Who can give immigration advice?
The Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) says only licensed immigration advisers and a small number of exempt people can give New Zealand immigration advice, and it is a criminal offence for anyone else to do so. Friends, recruiters, employers and 'agents' who aren't licensed or exempt cannot legally advise you on your visa.
How to check an adviser
- Ask for their full name and licence number.
- Search the official register: https://app.mbieregisters.govt.nz/iaa/ui/start/searchForAnOccupationalRegistration (linked from the IAA website).
- Confirm the licence is current and the details match.
- Ask for a written service agreement stating the fee and what they will do.
- Keep copies of everything and never hand over original documents without a receipt.
To complain about a licensed adviser, or report someone giving advice without a licence, use the IAA's make a complaint page. The IAA is separate from INZ and can't help with visa applications.
Free and low-cost options
- Immigration New Zealand: 0508 558 855 (from within New Zealand) for questions about your own visa.
- Citizens Advice Bureau: 0800 367 222 for information and referral, with translated information and interpreters.
- Community Law Centres: free legal advice, including on immigration and employment problems.
- Your union: some unions have migrant support or referral to immigration advisers.
- Some licensed advisers offer a free first consultation: ask before you book.
- Your embassy or consulate for passport and documents.
Get the most from a consultation
- Bring: passport, visa details, employment agreement, last payslips, termination letter, any INZ emails.
- Write your dates: visa expiry, last working day, applications pending.
- Questions to ask: What are my options and their timelines? What does each cost, including your fee? What are the risks? What happens if my application is declined?
Questions to ask an adviser
1. Are you licensed? What is your licence number? 2. Given my visa [type] expiring [date] and my job ending [date], what are my realistic options? 3. How long will each take and what does it cost in total, including your fees and INZ fees? 4. What happens to my partner and children's visas? 5. Can you confirm all this in a written service agreement?
This guide is general information as at October 2026, not immigration or legal advice. Visa rules change often and every situation is different, so check the linked Immigration New Zealand (INZ) pages and talk to a licensed immigration adviser before you act.
Sources
- Immigration Advisers Authority: For migrants (opens in a new tab)
- IAA register search (opens in a new tab)
- Citizens Advice Bureau (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration New Zealand (opens in a new tab)
General information only. Confirm with the agency for your situation. Spotted something out of date? Email help@unemployed.nz.