What We're About
Settlers Immigration helps people and NZ employers—onshore or offshore—get the right visa and move forward with confidence. We assess your situation, map the best pathway, prepare and lodge your application, and deal with Immigration New Zealand from start to finish. Our advice is straightforward, practical, and experience-led—so you get a clear plan, realistic expectations, and updates you can rely on.
Strategy first
The right pathway, not just paperwork
Every visa decision has flow-on effects. We start with a case assessment and eligibility check, then map a practical pathway that fits your goals, timeframe, and risk—so you understand your options before you commit time and money.
Experience-led guidance
Insight into how decisions are made
Settlers Immigration is led by Dan Prain, who has over 13 years’ experience with Immigration New Zealand, including as an Immigration Manager and Technical Adviser in the INZ Beijing branch and time onshore at the INZ Dunedin branch. Dan holds a Graduate Certificate in New Zealand Immigration Advice (2015), a Master of Entrepreneurship (University of Otago), and is an active New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser (licence 201601249). This background helps us give advice that’s practical, evidence-focused, and tailored to how applications are assessed.
Managed from start to finish
Clear communication, fewer surprises
We manage your immigration experience end-to-end: strategic advice, guidance on documentation, application preparation and submission, and liaison with Immigration New Zealand throughout the process. We aim to keep you fully informed at each step, flag issues early, and work through problems directly if they arise during processing. The goal is simple: make the process as easy and efficient as possible, with professional support you can rely on.
The New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) is New Zealand’s leading professional body for immigration advisers and lawyers, working closely with Immigration New Zealand and the Immigration Advisers Authority to lift industry standards. As an NZAMI member, Settlers Immigration aligns with a recognised Code of Ethics and ongoing professional development, offering clients added assurance of reliable, informed, and accountable advice.
Meet Dan
Dan Prain is the director of Settlers Immigration and a New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser (active IAA license number 201601249), specialising in a variety of temporary entry and residence visas. He brings deep, knowledge of the system from more than 13 years working with Immigration New Zealand, including leadership roles at the INZ Beijing branch and onshore experience in the INZ Dunedin branch.
Dan also has extensive international business development and higher education experience across New Zealand and East Asia, including senior business development roles at the University of Otago, where he led international partnerships and market growth initiatives. This mix of immigration policy expertise and commercial, cross‑cultural experience helps clients and employers make clear decisions in a highly regulated, high‑stakes space.
He is a member of NZAMI, the Dunedin Shanghai Association, and the professional New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser community. Dan is a native English speaker and has conversational proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.
Scan the QR code to view the licence holder's details on the IAA register.
