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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.

Unlicensed immigration advice is one of the most common ways people lose money or time on a New Zealand visa. It ranges from an unlicensed "consultant" filling in applications for a fee, to recruiters selling job offers, to fake emails that look like Immigration New Zealand.

The rules are clear, and both the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) publish the warning signs. This guide brings them together: what counts as advice, who is allowed to give it, what the penalties are, the scam patterns INZ lists, and how to report it. Everything is taken from IAA and INZ pages read on 9 October 2026.

What counts as immigration advice

Section 7 of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, as quoted by the IAA, defines immigration advice as "using, or purporting to use, knowledge of or experience in immigration to advise, direct, assist, or represent another person in regard to an immigration matter relating to New Zealand, whether directly or indirectly and whether or not for gain or reward".

The IAA gives examples of what this covers: - "using publicly available information to advise a person on an immigration matter" - "advising a person what visa they qualify for" - "advising a person how best to answer a question in the application form, or what additional information might best be included with the application" - "writing a covering letter to accompany the application" - "acting as their representative."

The Act also excludes some things. Providing publicly available information, or information prepared by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is not advice. Nor is directing a person to the Minister, to an immigration officer or "to a list of licensed immigration advisers", or carrying out clerical work, translation, interpreting or settlement services.

The IAA draws the line in one sentence: "Providing information becomes giving immigration advice when you tailor it to the particular circumstances of an individual or give guidance or assistance to the individual."

Who may give it

"Any individual providing New Zealand immigration advice either in New Zealand or offshore must be licensed unless exempt," the IAA says. The IAA's guidance for migrants makes the reach explicit: it "includes people giving New Zealand immigration advice from China, India or anywhere in the world."

The main lawful sources are: - licensed immigration advisers, checked on the IAA public register - lawyers with a current New Zealand practising certificate, and their employees advising within their employment, checked on the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers - Immigration New Zealand, which, the IAA says, can "help people find visa application forms and guides to apply online themselves."

Narrow exemptions also exist. Family members can help "in an informal or family context, so long as both: the advice is not provided systematically, and the person providing the advice does not charge a fee." The IAA says this "only applies to family members. It does not extend to friends or people you personally consider as family but are not related to you." Offshore education agents may advise on student visa applications only; the IAA says that exemption "does not allow a person to provide advice on pathways to work or residence for an international student."

The penalty, and why it reaches social media

The IAA states: "If you're not licensed or exempt and you provide advice on immigration, you could face a fine of up to NZ$100,000 and/or up to 7 years' imprisonment — even if you don't charge a fee for your advice."

The rule applies online as well. On Facebook groups and forums, the IAA says: "By law, anyone who gives immigration advice about New Zealand must be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority, unless they are exempt. If you use your knowledge to direct, assist or represent a person, it can be considered provision of immigration advice." Its suggested alternative is to direct people to the INZ website or to the register of licensed immigration advisers.

The IAA's annual statistics for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 record 144 complaints received about unlicensed persons, 76 complaints closed and 3 prosecutions.

What it can cost the applicant

The penalty falls on the unlicensed person, but the consequences reach the applicant. The IAA lists them:

"Your visa application will be returned by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). INZ does not accept applications from unlicensed people acting illegally."

"Unlicensed people may not be honest with you or INZ. Lying on your visa application is a criminal offence and dishonesty may affect your future visas or jobs."

"Your application may be declined because the unlicensed person has no immigration knowledge or skills."

The IAA also notes that unlicensed advice "can cause significant stress and problems for visa applicants. They could lose money or their plans to move to New Zealand could be jeopardised."

Paying for a job offer

Job offer scams are one of the patterns INZ names most directly. On its Accredited Employer Work Visa page, INZ says: "New Zealand employers or agents cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs." The same page states: "Job offer scams are common in India and South Asia. Make sure your job offer is genuine." And it sets out the consequence for the application: "We will decline an application for an AEWV if we consider you or your agent has offered or promised money to the employer (or their agent) in exchange for a job offer."

INZ's scams page adds that the ban on employers charging for a job includes charging "indirectly through a third party who then demands you pay them." It draws a distinction: with a recruitment agency, "be wary about any high fees they want to charge you directly. Any charges from a recruitment agency should reflect the service they provide you", while with an immigration adviser, "you will need to pay a fair price for their services."

INZ suggests confirming that a potential employer is accredited using its online accredited employer list, and speaking to the employer directly, for example in an interview.

