Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007

Regulation of immigration advisers - Immigration advisers to be licensed, unless exempt

11: Persons exempt from licensing

You could also call this:

"Who doesn't need a licence to give immigration advice"

Illustration for Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007

You do not need a licence to give immigration advice if you are doing it in an informal or family context, and not getting paid for it. You are also exempt if you are a member of Parliament or their staff, and you are giving advice as part of your job. Foreign diplomats and consular staff are exempt under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968 or the Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971. You do not need a licence if you are a public service employee giving advice as part of your job. Lawyers and their employees are also exempt. People working for community law centres are exempt if at least one lawyer is on the centre's board or working in a supervisory role, as defined in section 6 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006. You are exempt if you work for a citizens advice bureau. People who give immigration advice overseas are exempt, as are those who give advice on student visa applications under the Immigration Act 2009. Some people may be exempt under regulations made under section 12.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM407312.

This page was last updated on 14 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > VisasWork and jobs > Job licenses

10: Who may be licensed as immigration adviser, or

"Rules for becoming a licensed immigration adviser"

12: Exemption, or removal of exemption, by Order in Council, or

"Governor-General can make or remove rules about who needs a licence to help with immigration"

Part 1Regulation of immigration advisers
Immigration advisers to be licensed, unless exempt

11Persons exempt from licensing

The following persons are exempt from the requirement to be licensed:
persons who provide immigration advice in an informal or family context only, so long as the advice is not provided systematically or for a fee:
members of Parliament, and members of their staff who provide immigration advice within the scope of their employment agreement:
foreign diplomats and consular staff accorded protection as such under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968 or the Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971:
employees of the public service who provide immigration advice within the scope of their employment agreement:
lawyers and employees of lawyers and of incorporated law firms:
persons employed by or working as volunteers for community law centres (as defined in section 6 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006), where at least 1 lawyer—
1. is on the employing body of the community law centre; or
2. is employed by or working as a volunteer for the community law centre in a supervisory capacity:
persons employed by or working as volunteers for citizens advice bureaux:
persons who provide—
1. immigration advice offshore; and
2. advice only in respect of applications made under the Immigration Act 2009 for a temporary entry class visa—temporary visa—student visa:
persons exempted by regulations made under section 12.

Notes

Section 11(e): amended, on 30 March 2025, by section 27 of the Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 10).
Section 11(h): substituted, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).
Section 11(h)(ii): substituted, on 25 February 2011, by regulation 3 of the Immigration Advisers Licensing (Partial Removal of Exemption) Regulations 2011 (SR 2011/19).