Apply as an Australian registered migration agent
You must hold a New Zealand immigration adviser licence to provide New Zealand immigration advice. If you are currently registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) in Australia, you can apply for a New Zealand immigration adviser licence using the process set out in the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (TTMRA).
What is the TTMRA?
The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (TTMRA) recognises Australia’s regulatory standards regarding equivalent-registered occupations and streamlines the licensing process.
It means that, as a current Australian registered migration agent, you can apply for a full New Zealand immigration adviser licence even if you have not previously held a New Zealand licence.
You will not be tested on your understanding of New Zealand immigration matters before being granted a licence. You will be required to provide evidence of your current registration as an Australian migration agent.
Advisers/agents licensed under the TTMRA must comply with:
- the New Zealand Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct; and
- the Immigration Advisers Competency Standards.
Licence application process
To obtain a New Zealand immigration adviser licence, you need to submit an online application using the IAA online portal.
If you are unable to submit an online application, please contact the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) to assist you.
Documents
To make an application, you will need:
- a digital passport quality photograph
- a certified copy of your personal identification
- a certified copy of a document that confirms you are a currently registered OMARA agent, such as your OMARA registration certificate or a screenshot of your current register page from the OMARA website
- a completed Form 401A: Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Notice, including a declaration of whether you are subject to any special conditions
- if applicable, the details of any special conditions to which you are subject
- a credit or debit card to pay your application fee. Alternatively, if you have not-for-profit status, a letter from the IAA confirming this.
All documents must be in PDF, PNG or JPG format with a maximum file size of 10 MB. Digital photographs must be in PNG or JPG format.
Form 401A: Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Notice [PDF, 255 KB]
Note
Before you submit an application, you need to get someone to certify your personal identification and witness any statutory declarations. Our Licensing Toolkit contains additional information about certifying your documents.
Certify your documents
Personal information
You will be asked to provide:
- your date of birth
- your full legal name, which will appear on the public register of licensed immigration advisers (the register)
- if applicable, your preferred name, which will appear on the register in brackets
- if applicable, any other names you may be known by or have previously been known by; this includes:
- previous legal names
- maiden names
- other names and aliases, regardless of whether those are legal names or not.
Contact details
You will be asked to provide:
- Business details, including:
- the name of your business or employer
- your business address, which is the main location where you will conduct your business
- your current relationship with the business or employer; for example, if you are a director or an employee
- at least one of your business phone number, direct dial phone number, or mobile phone number, where you can be contacted on
- your email address
- your business website
- your physical address for the service of documents, if it is different from your business address
- your postal address, if it is different from the physical location of your business address.
Note
You must provide the above details for all your immigration advice businesses. For example, if you are a Director of one business and a contractor for another business, you must provide the above details for both businesses.
Only your primary business will appear on the register.
Under section 77(2)(a) of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, the purpose of the register is to enable members of the public to know how to contact a licensed immigration adviser and to facilitate the compliance, audit and other supporting and administrative functions of the Registrar. The register must show a business and service address for you.
You may choose to have your postal address, business phone number, direct dial phone number, mobile number, email address or business website shown on the public register of immigration advisers.
Photograph
You will be required to upload one passport quality photograph which meets the following criteria:
- be taken within the last 6 months
- a face, head and shoulders shot
- looking directly at the camera
- not wearing a hat, sunglasses or any other accessories that obscures the face
- passport-sized 3:4 – width to height ratio
- in full colour, on a plain light background
This photograph will appear on the register of licensed immigration advisers. We may refuse photographs which are not of adequate quality or are not composed in a way that is suitable for that purpose.
Personal identification
You will be required to upload a certified copy of one of the following:
- passport page (front and/or back) that shows your photograph and personal details
- New Zealand driver licence, both front and back
The document you provide must not be expired.
If you do not have either of the above, use the template Statutory Declaration form to supply an alternative proof of identity as described on the form (such as an overseas driver licence). A person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration must sign this document.
Note
The same person who certifies your personal identification must certify your OMARA registration document and must witness the declaration you make when signing Form 401A: Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Notice.
OMARA registration
You must ensure your registration with OMARA is current before applying under the TTMRA because the IAA needs to see that your registration is current.
You must provide a certified copy of a document that confirms you are currently a registered OMARA agent, such as your OMARA registration certificate or a screenshot of your current register page from the OMARA website.
