What the licence statuses mean
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Current | Authorised to give New Zealand immigration advice under the IAA code of conduct. |
| Expired | The licence was not renewed; advice is no longer permitted without an exemption. |
| Surrendered | The licensed immigration adviser gave the licence up voluntarily. |
| Cancelled or suspended | The Authority removed or paused the licence. |
| Refused | A licence application was declined. |
What a check tells you
- Licence type and status, straight from the register.
- Every licence they have held, with dates.
- The business and city on the register.
- A link to the official IAA register search, with the licence number to look them up.
Immigration lawyers never appear on the IAA register
They are exempt from licensing. Check a New Zealand lawyer on the New Zealand Law Society's register instead, or browse the immigration lawyers listed here.
Frequently asked questions
Search their name or licence number above. Every result shows the licence status straight from the Immigration Advisers Authority register: Current means they can legally give immigration advice; Expired, Surrendered, Cancelled or Refused means they cannot, unless they are exempt (for example, a practising New Zealand lawyer).
If someone offering immigration advice does not appear on the register at all, they are either exempt (New Zealand lawyers are the main exempt group, and are not listed on the IAA register) or they are not authorised. Ask for their licence number, or the name of the New Zealand lawyer they are or work for, and verify it before paying anything.
A nine-digit number, for example 200800013. The first four digits are the year the licence was first issued. You can search by the number directly.
Providing New Zealand immigration advice without a licence or exemption is an offence under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, and Immigration New Zealand can refuse applications prepared by unlicensed people. Complaints about unlicensed advice go to the Immigration Advisers Authority.
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Browse licensed immigration advisers by city, or send one enquiry and we will connect you with a suitable licensed professional.