Becoming a licensed immigration adviser

Schedule

Index
Obligations to Clients
Obligations to the Minister of Immigration, the Department Handling Immigration Matters, the Immigration Advisers Authority and Immigration Tribunals
Business Management
Client Funds
Misrepresentation
Conflicts of Interest
Disclosure
Fees
Provision of Complaints Procedures
Display of Licence

1.1 Care, Respect, Diligence and Professionalism

A licensed immigration adviser must, with due care, diligence, respect and professionalism:

perform his or her services; and
carry out the lawful informed instructions of clients; and
take reasonable steps to ensure clients’ interests are represented if the adviser cannot for any reason continue as a representative; and
work in a manner that does not unnecessarily increase costs; and
acknowledge the cultural norms and values of clients; and
facilitate the provision of interpreters and translators where appropriate; and
when requested, assist clients to access information about the Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga (Maori customs and traditions).

1.2 Confidentiality

A licensed immigration adviser:

must preserve the confidentiality of clients; and
must not disclose confidential information, other than for the purposes of the administration of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, the promotion of the immigration interests of clients to Immigration New Zealand, as required by law, or otherwise without the client’s prior consent.

1.3 Document Security

A licensed immigration adviser must:

ensure any personal documents belonging to or relating to clients are held securely whilst in the adviser’s possession; and
return passports and other personal documents to clients, on request, without delay and in a secure manner.

1.4 Code of Conduct

A licensed immigration adviser must:

explain to and provide clients with a copy of the Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct before any agreement is entered into; and
display the Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct in a prominent place at the adviser’s place of business at all times.

1.5 Written Agreements

A licensed immigration adviser must ensure that:

before any agreement is entered into, clients are made aware, in writing and in plain language, of the terms of the agreement and all significant matters relating to it; and
agreements contain a full description of the services to be provided by the adviser; and
clients are advised that they are entitled to seek independent legal advice before entering into agreements; and
clients confirm in writing that they accept the terms of agreements; and
changes to the terms of agreements are recorded and agreed in writing.

1.6 Work Within Limits of Knowledge and Skills

A licensed immigration adviser must work within the scope of his or her individual knowledge and skills.