Form 401A
You must print a Form 401A: Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Notice and then complete, sign and date it in the presence of a person authorised to take statutory declarations in the country in which you reside. This must be uploaded with your application.
You must be able to declare that the statements in the Section 19 Notice (“the Notice”) declaration are true and correct. If not all statements of the Notice are true and correct, you may not apply for a New Zealand immigration adviser licence until such time as the statements become correct.
As part of the assessment process, the IAA will contact OMARA to determine whether you have any complaints, investigations or disciplinary proceedings pending against you or whether you are subject to any special conditions.
Declaration
You will be required to complete a declaration as part of the application process in the online portal. Please ensure you read the declaration carefully before ticking the declaration checkbox.
Warning
If any of the statements, documentation or information in an application is materially false or misleading, the IAA may refuse the application for a licence as per section 22 of the TTMRA.
Furthermore, under Section 27(1)(b) of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, the Registrar must cancel a licence if he or she is satisfied that the licence was granted on the basis of any false or fraudulent representation or declaration, made either orally or in writing.
Application costs
You will pay an application fee and a levy unless you have been approved for not-for-profit status.
The IAA only accepts payments in New Zealand dollars. Payments can be made online using Visa or Mastercard.
The amount you pay depends on whether you are ordinarily resident in New Zealand. A person is ordinarily resident in New Zealand if they have spent more than 183 days in New Zealand in the immediately preceding 12 months and is not unlawfully in New Zealand.
| Costs | Ordinarily resident in NZ (including GST) |
Not ordinarily resident in NZ |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $909.78 | $791.11 |
| Levy | $1,129.55 | $982.22 |
| Total | $2,039.33 | $1,773.33 |
You will pay the application fee when you submit your application for a licence. After your application is approved in principle, you will need to login to the IAA online portal to pay the levy.
If you do not pay the levy within 20 working days, the Registrar may refuse your application under section 19(1) of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007. This refusal will be noted on the register.
All invoices will be emailed to you.
Not-for-profit status
You may be entitled to a fee waiver if you intend to act as an immigration adviser on a not-for-profit basis, or are an employee or volunteer working for an organisation that operates on a not-for-profit basis. You can find more details about this in our Licensing Toolkit.
Assessment of your application
The IAA will not test you on your understanding of New Zealand immigration matters before granting you a licence. However, the IAA does expect you to be familiar with the:
- Immigration Act 2009
- Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007
- Immigration Advisers Competency Standards
- Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct.
Note
Once licensed, all advisers must comply with the Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct and the Immigration Adviser Competency Standards.
Grant of licence
If your application is approved, the IAA will inform you and will request you pay the immigration adviser’s levy.
Once you have paid the levy, your licence will be granted. The register will be updated with your details. You will also be able to download a digital licence from the Immigration Advisers Authority online portal.
All licences are valid for 12 months from the date they are granted by the Registrar.
Refusal of licence
The Registrar may refuse a New Zealand immigration adviser licence for any of the reasons set out in section 22 of the TTMRA.
If your application is refused, you will be informed in writing and be given reasons for the decision made. You have the right to appeal to the Trans-Tasman Occupations Tribunal that has been established by the Ministry of Justice to hear appeals under the TTMRA.
Further information is available on the Ministry of Justice website.
Trans-Tasman Occupations Tribunal(external link) – Ministry of Justice
Processing times
The Registrar will release a determination within 1 month of receiving your complete initial licence application under the TTMRA.
Renew a licence
If you are an Australian registered migration agent and have been granted a New Zealand immigration adviser licence under the TTMRA, you can apply to renew your New Zealand licence before it expires. You can do this by completing a renewal application under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007.
For more information on how to submit a renewal application, please see our Licensing Toolkit.
Reapply for a licence under the TTMRA
If you were previously licensed as a New Zealand immigration adviser under the TTMRA, you can reapply for a licence under the TTMRA. You are not required to complete a refresher course before submitting an application.
You can reapply online, following the same requirements and documentation as an initial application under the TTMRA. You will need to provide a completed section 19 Notice with your application.
Form 401A: Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Notice [PDF, 255 KB]
Please ensure that when you reapply, your registration as a Migration Agent is current.
Alternatively, a person who was initially licensed under the TTMRA has the option to reapply under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 without reference to the TTMRA. If you choose to reapply using this process, you will have to meet the qualification and training requirements specified in Competency Standard 1, such as completing a refresher course if you last held a licence more than 12 months ago.