal applications
When assisting with client portal applications, roster lawyers must ensure that the client is present and aware of the information being submitted. Anyone helping a client apply online must provide their own name and contact information in addition to the client’s personal contact information.