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Your First Consultation With an NZ Immigration Adviser

If an adviser charges for a first consultation, the Code of Conduct requires your written consent to the fee and payment terms before it starts; an email exchange is enough. A full written agreement is not needed for the consultation itself, but it is required before any further paid work.

A first consultation is usually the point where someone finds out whether an adviser is the right fit, what the work would involve and what it would cost. The Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct 2014 has a specific clause for it, and the Immigration Advisers Authority publishes guidance on how it applies.

This guide explains what an adviser must do before, during and after an initial consultation, how payment for it works, and what people commonly prepare. It covers the process only. What an adviser says about a particular case is their professional advice, not something a general guide can provide.

The fee rule: agreed in writing, before it starts

Clause 16(a) of the Code says a licensed immigration adviser "must, if charging a fee for an initial consultation, before the initial consultation, obtain the client's written consent to the fee and the payment terms and conditions for that fee".

The IAA's toolkit explains the purpose: "This will avoid any misunderstanding about what the client must pay and how and when the adviser expects to receive payment." It also sets a low bar for the form of consent: "An email exchange with the client accepting the fee and payment terms by email reply is acceptable. The main thing to remember is that the disclosure of the fee and the client's agreement to it must both be in writing."

Practices differ. The IAA notes that some advisers do not charge for an initial consultation, while "others may charge a standard fee or an hourly rate." Whatever the arrangement, the amount and payment terms are something to have in writing before the meeting if a charge applies.

What does and does not apply at a first consultation

Clause 16(b) says that when conducting an initial consultation, "whether charging a fee or not", the adviser "is not required to meet the requirements at 17 and 18 below, but must adhere to all other requirements of this code of conduct."

The IAA spells out what that means: "Only clauses 17 and 18 do not need to be adhered to when conducting an initial consultation. That is, a copy of the summary of licensed immigration advisers' professional responsibilities and the adviser's internal complaints procedure do not need to be provided to the client and there is no need to enter into a written agreement with the client at the initial meeting."

Everything else in the Code still applies during the consultation, including: - Confidentiality (clause 4): the adviser must "preserve the confidentiality of the client" except with written consent or in the limited circumstances listed, and must require employees and others engaged by the adviser to do the same. - Conflicts of interest (clause 5): any potential or actual conflict, "including the existence of any financial or non-financial benefit the adviser will receive", must be disclosed in writing. - Honest promotion (clause 29): the adviser must not misrepresent themselves, their licence status or type, "immigration opportunities or risks", or "New Zealand's immigration requirements".

If the consultation leads to further work

"If the client does decide to engage the adviser to provide further services following an initial consultation, a written agreement would then need to follow," the IAA says.

Before that agreement, clause 17 requires the adviser to give the client the IAA's summary of licensed immigration advisers' professional responsibilities, explain it, tell the client how to access the full Code, and provide a copy of the adviser's internal complaints procedure.

Clause 18 then requires the adviser to provide a written agreement, explain "all significant matters" in it before it is accepted, and have all parties sign it or confirm acceptance in writing. Changes must also be accepted in writing.

Clause 19 lists what the agreement must contain, including: - the name and licence number of any adviser who may advise the client - written authority to act, where the adviser represents the client - for a provisional licence holder, the supervisor's name and licence number - for a limited licence holder, the matters the licence covers - "a full description of the services to be provided by the adviser, which must be tailored to the individual client" - the fee (hourly rate with a time estimate, or fixed fee) and any GST or overseas tax - likely disbursements, including any Immigration New Zealand fees - payment terms, interest on unpaid accounts, and the refund policy - any conflict of interest or benefit the adviser will receive.

If the client decides not to go ahead, the IAA says an adviser "could complete a letter of non-engagement to ensure that the outcome of the initial consultation is clear. However this is not a Code requirement."

Paying for the consultation

Payment timing is governed by the client funds rule. Under clause 25, money paid "in advance of being payable and invoiced" remains "the property of the client until payable and invoiced" and must be held in a separate client account. The IAA's toolkit adds that "if an adviser never receives fees or disbursements from a client in advance of having provided a service they do not need to have a separate client account", and that "if an offshore adviser cannot operate a separate client account, he or she may not receive payments in advance for disbursements or services."

Whenever a fee is payable, clause 22 requires an invoice "containing a full description of the services the fee relates to". A cash payment requires a receipt (clause 23).

So the payment terms agreed in writing for the consultation should say when payment is due, before or after, and how.

Checking the adviser before the meeting

A consultation is the natural moment to confirm the adviser's licence. The steps take a minute: 1. Search the adviser's name or licence number on the IAA public register. 2. Confirm the status reads current. 3. Note the licence type: full, provisional (supervised by a full licence holder) or limited (specific matters only). 4. If you like, ask to see the digital licence certificate and scan its QR code, which opens the register profile.

