COVID-19 Update
Current alert level will depend on where you are in New Zealand. For the latest information, visit the Government’s COVID-19 website.(external link)
The Immigration Advisers Authority head office is based in Auckland. During Alert Level 3, most members of the team are working remotely. This means the office can not easily receive documentation that is sent by courier or mail.
All remaining services (such as client service centre) are based outside of Auckland and operating as normal.
We appreciate your patience during this time.
Stay safe, Kia Kaha.
Service status
As our Auckland office isn’t currently able to receive postal services, we recommend you email documentation to us at info@iaa.govt.nz
Our client service centre and other key suppliers are fully operational. You can contact us as normal.
Online services are available for Initial, Reapply and Renewal applications. If you want to submit an application, which is not available online (e.g. an upgrade application, or an application for a licence under TTMRA), please email the completed application form to info@iaa.govt.nz, as postal delivery has been affected. Please note that there will be additional delays during the processing and assessment.
If you need to submit a large client file or other information and cannot do so through online services, please email this to us as our staff are operating remotely, making courier delivery unreliable. We can accept maximum 20MB sized attachments to an email. Ensure you clearly state in the subject heading your name and licence number. If sending multiple emails, please also ensure they are clearly labelled as well i.e. ‘Email 1 of 2’.
Note: If you are Auckland-based and need to get a document certified to submit an application, some other facilities may become available for Auckland. Check your local certification options to identify what is available to you.
Licensing
The usual renewal process is still applicable during the higher Alert Levels. We will send a notification when your expiry is approaching. You should submit your renewals as normal via online services, ideally well in advance of the expiry date.
Immigration advice can only be given by a person who holds a current licence issued by the IAA, or a person exempt from the requirement to be licensed (e.g. lawyers with a New Zealand practising certificate).
Q: Do I have to pay fees when I submit applications?
Application payment fees are still payable. If you have concerns about your business and cash flow, look at the government’s financial support packages at the official COVID-19 website(external link) and the Business.govt.nz(external link) website
Competence and training activities for my CPD
We’re aware that compulsory CPD hours for licence renewals may be affected as many events may have been cancelled.
If you are near the start of your licensing period, we expect you will undertake learning activities before you are required to renew your licence.
If you are due to renew and you have been unable to meet the CPD requirements due to COVID, we will assess your application on a case-by-case basis, taking all relevant circumstances into account. Please provide a covering letter explaining the situation to avoid delays in the assessment of your application.
The mandatory CPD activity (attending an IAA webinar) cannot be substituted by webinars held by external organisations or providers.