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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.

In New Zealand, two professions handle most paid immigration advice: licensed immigration advisers and lawyers. Both are lawful choices. They are regulated by different bodies, checked on different registers, and they differ in a few specific things they can do.

This guide sets out those differences as the Immigration Advisers Authority describes them, and covers the other people the law allows to give immigration advice without a licence. It does not say which one a particular person should use; that depends on the matter and is something to discuss with the professionals themselves.

Who is allowed to give NZ immigration advice

"By law, any person that gives you immigration advice about New Zealand must be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority, unless they are exempt," the IAA says. That applies to advice given from inside New Zealand or from anywhere else.

The IAA lists the main groups who can lawfully give advice: - licensed immigration advisers - New Zealand lawyers with a current practising certificate, and their employees advising within their employment - Immigration New Zealand itself, which can help people apply for their own visa - some other exempt people, covered below.

The IAA adds a caution that applies to the whole list: "While those listed below can legally provide you with New Zealand immigration advice, not all are experts in New Zealand immigration matters." It goes on: "Licensed immigration advisers and some New Zealand lawyers have specialised expertise in New Zealand immigration matters. These options are likely to also vary in the level of service they provide and cost."

Licensed immigration advisers: how they are regulated

Licensed immigration advisers are licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The IAA says they "have met competency standards and follow a professional code of conduct."

Key features of the licence: - It is held by an individual. "Companies cannot be licensed, only individuals can." - It lasts one year and must be renewed. - It comes in three types: full, provisional (supervised by a full licence holder) and limited (specific matters only). - The adviser must follow the Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct 2014, which sets rules on written agreements, fees, invoices, client funds, refunds, confidentiality and conflicts of interest.

The IAA lists what licensed advisers can help with: "explore all your visa options and choose the right visa", "prepare your visa application", "settle in New Zealand", "assess whether you can appeal a declined visa", and "assess your options if you are in New Zealand unlawfully."

Complaints about licensed advisers go to the IAA, and serious matters can be referred to the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal.

Lawyers: how they are regulated

Lawyers do not need an IAA licence. The IAA says: "A lawyer is permitted to give immigration advice without a licence providing they hold a current practising certificate from the New Zealand Law Society."

The exemption extends to staff: "Employees of a New Zealand lawyer or a law firm, who provide immigration advice in the context of their employment agreement, can also give immigration advice without a licence."

Lawyers are checked on a different register. The IAA points to the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers as the place "where you can check your lawyer's certificate and its expiry date." Complaints go to a different body too: the IAA says the New Zealand Law Society "is where complaints against lawyers or their employees should be directed to."

Not every lawyer practises immigration law. The IAA notes that "some lawyers specialise in immigration matters."

Where the two differ: courts and legal aid

For most immigration work the two professions can do the same things. The IAA states: "Lawyers, licensed immigration advisers or other exempt persons can represent you to Immigration New Zealand or to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal but only lawyers can represent you if you wish to appeal a decision in a New Zealand court or seek judicial review."

So the dividing line is the courts. Representation before INZ and before the Immigration and Protection Tribunal is open to both. Representation in a New Zealand court, including judicial review, is for lawyers.

The second difference is legal aid. The IAA says: "Refugee and protection status claimants and people subject to immigration detention may be eligible for legal aid if represented by a lawyer, but not if represented by a licensed immigration adviser."

These are the two published differences. Whether either applies to a particular matter is a question for the adviser or lawyer considering it.

Side by side

Licensed immigration adviser - Regulator: Immigration Advisers Authority - Where to check: IAA public register of licensed immigration advisers - Licence or certificate: annual IAA licence (full, provisional or limited) - Rules: Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct 2014 - Complaints: Immigration Advisers Authority - Represent to INZ and the IPT: yes - Represent in a New Zealand court or on judicial review: no - Legal aid for refugee/protection claimants or people in detention: not available through an adviser

Lawyer with a current practising certificate - Regulator: New Zealand Law Society - Where to check: NZ Law Society register of lawyers (not the IAA register) - Licence or certificate: practising certificate - Rules: not the IAA Code of Conduct (lawyers are exempt from IAA licensing) - Complaints: New Zealand Law Society - Represent to INZ and the IPT: yes - Represent in a New Zealand court or on judicial review: yes - Legal aid for refugee/protection claimants or people in detention: may be available

Source for every row: IAA "Who can give advice?" and "Working with a licensed immigration adviser", read 9 October 2026.

