How Much Does an Immigration Lawyer Cost in New Zealand?

Immigration Lawyer vs Licensed Immigration Adviser

In New Zealand, two types of professionals can help with immigration matters:

Professional	Hourly Rate	Best For
Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA)	$150-350	Standard visa applications
Immigration Lawyer (Junior)	$350-400	Complex cases, appeals
Immigration Lawyer (Senior)	$400-500	Deportation, judicial review
Immigration QC/Specialist	$500-700+	High Court appeals, complex refugee

Costs by Visa Type

Work Visas

Professional fees for work visa applications:

• Essential Skills Work Visa: $1,500-3,500
• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): $2,000-4,000
• Post-Study Work Visa: $1,000-2,500
• Specific Purpose Work Visa: $1,500-3,000
• Working Holiday extension: $500-1,500

Residence Visas

Residence applications are more complex and costly:

• Skilled Migrant Category (SMC): $8,000-15,000
• Residence from Work: $5,000-10,000
• Parent Retirement Category: $5,000-8,000
• Investor Category: $8,000-20,000

Partnership-Based Visas

• Partner of a NZ citizen/resident: $2,500-5,000
• Partnership residence: $4,000-8,000
• Complex partnership (previous refusal): $6,000-12,000

Investor Visas

• Investor 1 Category: $15,000-25,000
• Investor 2 Category: $10,000-18,000
• Active Investor Plus: $12,000-22,000

Refugee & Protection

• Refugee status claim: $8,000-20,000
• Protection visa: $5,000-15,000
• Appeal to Immigration Protection Tribunal: $10,000-25,000

Deportation Defence

• Deportation liability notice response: $5,000-10,000
• Immigration and Protection Tribunal appeal: $10,000-20,000
• Full deportation defence (District Court): $15,000-30,000+
• High Court judicial review: $25,000-50,000+

INZ Application Fees (Separate from Lawyer Fees)

Immigration New Zealand charges its own fees on top of professional help:

Visa Type	INZ Fee (2026)
Visitor Visa	$211-246
Student Visa	$375
Work Visa (most categories)	$495-750
AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa)	$715
Partner of NZ Citizen/Resident	$635
Skilled Migrant Category EOI	$680
SMC Residence Application	$3,310-4,890
Investor 2 Category	$4,745
Parent Retirement Category	$3,150

Note: INZ fees change regularly. Always check the official INZ fee schedule for current rates.

When You Need a Lawyer vs DIY

Ways to Reduce Immigration Costs

What's Included in Immigration Fees?

Professional immigration fees typically include:

• Initial consultation and eligibility assessment
• Document checklist and guidance
• Application form completion
• Supporting letter preparation
• Document review and quality check
• Online application submission
• Responding to INZ requests for information
• Communication with INZ on your behalf

Usually NOT included (charged extra):

• INZ application fees
• Medical examinations
• Police certificates
• Translation and certification of documents
• Skills assessments (for skilled migrant)
• IELTS/English testing fees

Auckland vs Regional Pricing

Immigration professional fees vary by location:

• Auckland: Highest rates due to demand (10-20% premium)
• Wellington: Slightly below Auckland (5-10% premium)
• Christchurch: Competitive rates, good availability
• Regional centres: Generally lower rates but fewer specialists
• Online advisers: Often competitive rates, work remotely

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Before engaging an immigration professional:

1. Are you a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer?
2. What's your experience with my visa type?
3. What's your success rate for similar applications?
4. Do you offer a fixed fee or hourly rate?
5. What's the total estimated cost including all fees?
6. What's the expected timeline?
7. Who will handle my application day-to-day?
8. What happens if my application is declined?
9. Do you offer a payment plan?

Red Flags to Avoid

Watch out for these warning signs:

• Guaranteeing approval: No one can guarantee visa success
• Not licensed: Always verify on the IAA register
• Pressuring quick payment: Legitimate advisers allow time to decide
• Suggesting false information: This is fraud and can result in deportation
• No written agreement: Always get a service agreement in writing
• Unusually cheap: May indicate inexperience or unlicensed operators