Using a licensed adviser for a New Zealand visitor visa

If you are applying for a New Zealand visitor visa, you are not legally required to use an immigration adviser, but if you choose to use one, that adviser must be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) unless they are exempt. Licensed advisers work within a regulated framework that sets professional standards and allows you to make a complaint if something goes wrong. Before you engage anyone, you should verify their licence status and understand the limits of what they can and cannot do for you. This page explains the rules that apply to advisers for visitor visa applications and how to check that the person you are dealing with is properly licensed.

The regulated role of an immigration adviser

New Zealand law restricts who can provide immigration advice. Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, it is an offence to provide immigration advice unless the person is a licensed immigration adviser, a New Zealand lawyer, or an exempt person. This applies to advice about visitor visas, work visas, residence visas, and any other immigration matter.

Immigration advice is defined broadly. It includes telling someone what to do to meet visa requirements, preparing or helping to prepare an application, and communicating with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) on someone’s behalf. If a person charges you for any of these services and is not licensed or exempt, they are acting unlawfully.

The purpose of licensing is to ensure that advice is given by people who meet minimum standards of competence and who are bound by a code of conduct. Licensed advisers must also hold professional indemnity insurance, which gives you recourse if their work causes you loss.

Who is allowed to give immigration advice

There are three categories of people who can lawfully provide immigration advice in New Zealand.

Category	Who they are	What they can do
Licensed immigration adviser	A person licensed by the IAA under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007	Provide immigration advice for a fee, within the scope of their licence
New Zealand lawyer	A barrister or solicitor with a current practising certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society	Provide immigration advice as part of legal services
Exempt person	Someone who is exempt under the Act, such as an employer, a family member, or a person acting without payment	Provide advice only in the specific circumstances of the exemption

If you are using a paid adviser for a visitor visa application, the person must be either a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer. There is no separate category of “immigration consultant” under New Zealand law; a person who calls themselves a consultant is either a licensed adviser or they are operating outside the law.

What a licensed adviser can do for a visitor visa application

A licensed immigration adviser can help you with a visitor visa application in several ways. They can assess your circumstances against the requirements of the visa you want to apply for, advise you on the documents you need to provide, and help you complete the application form. They can also communicate with INZ on your behalf, respond to requests for further information, and advise you if your circumstances change after you have applied.

For visitor visas specifically, an adviser can help you understand the conditions that will be attached to your visa, such as whether you have a single-entry or multiple-entry travel condition, and whether you are allowed to study while you are in New Zealand. If you need to apply for a variation of conditions, an adviser can assist with that application as well.

An adviser cannot guarantee that your visa will be granted. No adviser can do that. They can only advise you on the likelihood of success based on the information you provide and the requirements that apply. If someone promises you a visa, that is a strong indication they are not operating within the regulated framework.

How to verify that an adviser is licensed

Before you engage an adviser, you should check their licence status. The IAA maintains a public register of licensed advisers. You can search the register by name or by licence number to confirm that the person is currently licensed and to see any conditions or restrictions on their licence.

You should also ask the adviser for their licence number and check it against the register. If the person is a New Zealand lawyer, you can verify their practising certificate through the New Zealand Law Society. Do not rely on a person’s own claims about their status; always check the official register.

If you have used an adviser and you are not satisfied with their service, you can make a complaint to the IAA. The IAA can investigate complaints about licensed advisers and can take disciplinary action if the adviser has breached the code of conduct.

What to do next

If you decide to use an adviser for your visitor visa application, take these steps before you pay any money or provide any personal information:

• Confirm that the person is a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer.
• Ask for their licence number and verify it on the IAA register.
• Ask them to explain in writing what they will do for you and what they will charge.
• Do not provide your passport, bank statements, or other personal documents until you have confirmed their status.
• If you are applying online, note that from 1 October 2026, applications for most visitor visas must be submitted through INZ’s enhanced Immigration Online system. An adviser can help you with this process, but you will still need to have your own online account.

The official pages to check are the IAA’s register of licensed advisers and the Immigration New Zealand website. If you have any doubt about whether a person is licensed, contact the IAA directly before you engage them.