Is your immigration adviser licensed?

From 4 May 2010 people providing New Zealand immigration advice offshore must be licensed, unless they are exempt from licensing.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will not be accepting applications from unlicensed advisers after local close of business on 3 May 2010.

If you are currently receiving advice from an immigration adviser about an application (or possible application) for a visa or permit, you can check whether they are licensed at www.iaa.govt.nz.

If your adviser is not licensed or exempt, and your application has not yet been sent to INZ, you can request that work on your application is stopped and that your documents are returned to you. You can then proceed with your application yourself or transfer it to a licensed immigration adviser registered with the Immigration Advisers Authority, or to an adviser who is exempt from licensing.

If your adviser has already sent your application and it has been accepted by INZ, it will continue to be processed with the unlicensed adviser as the contact person. The unlicensed person will need to be careful that they are not providing you with immigration advice, as they would then be in breach of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007.

If you decide that you do not wish the unlicensed adviser to continue as the contact person for your application, contact your local INZ office.

INZ is not liable for any costs you incur through the use of an unlicensed adviser and will not adjudicate in disputes involving payments made to unlicensed advisers. It is therefore recommended that you do not make advance payments to an adviser who is not listed as licensed at www.iaa.govt.nz, unless you can ascertain that they are exempt from licensing.

For more information, go to www.iaa.govt.nz.