Changing your contact details

Clause 3g of the code of conduct requires advisers to maintain correct and up to date business contact details at all times. Accurate business contact details allow the Authority to:

• keep the register of licensed immigration advisers updated, and
• send important or confidential information to advisers.

An adviser’s business address is the place where the adviser mainly conducts their business. If an adviser mainly works from an office in New Zealand, but also has a branch located overseas, then the business address on the register should be the New Zealand address.

An adviser’s service address is a physical address where the adviser can be served documents in person, and will often be the same as the business address.

In response to requests from advisers, the Registrar has also allowed for the provision of a postal address on the register of licensed immigration advisers, even though this is not a requirement of the Act.

The business, service and postal addresses must be in the same country. If an adviser splits their time equally between two countries then they will need to choose which country they want to show on the register. It is important the correct addresses appear on the register to:

• avoid confusing potential and existing clients
• allow advisers to receive important documents from the Authority without delay
• minimise the risk of “rubber stamping” (i.e. where an adviser puts their name to a visa application that someone else compiled without engaging with the client).

Section 26 of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 requires licence holders to give written notice to the Registrar of any relevant change in circumstances as soon as is practicable and not later than 10 working days after the change. This includes a change in their business and service addresses. An adviser can contact the Authority to change any of their contact details at anytime, by using the Change of Details Form.

A separate professional practice responsibility remains on the adviser however, to inform each of their clients about any changes. Clients should not be expected to have to search for this information themselves.