The scam signs INZ lists

INZ's "Protecting yourself from immigration scams" page lists these signs, among others:

  • You are asked to pay for your job, sometimes described as "processing" or "placement" fees.
  • Someone claims priority or access: an adviser or third party says "they can use their connections to guarantee an outcome or faster decision." INZ says it "will not prioritise your application because you use an adviser".
  • You are asked to lie. "It is illegal to lie in order to qualify for a job or a visa."
  • You are told you do not have the same minimum employment rights as a New Zealander. INZ says this is not true.
  • You are offered a package deal with a visa, job and accommodation.
  • You are promised residence. INZ says a temporary visa carries "no guarantees this will lead to residence."
  • You are told you must use an adviser. "You are not required to use an adviser to apply for a visa."
  • You are not getting updates on your application.
  • An email or website claims to be INZ. Official sites include ".immigration.govt.nz" exactly; official emails end with "immigration.govt.nz" or "mbie.govt.nz".
  • You are asked to pay a visa or medical fee into a bank account. INZ says it "will never ask you to pay for visa application fees by depositing money into a bank account."

The IAA adds three more: stay away from anyone who "refuses to put their name on your visa application", "claims to have personal contacts at INZ", or "asks you to sign a visa application before it has been filled out."

Checking before you pay

Most of these risks are avoided with checks that take minutes: 1. Search the person's name or licence number on the IAA public register and confirm a current status. The licence check guide explains each status. 2. If they say they are a lawyer, check the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers. 3. For a job offer under the AEWV, check the employer on INZ's accredited employer list. 4. If you have been told a visa was granted, INZ says you "can check if it is real by using our Visa Verification service." 5. If something does not add up, INZ says: "If you have doubts, contact us. We can help explain your visa options and whether the information you are told by someone is accurate or realistic."

How to report unlicensed advice

The IAA handles complaints about unlicensed advice as well as about licensed advisers. Its complaints page states: "Providing New Zealand immigration advice when not licensed or exempt is an offence under New Zealand law. However, making a complaint to us about someone who is doing this will not affect your immigration status."

INZ also suggests reporting scams "to the local authorities in your country such as the Police", and, for people in New Zealand, reporting online scams on the Own your online website. People already working in New Zealand who think they are being exploited can ask INZ for help; INZ says it and Employment New Zealand "can help you, and take action if needed."

The complaints guide covers the IAA process for licensed advisers.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

The lawful alternative to unlicensed advice is a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer with a current practising certificate. Migratio's directory lists licensed immigration advisers so you can find and contact them, with each adviser's register record linked so the licence can be checked at the source. We do not rank advisers, and Migratio does not give immigration advice.

Questions people ask

Is it illegal to give NZ immigration advice without a licence?

Yes, unless the person is exempt. The IAA says an unlicensed, non-exempt person giving advice could face a fine of up to NZ$100,000 and/or up to 7 years' imprisonment, even without charging a fee.

Can an employer or agent in NZ charge me for a job offer?

INZ says New Zealand employers or agents cannot charge fees for a job or make workers pay their recruitment costs, and that it will decline an AEWV application if the applicant or their agent offered or promised money for a job offer.

Will reporting an unlicensed adviser affect my visa?

The IAA says making a complaint about someone giving immigration advice without a licence will not affect your immigration status.

Can a friend help me with my NZ visa application?

The informal exemption covers family members only, where the advice is not given systematically and no fee is charged. The IAA says it does not extend to friends.

How do I know if an email from Immigration New Zealand is real?

INZ says official emails end with 'immigration.govt.nz' or 'mbie.govt.nz', and its website addresses include '.immigration.govt.nz' exactly. INZ also says it never asks for visa fees to be paid into a bank account.

Do I have to use an immigration adviser for an NZ visa?

No. INZ says you are not required to use an adviser and can apply using the information on its website. If you choose to use one, INZ says to use a licensed immigration adviser, a New Zealand lawyer, or someone else legally able to give immigration advice.

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.
  • Paying for an NZ Job Offer: What INZ Says — Immigration New Zealand says New Zealand employers or agents cannot charge a worker fees for a job or make them pay recruitment costs, and that it will decline an Accredited Employer Work Visa application if the applicant or their agent offered or promised money for a job offer. INZ calls job offer scams common in India and South Asia.
  • 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.
  • 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 Immigration Advisers Based Outside New Zealand — Anyone giving New Zealand immigration advice from outside New Zealand needs an IAA licence unless they are exempt; 459 of the 1,681 licensed advisers were offshore at 30 June 2026. The one offshore-specific exemption covers student visa advice only.