Part of the directory of licensed immigration advisers in New Zealand
General information, not immigration advice. Rules change; always check the linked official sources.
Who regulates whom
Both regimes require competence and put a professional's ability to practise at stake. What differs is who does the regulating.
| Licensed immigration adviser | Immigration lawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated by | The Immigration Advisers Authority | The New Zealand Law Society |
| Under | The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 | The Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 |
| Holds | A licence from the Authority | A practising certificate, and exempt from immigration adviser licensing |
| Complaints go to | The Authority, and on to the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal, whose published decisions you can read on this site | The Law Society's own complaints service |
What each can do
| Matter | Licensed immigration adviser | Immigration lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Visa applications | Yes | Yes |
| Requests for reconsideration | Yes | Yes |
| Appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal | Yes | Yes |
| Court, for example judicial review of a decision | No | Yes |
| Other areas of law that often touch immigration cases, such as employment disputes, relationship property or criminal matters affecting character requirements | No | Yes |
How to decide
| Your situation | Who |
|---|---|
| A new visa application | Either, chosen on experience with your visa type |
| Declined application or complications | Either, but weight experience with problem cases |
| Court proceedings, or legal issues beyond immigration | An immigration lawyer |
Whoever you choose
Verify the licence or practising certificate before paying.
This directory lists both sides: licensed immigration advisers by city from the IAA register, and verified immigration law firms checked against the NZ Law Society register.
Frequently asked questions
Neither is automatically better. Both are regulated and both can represent you to Immigration New Zealand and the Immigration and Protection Tribunal. Choose on relevant experience, clear written terms and a licence or practising certificate you have verified. If your matter may go to court, choose an immigration lawyer.
New Zealand lawyers with a current practising certificate are exempt from immigration adviser licensing under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, so they do not appear on the IAA register. Verify an immigration lawyer on the New Zealand Law Society register instead.
Both set their own fees, and fee structures look similar: fixed, hourly or staged. In both cases you should get the scope and fees in writing before any work starts.
This guide is part of the directory of licensed immigration advisers in New Zealand.
Related guides
- How to become a licensed immigration adviser in New ZealandThe pathway to an IAA licence: the Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice, the provisional licence and two years of supervision, fees, the fit and proper person test, and the exemptions.
- How to become an immigration lawyer in New ZealandThe pathway to practising immigration law in New Zealand: law degree, professional legal studies, admission, the practising certificate, and why New Zealand lawyers do not need an IAA licence.
- The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, what it does and how it has changedThe Act behind immigration adviser licensing in New Zealand: its purpose, who may give immigration advice, the offences and penalties, the Authority and the Tribunal it created, and every amendment to date including the 2025 changes.
- Immigration consultants and agents in New ZealandWhat an immigration consultant or immigration agent legally is in New Zealand, how to check whether one is licensed, and the rules for agents based overseas.
- Unlicensed immigration advice in New Zealand - how to spot and report itWho may legally give NZ immigration advice, the exemptions, the red flags for unlicensed operators and ghost advisers, the penalties, and how to report to the IAA.
- How to choose an immigration adviser in New ZealandA practical checklist for choosing a licensed immigration adviser: verifying the licence, licence types, questions to ask, red flags and where to complain.
- Immigration adviser fees in New ZealandHow licensed immigration advisers charge in New Zealand: fee structures, what the code of conduct requires, what affects the price and how to compare quotes.
Sources
Not sure where to start?
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