Finding a regulated UK immigration adviser: IAA search tools

To find a regulated UK immigration adviser, use the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Adviser Finder, which lets you search for registered advisers near you, or the IAA Adviser Register, which lets you check whether a specific organisation or individual is registered. All immigration advisers must be registered with the IAA or be a member of an approved professional body, and you should check the register and confirm any fee before you use them. The IAA does not provide immigration advice itself, but it regulates advisers at three levels of competence so you can choose the right level of support for your case.

What the IAA does and does not do

The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office. Its role is to protect people seeking immigration advice through regulation, enforcement and promoting best practice. It does not give immigration advice directly.

Instead, the IAA regulates advisers to ensure they are qualified, competent and act in your best interests. Regulated immigration advisers are legally approved by the IAA to provide guidance on immigration matters such as visas or citizenship. The IAA also monitors advisers’ conduct, investigates complaints, and provides a process for you to report concerns about poor service or misconduct.

If you need help with getting permission to stay in the UK, an immigration adviser can help with most things to do with immigration, including filling in the right forms and representing you at a tribunal. Advisers do not make immigration decisions.

Using the Adviser Finder

The Adviser Finder is the IAA’s search tool for finding registered advisers in your area. It allows you to search for an adviser based on location. Advisers belong to organisations, and those organisations are listed in order of distance from you, with the nearest first.

Information shown includes the organisation’s authorisation level, website and contact details. One limitation to note: search results only include organisations that have opted in to be included in this search function. If you cannot find an adviser this way, or you already have a specific adviser in mind, you should check the Adviser Register instead.

Using the Adviser Register

The Adviser Register lets the public check whether an organisation or individual is registered with the IAA. It is a tool to protect people seeking immigration advice from potential exploitation by unregistered individuals.

You can search for a registered individual or organisation by entering specific information: the organisation or individual name, or the registration number. If your search matches an entry on the Register, the IAA confirms it by displaying specific information including the organisation or individual name, the IAA reference number, the level of authorisation, and the website.

If you are not sure whether someone needs to be officially registered to help you, the IAA’s Immigration Assistance document explains what kind of support people and organisations can offer, and which types of advice must come from someone regulated by the IAA or another legal body.

The three levels of immigration advice

The IAA registers advisers at three levels of competence, based on the complexity of the services they can offer. Understanding these levels helps you choose the right adviser for your needs.

Level	Title	What they can do
Level 1	Advice and Assistance	Straightforward cases, such as extending a business visa when all documentation is in order. Guidance on entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain, nationality and citizenship, and EU and EEA law.
Level 2	Casework	All Level 1 tasks plus more complex cases, such as preparing applications with additional evidence and support letters. Family and private life applications, student visas, certain nationality law matters. May represent you in specific tribunals but not in court. Claims for asylum and human rights, administrative review, cases where you entered illegally or overstayed, and removal or deportation cases.
Level 3	Advocacy and Representation	The most experienced level. All Level 1 and 2 tasks, plus representation in immigration tribunal appeals and comprehensive support with complex cases including asylum, human rights and family reunification.

Level 2 advisers may be more helpful if you have faced challenges in the past with your immigration status and need more detailed support. Level 3 advisers are the most experienced and can handle the full range of advocacy work.

Getting legal help from solicitors and barristers

If you want legal help, you can find solicitors who give immigration advice through the Law Society if you live in England or Wales, the Law Society of Scotland, or the Law Society of Northern Ireland. A solicitor can help manage your case and find a barrister.

If you are managing your own case but want legal advice or advocacy, you can find a barrister through the Bar Council’s Direct Access scheme if you live in England or Wales, the Faculty of Advocates if you live in Scotland, or the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Making a complaint about an adviser

If you have concerns or issues with the service you have received, you can submit a complaint to the IAA through its online portal. You can make a complaint about poor service from an adviser registered with the IAA, immigration advice provided by an unregulated adviser, or a complaint about the IAA itself.

If you prefer to address your concerns directly with your adviser, the IAA has a guide on writing a complaint letter to help you explain your concerns clearly.

One important point: you cannot get your money back if an adviser is not regulated. You can also see a list of people who are banned from acting as immigration advisers.

What to do next

Before you use any adviser, check the IAA Adviser Register to confirm they are registered, and check whether they charge a fee. Use the Adviser Finder to locate registered advisers near you if you do not already have one in mind. If you receive poor service, you can complain through the IAA’s online portal. Verify the current details and any fees on the GOV.UK pages for the Adviser Finder and the IAA guidance for advice seekers, as these are the authoritative sources.