The IAA's summary of the Code says a licensed adviser will "show you evidence that they are licensed". If the person is a lawyer rather than a licensed adviser, the check is the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers instead. The licence check guide covers this in detail.

What people commonly bring

There is no official list for a first consultation. Advisers usually ask for documents that show the history and the current position, because those are the facts any advice would rest on. Commonly requested items include: - passport and any current or previous New Zealand visas - any letters or decisions from Immigration New Zealand, including declines, requests for information and deadlines - qualifications and employment documents where work or skilled residence is involved - documents about a partner or dependent children where they would be included - any earlier applications or correspondence with another adviser.

Deadlines deserve particular attention. Some immigration decisions carry short time limits for review or appeal, and the date on an INZ letter can matter. Bringing the letter itself, rather than a summary, lets the adviser read the exact wording and dates.

The adviser decides what they need; asking them in advance saves time in the meeting.

Questions worth asking

These questions follow from the Code and IAA guidance: - What is your licence number and licence type? If provisional, who is your supervisor? - Is there a charge for this consultation, and what are the payment terms? - If I go ahead, will the fee be fixed or hourly, and what does it include? - What disbursements, including INZ fees, should I expect? - Will any payment be due before work is done, and is there a client account? - What is your refund policy? - Will you receive any commission or other benefit connected with my matter? - Who will do the work and keep me updated?

The IAA's summary for migrants says a licensed adviser will "provide you with ongoing timely updates" and "let you know when your application has been lodged".

Warning signs at a first meeting

The IAA and Immigration New Zealand both publish signs that should give pause. The IAA warns about anyone who "claims to have personal contacts at INZ" or "asks you to sign a visa application before it has been filled out", adding: "You should never sign a document you don't understand."

INZ's scams page warns about anyone who says "they can use their connections to guarantee an outcome or faster decision", and states that INZ "only decides applications by assessing the information it has against immigration rules." Its list also includes being promised residence and being asked to lie.

No licensed adviser decides a visa. Immigration New Zealand does.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio's directory lists licensed immigration advisers so you can find and contact them to arrange a first consultation, with each adviser's register record linked for checking. Any consultation fee is the adviser's own and is agreed between you and them in writing. We do not rank advisers, and Migratio does not give immigration advice.

Questions people ask

Do immigration advisers in NZ charge for the first consultation?

Some do and some do not; the IAA says others charge a standard fee or an hourly rate. Where there is a charge, the adviser must get the client's written consent to the fee and payment terms before the consultation starts.

Is an email enough to agree a consultation fee?

Yes. The IAA says an email exchange in which the client accepts the fee and payment terms by email reply is acceptable, as long as both the disclosure and the agreement are in writing.

Do I sign a written agreement before a first consultation?

No. The Code does not require a written agreement for the initial consultation itself. If the client then engages the adviser for further services, a written agreement must follow.

Is a first consultation confidential?

The Code's confidentiality rule (clause 4) applies at the initial consultation as it does throughout. Only clauses 17 and 18 are set aside for an initial consultation.

What documents should I bring to an immigration consultation?

There is no official list. Advisers commonly ask for passports, current and past visas, any INZ letters or decisions, and documents about work, qualifications or family where relevant. Ask the adviser in advance what they need.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • What NZ Immigration Advisers Charge, and Why — There is no official price list. The Code of Conduct requires fees to be "fair and reasonable in the circumstances", set out in a written agreement (hourly rate with a time estimate, or a fixed fee, plus GST or overseas tax), and invoiced each time they fall due. INZ's own application fee is a separate cost.
  • How to Check an NZ Immigration Adviser's Licence — Search the adviser's name or licence number on the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) public register and confirm the status reads current. The record also shows whether the licence is full, provisional or limited. Lawyers are not on that register; check them on the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers.
  • Immigration Adviser or Lawyer in NZ: The Difference — Licensed immigration advisers (regulated by the IAA) and lawyers with a current New Zealand practising certificate (regulated by the New Zealand Law Society) can both give NZ immigration advice and represent people to INZ and the Immigration and Protection Tribunal. Only lawyers can represent a person in a New Zealand court or on judicial review.
  • NZ Visa Declined: Reconsideration, IPT Appeals and Reapplying — Which routes exist after a decline depends on the visa type and where the person is. Temporary visa declines can be reconsidered by INZ in limited cases (14 days, NZD 220); residence declines can be appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (42 days, NZD 964).
  • Complaining About an NZ Immigration Adviser: How the Process Works — Complaints about a licensed immigration adviser go to the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA), which can close them or refer them to the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal. There is no cost, anyone can complain from anywhere, and the IAA says a complaint does not affect the complainant's immigration status.