Important Updates
Important Updates
February 13, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement Updates
February 17, 2026 | CanadaFragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in Montréal
February 17, 2026 | ChinaMainland China: More Nationals Eligible for Visa Exemption; Expanded Rights Under Exemption
February 17, 2026 | MexicoMexico: Immigration Processing Delays and Increased Residential Verifications in Guadalajara
February 16, 2026 | CanadaBuffalo Toronto Public Media: IRCC faces processing hurdles as FIFA World Cup draws near
February 13, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement Updates
February 17, 2026 | CanadaFragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in Montréal
February 17, 2026 | ChinaMainland China: More Nationals Eligible for Visa Exemption; Expanded Rights Under Exemption
February 17, 2026 | MexicoMexico: Immigration Processing Delays and Increased Residential Verifications in Guadalajara
February 16, 2026 | CanadaBuffalo Toronto Public Media: IRCC faces processing hurdles as FIFA World Cup draws near
February 13, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement Updates
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Photo of Elsa Agostinho

Counsel

Elsa Agostinho

Photo of Elsa Agostinho
Photo of Elsa Agostinho
  • People

Counsel

Elsa Agostinho

Country / Territory

  • CanadaCanada

Get in touch

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  • English
  • French

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Email

[email protected]

T:+1 416 504 3838

F:+1 416 504 3840

Montréal

Fragomen Canada LLP

1010 Sainte-Catherine Street West Suite 200

Montréal QC H3B 5L1

Canada

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 416 504 3838

F:+1 416 504 3840

Montréal

Fragomen Canada LLP

1010 Sainte-Catherine Street West Suite 200

Montréal QC H3B 5L1

Canada

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 416 504 3838

F:+1 416 504 3840

Montréal

Fragomen Canada LLP

1010 Sainte-Catherine Street West Suite 200

Montréal QC H3B 5L1

Canada

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Elsa serves as Counsel in Fragomen’s Montreal office, where she guides clients through complex Canadian and Quebec immigration laws and policies. She works closely with senior business leaders, HR teams and in-house counsel to ensure the right work permits and visas are in place to support urgent talent and project demands, as well as long-term workforce planning. Elsa advises multinational companies across a number of industries to address labour shortages, build recruitment strategies and manage workforce mobility in high-stakes, time sensitive environments. In addition to ensuring corporate compliance during cross-border work, global mobility and business travel, she guides individuals and families through temporary or permanent relocation to Canada.

Recognizing immigration law as a fast-moving, highly technical field requiring adaptability, precision and strategy, Elsa approaches immigration as a core business function that is essential to global mobility, economic growth and talent competitiveness. She also regularly integrates immigration advice with compliance, labour law, HR and corporate strategy. Clients rely on Elsa for legal guidance as well as for clear-risk-mitigation advice correlating with business decisions.

Elsa’s practice centers on advising employers through risk mitigation and compliance inspections, particularly during mergers and acquisitions, where immigration decisions can directly affect business continuity. Clients rely on her as a trusted advisor, especially corporate immigration programs serving small and mid-sized businesses and multinational organizations. This approach helps them minimize operational disruption, compliance risk and financial exposure. Elsa brings a highly valued talent for simplifying complex requirements and delivering guidance, developed through nearly three decades of experience creating long-term, scalable immigration strategies for growth-stage and global companies.

Many clients underestimate the difference between Canadian and Quebec immigration regulations, and how changing policies can create complex compliance obligations for work permits, business travel and employee mobility. Elsa serves as a trusted advisor, navigating these complexities in practical terms and helping clients turn those challenges into risk-aware strategies. Known for her strategic insight, Elsa is recognized as someone who constantly delivers results under tight timelines. She is often described as someone who “makes the impossible possible.”

Elsa’s commitment to immigration law is deeply rooted in her own personal history. Her parents went through the immigration process themselves and she grew up understanding both the challenges involved and the transformative impact immigration can have on a family’s life. Every matter she handles, corporate or individual, is treated with the same high level of care and attention, as she is personally driven to achieve positive results for the people she serves.

As a recognized industry leader and frequent speaker on immigration, mobility and compliance, Elsa has a long track record helping organizations and individuals in today’s challenging immigration and mobility landscape.

Elsa speaks English and French.

Many clients underestimate the difference between Canadian and Quebec immigration regulations, and how changing policies can create complex compliance obligations for work permits, business travel and employee mobility. Elsa serves as a trusted advisor, navigating these complexities in practical terms and helping clients turn those challenges into risk-aware strategies. Known for her strategic insight, Elsa is recognized as someone who constantly delivers results under tight timelines. She is often described as someone who “makes the impossible possible.”

