Thursday, February 05, 2009

Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 or, the licensing of onshore Immigration Advisers will come into effect from 4 May 2009.

Immigration is an important source of skills for New Zealand’s economy. Even in a changing economic climate, certain sectors and employers are going to need skills that are scarce worldwide. To ensure that these businesses and the migrants they are seeking receive the best professional advice and to protect New Zealand’s reputation as a high quality migrant destination, the licensing regime for Immigration Advisers will become operational from 4 May 2009.

The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 requires anyone onshore providing immigration advice about New Zealand to be licensed by 4 May 2009, unless they are exempt. Immigration New Zealand will not be accepting applications from unlicensed onshore advisers after 4th May 2009. Offshore advisers need to be licensed from 4 May 2010.

This may affect employers, HR managers, advisers, and/or recruitment agents who are involved in providing immigration advice and assistance to new migrant employees. The Immigration Advisers Authority, in consultation with Immigration New Zealand, has produced a guideline setting out the implications of immigration adviser licensing for employers and recruiters of migrants. The guideline is available as a pdf on the Immigration Advisers Authority website.

You can contact the Immigration Advisers Authority for more information, or to order a licence application pack, on 0508 422 422 (freephone onshore) or +64 9 925 3838 (offshore) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Authority’s website is www.iaa.govt.nz.