Cost: what is and is not published

People often search "immigration lawyer NZ cost" next to "immigration adviser fees". Neither profession has a published scale for immigration work.

For licensed advisers, the Code requires fees to be "fair and reasonable in the circumstances", set out in a written agreement as an hourly rate with a time estimate or a fixed fee, with GST or overseas tax stated. The IAA lists the factors that move a fee, from complexity and urgency to the number of people in the application. Those rules are covered in detail in the adviser fees guide.

For lawyers, the IAA's Code of Conduct does not apply, because lawyers with a current practising certificate are exempt from IAA licensing. The IAA directs complaints about lawyers, or their employees, to the New Zealand Law Society.

In both cases, the Immigration New Zealand application fee is a separate cost paid to the government.

Other people who can give advice without a licence

The IAA's "Who can give advice?" page lists several other groups:

Family members, informally: advice "in an informal or family context, so long as the advice is not provided regularly or for a fee." The IAA says this exemption "is designed for once-off assistance to a family member."

Offshore student visa advisers: "People who are offshore and provide New Zealand immigration advice on student visa applications only are not required to hold a New Zealand immigration adviser licence." The IAA limits this tightly: it "does not allow a person to provide advice on pathways to work or residence for an international student", nor advice to secondary or related applicants on other visa types, and the person must be outside New Zealand when giving the advice.

Members of Parliament and their staff advising within their employment, and foreign diplomats and consular staff protected under the relevant Acts.

Citizens Advice Bureaux and Community Law Centres also appear on the IAA's page as places that may help with general information and with completing forms. Community Law Centres may also help people "find a lawyer or licensed immigration adviser."

People who are exempt do not appear on the IAA register, so the IAA register check only works for licensed advisers.

Checking whichever one you choose

For a licensed adviser: search their name or licence number on the IAA public register, confirm the status is current and note the licence type. You can also ask for their digital licence certificate and scan its QR code. The licence check guide walks through this.

For a lawyer: search the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers and confirm the practising certificate is current.

If someone says they can give advice but appears on neither register and does not fit an exemption, the unlicensed advice guide explains what the IAA says to do.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio's directory lists licensed immigration advisers so you can find and contact them, with each adviser's register record linked for checking. It does not rank advisers or recommend one profession over the other, and Migratio does not give immigration advice.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between an immigration adviser and an immigration lawyer in NZ?

Advisers are licensed by the IAA and follow its Code of Conduct; lawyers hold a practising certificate from the New Zealand Law Society. Both can represent people to INZ and the Immigration and Protection Tribunal. Only lawyers can represent someone in a New Zealand court or on judicial review.

Does an immigration lawyer need an IAA licence?

No. A lawyer with a current New Zealand practising certificate is exempt, and so are employees of a law firm advising within their employment.

Can a licensed immigration adviser represent me at the IPT?

The IAA says licensed immigration advisers, lawyers and other exempt persons can all represent people to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.

Is legal aid available for immigration matters in NZ?

The IAA says refugee and protection status claimants and people in immigration detention may be eligible for legal aid if represented by a lawyer, but not if represented by a licensed immigration adviser.

Where do I complain about an immigration lawyer?

Complaints about lawyers or their employees go to the New Zealand Law Society. Complaints about licensed immigration advisers go to the Immigration Advisers Authority.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Unlicensed Immigration Advice in NZ: How to Spot It — Anyone who gives New Zealand immigration advice, in NZ or overseas, must be licensed by the IAA or exempt (for example, a lawyer with a current practising certificate). Unlicensed advice can lead INZ to return an application, and the adviser faces up to NZ$100,000 and/or 7 years' imprisonment, even without charging. Complaints go to the IAA and do not affect your immigration status.
  • IPT Residence Appeals: 42 Days, NZD 964 and Form 1 — A declined residence class visa can be appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal on the grounds that the decision was wrong and/or special circumstances. The Tribunal must receive Form 1 and the NZD 964 fee within 42 days of notification, it cannot extend that deadline, and appeals are currently taking 12 to 13 months.
  • 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).