Elsa’s commitment to immigration law is deeply rooted in her own personal history. Her parents went through the immigration process themselves and she grew up understanding both the challenges involved and the transformative impact immigration can have on a family’s life. Every matter she handles, corporate or individual, is treated with the same high level of care and attention, as she is personally driven to achieve positive results for the people she serves.

As a recognized industry leader and frequent speaker on immigration, mobility and compliance, Elsa has a long track record helping organizations and individuals in today’s challenging immigration and mobility landscape.

Elsa speaks English and French.

Education

  • Ecole du Barreau du Québec, Professional Training and Practice, 1996
  • Université de Montréal, LL.B., 1994

More from Elsa

Admissions

Bar Admissions: Barreau du Québec (Bar of Quebec)

Awards

Listed in Chambers Canada, 2024-2026

Listed in Chambers Global, 2024-2025

Listed in Best Lawyers in Canada, 2018-2025

Professional accomplishments

Member, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Member, Canadian Bar Association

Member, Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association (AQAADI)

Publications and lectures

Speaker, “La pénurie de main d'œuvre chez les entreprises : plus néfaste que la pandémie.” Évènement Les Affaires 2e édition, 2021.

Speaker, “AI Immigration – Your Stepping Stone to Success.” World Summit AI Americas, Montreal, Canada, 10-11 April 2019.

Speaker, “Temporary Foreign Workers Program.” Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC), Montreal, Canada, 2014.

Speaker, “Changements au programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires.” CERC, Montreal, Canada, 2013.

Speaker, “Les travailleurs expatriés au Québec : Guide pratique pour une intégration juridique et économique réussie.” 4th Mondissimo International Mobility Conference, Paris, France, 2012.

Speaker, “S'implanter au Canada: les visas, les aspects juridiques, l'investissement.” 4th Mondissimo International Mobility Conference, Paris, France, 2012.

Elsa’s insights

February 17, 2026 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in MontréalRead more

Elsa’s insights

February 17, 2026 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in MontréalRead more

Elsa’s insights

February 17, 2026 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in MontréalRead more

Country / Territory

  • CanadaCanada

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 416 504 3838

F:+1 416 504 3840

Montréal

Fragomen Canada LLP

1010 Sainte-Catherine Street West Suite 200

Montréal QC H3B 5L1

Canada

Elsa’s insights

February 17, 2026 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in MontréalRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 416 504 3838

F:+1 416 504 3840

Montréal

Fragomen Canada LLP

1010 Sainte-Catherine Street West Suite 200

Montréal QC H3B 5L1

Canada

Elsa’s insights

February 17, 2026 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in MontréalRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 416 504 3838

F:+1 416 504 3840

Montréal

Fragomen Canada LLP

1010 Sainte-Catherine Street West Suite 200

Montréal QC H3B 5L1

Canada

Elsa’s insights

February 17, 2026 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Strengthens Canadian Practice with Partner and Counsel Hires in MontréalRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
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Explore more at Fragomen

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Partner Julia Onslow-Cole highlights how global mobility is becoming a strategic, board-level consideration requiring careful planning, compliance and workforce management.

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Media mentions

Buffalo Toronto Public Media: IRCC faces processing hurdles as FIFA World Cup draws near

Partner Rick Lamanna provides insight to Buffalo Toronto Public Media on potential IRCC processing challenges as Canada prepares for increased visa demand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Learn more

Blog post

Time to Act: Three Key Questions for Employers Ahead of March 1 Remuneration Increases for Employment Permits in Ireland

Immigration Director Deirdre Murray explores the impact of upcoming employment permit changes on employers and workforce planning in Ireland. 

Learn more

Video

Global Entry | #MobilityMinute

Director David Iannella discusses how Global Entry can help frequent business travelers navigate US entry more predictably and access TSA PreCheck.

Learn more

Video

London Fashion Week 2026

Manager Russell Hodges and Associate Gurpreet Phalora explain key UK immigration considerations for London Fashion Week 2026.

Learn more

Advisory services

The EU Blue Card Recast Through the Employer Lens

Senior Counsel Jo Antoons and Immigration Supervisor Elisabeth Kamm explore the EU Blue Card recast and its impact for employers, highlighting how hiring, retention and mobility decisions are affected. 

Learn more

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Partner James Pack on US H‑1B updates and what employers should know for the upcoming lottery.

Learn more

Immigration analysis

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Manager Konstantin Schmid provides a practical overview of Swiss citizenship routes, eligibility rules and common reasons applications are delayed or refused. 

Learn more

Media mentions

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Manager Pierangelo D’Errico discusses how recent changes to Italy’s citizenship rules are affecting applicants with Italian ancestry.

Learn more

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Partner Julia Onslow-Cole highlights how global mobility is becoming a strategic, board-level consideration requiring careful planning, compliance and workforce management.

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