NZ immigration advice glossary
The words around New Zealand immigration advice, defined plainly — starting with the one that matters most: whatever someone calls themselves, a person paid to give NZ immigration advice must be a licensed immigration adviser or exempt (mainly New Zealand lawyers).
- Licensed immigration adviser
- A person licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority to give New Zealand immigration advice. Licensing is mandatory: anyone paid to advise on NZ immigration matters must hold a current licence unless exempt. Every licence, current or lapsed, appears on the IAA public register. Browse all licensed advisers.
- Immigration advisor (spelling)
- The same occupation as a licensed immigration adviser — "adviser" is the spelling used by the Immigration Advisers Authority and New Zealand legislation, while "advisor" is the common alternative spelling. Both refer to the licensed role. Check a licence.
- Immigration agent
- An informal name for someone who assists with visa applications. New Zealand law has no separate "agent" category: a person paid to give NZ immigration advice must be a licensed immigration adviser or exempt, whatever they call themselves. Read the guide.
- Immigration consultant
- Another informal title with no legal status in New Zealand. If a consultant gives NZ immigration advice for a fee, they need an IAA licence or an exemption — a business card title does not change the licensing requirement. Read the guide.
- IAA public register
- The official register of every licensed immigration adviser, published by the IAA. It records each adviser's name, licence number, licence type, status and business. This directory is built from the register and refreshed monthly; always confirm current status on the official register before engaging. Check a licence.
- Full licence
- An immigration adviser licence with no restrictions: the holder may advise on any New Zealand immigration matter without supervision.
- Provisional licence
- The licence type for new immigration advisers. A provisional licence holder must work under the direct supervision of a full licence holder, normally for their first year of practice.
- Limited licence
- An immigration adviser licence restricted to the specific matter types listed on the licence. Advice outside those matters requires a differently licensed or exempt person.
- Exempt person
- Someone who may lawfully give New Zealand immigration advice without an IAA licence. The main group is New Zealand lawyers holding a current practising certificate; others include community law centre and citizens advice bureau staff, members of Parliament and certain officials acting in their roles, and people helping informally without payment. Adviser vs lawyer.
- Practising certificate
- The annual certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society that entitles a lawyer to practise. It is what makes a lawyer exempt from immigration adviser licensing — which is why immigration lawyers never appear on the IAA register. Immigration lawyers.
- Code of conduct
- The professional standards every licensed immigration adviser must follow, set by the IAA. It covers diligence, fees and invoicing, written agreements, confidentiality and client care; breaches can be complained about and referred to the disciplinary tribunal.
- Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal (IACDT)
- The independent tribunal that hears complaints about licensed immigration advisers referred by the IAA's Registrar. It publishes its decisions and can uphold complaints, censure advisers, impose penalties and order refunds. All published decisions.
- Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
- The part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment that decides visa applications and manages the border. INZ decides visas; the IAA regulates the people who give advice about them — two different agencies within the same ministry.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
- The New Zealand government ministry that houses both Immigration New Zealand and the Immigration Advisers Authority.
- Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT)
- The independent tribunal that hears appeals against declined residence applications, deportation liability and refugee/protection decisions. It is separate from the IACDT: the IPT deals with immigration decisions, the IACDT with complaints about advisers. About the IPT.
- Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007
- The Act that created the licensing regime: it established the Immigration Advisers Authority, made it unlawful to give NZ immigration advice without a licence unless exempt, and set up the complaints and disciplinary system.
- Section 61 request
- A request under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 asking Immigration New Zealand to grant a visa to someone in New Zealand unlawfully. INZ has absolute discretion: it does not have to consider the request or give reasons. Read the guide.
- PPI letter (potentially prejudicial information)
- A letter from Immigration New Zealand telling an applicant about information that may count against their application, and inviting a response before a decision is made. Responding well, and on time, is often the last chance to change the outcome. How to respond.
- Deportation liability notice
- The formal notice that someone is liable for deportation from New Zealand, setting out why and what can be done about it, including any appeal rights and deadlines. Facing deportation.
- Character waiver
- A decision by Immigration New Zealand to grant a visa despite an applicant not meeting its character requirements, after weighing the surrounding circumstances. Waivers are discretionary and need to be argued for, not assumed. Convictions and visas.
- Unlicensed immigration advice
- New Zealand immigration advice given for a fee by someone who is neither licensed nor exempt — a criminal offence under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007. Immigration New Zealand must refuse to accept applications lodged by unlicensed, non-exempt advisers. Read the guide.
- Accredited employer
- A New Zealand employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand to hire migrant workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Accreditation is about the employer; workers still need their own visa and job check. AEWV processing times.
General information, not immigration advice. Definitions summarise the law as it stands; the authoritative sources are the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, the Immigration Act 2009 and the linked official pages.