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How to choose an immigration adviser in New Zealand

Choosing an immigration adviser comes down to three checks: verify the licence is current, confirm real experience with your visa type, and get the scope and fees in writing before paying anything. Everything else, including polish, promises and glowing marketing, is secondary to those three.

Updated 23 July 2026

Part of the directory of licensed immigration advisers in New Zealand

Verify the licence first

Search the immigration adviser's name or licence number on this directory's licence checker or the official IAA register. A Current status means they can legally advise you. Then note the licence type:

Licence types
LicenceWhat it permits
FullUnsupervised advice on any immigration matter
ProvisionalAdvice while working under a supervisor

Questions worth asking

  1. Experience

    How many applications like mine have you handled in the last two years, and what were the outcomes?

  2. Who does the work

    Who will actually do the work on my file?

  3. Fees

    What is your fee structure, and what happens if Immigration New Zealand raises concerns?

  4. Weaknesses

    What are the weaknesses in my case?

Red flags

  • Guaranteeing a visa outcome, which no honest professional can do
  • No written agreement, which breaches the code of conduct
  • Suggesting you leave out information or say anything untrue to Immigration New Zealand
  • Payment demanded in cash with no invoice
  • Not on the register and not a New Zealand lawyer, which makes paid advice unlawful unless another exemption applies

If something goes wrong

  1. Complain to the Immigration Advisers Authority

    Complaints about licensed immigration advisers go to the Authority first.

  2. Escalation to the Tribunal

    They can be escalated to the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal, which can order refunds, fines and licence cancellation.

This site carries every published tribunal decision, and an immigration adviser's profile shows any decisions concerning them.

Frequently asked questions

Verify the licence is Current and full, ask about outcomes for cases like yours, and judge how honestly they assess your weaknesses. Licence tenure on this directory shows how long they have been practising. No immigration adviser can guarantee an outcome, and one who does is showing you a red flag.

Most immigration work is done remotely, so location is a preference rather than a requirement. Many people still prefer someone local for face-to-face meetings; the city pages on this directory list licensed immigration advisers by area.

To the Immigration Advisers Authority, which handles complaints about licensed immigration advisers and investigates unlicensed advice. Serious complaints are decided by the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal.

This guide is part of the directory of licensed immigration advisers in New Zealand.

Related guides

Sources

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