The verdict in three sentences
An immigration and relocation firm in Montreal should redesign its website when program pages age faster than the rules, the assessment form collects too much data and the English, Spanish or Arabic version is a rough translation. In 2026, a Montreal agency typically quotes CAD 25,000 to 60,000 (about USD 18,000 to 43,000), while Kolonell applies a fixed grid of USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is approved. The most sensitive work is not visual: it involves Law 25, the Charter of the French language and the implied promise of your copy, which must never suggest a guaranteed outcome.
When does a redesign become necessary?
For English-speaking founders running an immigration and relocation practice in Ville-Marie, the Plateau or Saint-Laurent, serving skilled workers, international students, families and employers hiring abroad, the symptoms tend to repeat:
- Program pages written years ago that still cite criteria or thresholds changed since.
- An assessment form that asks for passport numbers, every child's date of birth and travel history at first contact.
- No Law 25 compliant privacy policy published on the site, or no named person in charge of personal information protection.
- An English version more complete than the French one, which creates a problem under the Charter of the French language.
- Spanish or Arabic inquiries handled by email because no pages exist in those languages.
- A relocation offer (housing, schools, settlement steps) buried in a single page.
The scope of each tier is set out on the international offer page.
What budget should you plan in Montreal in 2026?
A 2026 ballpark drawn from typical agency quotes and public rate pages, converted approximately into USD at about 0.72 USD per CAD. Kolonell prices are fixed, in USD.
| Provider | 2026 ballpark | Typical timeline | Watch points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established Montreal agency | CAD 25,000 to 60,000 (about USD 18,000 to 43,000) | 10 to 16 weeks | In-person workshops, often strong on branding |
| Local web studio | CAD 12,000 to 25,000 (about USD 8,600 to 18,000) | 8 to 12 weeks | Good value, copywriting sometimes extra |
| Freelancer | CAD 4,000 to 12,000 (about USD 2,900 to 8,600) | 6 to 12 weeks | Migration and compliance rarely handled |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Compact site in French |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Pages per program, relocation section, articles |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in the Eastern time zone, native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. A client portal with document upload, paid appointment booking or a connection to your case management software stays on quote.
How do the phases run, and who approves what?
In this sector, timing depends mostly on content approval by the regulated professional: a consultant licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) or a lawyer who is a member of the Barreau du Québec. Secure their availability before signing.
| Week | Kolonell work | Firm approval |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | URL inventory, form audit, content map | List of programs to keep or remove |
| Week 1 | Site structure, 301 redirect map, program page model | Sign-off on structure |
| Week 2 | Design and French copywriting | Review by the regulated professional |
| Week 3 | Build, minimized form, language versions | Translation review |
| Weeks 3 to 4 | Testing, compliance review, privacy policy | Final approval of claims |
| Week 4 | Go-live, Search Console, 404 monitoring | Check of the first inquiries received |
Which risks should you watch during migration?
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Losing well-ranked program pages | High without a plan | High | URL inventory, one-to-one 301 redirects, sitemap submitted in Search Console |
| Over-collecting assessment form | Frequent | High | Data minimization: name, email, country, goal, no ID documents at first contact |
| Outcome claims | Frequent in older copy | High | Remove any outcome promise, review by the regulated professional |
| Incomplete French version | Medium | Medium | French as the reference language, parity on key pages |
| Broken booking and payment links | Medium | Medium | Test every link before the switch |
| Downtime | Low | Medium | DNS TTL lowered 48 hours before, switch outside a busy filing period |
On the legal frame, stay general and check with your advisor. In Quebec, Law 25 strengthened the private-sector privacy act: a privacy policy in clear terms published on the site, contact details of the person in charge of personal information protection, and consent for tracking tools. The Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI) oversees it. PIPEDA can apply to data crossing borders, and CASL governs promotional email. The Charter of the French language requires French to be available. This is not legal advice.
Which questions to ask, and when is a Montreal agency better?
Before signing, ask:
Need a professional website?
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- Will I receive the 301 redirect map as a file?
- Which form fields do you consider unnecessary at first contact?
- Where is form data hosted, and how long is it kept?
- Who reviews the English, Spanish and Arabic versions?
- What is the rate after the support period?
A Montreal agency remains the better choice if you want in-person workshops with the whole team, a full brand campaign with video shot in your office, or a custom client portal run by a local developer. If you need a clear, compliant, well-written redesign with a clean migration, a remote fixed grid costs far less.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Sofia, a CICC-licensed consultant, runs a fictional six-person firm in Saint-Laurent. A local studio quotes CAD 38,000, about USD 27,400. She models Kolonell Premium at USD 8,900, the multilingual tier, with French, English and Spanish set in the quote, plus an independent translator to review the Spanish at CAD 1,200 (about USD 860, a third-party cost).
- Kolonell plus review: USD 8,900 + 860 = USD 9,760
- Gap with the local quote: USD 27,400 minus 9,760 = USD 17,640
- With her average fee of CAD 3,500 per mandate (about USD 2,500, her own figure), the redesign equals about 4 mandates (9,760 divided by 2,500 = 3.9)
FAQ
How long does an immigration firm website redesign take?
Plan 3 to 4 weeks with Kolonell once content is approved, against 8 to 16 weeks with a local agency. The regulated professional's availability to review program pages often sets the real pace.
Can we show a success rate on the site?
Better to avoid it: a single line such as 98% of files approved can read as an outcome promise. CICC and Barreau professional conduct rules govern advertising, so have every claim reviewed.
Does the site have to exist in French?
Yes, the Charter of the French language requires French to be available, and it should remain the reference version. An English version can be added from Growth at USD 4,900 depending on the quote scope, and Spanish or Arabic belong to Premium at USD 8,900.
Is a client portal with document upload included?
No, it stays on quote because it requires secure hosting and its own retention rules. The public site itself is delivered within the grid, from USD 2,900.
What does the site cost after the 3 months of support?
Maintenance and hosting after the 3 included months are on quote. Plan at least one yearly review of program pages, since the rules change regularly.
Let's scope your project. A Law 25 compliant website redesign for an immigration and relocation firm in Montreal, from USD 2,900 to 8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.