Whatever category you are applying under, your application will be treated fairly and equally. We will process your application as quickly as we can.

Asking someone to help with your application

We treat all applications equally – whether you apply yourself or through an adviser, agent or representative.

 

Anyone can help you fill in your application form, or act on your behalf as your immigration adviser, agent or representative. An immigration adviser, agent or representative could be:

• a lawyer
• a consultant
• or any other person (including a friend) you hire or ask to help you apply.

If someone does help you, they will also need to sign your application form. There is a section on the back of the application form for them to complete and sign.

 

All immigration advisers need to be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority, unless exempt. To view the Register of licensed immigration advisers, go to www.iaa.govt.nz.

 

Lawyers are exempt from licensing under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007. For more information and to view practising immigration lawyers, go to the ‘Find a lawyer or organisation’ link on the New Zealand Law Society website.

The standard of service you can expect

We guarantee that our service will meet certain standards:

• We will not lose or damage your passport or documents.
• Once you are given a completion time for your application, you will be advised of any change to that timeframe. 
• If we have concerns about your application, you will have an opportunity to comment before we make a final decision. 
• We will fully inform you of the outcome of your application.

See our branch pages, which have information on application processing times.

 

If you are not satisfied with the level of service you receive from us, you or your agent should write to the Branch Manager of the office handling your application.

Your rights

If you are in New Zealand, you have the right to see the information we hold about you at any time and to ask for any of it to be corrected at any time if you think that is necessary. 

 

You can do this by writing to your nearest Immigration New Zealand branch. 

 

If we decline your application, in most cases you will have the right to:

If your application is declined, we will notify you in writing and include the reasons for our decision.

Your obligations

You have a legal obligation under the Immigration Act 2009 to not provide false or misleading information. If you do, you will lose any right of appeal.

 

When you make an application for a visa you must also:

• fully complete the correct application form
• be honest in answering each question
• inform us as early as possible of any changes to your circumstances
• disclose any information, or changes to your circumstances, that could affect our decision after we’ve accepted your application.