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Getting ready to license New Zealand Immigration Advisers

20 November 2007

The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act comes into full effect next year, requiring anyone providing New Zealand immigration advice to be licensed (unless exempt*). Licensing for Advisers both on and offshore will be administered by the Immigration Advisers Authority, an independent Authority that will open for business 4 May 2008.

Authority Registrar Barry Smedts says that licensing will protect migrants and Advisers alike, as well as enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a quality destination.

“Making Immigration Advisers a licensed, recognised profession benefits everyone. Migrants can be confident they are getting the correct and best information, whether they work with an Adviser or directly with Immigration New Zealand. Creating professional standards for Immigration Advisers will help protect them against poor advice or unprofessional behaviour.

“Immigration Advisers who give their clients sound advice and professional service will also benefit, through new continuing professional development programmes and recognition of their work as a regulated profession. Under the new law, Advisers who provide poor or fraudulent advice can be also be prosecuted,” says Mr Smedts.

The Authority will also keep a publicly available register of licensed Immigration Advisers and establish a complaints procedure.

Licensing for people giving immigration advice in New Zealand will be mandatory from 4 May 2009. For Immigration Advisers based outside of New Zealand, licensing will be mandatory from 4 May 2010.

To become licensed, Advisers will have to meet competency standards and adhere to a code of conduct. Public consultation on the competency standards and the code of conduct opened today.

Further information about the Authority, the licensing process and the public consultation is available here or by phoning 0508 IAA IAA (0508 422 422—New Zealand only)

ENDS